How they met
“Chris and I first met at school, but hadn’t seen each other for over 22 years,” explains Louise. “He got in touch again via Facebook after having surgery, and I went over to visit him to make him feel better. On first sight I knew he was going to be special (at 38 years old you know what you do and don’t like!).”
The proposal
“Chris popped the question on Christmas Day. He’d wrapped the engagement ring inside a box, with a teddy and hid it at the bottom of my stocking. It stayed there all day long because he wanted to wait until we were alone together with candles later on in the night,” smiles Louise
The bride’s outfit
Louise wore a made-to-measure gown that was designed by Scarlett Poppy in Leeds. “I opted for a fitted, A-line gown, that featured a chantilly lace overlay. I also wore a full-length veil to complete the Italian bridal look,” she explains.
The groom’s outfit
“Chris played a trick on me!” says Louise. “I was desperate that he should wear his military blues, but he kept refusing saying he’d be too warm in the Italian heat. However, it was all part of his master plan to surprise me on the day, and he and my whole family had kept it a secret from me!”
The bridesmaids
Louise’s wedding helpers included the bride’s daughter, her twin sister and two nieces. Because of their varied ages, Louise let them pick their own outfits as long as they were in ivory – we love this idea as it lets our girls feel comfortable and look confident on the big day.
The ceremony
Our bride was walked down the aisle by her father to music from a string quartet and a soprano singer. “My best memory was a really emotional moment. Chris presented a ring to my daughter Scarlett, because he said that there was three of us in the marriage, and we were all becoming a family,” says Louise.
The reception
“We picked a beautiful and simple harbour side restaurant that served some of the best food in Italy,” remembers Louise. “Their homemade ravioli is legendary to all the locals, and went down a treat with our wedding guests, too!”
The favours
Because Chris sadly lost his mum five years ago, the couple chose to give monetary donations to Marie Curie in her memory. Charitable wedding donations are a great gift idea, especially if you’ve been living together for a few years already.
The honeymoon
Right after the wedding the newlyweds moved onto neighbouring Sorrento to relax in the sun, eat lots of delicious food and explore the surrounding area – the perfect short-haul honeymoon destination.
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