Lovebirds Kirsty and Tom had a colourful English country wedding. We love this unusual (but gorgeous) colour combination, what do you think?
How they met
Kirsty was a single parent when she first met Tom. “My friends had spent ages convincing me that when the right man came along, the fact that I had a child wouldn’t be an issue – I didn’t believe them until I met Tom,” says Kirsty. The couple met through Kirsty’s son Nathan’s school, where Tom was a teacher. “One night I was out with some friends at a local bar when I recognised some of the teachers and they drunkenly revealed that Tom fancied me!” laughs Kirsty.
The proposal
Tom’s romantic proposal took place during bank holiday weekend in Salcombe. “Tom had been insistent that we should borrow his parents’ day boat. We had dinner at sunset moored up in a secluded creek and Tom began to tell me how much he loved me and Nathan, and just as I was wondering what had got into him, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! To have just the three of us together on the boat in the most beautiful surroundings was my dream proposal,” says Kirsty.
The bride’s outfit
Kirsty found her dress on her birthday while shopping with her mother-in-law. The beautiful bride chose a Lillian West gown from Creatiques in Southsea. The dress was inspired by the 1920s, with chiffon, a full lace back, diamanté belt and a sweetheart neckline. “I had previously tried on lots of dresses that all looked quite similar, but none felt right,” remembers Kirsty. “When I put my dress on, I didn’t get emotional, but I felt really relaxed and comfortable and I didn’t want to take it off!” Kirsty accessorised with Rachel Simpson shoes, a 1920s-inspired headpiece by Donna Crane and she made her own cathedral-length veil.
The groom’s outfit
Tom and his best man wore matching three-piece charcoal grey suits from Next, with navy blue ties and navy blue-striped braces. “I hate the traditional wedding suits that mens wear, and loved the fact that Tom looked so smart and stylish,” smiles Kirsty.
The bridesmaids
Kirsty was attended by six bridesmaids. Her sister Katie was her maid of honour, and she also chose Vicky and Rebecca who she had known since she moving to Southampton eight years previously, and her childhood friends Emma and Holly. “I knew I wanted coral as a theme and I loved the idea of mismatched dresses,” says Kirsty. “I bought my sister’s Coralie Beatrix dress first but some other of the girls weren’t keen on the style so I let them all pick their own choice of dress in a specific hue with a budget of £80.” The final choices came from Forever 21, Ted Baker, Collectif and Steilman.
The ceremony
The religious service included readings from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and an extract from the Bible. Bridesmaid Rebecca also read a humorous poem about growing old together.
The reception
The wedding vision slowly morphed into an English garden theme with a touch of nautical charm in homage to their engagement and Tom’s love of sailing. “Tom’s parents’ beautiful garden took centre stage and his mother even planted an array of coral flowerbeds in the shades of each bridesmaid’s dress,” says Kirsty. Tom made a beach bar out of old recycled pallets, which people signed instead of a guest book. Candles made from cheap glasses and cups from Ikea covered the tables and large Kilner jars filled with flowers were used as centrepieces.
The honeymoon
Kirsty and Tom took a minimoon to Devon after the wedding and went on a familymoon to Croatia where they sailed around the Dalmatian coast.
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