Rachael and Dave
04/11/2006 – St Mary’s Church, Burry Port, Camarthenshire
The Fig Tree Restaurant, Llanarthney
How and when did you meet?
1999 when I started my first job after University on the Isle of Sheppey. We worked in the same department.
How old are you both?
I am 29 and Dave is 34.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
18th November 2005. Dave proposed. He had planned to ask on Christmas day and had even picked out a ring but ended up blurting it out spontaneously in a friend’s house after several drinks.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
I went to Bath for the weekend with 10 friends, stayed in a lovely cottage, had beauty therapists come in to pamper us and we had a 3 course meal cooked by caterers before hitting the town dressed as playboy bunnies. Dave went to Benidorm with a small group of boys.
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
He helped whenever I asked him to and was very involved in church arrangements and did lots of phoning around. He also sorted the honeymoon.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I used the forums a lot for inspiration and advice.
Do you have a confetti web page?
Yes, but I didn’t use it that much.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
Mon Cheri 24200 ivory and spun gold organza dress.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
5 bridesmaids, 3 grown ups (my 2 sisters and a friend) and 2 little girls (my niece and Dave’s niece). The grown ups were in chocolate brown, floor length Alfred Sung dresses. The 2 little girls were my fairies and wore dresses that I had a seamstress make for me as I knew exactly what I wanted.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Dave had 3 best men, his brother and 2 closest friends and they all did a speech. My brother was an usher along with my 2 nephews (7 and 9 years old). The groom’s party wore chocolate brown suits with ivory waistcoats for all except Dave who had a gold one. All had ivory tie and hanky.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
A church ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
St Mary’s Church, Burry Port, Camarthenshire.
Where did you hold your reception?
The Fig Tree Restaurant, Llanarthney.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
My uncle provided a 1934 maroon and black Rolls Royce limousine.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
106 in day and extra 50-60 in evening.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Autumnal colours, chocolate and some Welsh items eg love spoons and cawl for starter, male voice choir.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
Made place names out of brown skeleton leaves, ferrero rochers on every place, table names were different chocolates eg. ferrero rocher for top table.
Did you give your guests favours?
Wooden love spoons for the ladies, wooden puzzles for the men, boxes for the kids with toys and games and teddy bear for babies.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
I had a shower style bouquet of mango calla lilies and orange and red roses. Bridesmaids had small posy bouquets containing the same flowers. The table decorations were 16 orange roses in a square tank vase on a mirror plate with tea lights. Florist was Gemma Silcox at Flowers by Silcox.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
Cawl with crusty bread and cheddar cheese, Fillet of Welsh Black Beef with autumn vegetables, chocolate cake with hot chocolate fudge sauce and strawberries served with cream.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
A three tiered Louis Vuitton suitcase cake (bottom layer fruitcake, middle layer chocolate, top layer vanilla sponge) made by Special Occasions of Mynydd Y Garreg.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
Male Voice Choir in the church and The Electric Band in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
Wrapit.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
First night was in a cottage attached to the reception, second night was in the Cawdor hotel in Llandeilo and honeymoon was 10 nights in Mauritius. Honeymoon was booked with Journeys a la Carte.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
The ceremony definitely, the church felt so bright as it was such a sunny day and it was packed – it was so overwhelming walking up the aisle in front of all the people we love.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
Forgot to take my tiara to the hairdressers on the morning so ended up phoning people to go to my mothers and find it and then drive it 20 miles to the hairdressers.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
Relax – its supposed to be fun!
