WHERE: Stone Manor Hotel, Kidderminster
WHEN: 16th September 2006
HOW THEY MET
Ruth and Ian met at one of their local wine bars. She had been out with a friend for her mum's birthday and Ian was there with his best friend.
THE PROPOSAL
Almost every year Ruth had been to Ibiza and had always raved about the fantastic sunset you can see from the bars on Sunset Strip. Ian took Ruth there for a weekend and managed to book a hotel with a room right above Sunset Strip, where they watched the sunset on their balcony drinking champagne. Everyone cheered when the sun disappeared and it’s when Ian popped the question.
SHE WORE
Ruth bought her amazing strapless dress from Joja Bridal in Birmingham's jewellery quarter. Designed by Dizzy Lizzy, the silk gown had an unusual scooped neck and back, with an apron front and long train. It was finished beautifully with tiny Swarovski crystals.
ACCESSORIES
Anna Clifton (www.annaclifton.co.uk) designed Ruth’s pretty tiara, necklace and bracelet. Ian had left her earrings as a gift on her pillow to open the morning of the wedding.
HE WORE
The groomsmen hired their suits from Nicholas Smith in Dudley. They all wore dark grey suits with traditional long jackets. Ian wore a silver waistcoat and cravat, whiles the best men teamed their suits with ivory cravats. The ushers wore ivory waistcoats and cravats with lovely tiepins.
THE BRIDESMAIDS
Their six bridesmaids wore pretty mint green dresses made especially by Ann at Joja Bridal in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. The adults strapless dresses were covered in Swarovski crystals and had puddle trains. The younger bridesmaids wore a pretty bodice combined with a tulle skirt. Their jewellery was handmade by Anna Clifton, www.annaclifton.co.uk.
THE FLOWERS
Ruth’s flowers came from The Marcy Street Studio of Floral Design (www.marcystreet.com). She carried a striking bouquet of hot pink gerberas and pink stargazer lilies.
TRANSPORT
Ruth’s classy car was hired from www.concordeweddingcars.co.uk - it was appropriately called Ivory Princess.
THE CEREMONY
The ceremony was lovely, my mum did a reading which was very emotional. The funniest part was just after the vows, when I heard my name being whispered and as I looked round everyone was giggling as the two younger bridesmaids had hugged each other and got their tiaras stuck together.
THE CAKE
The amazing four tier fruit and sponge cake from www.gadds-cakes.co.uk was covered in white icing and decorated in grass and sugar lilies around the sides. The monogram cake topper, made from Swarozski crystal, was designed by Anna Clifton www.annaclifton.co.uk.
RECEPTION DECOR
The tables looked lovely decorated with a mint green slip cloth. Ruth had scattered hot pink and clear swarovski crystals onto the tables and in the centre sat a tall vase with stargazer lilies and hot pink gerberas in.
FAVOURS
Men received mini wooden puzzles; the women were given little photo albums, which Ruth customised herself. Inside the photo albums she put a Breast Cancer Care pink ribbon pin. The children each had a little goodie bag filled with toys/make-up/footballs, and the baby had her own little goodie bag with a rattle and toy in. The members of the wedding party each had their own personalised champagne glass with their name and the wedding date on.
MUSIC
Ruth walked down the aisle to a Massive Attack song called 'Teardrop'. They left to Will Young’s Sweetest Feeling. They hired a singer (www.pauljjames.co.uk) for the evening reception who was full of energy and got everyone up dancing.
THEME
Ruth and Ian decided not to have a specific theme, but all the details were sparkly and the colour pink featured alot throughout the day.
BRIDES TIP
“Do as much as you can yourself. Making all the stationery and the cake saved me so much money. Also designing my own dress and having it made worked out cheaper than buying one from the shop and it was exactly as what I wanted and the fit was perfect. This was the same with the bridesmaids’ dresses. I got most of my ideas from Wedding Ideas magazine.”
SPECIAL MOMENTS
“There is so much to remember! Dave arranged for champagne to be taken to my mums for us to drink while we were getting ready which was very sweet. He also bought myself, two of the bridesmaids and my mum a spa day which was such a nice treat after all the hard work that went in during the run up to the wedding.”
BRIDE'S TIP
“My advice would be to enjoy the planning and do what you want. We saved very hard and took a payment holiday on our mortgage to help us, which we felt was a good idea. We have paid for the whole day and are thankful now, after the event, we have no bills or debts to pay. Also, don't worry if things go wrong. Someone cancelled our wedding venue with a few months to go, which was extremely traumatising for both of us. It was a terrible time, but thankfully with the help of the hotel we got things re-booked.”
GROOM'S TIP
“Surprise your fiance with champagne, chocolates and strawberries delivered to the hen party – she really will have a weekend to remember.”
THE HONEYMOON
Ruth and Ian went to Mexico to stay in the fantastic Moon Palace for a relaxing and enjoyable time as man and wife.
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