An intimate, private wedding shared with a school bus full of cheering tourists!
Edinburgh. What a beautiful place to tie the knot! A city full of narrow, cobbled passageways. Ancient pubs, shops and a castle. A place that looks just as majestic on a wintery November day as it does on a summery afternoon. It is a fascinating city, and a popular destination with tourists worldwide. Therefore, it's no wonder that upon exiting the Edinburgh City Chambers, after officially exchanging their vows, Rachel & Phillip were greeted with a few well-wishers! You'll find out more later!
Rachel & Phillip's Real Wedding at Edinburgh City Chambers
We're so pleased to be sharing a few words from the bride herself about their wedding, along with a few pics from the day.
How did you two meet?
Phillip and I met at university in Lancashire back in early 2011. We were studying the same subjects, and I had moved into the same shared house.
How did you get engaged?
We'd been together for nearly 8 years by Christmas 2018. We'd just bought our first house together, and we'd arranged to adopt a cat. The plan was always, "house first, then cat, then marriage", so it was always the logical next step, but I wasn't expecting it to happen all at once!
Phillip proposed on Christmas morning in my parents' living room. I was wearing very unflattering bright pink flamingo pyjamas, and I was so happy and surprised, I just cried and hugged him.
What was your favourite moment(s) from the wedding?
We had quite a low-key, scaled down wedding with only 10 guests. After the ceremony, Phillip and I waited in the Edinburgh City Chambers while our guests lined up either side of the doors for a photo opportunity. The assistant registrar told us we had attracted an audience. Phillip and I walked out of the City Chambers to the beautiful sound of bagpipes being played by a local piper, and we were greeted by a massive crowd of tourists cheering, applauding and waving. It was so beautiful, surreal, and spontaneous! Just the best moment, one we could never have planned ourselves. It made our day extra special.
Tell us all about your wedding dress.
Being a "plus-sized bride", I always expected to go for a princess dress. Something that would hide my belly and thighs under a huge skirt. The dress I ended up with was fitted all the way to my thighs. It was the type of style I'd avoided trying on at previous dress fittings, as I thought it would only suit a slimmer frame.
As soon as I saw the promotional photos of the dress online, I fell in love with it and I knew I had to at least try it on, even just to rule it out. When I tried on the sample at Bellissima Weddings, I was over the moon with how it looked. I loved how it shaped my body and I loved how confident I felt in it. I knew it was the one for me.
What was the general decor of your big day?
We didn't really arrange any decor ourselves. We just enjoyed the beautiful scenery of Edinburgh, having photos taken on The Royal Mile and in the historic Dean Village. Both the Alexander Suite at Edinburgh City Chambers, and The Bonham Hotel have such beautiful decor as standard, we didn't need to add anything. It was all perfect.
Do you have any advice for future Bellissima Brides?
Arrange the day that you and your partner want. Make decisions based on what will make the two of you happy. As for dresses, don't be afraid to try on different styles. That one style you've been avoiding may just be perfect for you.
Do you have any local suppliers you'd like to recommend?
All of our suppliers were wonderful, and they all contributed to us having the most amazing wedding day:
Edinburgh City Chambers (registry office)
The Bonham Hotel (Edinburgh venue and boutique hotel)
Iris Art Photography (Edinburgh wedding photographer)
City Brides (Edinburgh hair and makeup)
Kori by Julietta from Bellissima Weddings (wedding dress)
How was your Bellissima experience?
Bellissima was perfect. The whole process was so easy. The team always answered phone calls or emails promptly, and booking appointments was hassle-free.
Whenever I stepped through their door, I always felt so looked after. Every member of staff I encountered was friendly, professional and seemed to thoroughly enjoy being there. They all have such a genuine interest in their customers and love hearing about their wedding plans. Even though I attended most appointments on my own, I felt as though I was surrounded by friends with the Bellissima Team.