Bride's Credentials…
I am 31 (surname is now Cobb). Chris and I met through his brother Nick (one of the groomsmen of course) and we have been together for 9 years! We got married on New Year's Eve 2010!.
A bit about the Groom…
Chris Cobb is 34 and runs his own very successful Internet Marketing and Property businesses.
What she loves about him…
He is the calm to my storm! He laughs all the time and is almost always happy and at ease with the world! He makes me laugh all the time and is always there for me when I need him.
The proposal…
Perfect! It was at sunset on a gorgeous March day on the Isle of Skye.... as the sun was going down we had the snow capped Cullin mountains behind us and Chris asked me to be his wife. We had driven up for a long weekend and Chris had planned to ask me there – he had a bottle of champagne ready and of course had already asked my Dad! I cried when he asked me...
What outfits Abigail's Collection helped you with?
I got my beautiful dress and accessories (veil and wrap) and all of the boys were suited and booted in gorgeous evening tails! Chris looked stunning as did the Best Man, Groomsmen and Father of the Bride. They gave the bridesmaids a run for their money!
What shopping at Abigail's Collection was like…
Fantastic! The team are really friendly, warm and genuinely caring ….. the service is very personal and you always feel like more than just a customer. The team had lots of great suggestions and it Abigail's idea to have the Groom and his team (!!) in evening tails.
The wedding venue…
A Tudor Mansion called Hengrave Hall near Bury St Edmunds Suffolk – we fell in love with it on our first visit www.hengravehall.co.uk the venue is stunning and the team are wonderful.
The wedding day theme...
We got married on New Year's eve so we wanted a winter wonderland feel with a really good party! The bridesmaids wore silver, we had an abundance of white avalanche roses and silver sprayed fern everywhere. We also had winter jasmine so the venue smelled gorgeous the whole day!
Hardest part of your wedding planning...
Keeping so much of it a surprise... some of the surprises even the Groom did not know about!
Best part of the wedding planning...
I loved all of it really – but it was great spending so much time with my great friends – the bridesmaids. Chris and I loved planning lots of surprises for our guests throughout the day too! We really did want our guests to have a magical experience...
Special Touches...
We really wanted to make our guests feel special and a lot of thought went into their experience on the day. Their place cards were all nicknames reflecting our relationship with them! We surprised our guests with a masked ball after dinner – so gave them all venetian masks as favours – no two were the same it took me months to get them all from various sources! We also had another surprise – fireworks and a champagne toast at midnight so we saw in the New Year with everyone we loved – it was magical!
Most memorable Moments...
I had organized a singer for the church (Emma Evans) as a SURPRISE for Chris – she sang Eva Cassidy's Songbird as I walked down the aisle – Chris was so surprised and happy when he heard the singer and we saw each other as I walked down the aisle to him – his eyes said a thousand words – it will always be my favorite memory of him! Lots of people commented on Emma's beautiful voice – she also sang for us while we signed the register. Another favourite moment sat on the floor drinking champagne at the end of the day just the two of us sharing stories of the day!
Any "Wish I had not" dones?...
Spent money on the order of services – so many were left in the church and on the tables! It ended up being a bit of a waste of money even though they looked beautiful.
Money Saving Methods...
Be organized! Things are much cheaper when you buy in advance. ALWAYS negotiate – you can get a discount on most things!
Advice for brides to be...
Don't see the photographs as a job or task – it is the only time you and your groom get alone on the day – so grab a glass of champagne and have a chat throughout the photos – have fun, when else do you get a photoshoot!!! Make sure the two of you sneak off for a few moments throughout the day and evening to have time as a newlywed couple and laugh, chat and catch up on the magic of your wedding day!
Bride’s Credentials…
Katy Elias, now Mrs Jones yaaaay, who pretends to be a modern woman but loves all things fabulously girly. Had no preconceive ideas about her big day.
A bit about the Groom…
Alistair Jones, the reserved type that lets you in when he’s ready but full of surprises.
What she loves about him…
He’s quietly brilliant, and makes everything alright with just a cuddle.
The proposal…
It was an amazing evening in August, and I knew he was going to ask me.
We had chosen our loose diamond together but I hadn’t seen the finished ring. We walked towards Tower Bridge in London, full of butterflies. I really thought he was going to ask me on the bridge, but he was teasing me and it took him a further two hours before he got down on one knee on the south side of the river, looking back at Tower Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral and said “I’m ready to spend my whole life with you, will you marry me”.
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
Abigail was the only person who asked about what type of wedding we were hoping for and asked lots of questions to help get a feel for the big day. We loved the fact that it felt like we had the whole shop to ourselves which makes for a very relaxed and personal atmosphere.
After trying on every dress in town, I narrowed my final choices to one dress from Abigail’s Collection and one from a second supplier. In the end I didn’t chose the dress I chose Abi. If there were going to be any problems along the way she was the lady to fix it.
This peace of mind was important to me and as Abigail’s Collection also supplies fab bridesmaid and gentlemen’s attire all under one roof, it was perfect.
The wedding venue…
Braxted Park, Witham, Wonderful.
Wedding day theme…
Gold across all the little extras, and our flowers were peaches and cream.
Most memorable moments…
I was really lucky to have a horse and carriage, which was just magical for the little bridesmaids, but made it so much more special for me and my Dad.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
I wish I had taken the week off work. You need at least a couple of days when all your jobs are done, you have left work behind and you can start to relax and enjoy it. Or like me you will be shattered on your day and it will all feel like a whirlwind.
Money saving methods…
Always get a proper photographer as these memories are forever, but if you have a friend that offers to make the invitations, favours or even the cake, let them. As much as you want everything to be perfect you’ll find that by the big day there are some things that just don’t seem as important as you imagine they will.
Advice for Brides to be....
Its really easy to get wrapped up in party planning as apposed to wedding planning.
Yes it is important to provide a nice evening for your guests but not at the expense of forgetting why they are all there. The day is about the wedding ceremony and committing to the one you love. Your guests are just happy you’re married off
Bride’s Credentials…
Hi! I’m Anna, I’m 29 & I’m a teacher. My hobbies include tennis (on energetic days), shopping for lovely clothes & shoes (on pay days) & eating chocolate (on most days).
A bit about the Groom…
Chris is 27 & works in shipping (when he isn’t busy working for me, doing the cooking, cleaning etc!). Chris loves eating enough to sustain a small country, playing nerdy games consoles & running around on a football pitch.
What she loves about him…
My husband is one in a million! During the months before our wedding, he spent night after night patiently tying ribbons to all sorts of wedding artefacts (poor man). Chris spoils me rotten – he is generous, funny, handsome, selfless, thoughtful & my best friend!
The proposal…
was totally unexpected! Chris popped the question in Venice; on the island of Murano by the beautiful blue lagoon. He distracted me whilst he pulled out the engagement ring he’d been hiding & before I knew it, he was down on one knee! The ring was a beauty - £3.50 from Claire’s Accessories! Chris knew that this would be ideal for me as I could flash the pretend diamond all holiday (or at least, until it turned my finger green), before designing my perfect ring together when we returned home.
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous! Abi is amazing & her customer service is in a different league from that of other bridal shops. It was lovely to have a private appointment in which we were able to have coffee & chocolates whilst chatting about wedding plans. I absolutely loved my dress, plus I was thrilled with the aftercare – Abi, Lauren & Rob really look after their clients & the little touches are wonderful!
The wedding venue…
was a challenge to find, until we visited the beautiful Woodhall Manor in Suffolk. Our marriage ceremony was in the nearby Woodbridge St Mary Church & the big day was 19th July 2009. It was brilliant!!
Wedding day theme…
White, white & more white! We loved the clean look of a traditional wedding, with the foliage of the flowers adding splashes of pale green which we accented with the bridesmaids’ dresses.
Special touches…
Chris & I know that while a wedding flies by for the newlyweds, it can feel like a lifetime for guests! We therefore kept people informed about timings & made it fun! We invited my school choir to sing at the church, which went down a treat - especially when they performed ‘Love Train’! Our drinks reception was short (with a string quartet playing modern tracks) so that we could sit down to eat sooner, then a casino kept guests amused between the speeches & dancing. We provided baskets with girly pampering goodies & sparkly flip flops for dancing, plus we put large frames together featuring embarrassing photos of us & our guests.
Most memorable moments…
One of our favourites was right at the end; everyone was dancing in a circle when Chris & I ended up in the middle. He picked me up & held me while the guests sang & danced around us, which might have looked very sweet… However, much to my amusement, Chris was seriously struggling to hold me up in the air until the end of the song (‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles…it’s pretty long!!). He did manage to see his gesture through though!
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
We wish that we had organised everything further in advance! Because we were designing our own stationery, we re-worked it repeatedly until it was perfect. This resulted in some pressurised weeks of crazy late-night craftwork!
Money saving methods…
Being cheeky! We negotiated discounts on countless elements - from chair covers to wedding rings. If you don’t ask, you don’t get!!
Advice for Brides to be....
If you can squeeze it out of your budget, invest in a videographer. It’s boring to hear, but the wedding really does zoom by & our DVD is an invaluable record of our special day.
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Bride’s Credentials…
Louise Smith, 30 Years Old, I loved planning my wedding – wish I could do it every weekend!! Dislikes knowing I’ll only do it once!!
A bit about the Groom…
Peter Smith. We met at work 10 years ago; he was my supervisor and the rest they say is history.
What she loves about him…
That he made me wait just over 9 yrs before he proposed; no seriously we’ve been through a lot and he's always been there for me – I love him more than words could ever say.
The proposal…
Whilst on holiday in Gran Canaria –on his second attempt as I spoiled his first one. He went down on one knee on the balcony – and I said ‘Yes’ straight away.
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
Amazing – the attention to detail, the relaxed atmosphere, the exceptional service that not just Abi offered but Lauren & Rob too. Abi recommended the dress I chose – it was the first one I tried on at Abigail’s Collection – both my mum & sister cried so I knew I had to have it. My bridesmaid’s all loved their experience – and they looked stunning; and Rob handled the Groom & his party exceptionally – all 9 of them!!
The wedding venue…
The Stables, Spains Hall in Finchingfield – it was my dream venue and the day was perfect.
Wedding day theme…
The day didn’t really have a theme – the colour I choose for the bridesmaids dress was teal – an impossible colour when it comes to flowers! I choose by favourite colours of bright purple & cerise to compliment the colour teal – my bouquet was a wonderful mixture of ivory roses; and pink & purple flowers, whilst the bridesmaids had hand tied ivory roses.
Special touches…
All the little details on the day from the placecards to the confetti cones were hand made by myself and my team of helpers. We donated money to Cancer Research in lieu of wedding favours – as friends & family have been affected by cancer including Peter’s father who unfortunately died of cancer. I had all the traditional ‘some-things’ including a blue garter my late paternal grandma had given to my mum to wear on her wedding day – 32 years ago.
Most memorable moments…
Walking down the aisle towards my future husband – and knowing that everyone there came to share our special day. Otherwise the day seems like a blur – it went too quickly – but times does fly when you are having fun; which I am certain everyone did.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
None at all; it was an excellent day.
Money saving methods…
Set a budget and stick to it.
Advice for Brides to be....
Take a deep breath and remember this is the most important day of both your lives; enjoy every moment as it goes so quickly.
Bride’s Credentials…
Claire-Louise Clay Age 26 capricorn, Loves sleeping & drinking, dislikes getting up each morning & housework
A bit about the Groom…
David age 27, We met at work, I was his boss and for on my birthday he kissed me and we have been together ever since.
What she loves about him…
He makes me laugh, we have so much fun together & of course his good looks and friendly face. He is truely my best friend.
The proposal…
We went away for the weekend to a beautifull hotel and we were just getting ready for dinner and I asked him how I looked and he said you would look better wearing this, then got on one knee. I was so shocked it took me a few minutes to say yes. (poor boy)
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
Amazing, very helpfull, friendly and fun.
The wedding venue…
Five lakes golf and country club. Fantastic
Wedding day theme…
No particular theme. My colour scheme was pink my fav, and I used the flowers Dave had always brought me, roses & lillys.
Special touches…
We had Dave's sister do our reading as she was leaving to go to Peru for 2 years, so it was extra special. A few years ago Dave had recorded an albulm, so I had them play a few tracks which we danced to and our guests loved.
Most memorable moments…
Although I loved all of it and its hard to say most memorable but I guess these 2 will always be teasured. Seeing my family looking so proud. Seeing Daves face when I walked down the altar, heart melting.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
Not at all
Money saving methods…
Go to Debenhams and book your make up at one of the counters they come to the house and its only £15. inc trial. Mega saving. I didn't have favours; an unnessary cost. Ask places for discounts, I asked at suit shop and saved £100. We had balloons instead of flowers on the tables - saved us £200. Especially when the church gave us some to take with us.
Advice for Brides to be....
Enjoy it all. It is such an amzing experience from start to finish, treasure it. On the day take time out to have a few moments and look in, it will help you take it all in.
Brides Credentials;
Claire Mulhall nee Kingston , 32 yrs, Aquarius, PA to CEO of educational publishing co, Likes champagne and dislikes getting out of bed so early for work Mon – Fri.
A bit about the Groom;
Chris, 34, Engineering Consultant
How they met;
Whilst out for dinner at an Indian restaurant with mutual friends. A quote from his Grooms speech "she was thinking her chicken tikka masala wasn't the only hot dish in the house"
What she loves about him;
His blue smiley eyes (aaaahhhh) and the interesting things he always has to say and his ability to always make everything alright with his big.... hugs!!
The proposal;
On stage at a Medieval night at Coombe Abbey in Warwickshire.
What shopping at Abigail's Collection was like:
Relaxing, stress free and fun.
The wedding venue;
The Manor House and Golf Club, Castle Combe, Wiltshire.
The wedding theme;
No particular theme, but red roses were in the bouquets and on the cake, matching the red bridesmaid dresses.
Special touches:
The wedding invitations were hand made which Chris the Groom designed using both family crests and they had dancing lessons to wow everyone with their first dance.
Most memorable moment:
Claire says that there were so many, but especially seeing her dad's face when he saw her for the first time in her wedding dress was really quite a moment.
Any wish she hadn'ts?
Yes, wished she hadn't had her hair and make up done by someone else - She feels that she could have done it just as well herself and could have saved £180. Also she wishes that she hadn't gone to bed so early (well it was 2am ) but her new husband and all her friends and family stayed up partying into the early hours.... (Claire says ‘'they're Irish, what can I say'')
Money saving methods:
She didn't have favours. Also by staying the night before in the same gorgeous hotel where they had the civil ceremony and reception they saved on unnecessary wedding car costs.
Advice for Brides to be:
When you feel yourself starting to get nervous before the ceremony, just take a deep breath and remember that there's nothing to be nervous about, all your friends and family are there to enjoy your special day with you - relax and just enjoy every moment because it really does go so quickly!!
Bride’s Credentials…
Michelle Crawford, Age 28
A bit about the Groom…
Robert Crawford, Age 23. Met when we worked together, Have known each other for nearly 7 years.
What she loves about him…
Apart from being absolutely gorgeous, he is the kindest, most generous person in the world, and apart from being my husband, he is my best friend too
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The proposal…
Proposed on one knee, at the top of the Empire State Building in New York! How romantic is he?!!
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
An absolute pleasure! Abigail is so professional, she is by far the best wedding dress consultant I came across, I had time and a stress free environment to make my decision, and she helped me to create the dress of my dreams, all five of my bridesmaids thought the service was exceptional and their dresses looked beautiful too.
The wedding venue…
St Mary & All Saints Church, Rivenhall, and the reception was at Braxted Park Walled Garden Pavilion, a truly stunning setting.
Wedding day theme…
The wedding had a butterfly theme, with the colours of white, pale pink and pistachio green running throughout, from place cards, bridesmaids jewellery, tiara, balloons, chair covers etc
Special touches…
All of the stationery inc. invitations, menus, order of service, table plan were handmade by myself, which enabled me to have exactly what I wanted.
Most memorable moments…
Seeing the beautiful Cinderella carriage with white horses pull up outside my house, I will never forget it, and walking down the aisle seeing Rob at the bottom waiting for me, brought a tear to my eye.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
No, the day was perfect, from start to finish!
Money saving methods…
Making my own stationery, and also shopping around for the best deals.
Advice for Brides to be....
Try not to stress, it is very easy to get caught up in everyone else’s worries, but as long as you have made a list and cross things off as you plan them, you’ll have no need to worry.
Bride’s Credentials…
My name is Zoe, I’m 32, Steve & I have 2 daughters, Jodi 5 & Hannah 3.
A bit about the Groom…
My now Husbands name is Steve, he is 35. We went on our first date 9 ½ years ago.
What she loves about him…
Steve makes me laugh, he’s kind and he buys me Chocolate.
The proposal…
Well it was more off a mutual agreement really, I even chose the ring. We got engaged Christmas 2002, Jodi’s 1st birthday.
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
The service was great, because you are there by appointment it means Abigail’s attention is on you, no waiting for a changing room etc. Abigail truly loves her job.
The wedding venue…
St Bartholomew’s Church, Wickham Bishops and Reception was at Vaulty Manor, Heybridge
Wedding day theme…
I had red roses that matched the Bridesmaids Dresses. & the Bridesmaids had white roses
Special touches…
We had a Toastmaster, it wasn’t in our original plans but he was worth every penny. He took pressure off the Best Man, made everyone laugh and everything flow perfectly. Lots of the guests said how brilliant he was.
Most memorable moments…
The whole day, it was brilliant, it went really fast though.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
No
Money saving methods…
I made the wedding stationary, save the dates, invites, place cards, favours and table plan. Also we didn’t have an Order of Service or Button Holes for the Church Guests, we felt they were a waste of time & money.
Advice for Brides to be....
Allow plenty of time to get ready on the day, I went from our house because I had Jodi & Hannah with me and also I wanted to have everything around me. Simple things like your own shower and space to do your make up.
Bride’s Credentials…
Jessica Fletcher nee Goodwin 29, Libra, enjoys spending time riding her horse
A bit about the Groom…
Darrell, 38, Pisces, enjoys working on cars in his spare time. We met at a works Christmas Party.
What she loves about him…
I love the fact that he is very funny and always makes me smile.
The proposal…
In our garden, down on one knee (not quite Paris! But special to us)
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
The whole experience was brilliant. It was so relaxing & fun; I was made to feel very special and it was a really enjoyable experience.
The wedding venue…
Nissi Beach Resort, Cyprus (The Island of Love!)
Wedding day theme…
Special colour theme was bright blue which was used for my bridesmaids dress, ribbons for my flower-girls hair and around my flowers.
Special touches…
We were given a handmade “Good Luck” charm / wedding present by the hotel in Cyprus where the wedding was held; when I un-wrapped it we found that it had lots of little blue beads on it to match our colour theme.
Something Old – Silver Sixpence in my shoe (old tradition even if the coin wasn’t old)
Something New – My dress, jewellery, tiara, veil etc
Something Borrowed – A tiny blue rose hairclip which was hidden inside my hair
Something Blue - My eye-shadow (which was also a subtle blue)
Most memorable moments…
Darrell’s face as I walked down the aisle, he was smiling at me. Also I will never forget the view out to sea as we said our vows…it was idyllic.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?...
I wish I hadn’t worn flip flops under my wedding dress – They had beads & shells attached to them with tiny metal hooks which got caught on the mesh under my dress, I ended up taking them off straight after the wedding and put other shoes on for the rest of the day!
Money saving methods…
We designed and printed our own wedding invitations; it saved us money but was also nice to add the personal touch.
Advice for Brides to be....
Plan everything well in advance so that you can relax and enjoy the run up to your special day without worrying. Enjoy the day – it will go so quickly!
Bride’s Credentials…
My name is Lisa Barrett and I am aged 43. I have five children named Ryan (21), Justyn (18), Bryany (16), Jordan (14) and Jared (11).
I work full time as an accounts manager in Coggeshall. I love football (supporting West Ham United), dancing, tap dancing and going on holiday. My star sign is Pisces.
A bit about the Groom…
Richard is 32 and is an accountant. He enjoys football and cricket and his star sign is Virgo, we met at work.
What she loves about him…
He is very caring and loving and he makes me laugh. He always thinks of me first before himself or anything else. He treats me like a princess.
The proposal…
We were on holiday at Butlins in Skegness with my children and my mum. At the start of that week he had asked my mum and the children if it was ok to propose and they all said yes. It took until the last night of our holiday for him to ask me. He went down on one knee, held my hand and asked me. I could not stop laughing, as I was taken aback, but I obliviously said yes.
What shopping at Abigail’s Collection was like…
Shopping at Abigail’s Collection was fantastic. It is very relaxed, you can take your time and they devote their time totally to you, no matter how long it takes. The whole experience I will never forget.
The wedding venue…
Crondon Park Golf and Country Club in Stock on October 10th 2008. The weather was very warm & sunny.
Wedding day theme…
The wedding theme was café, black and ivory. My dress was ivory, whilst my three bridesmaids (my two daughters and my sister) were in café dresses with ivory chiffon wraps. The Groom wore a black tail suit and his eight best men wore black frock coats with black trousers, café cravats and handkerchiefs and ivory waistcoats. It looked stunning. All the outfits were from Abigail’s Collection. The flowers consisted of, amongst others, Akito ivory roses and small spray roses. In my bouquet I also had diamante pins in every other rose and black spray crystals. In addition each table had as a centrepiece a large “Martini” style glass, containing more roses, Lisianthius, Gypsophelia and eucalyptus leaves. The table linen was white with black bows on the chairs. Black crystals were scattered there over.
Special touches…
I wanted all of the children involved. My dad passed away 16years ago, so Ryan, as my eldest son, gave me away. Justyn was an usher. We bought a ring cushion, which Jared walked down the aisle carrying our rings and Richard’s brother Ian was Best Man. Between Ian and Jared they passed the rings to us, which was a lovely touch. Richards’s Dad also had passed away two years ago, so we had big photographs of them in frames, which were placed in the venue where we had a table set for our dads. This table had their framed photographs on with some tealight candles, bouquets of ivory roses and two glasses filled with champagne.
Most memorable moments…
There were too many to mention, but perhaps me arriving on time! Otherwise, our first dance to “Gravity” by Embrace, which was a special moment.
Any ‘wish I had not dones?
None.
Money saving methods…
The best that I can suggest is to try to get as close to exactly what you want, within the constraints of what you can afford.
Advice for Brides to be....
Relax and enjoy yourself. Be sure to make the most of the time, as it goes by so quickly.
