Sophie and Hywel met in school when they were 16. They sat together in science class and became closer, which led to Hywel asking Sophie to go to prom with him. Sophie tells us, “We spent all summer talking and made it official on bonfire night and have been inseparable ever since.” Hywel proposed in September 2022 during a holiday in Cape Verde. They were celebrating purchasing a house together and wanted a short break before moving in and dealing with all the stress that comes with it. Sophie continues, “Hywel wanted a beach proposal and was checking the weather all week to get a nice, clear sunset. Halfway along the beach, which was completely deserted, Hywel got on one knee and popped the question. I thought it was a joke at first as I was in shock! After the proposal, we went back to the hotel and booked into one of the upmarket restaurants for a celebratory dinner.” The happy couple both attended Swansea University and moved into a flat on the marina, making Swansea their home. “We would often spend weekends down at the various beaches and had gone to Oxwich Bay many times,” recalls the bride. “We would frequently call into the Oxwich Bay Hotel for Sunday lunch after a walk on the beach. Many years later, when we were looking to book our wedding venue, we decided to go see Oxwich Bay Hotel. When we got there, it just felt right. Sophie from the hotel was amazing and worked so hard to make the day special! Nothing was too much effort and she was so friendly.” Sophie and Hywel opted for a botanical terracotta theme for their big day. Sophie explains, “Hywel’s mother decided a year or two before the wedding that she would provide the flowers. Having little experience but a very good eye for detail and décor, she started going to college weekly for a floristry course! She spent an evening a week learning how to do all sorts of floral arrangements.” REAL WEDDINGS 35
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