So bring us back to the beginning - how did you two meet? "Me and Tom were both in medical school together, although we never spoke. After we graduated we were placed on the same ward in the same hospital and I found his self assuredness and confidence attractive especially because those were qualities I didn’t have at the beginning of my work life. In November, for my birthday, I casually asked him to come out with me and my friends. I really didn’t think he would, I am not sure if I even told him where we were going, but he turned up, all alone. And that is when it all started. For the next 6 weeks I would time my arrival at the hospital with his so we could walk in together, we had lunch together and met for coffee in the canteen, as well as a few dates. He bought me a goat for christmas (an Oxfam one) and then it became ‘official’ we were together.
How did Tom pop the question? "One Friday while at work Tom texted me to say we were going away for the weekend. I thought this was odd as he rarely suprises me with trips, but he told me it was a pre-Christmas treat, we had a busy year with exams and work, so it was just a chance to relax. He told me to pack something warm, some swimwear and a posh frock. On the Saturday morning we jumped in the car. I was still oblivious to where we were going.We finally arrived at our destination, a beautiful hotel on the banks of Lough Lomond in Scotland. We had mulled wine in the bar and I was honestly thinking 'we should do this more often'. We then got shown to our ‘suite’, it was a huge room with a balcony overlooking the loch, it was amazing. He then surprised me with a trip to the spa! We went back to our suite, and I opened the door, this was the first time that my heart started to pound. Inside the room on the table was champagne on ice, and a huge bunch of flowers. We then cracked open the champagne, I think it was then it properly clicked what may be happening, so I quickly got ready into a black dress, doing my hair and makeup in record time. We had another glass of champagne, and Tom asked if I wanted to go out on to the balcony, he suddenly got down on on knee and pulled out the most gorgeous ring. I can't even remember what he said, I just know it was perfect. We spent the next hour in a whirlwind, telling family, finding out how he planned it all, and looking forward to our future together."
As every girl knows, temptation is a terrible thing, and Jessica started her wedding dress search in the most tempting place on the web - Net-a-porter, the fabulous designer website (that is far from cheap). Of course she instantly fell in love with a Temperley dress and there was no turning back, though the path to the perfect dress was far from simple as she explained: "It was perfect for me, it was simple, yet intricate and a bit different. I had showed my mum and she loved it, but I couldn’t get too excited as it was way over budget and therefore just a dream. Over Christmas I was at Tom’s family home in York, I was gossiping with his mum and sister about wedding stuff picking up tips from his sister. I told them about the beautiful Temperley dress, and logged on to find it. Except I couldn’t, it wasn’t in the usual place, so I googled it and low and behold it was now on the sale page and it was dicounted to just over half price, and the only one left was in my size. I was dumbstruck, I had to buy it! Until it was on I thought it was going back, but something just worked, I just fell in love with it and never tried on another dress."
After the ceremony, the sun shone as the guests grabbed a few moments with the happy couple - big smiles all round!
From the church, Jessica and Tom popped just down the road to the magnificent Belfast Castle for their reception, Jessica explained the personal reasons the couple chose the venue: "Belfast Castle is a really special place and close to my family’s heart, it is just around the corner from mum and dads too and me and my brothers were young we spent many a Sunday walking around the gardens with our dog Sophie, playing in the fountains. It is set in the most beautiful backdrop of the Cave Hill, with stunning views over Belfast. When first thinking about venues I wasn’t sure as it was so familiar but when I stepped back and thought from a guests point of view I couldn’t think of anywhere more spectacular."
And spectacular it certainly is. Adoring Jessica and Tom's portraits in the grounds - such a stunning setting and Gillian Higgins captured them beautifully - how dreamy is the portrait on the right?
Jessica summed it up beautifully: "Our wedding day was very much us, with infuences from each of our families. It was very relaxed but beautiful. We had lots of friends and family travelling over to Belfast from all over the country and that is what made it extra special."
Rather than stressing about creating a particular style or their wedding Jessica and Tom took a very laissez-faire approach to the design of the day, aiming to create a mood rather than a 'look', an approach that worked pretty well as you can see... "We wanted the theme of the day to be fun and relaxed. We wanted all the guests to have a good time with good drink and food. Neither of us are fussy on details and everything fell in to place, literally. From my dress to the venue to the weather everything was perfect."
So tell us, what was your favourite moment of the day? "I was so nervous just before I went into the church, I am not sure exactly why, I think it was the enormity of the day. My favourite moment was reaching Tom at the top of the aisle, he gave me a kiss, and all the nerves disappeared, literally and didnt return.Our wedding day really did turn in to the best day we could of imagined, it was so special becoming man and wife infront of everyone in the world we love. I wouldn’t change anything.
Any words of wisdom to share with other brides and grooms planning their day? "Don’t stress too much, the day is made by being together with all of your loved ones, everything falls in to place and things happpen for a reason, so follow instincts. And enjoy it, as everyone says it goes so fast, and it is truly magical.