Real weddings

By sam Jordan (née stonham)Photography: Jd lynch Photography

Ride to

RomanceIt had been Sam’s dream since childhood to travel to her

wedding ceremony on horseback… it came true

ver since she was a little girl, Sam had one wish for her wedding day – to ride to the ceremony on horseback.

There was no way a little rain could put off a lifelong dream

and the gorgeous bride was majestically mounted on her steed George as she arrived on the big day, to the delight of family, friends and of course Greig, who she was set to marry.

The couple had known each other for about 11 years and been in a relationship for almost nine of those as they grew up and lived in the same town and met through mutual friends.

sealed with a kiss

130 KENT BRIDE magazine

The proposal was in September 2010. Greig popped the question while holidaying in Ibiza. He had planned the place and moment during the previous year’s holiday on the same island but had wanted to ask his intended’s parents permission first, so he waited until the following year to finally ask.

The proposal was over dinner, during the famous sunset at Café Mambo In Ibiza.

Sam said: “We both really love Ibiza, and this was the perfect place – he couldn’t have picked a better location.”

As Sam’s dream since she was very young was to ride her horse to her wedding, the pre-wedding plan revolved around this dream, from the venue

selection to the wedding dress.Greig said: “While wedding dress-

shopping, Sam thought she knew what she wanted prior to the start. However, like many brides before her, the dress she finally bought was not like she had initially thought.

“Sam certainly made people laugh in the shops – in one shop, she thought she had found a dress she quite liked and started to squat while wearing the dress.

“The shop staff asked her what she was doing, and she explained she was seeing how far she could spread her legs. The staff exclaimed that they had never had a bride do that before, and she had to quickly explain that it was

because she would be riding her horse so needed to make sure the dress would accommodate the saddle.

“The dress she ended up with was a 1960s-style tea-length dress. Sam had tried on more than 30 dresses and couldn’t work out what she didn’t like as none of them were right. However, once she tried ‘The Dress’, she realised she didn’t like her feet being covered.

“Her dress was perfect as she did not want to look like a princess but more like she was wearing a gorgeous party dress!

“We had planned everything to the final detail, but we couldn’t plan the weather. The week leading up to our wedding was rain, and the forecast for

The dream comes true

KENT BRIDE magazine 131