How did you meet?
Rob and I met at medical school. I was in my first year, where he was in his third. I saw him at a rugby match and then worked up the courage to go over and talk to him at a party later that day, after a drink (or three!). We danced the night away, and the rest is history.
Tell us about the proposal!
We went on a trip to Iceland in December 2017, a place we’d both really wanted to go to for ages. He managed to get the ring through security without me realising by suggesting we each pick a security queue and race each other through. My competitive side took over and I didn’t even think that it was strange – I was just focused on winning!
He proposed in the evening of our first full day of the holiday. After a lovely dinner, he finally proposed in our lodge. He said that he’d been carrying the ring around in his pocket all day, searching for the perfect moment, but that he couldn’t wait any longer! He had even taken had it with him when we went snowmobiling on a glacier – luckily it didn’t fall out!
How did you choose where to shop for your wedding dress?
I grew up in Tunbridge Wells and so had always planned to go dress shopping with my mum and sister there. I’d always loved the look of the window displays in Isabella Grace when we’d driven by, so knew that I absolutely had to go there during the search for my perfect dress.
Tell us about your wedding dress experience, and why did you choose your wedding dress.
I’d always thought I would go for a really simple and plain dress – nothing too fancy or big. However, I’d never really looked at bridal designers or specific dresses, so I went to a couple of wedding dress shops initially to try and get a realistic idea of what I actually liked, as well what suited me. Although I did like some of the plainer dresses, my inner magpie seemed to come out and I was suddenly drawn to all of the beaded dresses!
In the first shop I went to, I found a dress that I liked, but I wasn’t 100% sold on it. At this point I hadn’t made my appointment at Isabella Grace yet, so to help make my decision, I contacted Isabella Grace and got my appointment booked in straight away. I definitely saved the best until last! The whole experience was lovely – the individual fitting rooms were gorgeous, the staff were so helpful and enthusiastic, and of course, there were so many gorgeous dresses to try on!
The final dress I tried on was the Sibella dress, by Eliza Jane Howell. My first reaction actually was that although the dress was gorgeous, the sleeves didn’t really suit me. However, the Isabella Grace staff then suggested that these could be easily taken off. To try and show what this would look like, we tucked them away under the straps, and ta-dah! My bespoke dress was born. I absolutely fell in love with it, as did my family who came with me. Completely covered in beads and sequins, it was certainly not the plan dress I had initially imagined myself choosing, but I’m so happy that I found it!
Describe your wedding day. Where, when, how…
We got married at Pentney Abbey, a wedding venue in the Norfolk countryside on Saturday 20th July 2019. There was enough accommodation there that we could both stay (separately) with our families the night before. All seven of my bridesmaids, as well as my bridesman, came over in the morning so that we could all get ready in the dedicated bridal preparation room there together.
Our ceremony was held in the beautiful licensed ceremony room upstairs in the gatehouse. When all of the guests were in place, myself and my bridal party (including our Labrador Minty, who was a flower-dog) headed from the preparation room up the secret bridal staircase which led to the ceremony room. I walked down the aisle to ‘What a wonderful world’ by Louis Armstrong, played on the harp. I think Minty being walked down the aisle by one of my bridesmaids though may have stolen the show!
After the ceremony we headed down to the rose garden to have our confetti throwing (with confetti made by my sister and maid of honour, Natasha), bubbly and canapes.
The rain managed to hold out pretty much all day apart from as Rob and I were just heading into the barn for the wedding breakfast. The heavens decided to open just as we were outside, and we had to make a quick dash inside to avoid getting soaked. It certainly made for a dramatic entrance!
My Dad’s band, the ‘Fire Balloons’ provided the musical entertainment for the evening reception. It was so lovely to have them there and made it a proper family affair. Rob even got involved and played a few songs on the bass guitar!
Favourite part of your wedding day?
Dancing our first dance, a choreographed Waltz to the song ‘Moon River’. It was one of my late Grandpa’s favourite songs, and so it meant a lot to dance to it, hoping that he was there looking down and smiling. The lift at the end of the routine was a particular favourite with the guests!
Anything you would change if you could do it all again?
Nothing – I absolutely loved it and wish I could do it again.
Your top tip for future brides?
Really enjoy it and try not to worry about all the little things and everything going ‘perfectly’ on the day. Imperfections make things interesting! Rob accidentally got my name/middle names mixed up in the heat of the moment during our ceremony and had to repeat it three times to get it right! But it just made it funny, as well as providing a good story to tell afterwards!
Which suppliers did you use for the following:
Wedding Venue – Pentney Abbey, Norfolk
Wedding Photographer – Jo Hughes (Captive Photography)
Wedding Videographer – Mike Reid (Mike Reid Films)
Florist – Swaffham & Fakenham Florists
Cake – Dust with cocoa
Hair – myself!
Make up – Xandra Logan