Wedding Week | The Morning Of...

Welcome to wedding week! Everyday this week I'll be bringing you a post about our wedding, which took place in Anglesey on the 24th of June. I'll be sharing all the little details with you, from the outfits to the venue to the party. Enjoy...

The Morning Of...

On the morning of the wedding my sister and I woke up stupidly early and I'm not sure who was more excited! We were thoroughly giddy - flinging open the curtains, staring at my wedding dress and squealing "it's finally here!".

I was so glad that Molly had stayed with me - waking up with her reminded me of Christmas mornings when we were little and it was lovely! Plus having someone there with me definitely stopped me from getting overwhelmed thinking about what lay ahead.

We gulped down cups of tea in bed and ran through the list of last minute things we needed to do. Molly gave me the last present in the wedding advent calendar she had made for me and I opened the gifts and card that Sam had left in our room. Safe to say the tears started early at this point!

I took advantage of the house still being quiet and snuck off for a long hot bath - I'd been saving so many goodies for this moment and I was very excited for a good old pamper. I can't begin to tell you how lovely it was to have half an hour of complete calm before the madness of the day began - I can remember just lying in the bath and thinking "it's my wedding day!". I kept looking out of the window at the marquee to confirm that it was all really happening!

Before long I was joined by my gaggle of gorgeous bridesmaids who all looked fab in the blue nightshirts I'd picked up for them in Primark. They all brought such lovely gifts and as I sat on the bed opening them, I honestly felt like the luckiest girl in the world. I was so happy being surrounded by all of my best friends and family and knowing that I was merely hours away from marrying Sam.

My cousin put on the amazing playlist he'd made especially for the occasion (full of Mariah and Whitney, obvs) and my sister made sure we all had a glass of prosecco in hand. The fun had well and truly begun.

The best thing about us all staying on site was that there were people poking their head into the room all morning to say hello and see how I was getting on. Plenty of my family brought food offerings up, but my stomach was so full of excited butterflies that I couldn't face more than half a round of toast. To be honest, I think I probably could have run on adrenaline alone that day.

Soon it was time to start getting ready and I was so, so lucky to have my very own personal glam squad. My hairdresser and my make up artist were my two cousins who I absolutely adore and have always been so close to, so to be able to have them get me ready for my big day was so, so special. They made me feel a million dollars and we had such a good laugh too.

Being able to share the morning with so many of the people I love - from aunties to bridesmaids to babies - was so much fun and it definitely helped me relax. So many people say that the time goes by in a flash and that you end up rushing to get ready, but I found the exact opposite - it felt like the morning stretched on for ages and I loved it.

Before long it was time for us all to start getting changed out of our PJs and finish getting ready. By this time my stomach was performing somersaults - I can honestly say that it was all excitement rather than nerves! I kept checking the time and thinking "this time in a few hours I'll be married!".

I'm not sure Sam could say the same - in all of the photos of him getting ready he looks so nervous!

Back at Tros Yr Afon, everyone had started to change into their outfits and I was bursting with pride at how gorgeous everybody looked. My friends and family scrub up seriously well...

And then all that was left was for me to don my dress. I'd been looking forward to this moment all morning, and I love all the snaps that Jenna has captured of my Mum and sister helping me into it.

Then it was time for everyone to come in and see me and to put the finishing touches to my outfit...

First up was the foliage crown...

Then the veil...

Then the flowers...

And ta da! The transformation to very excited bride was complete.

The only person left to see me was my Dad, who was very emotional! He's not usually the sentimental type but he couldn't stop blubbing when he walked into the room, which of course, set all of us off too!

We had a few last pictures and then it was time for the bridesmaids and everybody else to head off to the church. My Dad and I gave my Nan a quick call...

And then it was time for us to start making a move too...

We were actually really early so we ended up having to wait in the hall for a little while to give everybody else a chance to get to the church and get settled before we arrived. I remember the wedding planner, Jen, calling in and remarking that I was one of the most punctual brides she'd ever seen - in all honesty, I think I was just so keen to get hitched and start celebrating that I just couldn't wait.

We had one last check that my veil and crown were in place and then my Dad and I made our way to the car. The journey to the church only took ten minutes and it was lovely to spend that time with my Dad. I remember him telling me that he wasn't going to ask me if he was sure I wanted to go through with it because he was sure Sam was the right person for me, which made me tear up all over again!

We pulled up at the church right on time (much to the amusement of the vicar!) and got ready to make our way into the ceremony...

Make sure you stay tuned for tomorrow’s wedding week post which is all about the outfits!

*The professional images in this post were taken by the lovely Jenna Woodward