I was about to take the photo and he went down on one knee!
Describe your wedding memories in 5 words
Memorable, Beautiful, Happy, Fun, Perfect!
How did he propose?
Whilst on holiday in Cyprus. It was our last day there. During the evening we went for a walk towards St. Nicolas (Agios Nikolaos) Church in Pernera. We stopped at the harbour, which is next to a little church. Layton asked me to take a photo of him, sitting on a wall in front of the boats. I was about to take the photo and he went down on one knee! He told me later that evening that he had been carrying the ring with him in his pocket all holiday, waiting for the perfect moment.
Your wedding planning process
Layton proposed in August 2018, and by the end of August we had set the date and confirmed the wedding venue. So 8 months to plan the wedding! The run up to the wedding progressed pretty smoothly! The only major issue we had was arranging the bridesmaid dress fittings to accommodate a time when both my sisters were able to travel back. Both sisters live in England (one in Worcester and one in Hampshire). Also my sister Clare was training for a marathon so was unable to travel back when her long distance runs were arranged. (Clare ran the marathon 3 days before the wedding). The final bridesmaid dress fitting was the day before the wedding, when it was discovered more alterations needed to be made on the dresses! That was very stressful! They had to leave the dresses with the seamstress for the alterations to be made, and go back to the shop to collect the dresses later that day.
Most of the men’s suits also needed alterations – mainly the trousers were too short on all the men. Also, my nephews (who were our Paige Boys) were not able to come back for their final fitting until the day before the wedding. When they tried their suits on the day before the wedding, all their suits needed to be changed for different sizes. So lots of running around the day before the wedding!
How did it all unfold?
A calm morning for the bridal party. We had stayed the night before at the Coed-Y-Mwstwr so were able to enjoy a breakfast (I didn’t eat much!) while waiting for the hair dresser and make-up artist to arrive. Having our hair and make-up done at the venue perfect.
They were both so calm and in control that it really helped keep the nerves away!
The men got ready at our house, where they were given their wedding gifts (filled hip flasks). They then travelled to the venue and enjoyed a drink at the bar, waiting for the ceremony to begin!
Songs you chose to be part of your day
First dance song – Starship – Nothing’s Going to Stop Us Now
What do you wish you could go back and tell yourselves?
To enjoy all the planning and organizing! I found it stressful at the time – all the decision-making I had to do as this doesn’t usually come naturally! I’m quite indecisive! But looking back on all that we did; thinking about all the planning and organizing; all the purchases from Amazon to create the Sweet Table in the evening; all the trips to Ikea to buy the vases for the flowers to go on our guest’ tables; buying all the candle holders and double checking we had bought enough; the mad dash to Dunelm and Sainsbury’s to buy candles and vases for the top table; the countless trips to B&Q to buy wood to make our wooden signs, the sand paper, paint and more sand paper! All of this we look back fondly as we realise how fun it was to do, even though we found it stressful at the time!
Your favourite photo and why?
We absolutely love them all! Especially the natural photographs you have captured. We particularly like 132, 133, 134 – which captures the moment the Registrar said Layton’s name wrong!
Picture 160 which shows our three nephews playing on the tree stump.
Photo 319 and 333 we love too!
But our favourite photo is 370 – we just look so relaxed and happy! Layton has used this picture for his screen saver on his mobile phone. Of course, the PhotoBooth photos are all hilarious! We love all of those too!
Sian and Laytons Contacts and Suppliers
Venue Coed Y Mwstwr, Bridgend
Wedding Dress Bridal Box, Pontyclun
Suits Dyfed Men’s Wear
Band The Story Goes
Stationery Our friend Bethan Ward
Flowers Daisy Boos Florist, Maesteg
DIY Layton created two ‘Mr & Mrs Signs’ and a sign spelling ‘Love’ We bought the lettering and Layton created wooden plinths/platforms and fixed the lettering to them. Lots of sanding down, undercoating and painting them with white paint, but we were really happy with them, and have the signs displayed at home now! Layton also created the confetti stand, to hold the confetti cones for our guests to use. The card house was borrowed from friends Sarah and Huw Lloyd-Morgan, who had got it made to use at their wedding.