Jamara and Chris had a wedding with a travel theme, and with their guests travelling a collective 30,000 miles to share their special day, this couple’s wedding was truly an international event!
How they met
Jamara and Christopher met when they were working in Saudi Arabia in 2011. “On our first date at a romantic restaurant, we both discreetly switched our knives and forks the wrong way round, hoping the other one wouldn’t notice, but we did, and ended up in fits of laughter,” says Jamara. “This was just the beginning of our inseparable relationship. I knew from that moment that one day, I would be his wife.”
The proposal
Christopher proposed to Jamara while they were visiting the UK to see family and friends. “It was the morning of his birthday, and it was raining and cold, but we went out to get some fresh air,” Jamara recalls. “Chris got down on one knee on the banks of Loch Lomond with the most stunning diamond ring and asked me to be his wife.”
The bride’s outfit
Jamara was surprised to fall for a dress design that was nothing like she’d envisaged. Her gown, designed by Joanna Leigh Couture, incorporated a mermaid cut with chiffon straps, a deep V-back and a hooped skirt for extra shape and volume. She added a classic waist-length veil with Swarovski crystals and stunning Freya Rose shoes with a mother-of-pearl heel. “When I put my dress on, I felt like a princess and couldn’t stop looking in the mirror,” Jamara smiles.
The groom’s outfit
The groomsmen hired their slate grey tails from Slaters, and teamed their suits with a golden swirl waistcoat, gold cravat and brown shoes. Florist Lorraine Woods put together buttonholes of thistle and purple roses to match the wedding’s Scottish loch venue.
The bridesmaids
Jamara was attended by a party of three bridesmaids, one junior bridesmaid and a little flowergirl. The adults wore full-length ivory dresses with a high lace neckline and a V-back, while the two younger maids wore pretty gowns from Monsoon.
The ceremony
Jamara and Christopher’s religious ceremony was beamed live around the world from the church in Scotland so that overseas friends could witness their special moment. “We paid £200 for the streaming, but it was worth it to include people who couldn’t join us,” Jamara explains. “The funniest moment was when the vicar said that Chris could kiss the bride, and as he did, he squeezed my bum! The minister’s face was absolutely priceless!”
The flowers
Jamara’s exquisite bouquet was created by Debbie Carlisle of DC Bouquets. “It was made up of vintage brooches, including four very special ones that I had chosen because of their sentimental value,” Jamara says. “Each of them represented someone special to me, so I felt that everyone was right there with me.” The venue flowers were by Lorraine Woods, with richly perfumed blooms in pinks and greens with vines, thistles, pearl and lace.
The reception
The reception was held at Cameron House on Loch Lomond. “Its neutral tones made it a very easy canvas to work with,” says Jamara. The menu, which included monkfish and lamb, was a resounding success, with the attentive waiting staff also earning compliments. Later, Scottish three-piece band Ernest had everyone crowding onto the dancefloor to party.
The details
Despite planning their wedding from overseas, and having seen their reception venue only once, Jamara and Christopher’s wedding was a triumph of homemade decor. The details included a sweet station created from a salvaged door, chair sashes in lace and burlap and a vintage prop table complete with antique bike. “Our stationery featured passport stamps from all the countries we have visited together,” Jamara adds.
The cake
The impressive four-tier fruit cake with a cascade of sugar bows was made by Christopher’s mother. “It was her first attempt at a wedding cake, and she did an amazing job,” smiles Jamara. The couple cut the cake in traditional Scottish style using a sword!
The honeymoon
The happy couple spent two weeks lapping up the luxury lifestyle in beautiful Barbados.
Real wedding gallery
