This couple’s fabulous day was full of singing, dancing and celebrating. Our WED2B Real Weddings Brighton feature reveals more:

 

Katherine and Ricardo met at a nursing home where they were both working. “I’m Filipino and he’s Portuguese, but we met in the UK,” says Katherine. “I was a student nurse and he was working as a chef in the same place. He gave me an extra portion of his food instead of flowers or chocolates! For our first date, although I didn't realise that’s what it was at the time, he invited me over to his place and cooked me a special Portuguese dish.”

Real Weddings Brighton: Katherine and Ricardo’s music-filled wedding

Popping the question

Ricardo proposed during a trip to the Philippines to meet Katherine’s Mum (her Dad had sadly passed away three years previously). “He asked my Mum's permission and then they went and bought the ring together. I knew he was planning to propose on my 28th birthday but in the end, he couldn’t wait! He asked me three days earlier when we were surrounded by the beautiful scenery of my hometown in Antipolo Rizal.”

 

Finding The One

Katherine and her friend visited WED2B’s Brighton store in January 2017. “I fell in love with the Christabelle dress the first time I saw it online,” she says. “Before I saw it I’d seen about 20 wedding dresses but when I saw Christabelle I immediately contacted WED2B to find out where it was stocked. There was one in Essex but that was too far away from where we live, so I was delighted to find out there was also one in Brighton. I loved it because it made me feel like a princess! I bought a sparkling veil to match and my mum also bought a white fur coat and some shoes from the Philippines, which complemented the dress perfectly.”

Real Weddings Brighton: Katherine and Ricardo’s music-filled wedding

Country house

The couple chose Blackstock Country Estate in East Sussex for the wedding venue. “I’d always dreamed of a simple barn wedding, which Blackstock Farm didn't fail to deliver,” says Katherine. “It had stunning views and was very laid back. I also loved its hospitality and food.”

 

The ceremony

The couple said their vows at the traditional church in nearby Hellingly. “I loved every bit of the ceremony,” says Katherine. “My brother and sister sang our theme song ‘Forevermore’ while my mum walked me down the aisle and give me away. We had Bible readings and it was all very solemn until our best man accidentally dropped one of the rings while giving it to the vicar! Then everybody burst out laughing!”

Real Weddings Brighton: Katherine and Ricardo’s music-filled wedding

Delightful decor

The theme was ‘rustic under the moon’ and ‘dancing with the stars’, and colours were a deep navy blue with sparkly gold and silver touches. “We didn’t buy many decorations as one of our good friends lent us some of her decorations and also made the hessian bunting for us,” says Katherine. There was also a three-layered cake that matched the navy blue theme with some colourful iced flowers in the middle.

Real Weddings Brighton: Katherine and Ricardo’s music-filled wedding

A party atmosphere

After the ceremony, there was a drinks reception and then dinner, which kicked off with the wedding entourage dancing to Bruno Mars’s ‘24K Magic’ to entertain the guests! A three-course meal followed along with speeches. “One of the most emotional moments was when we played a  slideshow of photos. They reminded me of my Dad and it made me cry, so Ricardo comforted me with his speech,” says Katherine.

 Real Weddings Brighton: Katherine and Ricardo’s music-filled wedding

Singing and dancing

After dinner, there was a lot of dancing and a buffet to keep everyone going. “One of the most fun moments was when I serenaded Ricardo with a love song, accompanied by my brother on guitar,” smiles Katherine. “Everybody sang and joined in with me at the end. The night ended with everybody up and dancing to real floor-fillers like YMCA!”

 

Photography: EP Creative Photography

 

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