Gemma and Danny
28/05/2005 – Sackville School, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent
How and when did you meet?
We met at our local ice skating rink at a friends birthday in April 1998. Both groups of friends kept arranging to meet each other up there over the next few weeks and became friends quite quickly and started hanging out with each other. I was trying to set him up with a friend!
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
We were at his best friends house for a barbecue and I was sitting in the garden talking to a friend. He came out and got down on one knee and just popped the question! I was only 16 and said yes straight away without really thinking about it! We didn’t get engaged straight away as when I realised he was being serious I said I thought it was a bit soon and so we waited until Christmas Eve 1998 when he got down on one knee, this time with a beautiful diamond solitaire
Did you have hen and stag celebrations?
I had two. The first was a girly night out to a nightclub with my elder sister and a group of friends all dressed as devils and angels! The second was a lovely meal out with our mums, both my sisters and a couple of friends. Dan went out with our dads and his friends for an early morning fry up at the local cafe, then go karting for a mini grand prix race. They then went on to spend half the afternoon in the pub before coming home to get washed and changed before going out for a meal and then a night out on the town.
Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?
He helped make the big decisions, venue, cake, dj etc. but left the details to me. His motto through out was: ‘Have what you like honey, just tell me when and where and I’ll be there’ !
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
Chatting to the girls for reassurance, ideas and recommendations. I also used the table planner and bought lots of bits and pieces.
Do you have a confetti web page?
Yes, but I never finished it, so guests never got to see it.
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
Yes, visited the store and bought online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.
I bought my Maggie Sottero dress from Jodi’s in Maidstone, Kent. It was called Rochelle and was a strapless, ivory, a-line dress. It had embroidery and beading all over the top (front and back) which then trailed off to one side. It had the classic lace up back. I wore an elbow length veil which had clear crystals on it. I matched this with a tiara that had the same clear crystals.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had my younger and elder sisters and my niece as flowergirl. They all wore Veromia dresses in a deep red. My niece wore a flower girl dress, with a full tulle skirt. The bridesmaids dresses were both a-line and had beading across the top.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Danny had his Dad, Paul and best friend Alex as his best men. They all wore the Arundel suit which they hired from Moss Bros. They matched this with ivory checked waistcoats and red cravats and handkerchiefs. My dad, our step dads and my brother in law, all wore the same.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a civil ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
Sackville School in Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent.
Where did you hold your reception?
Same as above.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
My Dad and I travelled in an old Bentley in black and ivory. The bridesmaids travelled in a dark red and black Rolls Royce. Danny travelled to the venue with his best men in a new 5 Series BMW.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We had 58 during the day and a further 62 joined us in the evening.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Our theme was the Grand Prix rose – being my favourite. This featured on our stationery and we used the colour to try and match most things.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
The favour boxes were tied with a dark red ribbon and the tables were named after roses. The name cards had a small picture of a red rose on them.
Did you give your guests favours?
Our guests had Lindt Lindor chocolate truffles, as we are chocoholics!
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
My friends mum kindly did my flowers with the help of one of her friends and they were absolutely perfect. My bouquet consisted of a variety of pink, red and ivory roses with some green berries and calla lillies. The bridesmaids had posies of cream roses that had a soft pink edge to them. My niece carried a little heart that had a few red rose buds on the bottom. The table centres were made up of posies sat in goldfish bowls. We had two pedestal arrangements made of roses, lillies and bear grass.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
Our venue dealt with the catering. We had a melon starter with a summer fruit coulis. Our main course was a turkey roast. For pudding we had profiteroles in chocolate sauce. The children didn’t have a starter and they had ice cream for pudding. This was followed by coffee and mints.
What did you choose for your wedding cake?
We had a three tied cake with each tier separated by a mini glass goldfish bowls filled with angel hair. The cake had small iced ‘pearls’ which started at the base of each tier and decreased in size and numbers the further you got up the cake. The bottom two tiers had a single ‘Grand Prix’ rose on them and the top had a cluster of the Grand Prix and Black Bacarra. The base was surrounded by petals and tea light candles. The top tier was chocolate sponge, the second plain sponge and the bottom was fruit cake.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a disco for all to enjoy in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
We didn’t have a gift list. Instead we had a wishing well with a poem inviting people to make a contribution to our living room redecoration fund!
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent our first night at the Sheraton at Heathrow and then travelled to the Bahamas where we stayed in the Breezes Hotel on Cable Beach.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Our first dance. Dan really hates dancing so it meant a lot to me for him to get up in front of everyone. The ceremony was the best part of the day ultimately, but it went too quick and that made it a little sad.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
I did struggle to get my bridesmaids dresses in on time, but I’ve since heard that the shop has closed and left a lot of brides without any dresses at all – so I consider myself lucky!
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
I would have got married earlier so that we could have enjoyed the day more and not rushed through the photos.
