“As the wedding was on the beach and the meal in an outdoor venue, I wanted to make use of the natural scenery and lighting.”
Names: Rachel Sollitt and Brett Haining
Length of engagement: 1 year and 6 months
Wedding Date: 19 July 2019
Photographer/Videographer: Joao Mascerenas – Visual Stories
Planner: Algarve Weddings by Rebecca
How did you meet and get engaged? We met at school and got together many years later after we had both finished school/university etc. We got engaged in January 2018 in Rome on the last day of our holiday.
Describe your wedding (theme/colours): Simple/Boho. I used Pinterest for inspiration. As the wedding was on the beach and the meal in an outdoor venue, I wanted to make use of the natural scenery and lighting. There was lots fairy lights, candles, lanterns and white floral and natural greenery on the tables, around the venue and at the ceremony.
Tell us about your bridal look (dress/hair/makeup): My dress was a simple lace fitted dress from the Australian Bridal Wear Grace Loves Lace, which I found in London. It had a low back with velvet cross over straps down my back and a split up the back of my dress. I wore a drop veil pinned to the back of my hair (also from GLL). I kept my hair down with soft waves, keeping it simple, as I wanted to still look like me.
What did your bridesmaids wear? I let my bridesmaids all choose their own dresses/looks as they are all so different and I did not want to impose a set look on them. I would rather they were happy and comfortable, as that would make me happy. Once the first one picked her dress, the other two chose ones that complimented each other. They all wore embellished dresses, one in nude, one in pale grey/blue and one in rose gold pink. They were all different styles. Their hair and make up was also all different to suit their individual styles, and they all looked amazing!
What was your ceremony like? Ceremony was on the beach, outside the Duna Beach bar/club in Lagos. Guests were seated on the sand either side of a wooden walkway which was covered with white petals. We got married under a white arch decorated, decorated by Weddings by Rebecca, in floral and greenery. The ceremony was in English and Portuguese.
Tell us about your wedding venue: Duna Beach Bar. The meal was situated in the outdoor bar area, around a pool under a wooden canopy. There was a buffet set up at one side, next to the bar, and the DJ/Band (The Originals Algarve) at the other end. There was enough space for everyone to mingle/dance and as expected we all ended up in the pool at the end of the night!
What is your favourite memory from your wedding day? I have so many favourite memories, it’s hard to tell, the speeches, walking down the aisle and ending up in the pool are some of my top ones!
Have you got any advice for other couples? It’s inevitable that you are going to get stressed about something but remember that it is just a day and it’s your day so as long as you’re happy everyone else will be too! Don’t worry about all the little things as at the end of the day you just want to have fun. This is why it’s important to have a good wedding planner, you trust alongside you.
Suppliers
Wedding venue: Duna Beach Club, Lagos, Portugal (Part of Tivoli Hotels, Lagos) | Planner/coordinator: Algarve Weddings By Rebecca | Musician: The Originals | DJ: DJ Farby DJ solutions | Makeup: Make Up by Marisca Francisco | Dress: Grace Loves Lace | Groom and Groomsmen outfits: Hugo Boss, Twisted Tailor | Bridesmaids dresses: ASOS, NEXT, Monsoon | Cake: The Cake Shop | Celebrant: Pastor Jon | Stationery: The Paper Show (Invites) and Duna Beach (for wedding day menus etc) | Jewellery: Various gifts from Brett and my family | Flowers: Ely Flores | Rental Materials: Luxe Events Portugal
