My husband and I met back in 2009 when I was only 17 and he was 20. We both worked as students at our local supermarket and he would always offer to help me with my end of night work chores, (to get in my good books I think :'P). One day he asked for my ‘MSN’ and my phone number along with a date to the cinema to see Twilight. Now, 10 years later, in November is our anniversary.
I was very nervous at first - to go to another bridal shop after my first experience of trying on dresses not being what I expected. However, I then came to Y.A.P! And the experience from start to finish was truly outstanding and really warm.
The consultation definitely helped me to choose the right dress. The girls recommended what they thought would be best but also at the same time let me express the look I truly wanted. I loved that they also told me the history and the story behind Y.A.P. This story still moves me to this day.
I definitely had a style in mind when I came to Y.A.P, and I can tell you that it wasn't what I had first imagined! I pictured myself in a beautiful, big princess gown. However, being 5ft3 this wasn't going to work for me and my curvier figure. My Bridal style for my day was to be old school Hollywood. Oh... and...Yes the girls succeeded! Heather, at the time was my Bridal stylist and was so lovely! My top priority was that I wanted to feel slim, and for most brides I would say this is true. I found that a fish tale dress was a great shape for me in the end - it made me feel glamourous, slim, and sexy! I remember saying to Heather and the Y.A.P girls "I want to be sexy on my wedding day" and us all laughing together. and I did feel AMAZING! I never imagined my body type would look as good as it did in the style dress I chose but it truly brought the confidence out in me.
I knew I found THE gown as soon as it was on. I was all veiled up and I heard the song "Tale as old as time” by Ariana Grande, from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ playing in the boutique. This song has a lot of meaning for me as this song represents my grandfather Terry, who passed away a year before. I just looked at myself in the beautiful mirror then looked at my mother and sister and just said to them "This is the one, can you hear the song playing?" and I just started to cry with happiness. This moment made me feel he was there and approving. I will never forget that moment for the rest of my life.
I have never felt more beautiful in my life then I did on my wedding day. Firstly, my dress when I bought it did not even zip up on me - for my big day I worked hard to go from a size uk18 to a uk14, so just that alone made me feel so proud of myself! My make-up and hair was the best it had ever been and I looked at myself and thought WOW all of these people have come to help me have the best day of my life - this made it even more special for me to feel my most beautiful.
I would describe my Y.A.P journey as WARM, PERSONAL and EXCEPTIONAL!
I would say the perfect accessories for your wedding day would be an AMAZING pair of shoes to strut your stuff down that aisle! I had Sophia Webster’s Bridal "Wifey for Lifey" shoes, which my now-husband surprised me with the night before. Secondly, a great spray tan for the many photos you have taken so you have that sun kissed glow. And lastly, a veil! For the wind to carry off whilst you walk through the woodlands of your venue for some amazing shots.
My location was in Northumberland at ‘Vallum Farm’. It was a rustic setting with a Tipi bar and a beautiful big indoor marquee, so the weather wasn't ever an issue. Flowers were a big thing for my wedding day, I had them all over my venue. I wanted it to look like an enchanted forest inside and very much a country woodland theme.
I chose rustic colours, dark greens and ‘craft paper’ brown tones along with a lot of white flowers. The theme was very much ‘rustic farm vibes’.
My chosen Suppliers:
Gown - Y.A.P Bridal (Designer Mori Lee)
Flowers - The Garden Studio
Photographer - Claire Hirst Photography
Venue - Vallum Farm
These amazing beautiful women all came together for my wedding and truly made this experience the best I could ever imagine. I couldn’t have asked for better people to supply all the things I needed for our big day. Plus, it makes it that much better that they were all women #GIRLPOWER
Thank you for wanting us to be a part of your 'Bridal Journey' Sarah, we have loved looking after you, we wish you and Christopher so much love and happiness. Forver part of the Y.A.P family.
Love always,
Y.A.P xx
