THE LOVE STORY

How and where did you first meet?

We actually met online! But after tonnes of terrible dates, I logged on that day to close my account. Then, I saw Ryan’s profile. I thought “Oh, he looks nice!”, and decided, why not? One last effort before I go. I sent him a cheeky, “hello” and the rest as they say, is history.

What were your first impressions of each other?

My first impressions of Ryan were that he was very calm, quietly funny and obviously very handsome! His first impressions of me were funny, kind and beautiful. There was just something charming about him and there was an instant attraction.

When did you know you were in love or that Ryan was "the one"?

It just, sort of, happened. I can’t say that there was one specific moment but things just felt ‘right’. Although, saying that, I had a feeling I was going to marry him after our first date. I was right!

“his mum and brother were decorating our living room with rose petals, fairy lights and candles”

— Becca

Tell us about your first date

We had a chilled first date and went bowling in Portsmouth. We wanted something easy, fun and something that was not so intense. We ended up setting each other silly rules of how to bowl. Things like, lying down, backwards, eyes closed and just had a really good time - althought I imagine the other bowlers thought we were absolutely nuts! I then showed him around some of my favourite places in Portsmouth and we may have had a sneaky kiss or three.

How did the proposal happen? Who asked, and where?

On the weekend of our three year anniversary, Ryan said he’d plan a little something. We recreated some of the things we had done on our first date. We went bowling, ate pizza and had a walk around some of my favourite spots in Portsmouth. Unbeknownst to me, whilst we were out and about, his mum and brother were decorating our living room with rose petals, fairy lights and candles. When we got home, our favourite band ‘The XX’ was playing, he got down on one knee and of course I said yes! Special shout out to Ryan’s mum and brother for truly understanding the assignment!

THE BIG DAY

How did you choose your wedding venue and what made it the perfect fit?

I’d always liked the idea of a really rustic but romantic setting, and we agreed a barn would be perfect. After looking at lots online, we visited Gildings Barns and knew instantly it was the right one, we didn’t go and look at any others! We loved the look, the space and the freedom we had to decorate it however we wanted.

What was the inspiration behind your wedding's theme, decor, and colours?

We kept it rustic and romantic with lots of hessian and lace to match the barn. I loved to idea of dried flowers or silk flowers to be a bit eco-friendlier, so we used lots of wildflowers and flowers that were growing at that time, like lavender and daisies. We wanted it to feel cosy and dreamy.

“I knew I would get a dress from here as soon as I spoke to Hannah – she just knew what I was looking for”

— Becca

THE WEDDING DRESS

What were you looking for in a wedding dress?

I wanted something flowy, beautiful and dreamy with a bit of lace and glam! I also wanted to incorporate something a bit more unique, either through the styling or the accessories. I also wanted to be comfortable, especially wearing it all day and showing off my favourite features was really important to me.

How did you choose the bridal boutiques you wanted to visit?

I spent a lot of time googling ‘curvy bridal boutiques’ and made a list of the best rated. BRIDE by Aster (where the LUSH collection originally started) was one that kept coming up and so I booked an appointment (here and only here in hope that it would be the one!) – plus it helped that I LOVED the dresses featured on the website.

How many boutiques did you visit on your dress journey and how did you know you had found THE ONE?

Just the one! I knew I would find my dress here as soon as I spoke to Hannah – she just knew what I was looking for in a dress and picked out the most stunning dresses to try on, including ones I wouldn’t have thought of but ended up loving!

What accessories did you choose and where did you buy them?

I went for a hair comb and a stunning floral applique veil from BRIDE by Aster – I just had to, once I tried it all on together. The veil had blush pink flowers on it which tied in perfectly with the bodice of my dress.

Did you enjoy dress shopping? Any especially good or not so good experiences?

I LOVED it! It was honestly the best experience and I would get married again to be able to do it all over again! I honestly had so much fun and felt like an absolute princess.

How did you feel walking down the aisle in your dress and what did your partner think?

Oh I LUUURVED swishing my way down the aisle. I felt so confident and beautiful, and seeing my husband’s big old grin when he saw me was the best feeling.

What did your partner wear? And the bridal party, how about them?

ADVICE AND REFLECTIONS

What was the most challenging part of the wedding planning process?

The guest list! Trying to keep it under the max without missing anyone out was really tricky – and the table plan was just another level of complex but once we had it, it was a definite relief.

What advice would you give to other couples who are currently planning their wedding?

Take your time! Don’t rush decisions, if you’re stuck, leave it for the night and come back to it in the morning and don’t be afraid to ask for help! I’m a complete control freak so this was hard for me, but there were jobs that I could ask friends and family to help with and they loved being part of it all. It really took the pressure off me when I knew I had the extra support.

Is there anything you would have done differently about your wedding?

I don’t think so, apart from take it all in more! It all went so quickly, and it was so hard to appreciate it all in the moment. I love looking back at the photos as I always see something knew, each time I look back at them.

What was the best purchase you made for your wedding?

Apart from the dress, we are so pleased we spent a bit more on the photography as we now have the most stunning photos to look back on whenever we want to. It always feels a little scary when you start to price things up like photography, however the money we spent will last us a life time of memories and it was the best choice we made as a couple.