Warm, soft and romantic
REBECCA AND COLUM’S MAY WEDDING IN BELFAST WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHERED FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD WAS PICTURE PERFECT!
For stunning bride Rebecca Bryson there was only one boutique she was heading to for her wedding dress – her own! The owner of Curvy Chic Bridal Boutique, originally from New Zealand, married her beau, Colum Coyle, in an elegant gown she chose from her own extensive stock. “I’m in the very lucky position to own a bridal boutique in Belfast, Curvy Chic Bridal, that specializes in plus-size bridal wear, so I was able to have my pick of dresses. “I ended up choosing a dress by Studio Levana called Tracie, it just suited my style really well and made me feel really good. As a plus-size woman, it would have been difficult for me to try any dresses that would fit before I opened Curvy Chic Bridal, but thankfully I had over 70 dresses to try. A graphic designer, Colum first ‘met’ Rebecca via Twitter when he was just 18. But a stint at university meant he moved to Manchester and it was only on his return to Belfast five years ago that the couple started a relationship. But he still managed to surprise Rebecca when he proposed. “We went to spend the weekend at Lusty Beg Island in January 2017 and went for a walk after dinner. Colum got down on one knee when we were standing on the pier, with a gorgeous ring that he had had made. It’s a round morganite set into yellow gold, with diamonds surrounding it and a Juliette marquis diamond band.”
With the ring firmly on Rebecca’s hand, the couple set about planning their wedding day for May 2018, with a service planned at St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Willowfield, followed by a reception at the Malone Lodge Hotel for their 71 guests – where another 30 joined them at night. For the couple, the best part of planning their big day, “was the week before, when all our bridal party were together doing all the last minute crafty bits and prep. We had dinners together every night and it was so nice to have us all together, as us girls hadn’t been all together for over 11 years! “But the most stressful part was trying to make sure both of our families where happy with what we had chosen, which took a bit of negotiating sometimes!” Yet, despite the stress, they had “the most amazing day”. When it came to a starting theme, Rebecca and Colum didn’t have definite focus – apart from wanting “the room to feel warm, soft and romantic.” From that initial idea, the couple, “used a lot of flowers (real and fake), lighting and soft fabrics to dress the room. We also had large ‘LOVE’ light letters finished with an antique effect. “We didn’t have a very definite budget as such but we anticipated it would be around the figure we were comfortable with. “Before we set our budget, we got quotes for all the things we wanted to book, and from there we worked out how much we could save by the time we wanted to get married, and booked what fit our budget. “I would tell anyone starting out on their planning to just enjoy it! It doesn’t have to be stressful! Book your suppliers as soon as you have set your date so you can be sure to get the people you want, and then you can relax for a little while. “Don’t worry about what other people will think or expect, this is your day, plan the wedding you want to have!” Rebecca reflects, “For me, the highlight was the church ceremony; it was really nice just to have that quiet time after the madness of the morning to be able to sit with Colum at the front of the church and see everyone there and say our vows together. The evening party was also amazing.” Colum recalls their first dance, which they did to Al Green, “Let’s Stay Together” because “it was like the rest of the room disappeared and Rebecca looked so beautiful.” Now that the big day is over the couple are enjoying married life – “It’s amazing! We are so excited to be committed to each other for the rest of our lives” – and they have an amazing honeymoon to look forward to in January too. ”We are heading on honeymoon in January (the summer months are a bit too busy for me with weddings!) We will be flying in to Philadelphia, then on to Orlando, Miami, and then a cruise around the Caribbean.” A perfect trip to seal their perfect day.
Wedding Details
Reception: Malone Lodge Hotel
Wedding Dress: Curvy Chic Bridal
Groomswear: Balmoral Suit
Brides Hire and Make-up: Rebecca Bryson
Hair: Danibelle Wedding Hair
Flowers: Fleuriste
Room Décor: Charm Weddings
Transport: David Andrews Wedding Cars
Photography: Creative Flux Photography
Videography: 78 Films
Entertainment: Bespoke Music Solutions
