Paul and I were best friends for a long time at college. We both had other things going on but always seemed to gravitate towards each other. We eventually got together and 7 years down the line here we are! Very much in love and laughing our way through it all! He really is my best friend and I truly adore him.
I felt excited but also pretty relaxed as it was my first time looking and I 100% did not expect to find my dream dress! I had my mam, sisters and brother with me and everyone was so excited! I felt confident that they would help me pick and be truthful about what suited me and what didn’t.
The style that I initially loved before trying any dresses on, was very classic and simple. I really liked the Berta Bridal look and imagined myself in dress that swept across my shoulders, had lots of lace and sleeves. I was also pretty determined that I did not want a veil. Oh how wrong I was!
The consultation was amazing! My stylist asked very subtle questions here and there to pull out of me what I was looking for. She also looked at my style I was wearing on the day and how my makeup looked to get a better feel for me. My favourite part of the consultation was when I was asked for three words to describe how I wanted to look on my wedding day. When I later said 'yes to my dress' I was then asked if I felt like the three worlds I had described! It felt so magical and a great way to make sure people didn’t get lost in the moment!
All of the ladies at YAP are amazing! From stepping foot through the door I honestly felt like I had made a new group of friends! Jo (my stylist) was exceptional at working out what would suit me but still listening to what I wanted. You could tell she had lots of experience. They made me feel like the most beautiful bride in the world and seemed truly happy for me! Even on the week before the wedding I received a lovely text message from the team to wish me good luck and love for the big day! It really is those extra little moments that make them so special!
The moment that I stepped into the dress I felt so beautiful. I felt like a bride, but also still like myself and I knew Paul would love it! The reaction from my family confirmed my feelings when the curtains opened and they saw me! Even in my dress fittings when the stress of wedding planning was getting to me, as soon as I stepped in that beautiful dress it was all worth it and the stress just washed away!
I felt so beautiful the whole day! I usually feel comfortable in my own skin but our wedding day was just something else. I can now truly understand what all the wedding day fuss is about! When Paul saw me he was so emotional and blown away. He couldn’t stop telling me all day how gorgeous I looked. It was nice to surprise guests as well as everyone had an idea of what the dress was going to be like, but no one expected it to be as amazing as it was!
Unique, loving and unforgettable!
Talk to us about the location and how you styled your day …
We got married at the fabulous Blackhorse at Beamish. It was the first and only venue we went to view and immediately knew it was for us. The scenes, the simplicity, it was just what we had always wanted. It was very important to me to try and organise the wedding on a strict budget and I like to think I’m very good at finding a bargain, so I did all the decorations and centre pieces myself. I went for the rustic look and used log slices, old gin bottles and candles and it looked lovely! Again, simple but effective, and saved us a fortune.
Tell us about the perfect accessories …
My shoes had to be my favourite. The perfect pair of Jimmy Choos! They were so beautiful! I also wore a lovely hair piece that my sister wore for her wedding. It felt so special that she asked me to wear it and it looked lovely with my dress! I wore my gorgeous veil and a lovely deep red lipstick that just topped the look off!
Any colour schemes/ themes for your big day?
I would say that we went for the rustic look, but I wasn’t too worried about everything being the same. The bridesmaids wore grey dresses and the men wore gorgeous navy tweed suits. Everything looked amazing on the day, although I was slightly worried that my vision wouldn’t look the same when it came out of my head, but it all paid off! Every single guest said what a great job I had done and I’ve even been asked to help plan a friends wedding!
Tell us about your chosen suppliers and how they made your day perfect …
All of our suppliers were absolutely fantastic and I cannot recommend them enough! Our flowers were by Marie Leith at the Flower Shop at Seaham. The bouquets were so beautiful and at a great price! We also hired a vintage post box and pair of ladders from Marie that helped add to our rustic theme.
One of our favourite parts of the day was without a doubt the photobooth we hired from Picturebook Party booths! They were absolutely fantastic. So hilarious and they made sure to get as many people in the photobooth as they could! All the guests loved them.
Our fabulous photographers Jane and Sarah from Camera A Photography were incredible at getting the perfect pictures. So many scenic and beautiful pictures, but also so many photos of everyone laughing and having a great time when we didn’t even realise that the cameras were on us! We don’t have our album yet but I know it will be amazing!
Gemma we wish you and Paul a lifetime of love and happiness thank you for sharing your beautiful bridal journey with us. You are forever a part of the Y.A.P team!
Love always,
Y.A.P x
