If you’re planning a pretty pastel wedding, then Sara & Colm’s special day will be right up your street! This celebration had lots of personal touches to create the perfect day…
The proposal
Sara first met Colm when she was in Thailand with two of her friends from uni. “My friend Gemma’s boyfriend came out to meet us and brought Colm and some others with him for a holiday,” says Sara. “We got along straight away and he was making me laugh right from the start.”
Colm picked Sara’s engagement ring when they were on holiday in Florida with his family, but waited two months before proposing on Bournemouth beach. “I was completely taken by surprise and had no idea, which is unbelievable as Colm is rubbish at keeping secrets,” laughs Sara.
The bride’s outfit
Sara found her beautiful wedding dress in Timeless Elegance in Cardiff. The Allure gown featured a fishtail skirt, satin slip and ivory lace overlay. “I fell in love with the dramatic back, which was sheer lace with satin buttons from the top,” says Sara. “I knew when I tried it on that it was exactly the kind of dress I saw myself in. It was also really comfortable and, of course, I made sure I could dance in it!”.
Sara added a rhinestone diamanté belt for added sparkle and accessorised with a headband and bracelet from Glitzy Secrets and lace kitten heels from Debenhams.
The groom’s outfit
Colm wore a slim-fit royal blue suit. “We’re not a ‘tops and tails’ type of couple and this suit really fitted his personality,” says Sara.
The bridesmaids
The six beautiful bridesmaids looked perfect in their dresses from House of Fraser. “I wanted to find something that would suit all of them, and ultimately for them to feel comfortable and have something they could wear again,” says Sara. “In the end we decided on stunning rose-coloured dresses, which fitted exactly with our theme.”
The ceremony
This couple kept their religious ceremony local by marrying in the church in the village where Sara grew up. “My parents still live there and the church is next door to my old primary school so it was lovely to get married there,” says Sara.
The couple chose two readings – 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 and Marry your best friend, which perfectly summed them up as a couple. “My nan had arranged a chimney sweep to come and wish us luck after the ceremony as a surprise,” remembers Sara. “I was aware of the tradition but Colm was a little confused!”
The reception
The wedding continued at Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon. “We picked this venue as Colm is a keen golfer and I love the barn look,” says Sara. The beautiful reception room had wooden beams, a Cotswold stone fireplace and stunning panoramic views of the grounds.
The details
Sara and Colm decided on a vintage theme for their special day. “My mum and I collected candles and jars and decorated them with burlap and lace, dotting them around the venue,” says Sara. “I also found an old brown vintage suitcase, which I relined with floral fabric to collect our cards, and we hung some burlap bunting behind the top table.” The couple also had flip flops in a wooden crate for guests to wear when their feet got tired from dancing.
The cake
The gorgeous traditional cake was a joint effort. “My 86 year old nan made the cake tiers, which consisted of fruit cake, sponge and chocolate chip,” says Sara. “My very talented friend Zarah from Cakes by Zarah, then iced the cake. It was truly incredible!”
The flowers
The flowers were provided by Clare at Lilyfee. “She did a fantastic job of all of the flowers and also provided extra props for the venue such as the wooden logs for the centrepieces, vases, signs and all sorts of lovely things,” says Sara. “I knew in my head how I wanted everything to look and it was exactly as I imagined!”
The entertainment
Guests were entertained by a fantastic acoustic guitarist who played their favourite indie and Brit pop tunes, followed by a DJ who kept guests on the dancefloor. “We also knew we wanted a photobooth fairly early on and it went down a storm!” says Sara.
The honeymoon
This couple spent an action- packed 12 nights in South Africa travelling the Garden Route,
and finishing on safari at the Kareiga Safari Lodge near to Port Elizabeth, before heading to Maritius for a week of relaxation. “The whole honeymoon was amazing and I feel I have settled my travelling bug for a little while!” laughs Sara.
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