Although Rachel and Ryan went to the same school and knew the same people, they’d never met each other. “We actually met on good old Facebook,” Rachel tells us. Having found shared interests and similar personalities, the pair hit it off right away. Ryan proposed on the seafront outside Hythe Imperial Hotel, in the same spot where they’d shared their first kiss. They’d decided to walk down there one evening, and when Ryan popped the question it was a huge surprise for Rachel. “It was a little unusual to go for an evening stroll down the road though,” she realises when she came to think of it. Rachel used to work in the spa at the Hythe Imperial Hotel, so understood well what a lovely venue it is. In fact, Ryan’s dad got married there, so it held a special place in his heart too and always said he wanted to get married there. So, they wasted no time and set the date for 31st July, 2022. Read on as the bride tells us more... SETTING THE SCENE Rachel’s vision for the flowers was of something simple and elegant and opted for blush pink and ivory roses, peonies, astilbe, gypsophila and some light grey eucalyptus. “I let my florist take the lead and she did an amazing job,” she says. The bridesmaids had slightly smaller versions of the same bouquet and on the day, Angela from Pink Blossom Events tied a pendant containing a photo of Rachel’s late nan around the stems so that she could be with her as she walked down the aisle. The beautiful centrepieces featured the same flowers as Rachel’s bouquet with lots of pinks and foliage. The arrangements sat in gold containers with the greenery spilling over the side. “They looked very classic in the Imperial Ballroom,” the bride remembers. The table décor was completed with scattered tea lights. The three-tier wedding cake was also created with the wedding’s palette in mind. Pink roses and foliage were added as decoration, with gold drips to complement the centrepieces and cake topper. Also to mirror the gold in the centrepieces the place names were written in gold script, as were the elegant table numbers. The couple’s wedding favours were little candles in jars, and Rachel popped some blush ribbon around them to tie in with their chosen colour palette. The candles were chosen as a nod to an inside joke among their friends who know that Ryan absolutely loves scented candles. Guests were also given alcoholic lollipops as an extra bit of fun. Loved ones were also treated to a sweet cart that had been decorated in the wedding’s signature colours. The bags too were pink and white and flowers were draped around it. LOOKING THE PART Rachel always dreamed of a backless, fitted dress with thin straps and that’s just what she told the consultant when she arrived at the boutique. Options were pulled including one she was particularly hesitant to try on as she didn’t like the straps, but when she gave in and slipped into it, everything changed. “I absolutely loved it,” Rachel shares. “I loved the feeling it gave me and knew then and there it was the one.” She kept her jewellery and accessories simple with a pair of teardrop earrings and a necklace. 33 REAL WEDDINGS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=