Laura and Mark
18/08/2006
St Augustine’s in Westgate
How and when did you meet?
In May 1997. We met when an old friend from school contacted me and asked me out for a drink. She said she had some friends she was bringing along. There were four of us. I was supposed to be set up with one of Mark’s friends, however Mark said that he liked me and when he dropped my friend and his friend home he took me home and asked for my number. He called the next day and we went out for a drink just the two of us.
How old are you both?
25 and 32.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
On our one year anniversary, Mark took me out for a meal to a local restaurant – halfway through the meal he asked me to marry him and of course I said yes.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
Mark and the boys went to Barcelona for the weekend. I went to Maidstone with my mum and some friends for a relaxing weekend and a night on the town.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
He didn’t and I wanted it that way.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
Yes – the site was fantastic for all the small details like the table decorations and gifts.
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
I did the ordering online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
I brought my dress from a local shop. It was a bright white dress with chiffon layers and a beaded bodice.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I had four bridesmaids. My sister was the chief bridesmaid and my best friend and two of my cousins were bridesmaids. I brought their dresses from Debenhams and they wore a mauve bustle back ball gown with butterfly sandals from Next.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
He picked one of his closest friends. Mark had four ushers. Mark, the best man, ushers and the fathers all wore hired suits- black suits with a mauve cravats.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
Civil ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
St Augustine’s in Westgate
Where did you hold your reception?
St Augustine’s in Westgate.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
I didn’t need to as the location had a room I could use throughout the day and all the bridesmaids, my mum and the hairdresser all got ready there.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
For the wedding breakfast, there were 85 guests and for the evening there were a total of 145.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
The theme was silver, lavender-lilac and butterflies.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
The center of the tables had mauve, silver balloons with mauve and white petals all over the table.
Did you give your guests favours?
The women had a silver box with a white butterfly on top and the men had a silver box with mauve ribbon and a silver butterfly stuck to the top – made by me.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
I used the local florist. I had a side bouquet instead of the normal holding in front of you. It had pink roses, orchids, heather and silver beads.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
The venue did all the catering. The main meal was melon followed by beef with vegetable and then a selection of fine miniature desserts – it all looked like it had been made in a very expensive restaurant. All professional.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
The cake was made by a dear friend. We had fruit and then two sponge layers and the cake was decorated following the theme of the wedding.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
In the evening we had a band called the Easter People.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
We had a gift list with Next.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We stayed in a local hotel and were then picked up and taken to Gatwick for one night’s stay before departing to the Dominican Republic. We booked with First Choice.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Our first dance as husband and wife.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
The weather was not on our side – we were due to marry outside in the gazebo but it rained so we had to get married inside.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
Just take some time out with your husband and spend at least half an hour to take it all in. It still doesn’t seem real no matter how many times I watch it back on DVD. It seems like a dream and the day goes by really quickly but most of all enjoy it.
