Our Brides

Steph and Owen

Tell us how you and your partner met. Your ‘love story’…

Owen and I met at the valentine’s fun fair at Team Valley 10 and half years ago. One of my friends was going to meet a guy she had been talking to and asked myself and couple other friends to go along too and he did the same. One of the friends in the other group was Owen. He has always told me that the second he saw me he called “dibs” on me. We got talking from that day, we spoke every day every chance we could. After a couple of weeks, Owen asked me to be his girlfriend and I of course said yes. Since then, we have gone from strength to strength, gone on holidays to Egypt, New York and Mexico plus other destinations. On our 5 year anniversary, Owen surprised me with a night away at Ramside Hall. We went for our tea in the Rib room and when we got back to our suite there was rose petals sprinkled over the floor from the door to the bedroom, along with a huge bunch of red roses and other gifts. I walked over to look at the roses and when I turned around Owen was on one knee saying a little speech he had practised over and over again apparently. I didn’t even give him the chance to finish before I screamed yes and wrapped my arms around him.
We got the keys to our first him together on our 6 year anniversary and booked our wedding not long after. We originally planned to get married September 2019 but after getting our home we decided to give ourselves a few extra months Little did we know it would be a lot longer than planned due to covid.

How did you feel before your first appointment to try on gowns?

I was nervous and excited as I had seen a dress online (Gail by Maggie Sottero) that I had loved but totally was not what I had pictured.

Did you have in mind the style and look you wanted from your gown? If so what was it?

I had always pictured a princess/a-line dress, sweetheart and strapless with some sparkle, but I really did not like lace at all. I had seen Gail by Maggie sottero online which had all over lace that I just couldn’t stop going back to. I called around a few shops, I already had my appointment at YAP booked but they were the only store to have Gail. It was like it was meant to be.

Tell us about the ‘You Are Precious’ service you received throughout your bridal journey

I had Heather as my bridal consultant, my appointment was a little late as the bride before me could not pick so Heather sat with myself, my mam and my 2 maid of honours. She asked about Owen and how we had met, what I had pictured for our wedding and how it was going to look. When the other bride was finished, Heather took us through to the dresses where I picked out another 3 to go with Gail. When we trying dresses on, we left Gail for last and I just wasn’t getting that bridal moment until I tried Gail.

How did you feel when you found your dream gown & how did you know it was ‘The One’?

Gail was unlike any dress I had tried one, I instantly started crying before Heather even had the chance to lace me up. I just felt perfect! When Heather opened the curtains my mam and maid of honours started crying too. I walked out to the big mirror where Heather put a veil on me with a head piece and I just knew this was my dress. I could picture me standing with Owen saying our vows.