Real Weddings from Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding

See how other local couples celebrated their big day with inspirational weddings and bridal stories from Real Weddings features in Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding.

Real Weddings: Baby,You're A Firework

Baby,You're A Firework

Nicola and Andrew originally met in college, but went their separate ways after graduation. The two became friends again in 2001 and by 2012 their relationship had blossomed into something much more. Andrew popped the question at the couple's home over a Bonfire Night weekend. Having tried on numerous occasions to find the right time on 5th November, it eventually happened after cooking dinner for the two of them on the 6th!

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Real Weddings: With Love From Somerset

With Love From Somerset

Rosie and Jordi met through mutual friends at Glastonbury Festival back in 2013, and their wedding day took place 10 years later to the day, which couldn't have been more poignant for them. During a tense time for the country, in December 2021, while we were in lockdown but permitted a day to mix with one other household, Jordi proposed in front of Rosie's family at her home. "Safe to say, everyone needed a reason to celebrate at that time and we definitely did that," Rosie says.

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Real Weddings: One Day...

One Day...

Chloe and Matt met at a mutual friend's birthday party when they were 18. There was an initial attraction but they didn't exchange numbers until the following year after bumping into each other again at a club in Bristol. After some texting back and forth they went on their first date and the rest is history.

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Real Weddings: You're Timeless to me

You're Timeless to me

Emily met Joe at a gin bar while she was in her final year of college. There was an instant attraction from both sides. Joe credits the cobbled streets of Bath, at least in part, for the success of their first date. When walking Emily to the bus stop she was wobbling around on them in her high heels and he was able to offer his arm to assist her – "And that was really where our love story began," Emily says.

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Real Weddings: Here comes the sun

Here comes the sun

Ben winked at me while ice-skating on our first date, and in that exact moment I knew I'd found something special in this person," says Hannah. It was remembering this special moment that made Ben book ice-skating for them again at the same rink while on a weekend away together in Bath a few years later.

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Real Weddings: Soulmates

Soulmates

Emilene and Mark met at a local football presentation evening, and soon found themselves chatting away. At the time they were both in relationships with their own families, and at the end of the night went their separate ways not knowing what the future would hold. Five years later, and now free agents, their paths crossed again. Mark messaged Emilene asking to meet up. He says, "From then on, I was hooked. There's not one day we don't laugh or be silly together. She's my best friend and a wonderful mother to our four beautiful children." Emilene tells us, "It was an easy, 'Yes,' to meet up. In fact, the more we met up the more I knew for sure he was the one. He makes me laugh every day and it doesn't matter what life throws at us as he's my Brightside."

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Real Weddings: Sentimental Journey

Sentimental Journey

Michelle and Paul found each other online and met up in Bath for their first date. It was intended to be coffee, but it soon turned into a small walking tour of the city followed by dinner. "From the outset, I liked Paul's positive demeanour and confidence," Michelle says.

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Real Weddings: Modern Luxury

Modern Luxury

Hannah and Tom have been together since they were teenagers. Tom would try to catch Hannah's attention in the corridor between lessons, but she was completely oblivious! Eventually, it was Hannah who decided to add him as a friend on Bebo, as she knew of him at least. He accepted and they spent the next few months messaging each other before deciding to make it official, even though they hadn't met #IRL yet.

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Real Weddings: Simply Elegant

Simply Elegant

Anna met Mat in her home town of Minehead in 2014, while he was in town for a stag do at Butlins. She was sitting outside a local pub when Mat and his mates walked in. Anna's friend caught their eye and they went over to join her table. Anna and Mat hit if off that night and kept in touch after he'd returned home.

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Real Weddings: Love ast first swipe

Love ast first swipe

We met how a lot of people tend to meet nowadays, on Tinder," says Abbey. She and Andrew were both students at the time and in Abbey's words "rather socially awkward homebodies," so the internet seemed the perfect place to find love. She continues, "My favourite thing about Andrew was how easy he was to talk to. There were never any uncomfortable pauses or lulls in conversation. In fact, we haven't stopped talking for the past six years!"

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Real Weddings: On top of the world

On top of the world

Sammy met Liam through work. "He called 'dibs' when he first saw me," she says. "But we didn't actually have our first date until six months later." The couple were like two peas in a pod even during those early days and they shared plenty of laughs together. Sammy was standing in her pyjamas trying to sort out last-minute laundry and packing for their holiday when Liam proposed. "We both knew we wanted to be together, so getting engaged felt like a natural progression, but I hadn't expected it to happen at that moment," Sammy shares.

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Real Weddings: Burgandy bliss

Burgandy bliss

Abi and Tom met online and talked for a few months before taking the plunge and meeting up for a first date. They soon discovered much common ground such as playing sport, their taste in music and a love for travel. Abi says, "I was attracted to Tom's great sense of humour, his positive outlook on life and his outgoing personality." Meanwhile, Tom tells us, "Abi immediately caught my eye with her warm smile and deep green eyes. I fell in love with her sense of adventure, kind and caring nature and passion for the outdoors. We complement each other in so many ways and she makes me a better person every day."

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Real Weddings: Opposites attract

Opposites attract

Chris and Angela met online. "Not very exciting, but I guess it's the modern way of dating," Angela laughs. Perhaps so, but there is nevertheless a funny story behind how they were matched. While Chris was on holiday in Sweden he'd accidentally set his Tinder account to Singapore, where Angela was working as a nurse at the time! Three months after they started talking, Chris decided to travel to Singapore to meet Angela. "It definitely wasn't love at first sight," she says. "Chris and I are totally different apart from our love of travel. We don't have any common interests at all, but we enjoyed learning a lot from each other. I think that's what excites us, there's never a boring day."

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Real Weddings: Come away with me

Come away with me

Heather and Chris' paths initially crossed through work. Once through a course they both attended and again two years later on the refresher. It was third time lucky though when they encountered each other once more on Guernsey where they were setting up a new retail store for the company they both worked for. During the short time Heather was there, they bantered as they strolled down to the shop, met for food and drinks in the evening and later went clubbing, where Chris treated her to his best dance moves.

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Real Weddings: Doughtnuts, about you!

Doughtnuts, about you!

Hayley and James met while working in their local department store as teenagers. Hayley would go to the restaurant for lunch where James worked and he'd give her a meal for free in the hopes she'd keep coming back!

"To me, Hayley was the most beautiful woman in the store. I was instantly drawn to what can only be described as the most unique laugh you can imagine! Paired with her beauty, kindness and smile, I was head over heels."

He finally gathered the courage to ask her out while giving away more free food, in this case a ring doughnut, which has since become a symbol of their relationship!

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Real Weddings: Ready, set, wed

Ready, set, wed

Gabby worked with Ross' sister in his local, but they didn't exactly start out on the right foot – Gabby says, "I always thought he was quite rude and grumpy." But when the two bumped into each other on a night out she actually found him to be funny, entertaining and very charming. So, when he asked her out on a date she accepted and explains, "I think his demeanour in the pub was just shyness as he's the most caring, kind, polite, funny person you could ever wish to meet."

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Real Weddings: You're my world

You're my world

Jade and Harry met at university. Harry played rugby and Jade was part of the cheerleading team. Romance blossomed when they spent 22 hours in each other's company on a coach trip through Europe on the university's annual sports holiday. They made the most of the long hours on the road discovering a common love of films, travelling and generally enjoying life. Jade says, "Our dates were full of laughter and we always seemed to accidentally have that extra bottle of wine! Travelling and exploring the world is something that we both absolutely love to do and we regularly find ourselves planning our next adventure together."

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