The couple first met in May, 2011, when Kym was living in Sydney, Australia, and Paul was visiting the city for work. “We met by chance on his last night,” Kym tells us. “He was meant to be at a rugby game and decided to stop at the same pub I was in for a drink. We really hit it off but he had to fly back to the UK the next day. We stayed in touch though and became great friends.”
They didn't have their first date until 2013, when Paul's work transferred him to Australia. “He took me to Yoshii, a Japanese restaurant in the Rocks, followed by a drink at the Shangri La hotel,” recalls Kym. “The bar is on the 36th floor and overlooks Sydney harbour so it was a great date.”
However, that evening wasn't her best memory – Paul saved his most romantic gesture for the proposal. “We came back to the UK in December, 2013 for Christmas, having only been dating a few months,” Kym tells us. “I was meant to arrange it but he said he'd look after everything. We spent the day shopping in Covent Garden and eventually checked into our hotel.”
Paul had booked a room that overlooked Big Ben and arranged for it to be decorated with candles and flowers. “It was a very romantic, private proposal. After I said 'yes', he gave me my gorgeous ring and we shared a bottle of champagne. The entire day was amazing and a complete surprise.” Here Kym tells us more about their dream day…
Danni Alders is a professional MAC make-up artist and gave me a soft, bridal glow on the big day.
Tina Appleton from Toni & Guy created my bridal up do which really suited the classic style of my dress.
I searched everywhere for my dress but struggled to find one that felt right. Finally a friend of Paul's suggested Suzanne Neville and I fell in love with two instantly. I dragged my sister back to make the final decision and opted for Gracie, a silk, strapless gown.
I used lots of magazines and websites as inspiration for our wedding and created a look book of what I wanted. – Kym
Pollen helped to decorate Buxted Park. They did an amazing job and the place looked spectacular.
I went for a classic bouquet with roses that tied into our pale pink and silver colour scheme.
We chose a simple chocolate mud cake. It tasted delicious and was the perfect base for our Australianinspired cake topper – a little koala and baby for me and our daughter Milly, and a lion for Paul.
The confetti was made from petals from all of the bunches of roses Paul had ever given me.
From our save-the-dates to the name cards, we had great fun designing everything and getting it printed.
I'm half Italian and grew up eating sugared almonds when I visited my grandad. We decided to give pale pink and silver ones as favours.
Bride's dress
Suzanne Neville
www.suzanneneville.com
Bride's hair
Toni & Guy
www.toniandguy.com
Bride's make-up
Make-up By Danni
www.makeupbydanni.com
Bride's shrug
Antique Lace Heirlooms
www.antiquelaceheirlooms.com
Bridesmaids' dresses
Ted Baker
www.tedbaker.com
Cake
Cakes by Katie B
www.cakesbykatieb.co.uk
Children's entertainment
Fred in the Shed
www.fredintheshed.net
Entertainment
Hand Fulla Soul
www.handfullasoul.com
Entertainment
Brighton String Quartet
www.brightonstringquartet.co.uk
Flowers
Pollen
www.pollenflowers.co.uk
Groom's suit
Moss Bros
www.moss.co.uk
Photo booth
Coco Photo booths
www.cocophotobooths.co.uk
Photographer
Dennison Studios Photography
www.dennisonstudios.com
Venue and catering
Buxted Park Hotel
www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/buxtedpark
www.suzanneneville.com
My Glass Slipper
www.myglassslipper.com