True Love Tuesday: Christina & David

Good evening lovely brides-to-be, we hope you’ve had a lovely few days off over the bank holiday weekend. In case you’re wondering the Getting Married in NI office is currently closed for July holidays and will reopen on Monday 20th July, if you need to get in touch you can email info@reddotpublications.co.uk.

So, back to todays business, the glorious wedding of Christina and David on May Day. The couple celebrated in elegant style with their family at Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast. We adore the photography from Ivan and Shirley at Alexander Photographic, look out especially for the awesome bridal portraits in Botanic Gardens.

Christina and David are childhood sweethearts who got together when they were only 15 and 16 when they both attended Dunmurry High School. “We fell pregnant after only a year together and got our first home soon after, it wasn’t always easy but we had a strong love that always kept us determined to make things work, we had our second child in 2002 and our third in 2011.
We are more in love than ever and love our family unit of Lauren (17), James (12) and Adam (4),” said Christina.

David proposed during a family holiday in Vilamoura, Portugal, with their two eldest children in on the surprise!

“We had went for dinner down at the marina and enjoyed our meal and as the sun was setting a waitress came over and put champagne and ice bucket on the table to which I assumed she had got the wrong table but as I tried to say this to David he proceeded to get down one knee and popped the question! To say I was shocked was an understatement, I didn’t think after three kids and being together 17 years that we would ever get married. David chose the ring himself which I was wowed by as I had never even hinted at the type of ring I would like but yet it was very close to what I would’ve chosen. My ring is 18 ct. White gold solitaire round diamond, simple and stunning,” added Christina.

“I knew I wanted to marry in Springtime so we decided on May, we talked about going away to Italy to marry but with a lot of deliberation we decided at home in the church my family belonged to was the better choice. I wanted soft and romantic with DIY elements included as I love art and crafts. I owe a lot to Pinterest, this is were it all began. I also knew I wanted to do as much as possible myself which I did including my invitations, bridal party robes, bridal hangers and little bits and pieces of decor,” said Christina.

When it came to her bridal gown Christina had quite the hunt!

“I visited quite a lot of dress shops and got a little annoyed after eight or nine as I just wasn’t getting a dress that ticked ‘every box’ so I gave up for a while then came across a bridal page online called Serendipity Bridal Boutique in Fivemiletown. The boutique was quite a distance from home but after looking at their dresses they seemed to have a lot in their range that I liked the look of, so my bridesmaid Sarah and I made the long journey up.

The minute I walked in the door I loved the place, it was stunning and Ruth who greeted us was so nice and listened to what I wanted and offered a few from the rail. I tried on four and liked all of them then asked her was there any others she would recommend and she showed me a stunning dress by Essence of Australia, I tried it on and loved it instantly my bridesmaid Sarah even shed a tear!

So my happily ever after started there when my dress was chosen! I loved the lace with a little bit of sparkle throughout and the deep v back, and the little buttons down the onto the train, it was what I had been searching for,” added Christina.

“Our wedding day went perfectly and everything ran on time too. Walking down the aisle with my dad would be my highlight and seeing David at the end of the aisle waiting on me. Davids would be leaving the church with me on his arm as his wife to our harpist playing Snow Patrol Chasing Cars!Our only sad thing on the day was our son James took ill the night before the wedding and was really struggling on the morning of the wedding, David didn’t tell me any of this as he didn’t want me worried or upset, most of the service he spent lying down in a pew at the back with our best mans wife. After the service he had to go straight to bed at our hotel and spent the entire day and evening there missing most of our day, turned out he had gastroenteritis, it was heartbreaking not to have him with us but all friends and family helped out checking in on him and the hotel staff were fantastic help also. Our photographers Ivan and Shirley from Alexander Photographic have offered to do a family photo shoot with us to make up for James not being in many of our photographs, we were overwhelmed by the kindness of this and look forward to that,” said Christina.