How they met
“We met at my friend’s Mexican bar, when Andy was in New York (it was actually the last night of his holiday). To make up for it we went on a ‘date’ the next afternoon to Riverside Park, where we had a picnic and walked around. That evening he had to fly back to London, but we kept in touch over the phone and email – and I flew to the UK to visit him, just three weeks later,” smiles Christina
The proposal
Andrew popped the question during a mini break to St Ives. “He wanted us to pick out a ring together, so he presented me with an old ring from Accessorize that I had accidentally left at his mum’s house!”
The bride’s outfit
“I looked all over England for my wedding gown, and thought I’d found one I liked – until I went back to New York!” laughs Christina. “I ended up falling in love with a Vera Wang gown, which I spotted in their flagship store. I really loved the black sash that I added for the evening reception,” she adds
The groom’s outfit
Andrew picked out his own suit from Charles Thyrwhitt in Manchester. It was a traditional black wool tuxedo, which perfectly suited the elegant city venue.
The bridesmaids
Christina picked six bridesmaids, and Andrew had a ‘best woman’ – one of his oldest friends. The girls wore full-length black wrap dresses from Von Vonni, and they picked their own jewellery and shoes
The ceremony
Was a traditional church ceremony. Both of Christina’s sisters gave a Bible reading, and Andrew’s father read an Irish blessing. If you want to get friends and family involved in your ceremony, asking them to give readings is a great idea.
The reception
“We held the evening party at a private club where my dad is a member,” explains Christina. “I’ve always loved the building, and I knew from day one that was where I wanted to host my wedding reception.”
The food
“We had a great menu – crab and avocado starter, with an option of Miso glazed sea bass or grilled chicken for the main. Dessert was wedding cake and a selection of petit fours. We also got the venue to include a free bar for the drinks reception, along with an assortment of nibbles like mini hamburgers and goats cheese toasts,” says Christina
The flowers
Were all provided by Belle Fleur NY who used a colour scheme of soft whites and ivory, with a few touches of fresh green from the ivy leaves. The table decorations were high blossom branch arrangements that allowed guests to talk easily underneath.
The honeymoon
After returning to the UK, the newlyweds visited Kefalonia for their first married holiday together – a romantic destination with beautiful scenery, minus the long haul flight.
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