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Rachel & Nigel
28 July 2007

They Met Rachel and Nigel met on a night out with friends in October 2002. They spent the entire night talking – and haven’t stopped since. Ever the romantic, Nigel proposed one Sunday afternoon while watching Star Trek - in the style of fellow Sheffield-born hero, Sean Bean.

Wedding Venue The couple’s ceremony took place on the Half Deck aboard HMS Warrior 1860, a stunning tall ship docked in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The wedding supper was held on the Half Deck with an evening reception on the impressive Gun Deck – complete with cannons!

The Theme Rachel and Nigel wanted an intimate wedding with just 60 of their closest friends and relatives, and set about organising the day with classic elegance in mind. The music played at the ceremony was from a selection of Rat Pack songs, and the bride walked down the aisle accompanied by Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World.

What They Wore Rachel wore a stunning corsetted dress with crystal embellishment by Ronald Joyce, which she bought just six weeks before the big day! Nigel wore a black Prince Edward style jacket with charcoal-grey striped trousers, and ivory waistcoat and burgundy cravat. Bridesmaid Melanie wore a beautiful burgundy satin and chiffon evening gown and matching wrist corsage.

The Flowers Rachel carried a hand-tied bouquet of Grand Prix roses studded with diamante. The tables of the Gun Deck were decorated with matching centrepieces, which were then given as thank-you gifts at the end of the evening.

The Cake The couple had two cakes – the first was a traditional ivory three-tier cake decorated with sugar roses to match the bride’s bouquet; the second was a cake designed to look like cartoon character Shrek, which was made by a friend as a surprise for Nigel!

First Dance Rachel and Nigel danced their first dance as Mr & Mrs to Someone Like You by Van Morrison.

A Moment To Remember Rachel’s favourite moment was seeing Nigel’s beaming face as she walked down the aisle. She says, “After two false starts due to a mix-up at the venue, the look of relief as I finally stood next to him was priceless!”

The Honeymoon The couple enjoyed 12 nights at the Paul et Virginie Hotel in Grand Gaube, Mauritius, which Rachel describes as “stunning!”.

Any Advice? Rachel says, “in the run-up to the wedding, make time to spend with your fiance without discussing anything wedding-related. It’s easy to forget how obsessive us brides can get and lose sight of why we’re getting married in the first place.” Rachel also recommends getting on the WP forums: “It’s such a welcoming place where no-one gets sick of you deliberating over the smallest detail!” she says.

Rachel & Nigel’s Contact Book
Dress: Elderberry Brides
Groomswear: TC Chesterfield Menswear
Photographer: Lauren McClean
Florist: Best of the Bunch
Venue: HMS Warrior
Transport: Lawnswood Limousines

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