Frankie and Liam got married on 9th September 2017 at st Illtyd’s Church in Llantwit Major and held their Reception in a field behind Liam’s parents house also in Llantwit Major. I knew this wedding was going to be special as F & L had planned and organised everything themselves. I love Tipi Weddings in South Wales and especially a DIY wedding. Everything was bespoke and handmade from the dress to the locally brewed beer.
The Dress
The dress was handmade and took 12 months to make. Every piece was hand stitched and was the dress was completely bespoke.
The Beer
The family hired a brewery for the day and they got to make their own pale ale! From choosing the hops and ingredients to bottling and designing the labels. An apple was added from the Griffin tree (Liam’s), schnapps from their grandparents (Oma and Opa) from Austria, honey from Frankie’s moms bees and maize from their maize field – A totally unique blend. The name…Liam was sat in seat 9K on the flight they met (Kilo in crew talk). 350 bottles and 2 barrels later helped this amazing wedding party get into full swing.
Hand-painted signs telling the story of how they met
These signs lined the walkway to the Tipi telling the story of how they met.
The Tipi
Beautifully decorated using all hand made materials and locally sourced products.
Frankie and Liam’s story
I (Frankie) met Liam on a fight from Mauritius to Dubai, he was my passenger and after 8 hours of him standing at the bar and me pouring him very frothy Heinekens I decided to put my number in his passport!
Once we landed and he had disembarked the aircraft I got a text… a text that would change our lives forever…
“I guess Doha is only 40 minutes away”
Liam lived in Doha and I lived in Dubai… this could work… A gorgeous Welsh man and a Northern air hostess fell in love…
2 years later and I had handed my notice in and Liam was back in Wales waiting for my arrival. I had one last flight to do and as fate works in mysterious ways Emirates sent me back to Mauritius…
A stroll on the beach remembering all the millions of memories I had had over the 4 years in the middle east when I found a letter, a letter off Liam telling me how proud he was of me and that he would be waiting for me at the airport excited to start our new life.
Tears were shed and the ugly type too! and then the most surreal moment of my life… Liam walked out of the sea… With a white box in his hand and proposed… he wasn’t in Wales… he was hiding in the sea!! Try work that out with minimal sleep and maximum jet lag!
We had the most magical 24 hours and returned to Dubai for 4 days of packing and lots of champagne and then finally we were Wales bound.
So, 18 months later and we have our wedding… 09.09.17
If you are getting married in South Wales are looking for a South Wales wedding photographer who just lets you get on with it then drop me and email. Check out some more lovely weddings in wales here.
Caricaturist – Picasso Griffiths
Florist: Catherine Pearson
Make-up: Zoe Peplow
Hairdresser: Lauren Laprell
Suits: Moss Bross