Sarah will be marrying Rich on 20th June 2021 at Tikitano Beach, Marbella, Spain. Click here to read all Sarah’s planning posts to date.
THREE FACTS: (1) Sarah knew Rich was the one when he brought a gift of dog treats for her toy poodle Nuala along to their fourth date! (2) They are crafting an amazing destination wedding weekend in Marbella with beloved Smashing The Glass Recommended vendor optimum weddings as their planner. (3) Sarah is a member of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club!
The Wedding Day That Wasn’t and the Wedding Day That Will Be
I always thought that when I wrote this blog post I would be bathing in the bliss of being a newlywed (perhaps with a hangover and sore feet!). However, I am writing it as an excited bride to be, filled with hope and positivity about my wedding day on June 20th 2021.
The Lead Up to the Original Wedding Date
The lead up to June 21st was interesting to say the least. Everyone was asking how we were going to celebrate our should have been wedding day. I went along with the concept of celebrating this day until two days before. Needless to say, being in the latter stages of lockdown was a little limiting in terms of where we could go or what we could do. For the most part, I was positive and sure that I would be ok on June 21st.
However, Richard and I decided that we didn’t really feel like celebrating something which should have been as it only served as a painful reminder of what would not be. So, we decided to have a normal Sunday, spend time together (with the dog of course!), and have takeaway from one of our favourite restaurants. Overall it all seemed like a very positive plan and I was confident that we would stride through the day with smiles, laughs and lots of yummy treats.
The Day Itself
In reality I woke up that day, ended up having an argument with Rich over something so minor that it didn’t even matter and then realising that we were both so upset that we were taking our frustration out on each other. I felt incredibly down, low, disheartened and angry.
How could this be happening on the day when we should have been getting married? After coming to the realisation that we needed to support each other as opposed to snap at each other, the tears started and lasted through at least two large cups of coffee!
Fast forward a few hours and we both went for a lovely walk in the sunshine, had a coffee from Gail’s (our favourite local treat) and a cheese straw pastry or two (but wedding diets were definitely off that day!). We couldn’t sit outside at a table due to social distancing and so we perched on a wall nearby, eating our lunch and appreciating each other and the lovely weather.
We then spent the afternoon talking, telling each other how much we love each other (sorry if that’s a bit cringeworthy!), just enjoying each other’s company, speaking to friends and family who called with words of support and ultimately we embarked upon the biggest and most delicious dinner and sushi feast of all time! Richard also bought me the biggest and most beautiful bouquet of roses, which definitely won him a bonus point or two!
As the day drew to close and we said goodnight to each other, I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted. We no longer had to live in a place where we were in the lead up to our should have been wedding date. Rather, we could now focus on our new date and be excited that our wedding is officially under a year away.
Bring on June 2021!
The Monday morning after, Richard went back to work and I got straight back into wedding planning and rearranging our Aufruf and the caterer for it (the incredibly talented Karen Harris who created the most wonderful tea for our engagement party last year!). Truthfully, I hadn’t been able to bring myself to do it beforehand but now it just felt right. I was excited and dreaming about our wedding all over again.
We are having a socially distanced photoshoot with the amazing Paul Toeman from Paul Toeman Photography next weekend and we are both incredibly excited about it. We never had an engagement shoot and so in a strange way It feels as though we are newly engaged and embarking on our wedding journey all over again. Essentially, it marks the beginning of this new year and this new wedding countdown.
We have also just booked Paul Toeman to photograph our Civil Ceremony in London next year. I would love to take credit for this, but it was all Richard’s idea! It just goes to show you that sometimes you can add little touches and improvements when you are given a second chance to plan and to perfect everything.
I don’t know what our wedding would have been like last Sunday, but I do know that next year is going to be even better. We have a year to relax and enjoy the lead up to our wedding, knowing that it is for the most part completely planned. We will be able to hug our family members and stand together under the Chuppah, dance with our friends, and appreciate all the things which I for one, had clearly been taking for granted until Covid-19 arrived on the scene.
I do genuinely believe that by the time next June rolls around, everyone will be in need of a party and some fun and I think that appreciation will create the most special, emotional and electric atmosphere.
To Conclude
I don’t think that anyone can prepare you for how you will feel on the day when your wedding should have been and I don’t think (in hindsight) that you should try to pre-empt your feelings or feel that you should feel a certain way or do a particular thing. Everyone is different and how you chose to mark that occasion is unique to you.
Our day was emotional and perfectly imperfect, but I would not change it for the world. The only bit of advice which I feel is generic and important, is to appreciate each other on that day and every other day. You chose to get married to the person you love and nothing can and should change that, not a pandemic and not a postponed wedding.
One of the bonuses of our wedding not happening when it should have is that I now have the honour to be able to continue to blog for Smashing The Glass for another year. I can’t wait to continue to be a part of this special community and share all things wedding related with you in the lead up to 20th June 2021!
Click here to read all Sarah’s planning posts to date.
Sarah and Rich’s Wedding Vendors booked so far:
Venue – Tikitano Beach
Photographer – Nani De Perez
Videographer – Antonio De Perez
Wedding Planner – optimum weddings {offers 10% discount to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Dress – Mirror Mirror London {offers £200 discount for veil and accessory purchases over £400 to all members of Smashing The Glass’s Brides Club}
Videographer – Antonio De Perez
Stationery – Simcha Invitations
Chuppah singer – JJ Hodari
Band – One Entertainment
Hair + Makeup – Alex Harrocks and Nicola McGeorge
Welcome Party – at Besaya Beach
Toastmaster – Jamie Paskin
Post Aufruf Lunch Caterer – Karen Harris
Photo Shoot and London Civil Ceremony Photographer – Paul Toeman
Civil Ceremony Venue – The Old Marylebone Town Hall
If you’re a Jewish or Jew-ish bride-to-be, join Smashing The Glass’ Brides Club for step-by-step guides, handpicked wedding vendor discounts, Jewish wedding action plans, a free smash glass pouch, Jewish wedding checklists and templates, and SO much more!
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