From Classroom to Forever: A School Friends’ Love Story
Love is the journey that brings two hearts together, and a wedding is the celebration of that beautiful voyage
Codie Rainey a Cake Decorator from Pomeroy met Gareth Thom a Mill Operative from Cookstown at school, they were in the same class all through high school although they didn’t become a couple until years later when they met on a night out when they were both 22 years old. A romantic proposal happened a few years later while on a trip to Galgorm Thermal Village, Codie told us “Gareth organized a day at Galgorms thermal village with a private outdoor hot tub and champagne, I had one leg already threw into the hot tub before I realized he was down on one knee behind me, the ring is a platinum halo ring with a black diamond centre stone from Inisor, Cookstown”
A date was set for a wedding ceremony at Pomeroy Presbyterian Church followed by a reception at Manor House Hotel in Killadeas, the couple invited 150 people to attend their beautiful wedding on 15th July 2023.
Codie along with her mum and sister visited Orchid Bridal Studio in Portadown, the bride told us “I knew I wanted a ball gown style dress and fell in love with the first one I tried on, it was fantastic, Neil is amazing at his job, knew exactly what I wanted and made me feel so comfortable and confident”
Bridesmaid dresses for Kirsty Hawkes (Maid of Honour and sister) and Emily Willis (friend) came from JJ’s House online.
Gareth got suits in Threads Menswear in Strabane for him and his groomsmen Alistair Thom (brother and best man) and Mitchell Greer (friend).
The happy couple said the best part of planning of their day was “The excitement and anticipation, the more we planned and booked the closer it felt to the big day and the excitement just kept growing. Thankfully I can’t say there was anything overly stressful about it, we were super organized and had everything booked well in advance that we didn’t really leave ourselves anything to stress over”
The day itself went amazingly well with no problems or dramas, it all just went by super quick. They did have a Smore’s bar which went down a treat. The only near disaster was Codie nearly fainting during the photoshoot. The couple both said the highlight of their day was “Other than getting to say ‘I do’, it would be seeing all our friends and family together under one roof enjoying themselves” They agreed that they wouldn’t do anything differently, the day was so perfect for them.
Before jetting off to the Maldives for their honeymoon they gave this advice for newly engaged couples planning their own day “I would say plan it exactly the way you both want to, don’t worry about what other people think!”
They both said that married life is perfect.
WEDDING SUPPLIERS INFO :
Reception location:Manor House Country Hotel
Wedding Dress from: Orchid Bridal Studio
Bridesmaids dresses from: JJsHouse.com
Groomswear from: Threads, Strabane
Make-up by: Orchid Beauty, Dungannon
Hair by: Hair by Meganf
Flowers by: Yana’s Flowers
Rings from: Inisor Jewellery
Transport from: Glendale Limousines
Photography by: EMD Media Wedding Photo & Videography
Videography by: EMD Media Wedding Photo & Videography
Entertainment by: Bleed’n Cowboys
