Rachel and James' Real Wedding at The Grooms' Childhood School
THE LOVE STORY
How and where did you first meet?
We met online on Plenty of Fish. James messaged me first. He was actually the first person to message me so I think I struck out lucky with number one! It took him three long months to ask me on a date though - bless. We had both been on a few dates in the interim but never had follow-ups. Something just always kept bringing me back to James.
What were your first impressions of each other?
James thought that I was really confident which he found attractive. He also would like to add in to this narrative that “She was really fit”. Excellent. 🤣Admittedly, there was an instant attraction and I thought that James was exactly as I imagined him to be. A gentleman who was nice to look at too. Bonus!
“I wrote him a note and kept it for seven years until our wedding day... I knew that I’d marry James”
When did you know you were in love or that James was "the one"?
I knew that I was in love with James not long after we met. We went to Venice on our one year anniversary and I wrote him a note that I did not tell anyone about. It was to give him on our wedding day. I kept it for seven years and gave it to him on the morning of our wedding. I knew that I’d marry James.
Tell us about your first date
James picked me up and we had a great afternoon playing crazy golf. It’s always nice to have some sort of silly activity I think as it helps to break the ice - not that we really needed it. After crazy golf, we went to the Bear in Oxshott. We talked for hours and were too busy chatting to even order dinner. We ended up styling it out by ordering chips and doing shots. It was the longest first date I’d ever had - six hours in total and surely 40oz of tequila long!
How did the proposal happen? Who asked, and where?
James proposed to me on holiday in Cyprus. We had a lovely day in the sunshine and he had organised for the hotel to fill our room with rose petals and champagne. We walked in and when I turned around, James was on one knee. He always knew I wanted a private proposal instead of being in crowds of people, so this was perfect. Naturally, I said YES!
THE BIG DAY
How did you choose your wedding venue and what made it the perfect fit?
We got married at Parkside School in Cobham. James went to school there from when he was four years old until he was thirteen, so it was such a special place for him. They have a church in the grounds too, so it was the perfect place and so beautiful. It felt amazing to get married somewhere with so much sentimental value to James and I absolutely loved it.
What was the inspiration behind your wedding's theme, decor, and colours?
Pinterest was my best friend! We had a summer wedding so I knew I didn’t want any dark colours. I LOVE flowers. So with that I wanted lots of pretty floral arrangements around the venue. I wouldn’t say that we had a ‘theme’ as such but we did have a colour scheme consisting of pastel blue, pink and white.
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
THE WEDDING DRESS
What were you looking for in a wedding dress?
I’m not the most body confident person so I just wanted to make sure I felt confident on my wedding day. I can sometimes be body conscious, although I try to push that to the side. James loves me exactly the way I am and I always try to keep that in mind if I’m being self-critical. I also have always loved a slightly more ‘princess’ style so I knew I would like the dresses with fuller skirts that were that bit more ‘girly’. I really like fashion, make-up, hair styling and take pride in my appearance. So I wanted to feel a million dollars on my day!
How did you choose the bridal boutiques you wanted to visit?
I had visited BRIDE by Aster a few years before when my sister was looking for her wedding dress. I just loved how welcoming it was and my sister, although she didn’t find her dress there, absolutely loved her experience too. It was the only place we wanted to go back to when I got engaged and my sister knew it. One afternoon, she told me we were going to lunch as it was my birthday. I got dressed up and we parked the car. We walked down Dorking high street, to what I thought was going to be, a girly birthday lunch! Hannah was waiting at the front door of her boutique as my sister had text her when we were en route. As we approached, my sister yelled “surprise” and Hannah popped out with a cake and candles. She had even gone to the extra trouble of providing nibbles for us as she felt bad that we weren’t going for lunch! Needless to say, this was the best borthday surprise I could have had!
How many boutiques did you visit on your dress journey and how did you know you had found THE ONE?
Just one - I didn’t need to look anywhere else. BRIDE by Aster is truly the best there is. They say you know when you’ve found the one, and it’s so true. The feeling is like no other and I simply did not want take the dress off.
What accessories did you choose and where did you buy them?
I wore my Mum’s veil which meant a lot to me. She sadly passed away when I was four years old, so I wanted to have a little bit of her at my wedding. I also wore my mother-in-law’s earrings which were my ‘something borrowed’. I ordered a couple of sparkly pearl clips online for my hair pieces to compliment the pearly bodice of my dress. My boss kindly bought me my shoes as she’s known for being the shoe queen! She wanted to get me something for the wedding as I have worked for her since I was just fourteen years old.
Did you enjoy dress shopping? Any especially good or not so good experiences?
I LOVED it! I didn’t feel rushed or pushed into anything. It was simply a wonderful and relaxing experience - one I will always remember. That’s why I recommend BRIDE by Aster to anyone I know who is getting married. Hannah and her team just have it right.
How did you feel walking down the aisle in your dress and what did your partner think?
I felt amazing. Honestly the most beautiful I have ever felt in my life. My husband loved my dress too - he was very emotional. When I reached the end of the aisle, he whispered “I really like your dress, you look beautiful” which was the cutest thing ever. I remember him saying later that day, that he wasn’t sure what to expect from my dress, but he loved it!
ADVICE AND REFLECTIONS
What was the most challenging part of the wedding planning process?
We had to push our wedding back a year due to Covid-19 so that was a really hard pill to swallow. Hopefully something we won’t ever have to go through again!
What advice would you give to other couples who are currently planning their wedding?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Always remember that if anything goes wrong on the day, no one will know expect you! Just enjoy every second.
Is there anything you would have done differently about your wedding?
I don’t think so, it was honestly the best day of my life.
What was the best purchase you made for your wedding?
I’m not just saying this, but my wedding dress. As a little girl, I always dreamt about what I’d wear when I walk down the aisle and it felt like a dream come true getting my wedding dress. Wish I could do it all over again!
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Venue - St. Mary’s Church/Parkside School in Cobham
Photographer – Madeleine Jones Photography
Videographer – Oliver Whillock Visuals
Hair Stylist – Michelle Lopez at Mint Salon Oxshott
Make-Up Artist – Kimberley Louise Make-up
Florist – Abi Windsor Florist
Cake Maker – The Cake Storr
DJ/Band – L R Disco Entertainment
Ring Designer – Preston’s Guildford
Other Suppliers - Mally’s Craft, Etsy