Jessica and Kristian met in a nightclub in Las Vegas. “Kris was casually strolling past and decided to introduce himself,” says Jessica. “We spent the rest of the night chatting and eventually swapped numbers. We saw each other a few times throughout the trip and had a couple of dates once we returned to the UK. Despite the fact that we got on well, the timing wasn't right, and we parted ways. Two years later, Kris plucked up the courage to call me, and the rest is history.” Kristian popped the question on Christmas Eve in 2017. “It was a massive shock,” shares the bride. “We had just packed up the car before setting off on a three-hour drive to Bath to spend Christmas with my family. As I was walking down the stairs, Kris asked if I liked the new bow he had put on our dog's collar. As I edged closer, I saw a small tag attached that said 'Will you marry my daddy?' Once the clogs started turning, I slowly figured out what was happening. By this point, Kris had got down on one knee and was holding a Clogau engagement ring.” Here she shares some of her favourite moments from their big day...
We decided to get married at Aberglasney. We were made to feel special from the moment we arrived, and we didn't feel pressured whatsoever. They hold a maximum oftwo weddings a month, which meant we were given the time needed by our coordinator to ensure everything was perfect. We also loved that the cost of our ceremony was paid directly into the restoration fund, which helps to maintain the beautiful Grade II listed mansion and surrounding landscaped gardens.
We lined the aisle with gold lanterns filled with candles and a luxurious red carpet.
Our flowers were classic, with lots of whites, dusky pinks and greenery from Pinc. We sourced blooms that are used all over the world to tie in with our travel theme.
Kris and I have a mutual love for travelling. We wanted to incorporate the Colonial era into our décor but also add a few modern touches. For our transport, we opted for a tuk tuk. As you can imagine, there isn't a huge demand in Wales, so we had to source ours from a couple who, like us, love travelling and brought back one from Mumbai. We used the tuk tuk as a photo booth for the evening reception, and the company provided a huge range of props.
My brother walked me down the aisle, which meant so much to both of us.
Although we adore our dog, Vixen, and wanted her to attend our nuptials, she would have been far too excited. She spent the day with our dog-sitter, but we decided to purchase a brass fox statue that looks like her to take pride of place on the top table.The other centrepieces were small tropical houseplants with postcards, souvenirs and guidebooks from our travels.
Kris wore his RAF military uniform, along with his medals. The groomsmen opted for navy tail suits, paired with grey waistcoats, white shirts, vintage rose silk ties and brown brogues.
For the ceremony and drinks reception, we hired a local musician called John Nicholas to perform. We'd heard him play at the Festival of the Senses in Llandeiloand knew he was the perfect man for the job. He has a beautiful voice and was a big hit with our guests.
The bridesmaids had dusky pink lace detail dresses from Lipsy. Our flowergirl chose an ivory design with a lace top from Monsoon.
Our cake was displayed on a wooden barrel in the middleof the tipi. It was a traditional four-tier design with a vanilla buttercream, lemon and elderflower filling.
I wore a strapless ivory lace dress by Ellis Bridals with a matching belt and veil from Huw Rees in Llandeilo. It wasn't the style I originally wanted, but the gown complemented my body shape and looked traditional yet modern. I accessorised with classic pearl earrings, a matching necklace and handmade Freya Rose shoes.
Our favours were made my Fabulous Welshcakes and also acted as place names. It was a nice touch because most of my friends are English and had never had a Welsh cake before.
My great aunt lives in the U.S., and although we invited her to the wedding, we didn't expect her to attend given the distance. It was amazing that she made the effort to come and share our special day with us.
We booked a DJ and saxophonist to play in the evening. We met Joshua Roberts through a mutual friend, and despite playing at prestigious events all over the world, he was more than happy to perform on our big day. Alex Chadwick accompanied him on the saxophone. He engaged with our loved ones and got them involved. Everyonewas impressed so much so that some of our nearest and dearest asked them for their contact details.
All of our suppliers were brilliant and exceeded our expectations. A special thanks must go to Ellen, our coordinator at Aberglasney. Shemade our lives so much easier, and nothing was too much trouble for her. She went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly.
We went to India for our honeymoon. I work as a travel agent and specialisein tailor-made long-haul holidays, so I planned the entire thing. Kris hadnever been to India before and had a lot of preconceptions, but it ended upbeing the best trip he'd ever been on.
It was surreal seeing all of our friends and family in the same place at the same time.