Names: Shaun & Emma Rigby
Date of Wedding: 05/08/2023
Photographer: Nick Labrum
Style or Theme: Rustic Wedding
Your Love Story
…How did you meet?
We went to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama together 2011-2015. We both had other relationships for the first couple of years but met each other properly in 2013 when we hit it off in the classy establishment of Lloyd’s Bar in Cardiff! We’ve now been together for 10 years.
The proposal
Expected or surprise!
Definitely a surprise! We went for a walk up Emma’s favourite hill in Herefordshire where Shaun had to feign illness to hint to my parents to leave us alone once we reached a specific bench that looks out over the countryside! Emma’s dad knew it was coming but it was a surprise for her mum.
Choosing THE dress …
Went dress shopping with my mum and bridesmaids. Had a lovely day and ended up going with one of the first dresses I tried on that was completely different than what I had in mind!
Why did you choose Bredenbury Court Barns?
The views over the Malvern hills are stunning! We loved the mix of modern and rustic and the Orangery in particular made us both fall in love with the venue straight away.
Tell us all the details!
Walked down the aisle to Pachelbel’s Canon and then back up the aisle to U2’s Beautiful Day played on strings. Our friends from uni sang a My Fair Lady Medley (a tradition amongst us all) as well as our maid of honour and groomsman reading an extract from Dr Seuss and a poem called ‘I’ll be there for you’.
A friend from school – Dani McKenzie made our cake which tasted amazing.
Emma’s dad cut and carved all of the wooden log centrepieces, name card holders and a welcome photo sign.
Emma’s mum, aunties and grandma put together the flowers for the tables and aisle using wildflowers and gypsophilia.
As we’re both musicians, Shaun’s mum and gran helped to put together the confetti cones made from sheet music. All of the families dried out rose petals throughout the year for confetti – it smelt amazing!
We also had a family drinks tasting in advance to decide on which wines and ciders to have.
The whole day had links to Herefordshire, Liverpool and Somerset due to our family homes and where we currently live.
What was on the menu?
Bar snacks for drinks reception.
Starter: Goats cheese tart
Main: host a roast beef (wow!)
Dessert: lemon cheesecake heart
Pizza for tea.
First Dance Song?
Grow old with me – Tom Odell
We also did a first song where Emma sang and Shaun drummed with the band – We are family – Sister Sledge
Your favourite moment of the day?
Shaun: Emma walking down the aisle or playing with the band for our first song
Emma: Playing with the band for first song or the moment together in the bridal suite straight after the ceremony with a drink.
A word of advice for future couples?
Don’t sweat the small stuff or the weather. It rained for the morning of our wedding but it was still the best day ever. The staff at Bredenbury are amazing and will always put you at ease.
Can you sum up your day in just 3 words?
Bride: Best Day Ever
Groom: Happiest Man Alive
Photographer: Nick Labrum
Dress: Hill Bridal
Shoes: Debenhams
Rings: Chapelle and Ernest Jones
Accessories: Shein, Etsy, Debenhams, John Lewis
Make-up: Sam @ Indulge Makeup and Beauty
Hair: Hair Comes the Bride
Grooms Attire: Dyfed Menswear
Bridesmaid Dresses: New Look! Absolute steal…
Cake: Danni Mac Bakes
Flowers: Chapel Florist
Entertainment: Aphrodite Strings / Charlie and the Funk Factory
