How did you and your husband meet?
Brent moved in next door to me in 2005 although we were both married and I would NEVER have guessed the future. He moved back to South Africa in 2007 and we both went through a divorce in 2014. It was 2015 when we realized how we felt about each other and he moved to the UK and now we run 3 businesses together!
How did he pop the question? Were you surprised?
He asked me to marry him one week to the day before I was going to propose to him. It was my birthday and we were on holiday with our 4 children and my parents. It was very emotional because it was about a new family coming together.
Where did you tie the knot?
When we first discussed hosting a wedding we knew it had to be different from the majority that we capture. Many weddings feel so rushed and often a little stressful and this is the last thing that we wanted for ours. We fell in love with Dubrovnik 2 years ago whilst exploring Southern Croatia by camper van. We chose to have the ceremony in Sponza Palace - a 16th Century palace in the Old Town.
Did you have a specific theme in mind for your wedding?
We wanted the theme to just be authentic to Croatia and Dubrovnik. So the palette was ivory, soft green, soft blue and blush.
Wedding Dress Designer & Style
Again I see SO many wedding dresses that I wanted something a bit different and also right for my age (43) and that fact it was a second wedding. I love Art Deco style so Eliza Jane Howell’s ‘Luna’ was exactly what I was looking for - long sleeved, low back and embellished.
What made you choose AMY O for your special day?
I stumbled across the Amy O bridal offering and instantly fell in love with the back necklaces which I thought would work perfectly with my dress. Amy O helped me choose the right earrings to finish off the look.
What was one of the most memorable moments from your wedding day?
The whole day was hugely emotional because our 4 kids played a role and it was a very intimate wedding with just 32 guests. When we had finished taking some couple photos we came out of the port and started walking across the square towards our guests who were having drinks and everyone started whooping and cheering. It was wonderful! We also has an open Mic for speeches which was the best thing ever.
Did you go on a honeymoon? If so, where to?
We had to come straight home back into wedding season (we are wedding photographers and filmmakers www.bylumiere.co.uk and katehopewellsmith.com). But my closest friend and her husband, who came to the wedding from NYC, sent us a Mr and Mrs Smith voucher so that we could have a mini moon which was a very special and thoughtful gift. We whizzed down to the South Coast of the UK for 3 nights.
Any advice for future brides?
Don’t stress the small stuff - relax and enjoy the whole day - a wedding planner helps enormously! Get a fab wedding photographer - it is all you have left after the day and the photos enable you to relive it all again and again.
- Croatian Wedding Planner: The fantastic Katarina of Dukata Events
- Dress Designer and Shop: Eliza Jane Howell and Fairy Tale Weddings
- Hair piece: Agnes Hart
- Hair and Make Up - my friend Cat of Bridal Hair and Make-up Oxfordshire
- Florist: Flower Design Patrea
- Groom’s Waistcoat: John Varvatos
- Photographer: Jessica Raphael Photography