Oh I do like to be beside the seaside and Joss and David’s easy breezy beachside big day is divine. Honestly it is the British coast at its very best complete with fish and chips and ice-cream.
But before you run ahead thinking all about bare feet and sea shells and bohemian charm, let me stop you in your tracks. Because you see there are kilts and maids in sequin dresses and chic white bouquets and the most beautiful bride in the aptly named ‘Captivating’ Suzanne Neville gown. Not necessarily what you’d think of when you hear beachside wedding eh?
But it so works and if the photos of Joss and David frolicking amongst the Camber Sands sand dunes are anything to go by then I think it’s safe to say that they agree too.
I’ll bet my bottom dollar you’re going to love this ‘I Do’.
Joss The Bride: After trying on what felt like hundreds of dresses at every wedding dress shop in London, I ended up doing what many people do and buying the very first dress I tried on!! I’d always pictured myself in a lace dress with a long train and ‘Captivating’ literally captivated my dream dress! The dress is so beautifully made and I loved the fact that Suzanne is a British designer. The ladies in Pantiles Bride were very friendly and helpful so I was really pleased to be able to buy my dress there.
I wore diamond stud earrings borrowed from Niki my bridesmaid & a pearl bracelet borrowed from my Aunt who wore the same bracelet on her wedding day 40 years ago (my something old!).
My Jimmy Choo ‘VAMP’ glitter sandals were a gift from David six months before we got engaged. The veil was leant to me by a friend before I had bought my dress just in case it went with the dress I decided to buy…it just happened to be the most perfect match!!
Victoria from Victoria Allinson Couture made me the most beautiful headpiece made up of vintage pieces. I chanced upon her shop whilst walking past and decided to pop in. I had tried on so many headpieces in bridal shops and just could not make up my mind! I gave Victoria a few photos of designs I liked and told her I wanted a show stopper made with vintage pieces and she pulled it out the bag!! She is an extremely talented young designer and one to watch out for in the bridal gown field.
I wanted the flowers to look like they had just been picked from the garden as opposed to ‘arranged’. I knew I wanted white roses, gypsophillia and blue thistles (again another nod to the Scottish) with lots of greenery which luckily were all in season and Donna at Café des Fleurs totally understood where I was coming from and added blue hydrangeas to the mix. The end result was totally beautiful.
On our first date David took me to Camber Sands, we walked along the beach on a hot summer’s evening and sat on the sand dunes and had fish and chips! It was magical. We both wanted a wedding venue that had a special meaning to us but also something that was not too close to home so we could have all our guests come and stay and make a weekend of it. We didn’t see any other venues after we viewed The Gallivant, we were totally sold! The venue offered exactly what we were after; relaxed, informal, fun, exclusive use of the hotel and something different from any wedding we had been to. The Chef is also outstanding and the wedding feast is served on large sharing platters so our guests had three starters and two main courses. We also served mini fish and chips (instead of canapés) on the beach with champagne in homage to our first date. We were so lucky that the sun shone for us, the time up on the sand dunes was so special.
We decided not to have a formal wedding cake but instead had an ice cream bar for desert and the clever chef at The Gallivant made us wedding cake flavour ice cream as one of the options; it was absolutely delicious and really tasted like traditional wedding cake!!
We also had a ‘cheese cake’ because we both LOVE cheese! We wanted all the cheese to be British so some of it came from Rye Deli and some from Arran Dairies which is the Scottish Island David’s parents live on.
For the grown up bridesmaids I wanted something different. I decided to go with beaded dresses from House Of Fraser because my dress was very traditional. The girls love the dresses and could wear them again without looking like a bridesmaid!
Because our drinks reception was outside on the sand dunes we were limited to the entertainment options. We decided to not have any music but instead get a magician to entertain the guests while they enjoyed their fish and chips and champagne! My bridesmaid Niki organized for Adam the magician to entertain the troops.
For the evening we had a DJ who kept the dance floor packed all night! Our first dance was to Fleetwood Mac ‘Everywhere’ It was one of my favorite moments, David and I had a good old boogie and it felt like we were the only ones in the room! Every time I hear the song now my eyes instantly fill with happy tears! The words are so fitting to our relationship.
We hired a beautiful vintage Daimler 250 for the bridal car – both my Dad and Husband are big petrol heads so this was important to both of them. I loved travelling in the car; it really made me feel like a bride!! We hired the car from Rye Classics who were lovely, true professionals.
I made a last minute decision to book a videographer – Gorgeous Films – and it was the BEST decision I made. We were initially put off by the cost but the first thing I thought when I woke up the morning after the wedding was ‘I am SO glad we have a film to remember the day by’. I know it’s a cliché but everyone is right when they say the day flies by in a blur and I can’t wait to watch our film!
The fabulous David Long was our photographer who we found on Rock My Wedding. We loved his relaxed, reportage style which is exactly what we were after. He is a really lovely guy and such a pleasure to have around on your wedding day. He worked so hard all day and didn’t leave us until almost midnight! We could not be more pleased with our beautiful photographs; I literally can’t stop looking at them!
The venue has a unique style so we didn’t need to add too much to it. We hired an ‘Aunt Sally’ (a traditional British Seaside photo prop) and giant D&J illuminated letters from a company called Vowed & Amazed which I found on RMW. The D&J were my absolute favorite things and added a personal touch to the evening party!!
Even though at times the whole process of planning and organizing a wedding can be overwhelming and stressful I must have enjoyed it because I actually miss it now! I found it to be a really lovely bonding experience with my Mum and my bridesmaids.
Photography by David Long
Venue The Gallivant | Dress ‘Captivating’ by Suzanne Neville | Boutique Pantiles Bride, Tunbridge Wells | Shoes Jimmy Choo | Headpiece Victoria Allinson Couture | Videography Gorgeous Films | Giant Letters Vowed And Amazed | DJ Hot Wax Associates | Florist Café des Fleurs | Transport Rye Classics | Cheese Rye Deli and Arran Dairies | Bridesmaid dresses Adrianne Papell from House of Fraser | Flower girl outfit Sue Hill.