Milan Style

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Andrea Kilpatrick, 30, from Northern Ireland, married the love of her life, Dr Stephen Herron, the very same day that Pippa Middleton wed hers, writes Pam Ryan.

And, somehow, the two also wore nearly identical wedding dresses.

Andrea spent a month working with her mother, Arlene, and dressmaker, Lorna Reid-Mullen from The Pinked Edge Couture, to redesign the dress Arlene wore to her own wedding, she told the Metro.

Andrea said: "Her whole life my mum has been ahead of fashion and loves to customise clothes, so we approached Lorna Reid-Mullan of The Pinked Edge Couture about one year ago and have since worked with her on getting the dress exactly as we would like it.

"We always wanted to keep the high neck as this was such a unique original feature of the eighties dress that my beautiful mum had chosen 35 years ago and has since been a signature style of hers.

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"Lorna was fantastic and open to all ideas then happily advised on how we could make it happen and embellish certain areas to accentuate. We thought that we had created a completely unique dress."

The sleeves were shortened and Lorna used the original lace and veil as embellishments to create something unique. At least that was their intention.

Indeed the dress was beautiful but Andrea was stunned by Pippa's wedding pictures.

"I couldn't believe it when my bridesmaids sent me a picture of Pippa on her big day," Andrea said.

"I was stunned to see the similarity in style. Pippa's was amazing, so I was really happy that we got it so on trend. It was quite a relief that we got married the same day though, as if my wedding had of been a few months later everyone would have thought I had tried to recreate Pippa's dress.

"Stephen and I find it quite funny and as someone who doesn't really follow fashion it is quite ironic. Thankfully I have a very style-savvy mum.

"We all thought it was very funny but I was genuinely proud of my mum for having such imagination and daring to be a bit different in her ideas."

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Assemblywoman Sandy Galef has written legislation (A.1137) that would make it easier for lay individuals to officiate marriages in New York state.

The bill, introduced in the Senate (S.5858) by Senator Patricia Ritchie, would expand the ability to perform legal marriages in the state of New York to those who apply for a single-day license to solemnize marriages through the Department of State.

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The goal of the bill, the sponsors say, is to help an increasing number of couples with an eye on creating a personal ceremony. Today, many couples are choosing to be married by a friend or relative, but in order to do this, the lay person must request and obtain ordinations from online churches as ministers in a conscious belief that it confers legality to the marriage.

Current state law allows weddings to be presided over by a “clergyman or minister of any religion,” as well as certain elected officials within their jurisdiction, including judges, town clerks, mayors, and the governor.

The Galef-Ritchie bill would allow an individual to apply for one-day marriage officiant designations from the New York State Department of State in order to solemnize marriages.

“There are many questions that soon-to-be-weds are worried about as their wedding approaches, and whether or not their chosen officiant is legally recognized should not be one of them,” Galef said. “It is not clear how New York state handles credentials such as online ordinations. The lack of clarity over the qualifications needed to bless a union has caused numerous problems in divorce, annulment, and estate planning.

“At the same time, couples are more and more interested in having a meaningful relationship with the person who solemnizes their weddings, and a lack of religious connection or political office should not preclude someone from the wedding of which they have always dreamed,” Galef said.

The proposed law specifies that the one-day marriage officiant permission will only be granted for the individual ceremony specified on the application and will expire upon the conclusion of the solemnization.

California, Massachusetts and Vermont have passed laws that legally allow individuals to become temporary marriage officials for one day in acknowledgement of these contemporary trends in ceremony preferences.

Based on those models, this legislation will allow the Secretary of State to authorize an individual as a “one-day marriage officiant” to officiate at a specific marriage in New York, thereby providing a remedy to the question of validity of a marriage performed by a layperson.

The Assembly and Senate bills have both been referred to the Judiciary Committee in their respective houses.

Also see: http://www.sheindressau.com/wedding-dresses-2016-2017

  

Everybody knows that a wedding requires a lot of preparations and financial investment. Among the most necessary things is the one the future spouses should not scrimp or go cheap on. We are talking about the bride’s and groom’s attire, artistic and technical qualities of photography and, of course, a wedding cake. The latter is a star of the show, and we will speak about the ways in which it can spoil this beautiful day. Interested? Keep reading, and you will know how to avoid such a blunder. So here are the most bizarre Nigerian wedding cake designs for your attention.

Looking through the wedding cake pictures on the web, I highlighted the most unusual and gaudy kinds. A strange kind among the others, in my opinion, is an odd idea to depict the snapshots of the newlyweds on the cake. The photos look uglified, bad, and it just does not make guests hungry looking at it. Let us call it ‘Eat me if you dare’.

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In keeping with the theme, we have another unlucky variant of the dessert. This time it is a cake made in the form of a bride! A full-body cake! Just imagine a huge fiancé in crème on one side and a real girl from the other. A perplexed groom is ready to faint at this point. I would call it a schizophrenic concept. One can only have sympathy for the poor couple.

The next evidence of complete failure is below. It is a weirdly made cake that looks like an awry pile of patties. I wonder who created it. It is doubtful whether this ‘masterpiece’ may be mouth-watering. View the photo and assure yourselves!

Another unfortunate example is a huge cake, but it is not perfectly made. On the contrary, the design is weird putting it mildly. The cake consists of a lot of smaller ones which are put on each other in such a clumsy and quaint way. The whole sweet construction looks about to fall and stain everyone with crème. It is difficult to describe. Just check it out.

We have wound a 'brother" of the wedding cake above. Either it was a failure of a chef or it has melted or somehow spoiled while transporting. Who knows? Hope it didn't spoil the bride's good mood.

Some people think that if the cake is big and even oversized, it is good. It means there will be enough for all the guests. That is why the concerned couple chose gigantic desserts, and it is the worst mistake. Then it begs the question, how are you going to cut this cake? With the help of a ladder? The photo below illustrates this case. Yes, the cake looks fantastically posh. The decorations are stunning and realistic. It seems that a pastry chef is a real artist. But the size! It is mammoth! Well, it makes the whole celebration look strange. At least it makes me think that one of the beloved has got delusions of grandeur.

The bride who has chosen the next cake design probably is a fan of the Cinderella story. Hope that at midnight the cake has not turned into a huge pumpkin.

Speaking of this wedding cake, I hardly restrain laughter. The topping is a group of cute teeny-weeny candy figures which symbolize the lovebirds and witnesses. Everything is made accurately and artistically except for face expressions. Taking a closer look, you may think that they are shocked or at least perplexed. It is hysterical! It seems they say: ‘Good heavens, what is going on here?’

One more quite unlucky way to show off on the wedding is to order a complete tacky cake design, like in the picture below. Despite the fact that the newlyweds are happy and content with everything around them, the cake looks disproportionately and chaotic. First of all, the cake consists of several parts: a huge suitcase, the drum, a bowl, and a pile of mini-cakes one on other with figures of a groom and bride in national attire. The candy trunk is much bigger than the rest of constituents. The turret of cakes was intentionally made awry, but for what reason? Evidently, a pastry chef wanted to emphasize on national cultural motifs in this cake decoration conception but overdid it with all this stuff.

With the previous one we can understand the concept of the wedding cake and it is realistic and well-done. Looking at the next picture, you may wonder why this beautiful couple has chosen wedding cake in a form of baobab.

It happens that sometimes people voluntary spoil the marriage celebration by picking a wrong or rather outrageous cake decoration. Every single nuance had to be considered and reconsidered beforehand by the couple or a wedding planner. Think twice before picking a weird nonstandard or gaudy design for the cake. Address specialists only. If you decided to have a luxurious wedding party, you have to spend much, in particular, the cake. It is the most important decoration and long-awaited aspect of the celebration. Insatiable guests will not understand your choice if you pick something quaint. Otherwise, you will become a mocking stock for many years.

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They’ve spared no expense on making their wedding a day to remember.

But Pippa Middleton and James Matthews are pulling out all the stops to entertain their guests at the Berkshire nuptials after booking a fly-by from a Spitfire.

The World War Two fighter will perform a vintage air display above the reception at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, following the ceremony at nearby St Mark’s Church.

Pippa’s parents Carole and Michael are organising the reception and are said to have apologised to neighbours about the ‘inconvenience’.

A source told The Sun: ‘The air display is a touch of class — it’s the sort of thing you’d expect for the royals themselves. It will be totally breathtaking.’

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The couple have also hired out a £100,000 glass marquee for the plush event to guard against any potential bad weather.

And they have also splashed out on luxury temporary bathrooms complete with oak fittings, porcelain basins, spot lighting and full-length mirrors, while the toilets are fitted with vacuum flushes, which work like those on a plane and are eco-friendly.

With just three days to go before the big day, the posh portable toilets were delivered by lorry to the Middletons’ £5 million family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire yesterday.

One industry insider estimated the cost of the loos could easily top £6,000.

The huge glass marquee was shipped from Belgium and set up in the Middletons’ garden to host their wedding breakfast and evening festivities.

Meanwhile in London several garment bags – possibly containing bridesmaids’ outfits or even Miss Middleton’s hotly anticipated wedding dress – arrived at the £17 million Chelsea mansion she shares with Mr Matthews.

Although there will be 100 or so guests at St Mark's Church in the nearby village of Englefield for the ceremony, more than 300 are expected back at Middleton manor to dance the night away.

Sources have told the Mail that Pippa’s father is tearing his hair out at the complexity of the arrangements. ‘But he is hugely excited by everything, particularly in giving his youngest daughter away,’ they added.

Although the Middletons maintain the wedding is a private family event, the eyes of the world will be upon it as it is being attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry with his girlfriend, actress Meghan Markle.

Pippa’s niece and nephew will also take a starring role – Princess Charlotte, two, will be a bridesmaid while three-year-old Prince George will be a page boy.

A controlled media facility has been arranged to capture their arrival at church, while normally accessible public footpaths in the area are being closed.

Meanwhile Pippa's sister the Duchess of Cambridge enjoyed talking about the upcoming nuptials at The Queen's first annual garden party of the season.

Kate chatted to Andrew Bates and his wife, Janet, about her sister's wedding at the weekend - and revealed that while she was hugely looking forward to it, she was slightly nervous about how her children, Prince George, three, and two-year-old Princess Charlotte would behave as well.

Mr Bates, 55, from Coventry said: 'She said that they were all really looking forward to her sister's wedding at the weekend but she was a bit worried about how her children might behave.

'She said she was hopeful that they would be good but you never know at that age.'

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A woman named Bunmi, who is currently closing in at 32 years of age has given reasons concerning why she abandoned her fiancé at the altar in November 2015.

This has led her to experience hostile treatment from her family who blamed her rather than show empathy to her plight.

According to the woman in a series of Twitter posts via her handle - @bunmi_bum_bum, the pressure to get hitched at the age of 30 influenced her into agreeing to marry the disappointed groom.

She however had second thoughts about the union on the day of the marriage.

Only her time wasting tactics could save her from entering the marriage but this came at a cost.

Bunmi is now at loggerheads with members of her family.

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"I left my man at the altar and now both his family and part of mine hate me - a thread...," she began in a comment posted on Friday, May 12, 2017.

"It was a Saturday in November 2015. It was supposed to be my wedding day. But I was still unsure. I'd been pressured to say Yes. I was sad.

Everyone was like: "You're over 30; he's okay, has a good job. What is your problem? Just go through with it!" My problem? I wasn't happy!

He'd never hit me, but I just didn't like him like that. I asked for time. Everyone said: "No! You agreed, you must go through with it!"

That morning, I was crying. My mother said it's normal. I couldn't accept that. I felt like I was being sent to a cage. I wasn't happy!

All the fear and anxiety gave me running stomach. I locked myself in the bathroom. One hour; going on two. They said they'll break the door.

11AM and we still hadn't left the house for 10AM wedding. My dad asked me: Is there somebody else? I said no. He said: You want to shame us.

I lied then that I loved somebody else. There was nobody but I thought that would make them agree to cancel the wedding. They still refused.

By 11:30AM they were trying to force me into the car. My Dad's elder sister, who had come from UK for the wedding, said: "Leave her alone!"

She said I had a right to change my mind. If I didn't want to go through with it, then I shouldn't. Still, some family members insulted me.

My Dad said I should leave his house. His sister said the house wasn't his but their late father's (my granddad). A big quarrel broke out.

My Dad now said I was the one to call my husband-to-be to tell him I'd changed my mind. I agreed. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

Of course they were already in church. He didn't wait for me to finish speaking. He cut the call. I couldn't stop crying.

I've tried to explain that I wasn't happy, but everybody still blames me. Some in my own family no longer speak to me. I keep to myself. End"

African societies often objectify women, making them feel like they do not have a say in matters concerning them.

Most especially when it pertains to discussions about marriage even within their family which includes parents, siblings and close relations.

This has birthed the subject of feminism, a vibrant theme that has taken the attention of women in modern Africa.

The emphasis have been on ensuring that women gain equal roles in the society particularly in a work environment and their homes.

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Bridges, the Venue, in Philadelphia, was the setting for the Saturday, March 18, 2017, wedding of Miss Hailey Chisolm and Mr. Lon Burt. The Rev. Dr. Rev. Mark Benson conducted the ceremony.

Parents of the couple are Craig and Ronda Chisolm of Philadelphia and Von and Cindy Burt of Meridian.

Grandparents of the bride are Mary Frances Chisolm of Philadelphia and the late Robert Earl Chisolm and the late James L. (Hap) Gentry and the late Dorthey Gentry of Philadelphia.

Grandparents of the bridegroom are Duchess Burt of Toomsuba and the late Oscar Lavone Burt Sr., and the late Need Parker Jarman Jr. and the late Mary Louise Ivey Jarman of Meridian.

Images: White Bridesmaid Dresses

The bride wore a Martina Liana V-neck, double-layer skirted gown with a bodice of lace and tulle over lustre satin, featuring a scalloped hemline cathedral-length train.

Matron of honor was Nikki Chisolm Moak of Brandon and maid of honor was Krystal Stewart of Ridgeland.

Bridesmaids were Emily Breland Walker of Philadelphia, Jodie Apperson Smith of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Ivey Burt of Brandon.

Flower girls and ring bearer were Chloe Grace Bates of Clinton and Ella CarolBurt of Madison, Ala., and John Oscar Burt of Madison, Ala.

The father of the bridegroom served as best man.

Groomsmen were Nick Daniels of Lake Charles, La., Chase Harper of Nashville, Tenn., Walton Mitts of Jackson and Jared Moak of Brandon.

Honorary groomsmen were Bill Allen, Gary Futch, Dr. David Gilmore, Tony McDaniel, Adam Miller, Dr. Bill Woods, Jack Christopher and Larry Bagley, all of Meridian, Mark Wiggins of Oxford and Steve Holyfield of Allen, Texas.

Music for the ceremony and reception was provided by Mississippi DJ Services of Byram.

After a wedding trip to Turks and Caicos, the couple resides in Brandon.

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WEDDINGS CAN BE stressful as all hell—and you don't even have to be the groom.

The questions start popping up the minute you tear open that glitter bomb of an invitation: Can you bring the girl you've been dating for a few months? Should you bring the girl you've been dating for a few months? Do you book your flight early, or wait and see if there are last-minute deals? What does "semi-formal dress attire" even mean?!?

Take a breath, man. You and millions of other men have all been there. And millions more will go on to have the same questions and dilemmas.

That's why we talked to San Francisco-based wedding and events planner Morgan Doan of Morgan Events and Kristen Maxwell Cooper, executive editor of popular wedding-planning site The Knot,to find out what a guy needs to do to be the coolest, most stress-free guest at any wedding. Consider this your cheat sheet.

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Be prepared and plan ahead

This might seem obvious, but the first thing you should do upon receiving a wedding invitation is decide whether you're going or not. "Many guests receive the invitation and forget to RSVP while they're making plans," Maxwell Cooper says. "RSVP early. It makes the [wedding] couple's job so much easier."

Once you've mailed the RSVP, make any necessary travel plans early. Maxwell Cooper suggests booking the hotel first so you can take advantage of the couple's hotel block, which will offer you a discounted rate on rooms.

This is especially important if it's a destination wedding. "Destination weddings often involve multiple events, such as a welcome party, an after-wedding brunch, and maybe even the rehearsal dinner," she explains. "The couple chose that specific hotel for a reason, and a lot of the events will probably be at or near it."

If it's a destination wedding, consider arriving at least one day before the first event, so you can get acclimated to the local climate and/or a different time zone, Doan says.

How to decode a wedding's dress code

Guys have fewer style options, so there's less of a chance you'll screw this up. But there are still plenty of grey areas in the terminology to leave you floundering. Here are the most common dress codes you'll encounter on a wedding invitation, and what you'll be expected to wear. (Pro tip: Get in suit-wearing shape with our wedding workout.)

- "Black tie"

For the most part, this is the most formal dress code you'll come across on an invitation, and it's usually reserved for evening events. In the American South, black tie can also imply a white tuxedo jacket with black pants. You're unlikely to come across the even-more-formal "white tie" dress code (unless it's a royal wedding), but if you do you'll need to step it up with a tailcoat, waistcoat, white bow tie, and the optional gloves, cane, and top hat.

What to wear to a black-tie wedding: Unless otherwise indicated, a tuxedo with a black bow tie, cummerbund, and polished black Oxford shoes. (Patent leather shoes are optional.)

- "Black tie optional"

This is one step down from black tie, and means a tux isn't required—though you won't look out of place if you want to wear one.

What to wear to a black-tie-optional wedding: A formal, dark-colored (black, navy, or dark gray) suit and tie, or a tuxedo.

- "Resort/beach formal"

It's a beach wedding, but it's still sort of formal. "Think casual and breezy, but still dressy," Doan says. "Opt for light neutrals paired with bright, sunny colors: Khaki and shades of white and ivory with seafoam green, orange, bright pink, or yellow all look stunning near water."

What to wear to a formal beach wedding: A relaxed button-up shirt and rolled-up trousers in a light, breathable fabric like cotton or linen (you don't need a tie). Wear close-toed shoes (no flip-flops) like boat shoes or loafers. If you're angling for the "best dressed" award, you could go with a cotton or linen suit (no tie).

- "Semi-formal/casual"

Semi-formal can be tough to read, but a good rule of thumb is to look at the time it's being held.

What to wear to a semi-formal wedding: If the wedding is in the evening, play it safe with a more formal, dark-colored suit and tie. If the wedding is in the daytime, you can wear a suit in a lighter color (such as light gray or a royal blue) or a lighter fabric (like chambray) and a tie. Ties, too, are a good way to improve a suit's versatility—wear a more understated tie if you're erring on the side of formal, but wear something that pops if you're up for some more fun. Not sure? Pack both.

- "Casual"

Casual can mean just about anything at weddings, but Doan suggests going for business casual at a minimum. Don't wear jeans, shorts, or—for the love of all things holy—a tank top unless the invitation specifically states you can, she says.

What to wear to a casual wedding: Dress pants (such as khakis, wool pants, or linen pants) and a casual button-down shirt or polo. Tie optional.

- No dress code

No dress code on the invitation? The best thing to do is ask—but not the bride or groom, Maxwell Cooper says. Your first call should be to a member of the wedding party, such as the best man, a groomsman, or one of the bridesmaids. If you can't get in touch with any of them, or don't know any of them, try a close family member or fellow wedding attendee. The bride and groom should be your last resort—they have enough to plan.

What to wear to a wedding with no dress code: If you can't get in contact with anyone at all, you might still be able to read between the lines. Evening weddings are usually more formal, while daytime weddings are less so (if it's a late-afternoon event, go for more formal). For a spring or summer wedding, suits in lighter fabrics and brighter colors are usually acceptable, but for a fall or winter wedding, you'll probably want to stick with a wool suit in darker colors.

As you might expect, it's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed, Doan says—you can always ditch the jacket or tie after the dance floor opens up. And while you're almost certainly not going to be mistaken for the bride, it's always better to steer away from wearing white.

5 wedding etiquette rules every man should follow

As a wedding guest, your main job is to have fun. It's a celebration with friends and family. But as with Thanksgiving dinner, Aunt Joanie's Fourth of July BBQ, and the annual family reunion, that celebration comes with a few common courtesies you should know:

1. Don't be late (or duck out too early)

Arrive at the venue about 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Arriving late is rude (shocking, we know), so err on the side of being early. If you can't stay for the entire reception, Doan says it's best to wait until the couple cuts the cake before you head out.

2. Don't be a wedding crasher

Don't bring a guest unless you're encouraged to do so. If your invitation only has one name on it, it's for you only—even if you're in a long-term relationship (or even married), Doan says. If the guest list seems extra-strict, it's probably due to venue capacity rather than the couple hating your partner. "Usually couples are considerate of inviting a spouse or partner, but it often comes down to how close they are to you and your partner," she says. "At the end of the day, you always have the right to decline the invite."

3. Don't flake

Weddings are expensive, and each guest costs money. If you RSVP, do everything in your power to show up, because the couple has done a lot to accommodate you as a guest, Doan says. If there's an emergency and you can't make it, it's always better to contact the couple. "They may be a little upset at first, but they'll appreciate you contacted them instead of just not showing up," she explains.

4. Don't bring physical gifts

If you're getting the couple a physical gift, it's better to ship it to their home instead of forcing them to lug it with them from the reception, Doan says. If you purchase something off their registry—which you should try to do ASAP, so they're not overwhelmed with an influx of gifts—it'll be shipped to them automatically. Envelope gifts, such as money or gift cards, can be given at the venue.

If the couple asks you not to give gifts, Maxwell Cooper says you should respect their wishes but consider bringing a handwritten card. "If you buy a gift from the registry that was shipped to them, it's still a nice gesture to bring a card to the wedding," she says.

Oh, and you might think being creative and shopping without the registry will get you brownie points, but it won't. The specific items the couple chose are there for a reason: They really, really want them. Forget the one-of-a-kind fish sculpture you found at a flea market. There's a fat chance your buddy (and a zero chance his soon-to-be wife) will cherish it...or put it in their new home together. New couples don't want random crap. They want functional, high-quality gifts that make their new lives easier or give sentimental value. Wouldn't you rather they think fondly of you when they toast with nice-as hell wine glasses or whip up their morning smoothie with a kickass blender? Of course.

One more thing: Unless circumstances dictate otherwise, a gift of cash is a perfectly acceptable option. No one's gonna argue with an influx of funds—especially not a young couple starting a new life together. Just get a nice card to go with that check.

5. Don't get drunk

Don't be the sloppy guy hitting on the bridesmaids, spilling champagne, and stepping on everyone's toes on the dance floor. Your favorite part about weddings might be the open bar, but the couple who's trying to make a memorable night doesn't need your shenanigans to outshine them.

Use these tips and guidelines to help you through any upcoming wedding snafus. After all, there's more to being a wedding guest than just showing up for the free food.

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If it is a Telugu Wedding, irrespective of rich or poor, lavishness always comes into play. Hiring photographers and videographers to make out candid wedding albums, exquisite wedding videos is a tradition being followed from years. And now here comes the cinematic kick to it.

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Earlier they use to shoot on videotape cameras to produce memories for the future. Thanks to the digital era now, equipment of all sizes has come into play to shoot the wedding. Some costly and compact equipment like fly cam and porta-jib which are often used in feature filmmaking are now being used by wedding videographers too. This is leading to some quality shots like top angle view of the audiences at the wedding and various focus shifts made easy.

Also, apart from this filmmaking equipment, these days wedding stages are getting designed like a film set. Even middle-class weddings are also featuring the Mandaps like in films. When it comes to the wedding of the rich, film art directors are themselves available to build these cinematic sets.

People used to boast a lot after looking at weddings in films like Murari, but now they are now getting one done in their family. Definitely, the look and feel of Telugu weddings have evolved big time.

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If you tied the knot like Ieuan and Alys we'd love to share in your celebrations .

To take part, just fill in the simple form at the end of this story. And if you're from the South Wales Echo area, you will be featured in our newspaper, too.

It doesn't matter where you married, as long as one of you is Welsh or you live in Wales.

The couple

Ieuan Huw Matthews and Alys Haf Holland, both 24. The couple grew up in Cardiff and now live in Heath. Ieuan is a carpenter and Alys works in mental health services.

The venue

The couple were married at St Mary’s Parish Church in Whitchurch on April 15. The ceremony was followed by a reception at the Coed-y-Mwstwr Hotel in Coychurch, Bridgend.

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How they met

“We met in high school at the age of 11 and we were friends throughout our time studying,” said Alys.

“We started talking even more at our year 11 leavers prom, and Ieuan then asked me to meet up with him. Our relationship developed from there onwards and we became a couple in 2009.”

The proposal

Ieuan proposed on the morning of their son Harri’s first Christmas in 2013.

“We had exchanged presents and were getting ready to see family, but suddenly Ieuan and Harri disappeared to get changed and Harri had changed into a Santa outfit and was holding a little box,” added Alys.

“Ieuan told me ‘Santa has one more thing for you’ and then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a complete shock!”

The wedding

“The morning of the wedding went very smoothly for the bride, but the groom was recovering from a slight hangover as he went out the night before,” said Alys.

“It was a big wedding with all our friends and family – everything we had always hoped for.

“We had never discussed having a wedding abroad or a small and intimate affair.

“We both knew we wanted to have a big, traditional wedding.”

The couple’s first dance was to Say You Won’t Let Go by James Arthur as they felt the lyrics described their relationship perfectly.

The honeymoon

Ieuan and Alys jetted off to Portugal for three days.

This was where they spent their first holiday together.

They later visited their caravan in Llangrannog so they could spend some time with their children.

During their time in West Wales, they enjoyed family walks and visits to the beach.

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