Dave and Danielle’s Love Story

“I love how much he makes me laugh, everything we do turns to fun.
 I think that's the glue to our relationship!”

Sandy toes and salty kisses… the perfect way to describe Dave and Danielle’s romantic coastal inspired wedding. For a couple that is well known for laughing their way through everything, there was no better way to celebrate their love than surrounding their family and friends with lots of sun, fun and laughter.

It all started in April 2008 when they met at Virgin Active East Dorset gym, where they were both working as personal trainers. She fell for his sense of humour (and old Army uniform) and he fell for her eyes (and small gym tops).

Fast-forward four years to a relaxing getaway in Newquay, when during a walk along the cliffs at Little Fistral beach, Dave popped the question, “he hadn’t said anything for a while, I asked if he was OK and he got down on one knee! We celebrated with cigars and champagne”, remembers the bride.

Completely inspired by the beach, they planned their perfect wedding, and this past August 31st, they celebrated the most special day of their lives with a ceremony at Kenwyn Church in Truro, followed by a reception at the Glendorgal Hotel in Newquay. Their guests enjoyed the perfect seaside nuptials, complete with a funny photo booth, dance floor flip-flops, fireworks, beach hut favours, and tasty treats in the form of an ice cream trike and a coastal crepe cart.

As if that wasn’t amazing enough, they also had pre and post wedding festivities! The night before their ceremony they hosted a beach BBQ at Lusty Glaze Beach with a marquee and a game of volleyball, and the Saturday after the wedding Dave and Danielle had a party at Keywest Restaurant on Bournemouth Pier, where they put up a slide show of the wedding photos and had many more celebratory drinks with all the friends that couldn’t make it to the Cornish celebration, and not even the groom's football injury, suffered shortly after the wedding, could put a damper on their happiness.

ASK THE BRIDE

Favourite part of the your experience?

The beginning of our journey, when we were looking for places to have the wedding. We decided to get married in our favourite place, which is where I grew up in Cornwall. I loved making lots of weekend trips to visit the venues. Being shown around hotels, marquees and castles with lots of champagne made it all feel very special.

How did you pick your dress?

This was the hardest thing about the whole experience! I can’t remember the amount of times I said “this is the one”, I loved them all! I live in jeans and flip-flops so I decided to go for a dress that would really make me feel like a bride! It was a Justin Alexander style 8637 and I bought it from Pascali Bridal in Parkstone.

Most special part of the day?

Talking to Dave behind the door on the morning, when he touched my fingers I felt butterflies as if it was our first date, all my nervous feelings went away and I just couldn’t wait to see him at the church!

I also loved the fireworks at the end of the day, they were a perfect way to end the wedding and watching them while cuddling my new husband was the best feeling ever.

Favourite funny moment?

Dave’s speech, when he said we had met at Virgin, and it was obviously misheard around the room!

Best souvenir or keepsake?

I love my ‘Wedding by the Sea’ heart, which was a present from Coastal Creatives, where we hired our coastal bits.

I also absolutely love our cake toppers, they will be displayed somewhere in our house. We wanted our cake to reflect us as a couple and tell our story! The bottom tier was us at the gym, which is where we met and something we are both in to, the middle tier was camping with our tent, which we do a lot in Newquay, and the top tier was on the wedding day.

Did the groom help?

Dave had one job, which was to send the menu options to the chef the week before the wedding. The night before the wedding I found out he had missed out 2 tables, so at the beach BBQ I was going around asking guests if they remembered what they had chosen to eat.

What was your first dance?

Amazed by Lonestar, we chose that song after we heard it in a taxi after a night out, we sang it very loudly to the taxi man and decided it would be our first dance! We didn’t rehearse at all before the wedding so on the day we just rocked from side to side and back and forth, luckily the photos don’t reflect that.

“Dave went body boarding the morning of the wedding, when I kissed him in the church all I could taste was beer and sea water! Sandy toes, Salty kisses was definitely true”

Bridal Shopping Tips

My search for the dress spanned for many months, through quite a few stores and a couple countries. This is what I learned along the way… hope it helps!

DO

* Leave enough time to order the dress, some stores don’t sell off the rack and will need to have the dress in your size brought in.

* Listen but ignore: everyone has an opinion of what you should look like and what suits you, but the only one that matters is yours. So listen to their comments but don’t let them influence your choices, or you might second-guess your dress down the line.

* Leave your comfort zone. You may have a set idea of what you want but there is no harm trying on something different and you may end up finding something even better than you imagined.

* If you’re having a destination wedding, make sure you check with the airline if you can take your dress as hand luggage. I made the mistake of not checking and was left with a last minute struggle of deciding if I should risk putting it in checked baggage or trying to squash it into a tiny hand luggage case.

* If the store will allow it, take pictures of you wearing the dress so you can look back at your options when dress shopping elsewhere, you can compare them better that way.

* Set a budget and stick to it. You will try on many stunning dresses and some will be out of your price range, but no matter how beautiful they are you have to try and stay within budget or you will suffer later trying to make ends meet.

* When you find a dress you like, try on a tiara and veil from the same store, it will help you get that bridal feeling and you might get a good price if you buy all three from the same place.

* Follow your instincts. If you can’t stop thinking about a dress days after you left the store chances are that might be ‘the one’.

DON’T

* Don’t buy in the first store, shop around a little and see what is out there, if you like a dress from the first place, you can always go back.

* Don’t always shop with the same person, chances are your mom, sisters, bridesmaids and grannies will all want to share that with you so try to go with a different person to each appointment, that way everybody feels involved.

* Don’t let pushy sales people intimidate you, it doesn’t matter if they say you look like the most beautiful bride in the planet, if you’re not feeling it then you’re not feeling it! Next please!

* Don’t settle for a dress you are not 100% sure about, when you try on the right dress you will know it.

* DO NOT buy your dress from an unknown online retailer, if it’s cheap and it’s advertised as the kind of business where you send them the picture of your favourite designer dress and they make you the exact same one for a fraction of the price, DO NOT fall for it. There are many horror stories about this sort of ‘company’.

All the best, Gaby xXx

The Dress... Part II

The white dress. We’ve all seen it in our minds, closed our eyes and pictures ourselves in that beautiful gown, leaving everyone (especially the groom) in awe of our beauty on one of the most special days of our lives.

Many people think that white is meant to represent purity in the bride but this is actually a myth (according to my research). The white dress was actually the result of a royal wedding, for when the British Monarchs Queen Victoria and Prince Albert (who had a remarkable love story) tied the knot, she chose to wear white and brides around the world started to follow suit, so actually, it was a fashion statement. The white dress then became a way for the bride’s family to show all in attendance that they could afford such luxuries as an extravagant gown for they daughter to wear for one night only.

But enough history, as someone who has done her fair share of dress hunting in an effort to find ‘the one’, I’d like to share my experience (and a few tips) with you. This may sound a little crazy but I actually tried on dresses in four countries! I can see how you would think that could be a little extreme but I just really wanted to find the right one for me, as will you!

I was living in Bolivia when I got engaged so naturally I checkout out a bridal store in Santa Cruz Rosa y Gris Novias to see what they had to offer, unfortunately most of the dresses they had were a few sizes to small, apparently curvy girls don’t get married in Bolivia, and what they did have in my size was just not my style. I then considered having it custom made, as this is the norm in many South American countries, however there just wasn’t enough time as my flight to the UK was fast approaching.

Halfway through my engagement I moved to the UK (where my fiancé lived) and tried on dresses in London during an all day trip with my mom. We hit two stores and tried on many dresses in each one. First we went to All That Glitters in the Wimbledon area, the service there was absolutely fantastic, the lady was so helpful and gave good suggestions as to what I should try.

Then we tried the Romantic Fashion Design Gallery, now called Zomo Couture near Oxford Street. It was a bit more boutique than the previous store and I felt like I should’ve had my hair and makeup done to go there, but the ladies were nice and the dresses were gorgeous! Here I tried on the most fantastic dress (I still have dreams about it), The Ronald Joyce Padova, and if I’d had an unlimited budget I would have bought it on the spot.

So the search continues in Glasgow where I attended The Scottish Wedding Show 2012. It was an interesting experience and there were only two fitting rooms in the whole venue so the queue to try on dresses was a little long. I only tried on one, which was lovely but not right for me. Moving on.

And so I reach the last leg of my wedding dress tour, the USA. I visited my aunt in Kansas City towards the end of 2012 and she took me to two stores, the first was David’s Bridal. They had a lot of dresses but none that really felt like the one.

Finally we reach Amore Bridal. My aunt had been right about this place, it had some absolutely stunning dresses, which made it difficult to decide which to try. One by one I tried them on, and finally I found what I was looking for, even if I hadn’t known it. I had been searching for a lace dress, and the one I chose actually had no lace. I can’t explain it but when I tried it on, it just felt right. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Maune Huerta family for the most amazing wedding gift of all, my beautiful bridal gown (first picture on this post).

I hope you find the most perfect dress for you and that when you find it, it’s more than you ever dreamed of. Good luck.

All the best, Gaby xXx

The Dress... Part I

In many South American countries (where I am originally from) it is customary to have two wedding celebrations, the registry wedding which is a low key affair where the bride wears a simple but beautiful dress in any desired colour, and a church blessing in which the bride wears the traditional white gown and the couple (or their parents) pull out all the stops and plan the bash of the year!

As you may know my civil celebration took place in England, and although it was originally meant to be a very simple family event, it quickly spiralled into a full on garden country wedding, due to my fiancé’s generous guest list. In the space of a month and with the help of family (Linda and Diane) and friends (Lollie and Hattie) we planned a night which I will love forever, and I am so glad now that we did not do the simple affair I originally wanted, as I would have missed out on that ‘I just got married’ feeling!

One thing I am happy about choosing from the start was the dress, although it was not actually chosen, it was made! Whilst in Bolivia getting ready to move back to the UK as an engaged woman, I was frantically doing some online shopping in the search for my perfect registry dress. I knew what I wanted, something in a cream lace that would be stunning yet simple, and although I had some good contenders I couldn’t decide, until my mom suggested I have it custom made. I initially thought that was crazy as I only had a week left in Bolivia, but luckily for me my wonderful aunt Idel used to own a couture business and offered to make it for me as long as I provided the materials. Together we picked out the fabric, I explained what I wanted and unbelievable as it may be, in a week her skilful hands created my perfect dress.

I love that dress and I will always love that it is one of a kind and made especially for my first ‘I do’. Here are a few of the ready-to-wear choices I was daydreaming of before getting my lovely, lacy, customised creation.

French Connection - Lark Rise Lace Dress

Dolce Vita - Starling Bell Sleeve Lace Dress

BCBG - Cut Out Lace Dress

Marchesa - Notte Lace Dress (as worn by Lauren Conrad)

Diane Von Furstenberg - Hippolyte Dress

Esther Australia - Lace Dress

All the best, Gaby xXx

Celebrating Paper

Time really does fly. It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago I said ‘I do’ (well, the first time anyway!), and as a lover of creative and quirky gifts, it is only natural that in the days prior to celebrating this first milestone in our marriage, my brain was on overdrive trying to think of the perfect anniversary gift.

The meaning of anniversary gifts stems back to the medieval ages when husbands would give their wives a silver garland after 25 years together and a golden one after 50. Since then many more dates have been associated with different materials to symbolize that year in marriage.

Traditionally, the first year is known as a ‘Paper’ anniversary, meaning the couple gift each other items made of this material. Some believe it is because in the first year of marriage the couples are trying to make ends meet and therefore need an inexpensive way to show their affection. This makes sense if you consider that as the years go by the cost of the chosen material gets a little higher.

Now, getting back to the gift… there are unlimited choices for a paper gift, the most traditional ones being something like a framed photograph of the wedding day, a photo album, stationary, a book or maybe a hand written love note. A more modern approach can be to gift a ticket to a musical or sporting event or if you’re feeling generous plane tickets to an exotic destination.

My favourite however are the personalized gifts, and in the era of Pinterest and DIY tutorials the options are endless. Here are my top paper gifts with a unique twist:

Picture Coasters

These are my absolute favourites, which is why I actually chose to make them for my hubby when the 29^th June rolled around. They were incredibly easy and after looking at a few tutorials on youtube I developed my own system and am really happy with the result. I made 12 coasters and used pictures from our honeymoon, mainly because wedding pictures always get framed but the honeymoon ones disappear into the hard drive. I love looking at surfaces in our apartment and seeing memories of our amazing honeymoon scattered around… and guests love them!

Map Your Love

This is my runner up for best paper gift, and you can really make this project your own. As a multicultural couple I liked the idea of having a big heart made by combining UK and South America maps, and as my husband and I met, got engaged and then got married in three different countries then I could include smaller hearts flanking the large one with all these places. I like this so much I will probably end up doing it eventually anyway, would be cute to have around the flat! Here are a couple ways to do it:

Origami Outfits

I think this would be a lovely ‘him to her’ gift as it seems like the sort of thing a wife would appreciate more, especially if she is particularly proud of her gorgeous gown. I’m not suggesting the husbands learn origami or DIY this, I’m just pointing out that a quick look in Etsy will leave you a few dollars lighter but will earn you lots of brownie points!

A Song To Remember

Your first dance as Mr. and Mrs. is one of the most romantic and intimate moments of your wedding and if you’re anything like me then you’ll love looking back at that moment and wishing you could be there again. This is why I love the idea of a ‘first song’ canvas, use an image of your first dance, throw in the lyrics of your song and voila! Well not quite, you might need someone with Photoshop skills or to have it professionally done, but regardless of how you get it done, it will be a beautiful addition to your home.

52 Things

The funkier alternative to the traditional love letter, a ’52 Things’ booklet is a great way of telling your hubby all the ways in which you love him. You can really get creative and personal with this and maybe even throw in a few anecdotes of when he’s done something truly special that definitely did not go unnoticed. It’s a great way for him to feel special and for you to remember why you love him when he’s driving you crazy!

Get Cartooned

As a big fan of cartoon versions of real people, I just love this option, unfortunately hubby was not so keen. Some people opt for having a cartoonist at their wedding but if you were not one of them, you can still send a cartoonist a picture of your big day or just get an original drawing done whilst you are out celebrating your anniversary, planned or spontaneous, this gift will give you giggles whenever you look at it!

Paper Shoot

If you have some spare pennies in your pocket or a talented photographer friend with a flare for the unusual, then this is definitely the gift for you. It’s a great project to plan together and just think how much fun you would have coming up with paper related poses and making your paper outfits! Creativity is a must for this one, and it will certainly be a first anniversary you will remember. This particular shoot is the work of art of Steph Fowler Photography.

These are my absolute favourites, but for more great ideas, check out my Anniversary Gift Ideas Pinterest board!

Award Winning Photography

It is every bride’s dream to have the kind of pictures that people look at and think ‘I’d love a shot like that’, or that would not look out of place in an exhibition or a photography book, the kind of pictures that win awards.

The moment I met Citlalli, Tamara and Jimmy from Citlalli Rico Photography, I knew that I had found the perfect team to document our memories, and when they sent back the pictures from my wedding I was speechless at the beautiful moments they managed to capture for us. Today I am once again amazed by their unbelievable talent, as one of my wedding pictures has been awarded a FEARLESS AWARD.

The Fearless Awards are given to photographers who manage to capture stunning pictures that redefine wedding photography and are simply amazing. Taken by Tamara, this shot is from our first dance at La Isla in Xcaret, Mexico. I cannot even imagine where she had to position herself to get this breathtakingly gorgeous picture.

Even before I found out about the award this was one of my favourite photos from such an intimate moment together. It is so artistic and beautiful; I love the colours and how it encompasses not just the stage but also the dimly lit tables where our guests were. It is simply perfect.

So congratulations to Tamara Rico for her Fearless Award and I would like to thank her and Citlalli Rico for taking the kind of stunning pictures that tell the story of one of the happiest days of my life. Thanks to you, my memories will last a lifetime.

Best wishes, Gaby xXx