On the sunniest day of the year

The weather couldn't have been better for Lee-Ann and James' seaside celebration. Photos by Nic Cleave Photography

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Early days…

Lee-Ann and James met when they were teenagers, through their mutal friend Matthew. However, they weren't close friends in the early days and both moved away to go to university. "We would only see one another a few times over the years - and that was usually at Matthew's house at Christmas," says Lee-Ann. "Then, in 2006, my mum died."
"At that time I was living in Bath," adds James, "and Lee-Ann was living in Southampton. Matthew had mentioned to me that her mum was ill so when I found out that she had passed away I decided to text her to see how she was, and if she wanted to meet up next time we were both in Swansea."
"I'll admit I was surprised when James got in touch," says Lee-Ann. "We didn't really know each other that well and a few months passed before we finally met up. It was a difficult period in my life but James was so supportive. Even though we lived in different cities, we became good friends."
In early 2007, Lee-Ann decided to take some time off work to go travelling and realised just how much she missed James while she was away. "I kept in touch, and it was when I came back that our relationship really started to develop," she says.

The proposal…

The following year the couple went for a stroll along Three Cliffs Bay in Gower and that was when James popped the question. "I remember walking slightly behind because I just couldn't keep a straight face," remembers James. "I was so excited. Lee-Ann had already given a few hints as to what sort of ring she wanted to wear (she even drew me a sketch at one point) so I went to see a jeweller in Cardiff to get the exact design."

The venues…

The couple knew they wanted a wedding by the sea, and Mumbles was the area where they had both grown up. "At the time we started looking there weren't any licensed venues in the area, but Norton House was applying for a civil ceremony licence," says Lee-Ann. "We went to view it and loved it straight away. It was beautiful inside and out and was just the right size for the day we had planned."
After confirming their booking, the couple set about planning the big day, opting for a relaxed celebration with a gorgeous silver, teal and yellow colour scheme.

The dress…

Lee-Ann decided she didn't want to wear a traditional whote or ivory gown - nor did she want to spend lots of money on a dress she would only wear once. "I still wanted to look 'bridal' but with a bit of an edge," she says. "So I decided I wasn't going to look in any bridal boutiques at all and stick to high street stores."
Lee-Ann saw a dress in the window of a Karen Millen store, and knew right away that she wanted to buy it. "I went and tried it on and ended up going back the next day to get it," she says.
Lee-Ann admits that finding her accessories was a little trickier: "Stilettos have a habit of sinking into the ground, and as we had our hearts set on having some photos taken on the beach, I decided to look for something like a low-wedged sandal. I searched high and low for months before finding the perfect pair of silver wedges in a small boutique in Cheltenham."

The flowers…

The pair decided not to use fresh flowers for their bouquets. "I really wanted to keep my bouquet after the day was over," says Lee-Ann. "I also wanted to use daffodils and sunflowers which grow during different seasons."
Instead, the couple created a vibrant display of their favourite blooms and incorporated hints of teal and silver using artificial rose buds and decorative butterflies. The groomsmen's buttonholes were simple daffodils tied with teal ribbon - with a couple of rose buds in James' to distinguish his from the others.

The decorative touches…

Both Lee-Ann and James felt that the inside of Norton House was so beautiful, it didn't really need much in the way of decoration. They kept their centrepieces simple, using glass vases they had bought themselves and filling them with large sunflowers and pebbles. They also named their tables after beaches they had visited together.

The best bits…

"We had several memorable moments from the day," recalls James. "Seeing Lee-Ann looking beautiful in her dress was a big moment for me, as well as the delicious food. Seeing one of my aunts absolutely legless was also highly amusing! We set out to have a fun and relaxed day, and that's exactly what we got. I still can't believe how lucky we were with the weather too!"

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