Ruth and Sam met in 2012 at a ski resort in New Zealand. It was Sam’s third time there as a seasonaire, but Ruth’s very first. “So, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing,” Ruth says. We’re told that there’s an unwritten rule when it comes to learning to ski or snowboard: you should never let your significant other teach you if you don’t want it to end badly. But that season, Sam taught Ruth to snowboard and 11 years later, the two got married. “Perhaps we’ve broken the curse,” Ruth says. “That’s not to say there weren’t a few choice words muttered under my breath on occasion when she kept telling me to relax more!” After that ski season, the couple travelled together for a further two years. “It was a pretty intense way to start a new relationship, but it just worked,” Ruth says. “I like to think our personalities complement each other well.” In 2022, the duo chose their engagement rings together; and in Barcelona that year, Ruth proposed on the balcony of their hotel overlooking a quiet courtyard in the Gothic Quarter. “No big gestures, no gimmicks, just a moment for the two of us,” she says. Ruth and Sam were both drawn to The Palm House for different reasons. Sam spent a lot of time in Sefton Park with her grandparents as a child, so it held fond memories for her. For Ruth, she’d always envisioned an outdoor wedding surrounded by nature, but worried about the weather. Stumbling across The Palm House on Pinterest one day, was a real lightbulb moment, it offered the best of both worlds. So, they booked a viewing and were completely sold from the get-go. The date was set for 22nd September 2023. Read on as Ruth tells us more... “The day was beyond our wildest expectations.” – Ruth SETTING THE SCENE Limoncello shot wedding favours were sourced from Jimmy’s in Suffolk, near to Ruth’s childhood home. She found him on Instagram and quickly got chatting about ordering some of this handmade Italian liqueurs for guests to enjoy after the wedding breakfast. “He’s so passionate about his craft and provided regular updates throughout the fermentation process,” Ruth tells us. All of the wedding’s signage, table plan, table names, place cards, guest book and postbox signs were created by the couple’s bridesmaid Hannah. An absolute craft whizz, she wanted to help her friends to create the relaxed, informal and fun atmosphere they dreamed of, and was able to use brightly-coloured Perspex to great effect. For the table plan, she used an old plastic board that once belonged to a hairdressers, and spray-painted it with a pink to orange ombre effect. “Our wonderful florist Olivia from Funk & Bloom was able to completely take our vision and bring it to life,” Ruth explains. As soon as they read her mission statement on her website, they were on board: “Expect bold, stylish floral designs inspired by nature, nightlife and nostalgia.” The last piece of the puzzle was their Zoom consultation where they were able to chat through ideas, and Olivia offered advice on flower choices to suit REAL WEDDINGS 27
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