Real Wedding at Hotel du Vin in Brighton
Over the summer, I had the pleasure of marrying the amazing Kica and Nick in Brighton.
Their love affair began at 38,000 feet, on a flight to Bermuda in 2016. They worked as cabin crew for British Airways at the time. Despite trying to keep things on the downlow, they quickly became the worst kept secret at Gatwick — apparently working as crew, there’s no secrets – so soon, everyone knew.
They had so much fun travelling the world and working together. In the early stages of their relationship, they traveled everywhere from Antigua to Peru, Barbados to St Lucia, before settling down and becoming parents during the pandemic.
This meant their 6-month-old daughter could be involved in their big day. Like a dream, she slept through the whole ceremony.
They decided on a very intimate wedding, with just 50 of their closest friends and family present. Others zoomed in to watch from around the world.
It was a magical ceremony. They wrote the most moving and honest vows to each other. We prepped a few of their closest guests and told them they had 1 minute each to speak at the ceremony. They could do whatever they wanted with the time — speak from the heart, do a mini speech or perform a reading. What resulted was amazing and varied, with tear-jerking and hilarious moments.
They’d had some brilliant first dates in Brighton, as well as late nights out. It was a defining place in their early days, which they said were the best years of their life. So it felt very fitting to have their wedding there.
Although the wedding was mostly inside at Hotel du Vin, Kica and Nick got to take advantage of the amazing weather and golden hour, with iconic Brighton beach and seafront shots captured by Irene Yapp.
Personally, it was amazing and rare for me to marry a couple in my city! So many of my weddings are further afield, or in the wider Sussex area. Afterwards I walked home along the seafront in the sunshine, and ate fish and chips on the beach. It was definitely my shortest commute to a wedding yet!
How did you find out about celebrant ceremonies and what made you decide to have one?
We always wanted something personal, cool, unconventional and non-religious, so after some research, a celebrant ceremony seemed perfect for us.
How was the process of creating your wedding ceremony?
Roxy made it super smooth and drama-free. Nothing was too much trouble.
Looking back at the day, how did the ceremony feel?
It was emotionally intense but in a very trusting and calm environment – if that even makes sense. Everyone felt as though they were safe to feel all the feels!
What was the most special part of your ceremony and why?
Our promises. We had no idea what each other had written and they matched perfectly.
They were honest, open, vulnerable, and personal. They described our journey from the very beginning through each other’s eyes and how it had shaped us to now being present in that moment.
What would you say to couples considering a celebrant ceremony?
Go for Roxy! She really does not disappoint and will do everything in her power to make sure you are happy. Not only that, but she will provide the right support in the moment that only comes from experience. She had complete control over a very emotional ceremony and everyone complimented her afterwards. She was a defining part of our day.
How did your wedding ceremony tie in with the rest of your wedding day?
It was laid back, fun and informal, with an intimate guest list of 50.
How did your ceremony go down with you guests?
They were on a high with us! Everyone commented on how they couldn’t hold back tears – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! People loved the lack of formalities and how personal to us and our journey it was.
How would you describe the vibe/style/look & feel of your day?
Chill/intimate/boho/natural/easy
What's the best piece of advice you would give to other couples getting married?
Do not bend your wants, needs and expectations for anyone else’s. Everyone says it - because it’s true!
Did you do the legal bit before or after your ceremony? or how did you combine the two together?
The day before. We took only our parents and siblings and went for a meal after. That was also a great way to bring the two families together to be present in the moment without having the distraction of extra guests and extended family.
What did you love most about planning your ceremony?
All of it really…bringing the lifelong vision to life. And having people invested in that process with you is very warming and humbling.
Tell me about your wedding location. How did you decide on the venue?
We wanted somewhere upmarket and small where the guests wouldn’t have to travel between locations. Hotel du Vin seemed like the best option for this.
What do you remember most about your ceremony?
Crying! To be honest, not much because it’s a very surreal moment. That’s why a good photographer is so important, to capture the laughs and the tears.
If you could do the day all over again, is there anything you’d change?
Even less people believe it or not. And possibly make it even more informal than it was, such as scrapping the sit-down meal (which takes so long and binds everyone to their seat), and having a buffet style instead. When I look back at the pictures, I see that Nick is with all the guests beforehand having a drink and a laugh, whereas I was in the room all morning which builds nerves, stress and unnecessary pressure.
Superstar suppliers, including:
Photographer – Irene Yap (an absolute babe)
Dress – Grace loves lace
Nick's suit was from a boutique in London
Cake – Love from Luisa
Décor – To have and to Hire
If you’d like to learn more about creating a unique Brighton celebrant wedding, get in touch to have a chat.