How did you meet your fiancé?

We met almost 15 years ago in school. He won me over and we have been inseparable ever since!

How did he propose?

He kept everything a surprise – I had no idea! We were on our way to a spa weekend at The Salthouse Hotel, Ballycastle. On the way there he took me to our favourite place, White Park Bay. It was mid-December so we practically had the beach to ourselves. We set off on our walk and before I knew it, he was down on one knee. It was just perfect – even the weather held out. Once I got over the shock the first thing I did was FaceTime the girls and family.

Were your wedding plans impacted by Covid-19?

We were lucky that we got engaged before Covid was a thing. When it hit, we planned on as if nothing was happening and started viewing venues the following Easter. We booked our wedding for July 2021 and thankfully didn’t have to postpone – we are so thankful! Planning a wedding during a pandemic wasn't easy - it made even the simplest of tasks much harder. Even small things like seeing vendors face to face was impossible. When it came to dress shopping, I could only take my Maid of Honour and my Mum, so I felt like other people missed out on it. That paired with the fact we were planning our NI wedding from England meant that at a few stages it was stressful. However, we choose amazing vendors and just trusted that they would bring everything together. They are the experts – trust them!

What brought you to Jade Alexandra Bridal?

I knew exactly the type of style I was after – modern, sleek and timeless. The minute I saw Jade’s Instagram, I knew I would find my dress.

How did you know your dress was the one?

Jade Alexandra Bridal was my second fitting and the minute I tried on the Alyssa Kristen dresses I fell in love. I’m pretty sure I tried on every dress Jade had in the shop! It was the first designer that I put on and felt like a bride. The crepe material was everything! When I arrived, I told Jade I had my eye on Sydney, so she pulled it and we kept that one to the end. However, Jade knew what would suit me better than I did and the first one I tried on was perfect. Emery was the one -I am still so in love with it. So simple but so elegant.

Any tips for any future brides on how to find the perfect dress?

Definitely do your research. Know what is out there before you go into a boutique – it can be overwhelming. Be really openminded – there were so many dresses I thought wouldn’t be for me but they were beautiful on. Trust your bridal stylist, they know what looks good on you! Have your hair and makeup done (not professionally, but maybe a little more glam than usual) - it makes such a difference getting a glimpse of what the final look will be. Always focus on what you want. It is your dress, and you have to feel amazing.

Where was your go-to for wedding inspo?

Definitely Instagram and Pinterest. I started pinning wedding ideas from the minute we got engaged (maybe sooner if I’m being honest!).

What was the highlight of your day?

The ceremony was really special. We had it outside in the Walled Garden at the venue and it felt so intimate. Coming down the stairs to meet my dad, then seeing Warren at the end of the aisle was a feeling I will never forget. There are so many emotions in the final few days before the wedding but in that moment none of the stress matters; everything falls into place. But sipping on cocktails and dancing the afternoon away in the garden comes a close second!

Did you stick to traditions, or add anything new into your day?

We weren’t really fixated on traditions for our day, we just wanted to do what would make us happy. We decided to say our own vows in addition to our official religious ones, and it was the best decision. We also opted against an extravagant wedding cake and instead went for a simple one tier cake and donuts. We got little personalised donut bags for guests to take a treat – everyone loved it. When it came to the setup for dinner, we decided against the traditional round tables and went for banquet style (Warren’s idea actually!)

Did you have something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?

I thought about doing it but to be honest was too disorganised in the end! However, the amazing thing about Charlotte Mills shoes is that they act as your something old, new, borrowed and blue. The shoes are your something new, there is an envelope for you to pop a picture of you in them and send back as your something borrowed, they come in a beautiful baby blue box, and they have an old sixpence in the sole of one of the shoes. I thought it was a lovely touch.

DREAM TEAM

Dress - EMERY by Alyssa Kristin

Veil - Pearl Veil by Ashley Wild

Venue – Ivory Pavilion, Galgorm Castle

Photographer – Shannon Mullan

Entertainment – Drum and Bates / Disco Beard

Florist – Millson and Berry

Stationary – Amy Small Designs

Invitations – Perfect Day Print

MUA - Natalie McNab

Hair – Kim Annesley Hair

Bridesmaid dresses – ASOS