“Raffaele Ciuca in Armadale was the first store I went to and this was the first dress that I tried on. Nothing else could compare. Maria was the perfect bridal consultant – very kind and helpful.” #RCREALBRIDE KIARA RC – How did you and your husband meet? We met at work during our university internship four years ago. RC – The proposal? My husband proposed on our two year anniversary under a starry night sky in the midst of winter. It was very charming! RC – Is there a particular reason as to why you chose your venue? During our engagement a lot of weekends were spent searching for the perfect venue and this stopped when we both fell in love with the stunning Ascot House; an elegant Victorian mansion. It matched my vision perfectly with an air of romance, elegance and unmatched opulence. We held the ceremony in its beautiful leafy gardens and then danced the night away with guests in the Grand Ballroom. I loved how I could add my own styling touches to the old-worldly canvas of Ascot House, with loosely structured floral arrangements in blush and ivory tones, a whimsical bridal table, endless golden tea light votives, and ornate additions. RC – Your favourite part of the wedding? A moment that will remain etched in my mind forever is walking down the aisle. The sun was shining through the trees and the only person I could see through my veil as I walked down the petal-strewn lawn to the rotunda was my soon-to-be husband. Our send-off was another magical moment- our family and friends lined the exit with sparklers for a spectacular ending to what was an amazing day. After one year of planning my wedding, it was wonderful to see everything come together just as I envisioned. I put my heart and soul into planning each and every detail- from designing my own custom monogram, to trawling through flower catalogues to find the perfect shade of blush, producing classical music playlists for our ceremony and sourcing all items for an enchanting tablescape. It was immensely satisfying to admire the beauty and see all my hard work pay off. My vision became a truly momentous reality. RC – How the dress made you feel? From the moment I tried on my Pronovias wedding dress, I felt angelic, heavenly and dreamy. Quite interesting how a dress can make you feel this way, certainly a once in a lifetime feeling. Its intricate lace, beading and layers of soft tulle were truly breathtaking paired together with my cathedral length veil. RC – Your bridal shopping experience? My bridal shopping experience was surprisingly the easiest part of my entire wedding planning process! Raffaele Ciuca in Armadale was the first store I went to and this was the first dress that I tried on. Nothing else could compare. Maria was the perfect bridal consultant – very kind and helpful. RC – Tips for brides-to-be! Although I planned my wedding to the finest detail, being the crazy planner that I am with countless agendas and supplier lists to rule out any possibility for errors, not everything will go according to plan. It is only through the journey of becoming a bride that I have learnt things I would never have considered. To help all future bride-to-be’s I’ve created my own ’10 Tips from a Former Bride’ on my @capturemyheartco Instagram account to ensure your day runs just as you dreamed! KIARA WEARS BICE BY PRONOVIAS