With the sun beaming outside, we thought it’s the perfect opportunity to share Sophie and Chris’s yellow and grey themed wedding. The happy couple were lucky enough to have their day made perfect with the glorious weather, allowing Hannah from AVA images to capture their day beautifully.
The Proposal
Chris took me on holiday to San Antonia Ibiza. On our last day we checked into the best hotel on the island and he proposed on the last evening. We got engaged within 24 hours of his best friend’s engagement, who is our best man Jamie.
The Dress
My Ivory Dress was from the shop Catwalk 09 in Exeter. It was Eternity Bridal dress in ivory with a satin dropped waist with beautiful detailing on the bust. My mother bought the dress and veil for me as a gift. To be honest I hated the buying process. I found so many staff at shops to be fake or just “yes people.” I went to over 15 shops. I learnt that it is best to either go yourself or take just one person, I took my mum. One day 9 people in my family turned up, it was a horrible experience. The ladies at Catwalk 09 were superb. By the time I went in to their shop I was disheartened and had no idea what dress would look good. They were very honest about what shapes and material and colours would suit me and they chose a dress off the rack that they thought would suit me as a wild card. I would have never had picked it out for myself. It was ‘the one’ They were so superb I ended up buying my bridesmaids dresses from them, knowing that they would be great. I wore a floor length veil, with a hair comb of flowers and crystals. I also wore a necklace which was a gift from my aunt, my something new. My earrings were my mother’s worn on her wedding, my old and borrowed, and a sapphire bracelet of my mothers, my something blue. Cheryl got me a sixpence on my hen do and I glued it inside my shoe. My bouquet was made by my aunt and cousin. She had crocheted the entire thing. I finished it off with a bumble bee brooch and a photos of my granddad who passed away earlier that year. Chris wore cufflinks with pictures of his grandparents who had also passed away recently.
The Ceremony
Was at the Lavender House Hotel in Ashburton, Devon. We don’t always have the best of luck so prepared to get married inside the hotel and I had bought loads of umbrellas. On the day it was beautiful and that meant we could marry outside in the garden surrounded by all our family.
The Wedding Photographer
Our photographer was Hannah from AVA Images, she was superb. She made us feel so comfortable and fit in with the hectic environment that comes with a Chinese wedding. She was in stealth mode and slipped in to the environment like a panther! She took so many beautiful photos and really captured all the little touches that otherwise may have been missed if it weren’t for such a careful eye.
The Reception
Lavender House Hotel. The whole day was set in the same location. With so many people traveling from afar it was felt that having a single location would be best. We both love a good BBQ and rather than have a set menu we had giant BBQ platters put on each table with all the trimmings. In the evening we had a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony, where the elders of the family gave their blessings, red packets and gold to us both in exchange for a sip of sweet tea.
The Wedding Theme
When I first met Chris, I gave him the nickname “bumblebee” to embarrass him in front of his football friends. The name stuck ever since and the theme of our wedding was bumblebees. We didn’t want to go overboard with it and so we found ways to be subtle about it and include it into our rustic, country, garden feel we got from the venue. Bumblebees featured on our stationary, our cake, my bouquet and our honey favours. The colours yellow and grey were also used throughout the decor.
Brides Advice
Remember that it is a marriage not just a wedding. They day is about you and your other half. Everything else is just small stuff, and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Suppliers
Bridal Dress: Eternity Bridal | Wedding Shoes: Brantano | Grooms Attire: Moss Bros Bespoke | Groomsmen’s Attire: Moss Bros | Flowers and Bouquets: Floral Passion Flowers | Photographer: AVA Images | Wedding Cake and Catering: Aphrodite Cakes | Reception Venue: Lavender House Hotel | Ceremony Venue: Lavender House Hotel
