There’s nothing we love more than sharing wedding stories from couples across the region and when we have the opportunity to share a friend’s celebration, well, it makes the occasion even more special.

Christina and David first met in primary school and it was during their years in secondary and high school that their friendship blossomed into something a little more romantic. “In high school - aged 15 - we had our first kiss at a NYE house party, the rest is history and we have been together ever since - 13 years in April! I really did marry my high school sweetheart.” It was on their 10-year anniversary that David proposed in the stunning city of Venice.

“Working as a Wedding and Events Manager in the wedding industry for six years, I had a really good idea of what I did and I didn’t want. We wanted the day to be relaxed but full of fun and entertainment, which is why we had live music throughout the whole day so that there was always something going on for the guests. The day was also all about the food and drink; for our Aperitif we had Aperol Spritz, which is our favourite drink and reminds us of when we got engaged in Venice. For our meal we had sharing board starters, a trio of our favorite desserts and a champagne sorbet course.”

“I visited the venue for an event a few years ago well before we were even engaged and instantly loved it. It was then the first venue and only venue we visited and when David said he loved it too I knew we should just book it and cancelled all other appointments. We loved the quirky décor and outside space, and also loved how close it was to the beach, as we have lived by the coast all our lives so knew we wanted photos there.”

How did you choose your photographer?

“We always knew we wanted Sean Elliott Photography, I checked with him to see what dates he had free before we even booked our wedding venue. I have a fantastic relationship with him through working together on shoots and wedding for six years so felt really comfortable around him. His style of photography is stunning but his personality sealed the deal.”

How did you find the overall wedding planning experience?

“The planning process was really easy as all of our suppliers just fell into place, I was lucky enough to have a good relationship with them so knew straight away who we wanted to be apart of our day.”

Did you attend any wedding fairs?

“We attended open days at Newton Hall for inspiration, it was lovely to have a day out with my bridesmaids. I also attended the Belle Bridal Show at The Biscuit Factory to try on my gold flower crown by What Katy Did Next.”

Advice for other brides and grooms?

“Don’t over think or stress over little details, trust your suppliers they know what they are doing. Just enjoy your day, spending time with your guests.

“If you’re not going on a honeymoon straight away, book a night away somewhere, we booked a spa day and overnight stay, and it was the best thing ever to chill after the all the adrenaline from the wedding.”

What was your highlight of the day?

“It was the perfect summers day so we really enjoyed the drinks reception on the lawn, listening to live acoustic music with Gin & Tonic Sorbet, then having a moment to ourselves going down to the beach for photos. We danced the entire night to The House of Sax Experience, with everyone dancing underneath my veil.”

For more inspiration take a look at our dedicated real weddings section, or take a look at the glossy pages of our regional magazine.