The Wedding of Nia and Andrew at Ocean View, Swansea
Weddings
Ocean View
with Nia and Andrew
11th June 2022
Tell us how you first met. Who what when where why? Give us all the dirty details.
We first met when I (Nia) was working as a waitress in the Greyhound, Andrew would come in nearly every night with one of his friends Josh, usually at 8:55 pm when the last orders were at 9 pm! I always knew if there was an order for Greyhound chicken and a lasagne to table 13 it was them two! I think Andrew messaged me on Facebook in October/November time of 2013, I had a boyfriend at the time and told him I wasn't interested. He kept trying a few times and would try and talk to me when I was working but I didn't want to know. Between Christmas and New Year's Eve, my then boyfriend and I split up and for some unknown reason, I messaged Andrew to let him know... I remember I worked one Saturday night and Andrew was there, as I was leaving and walked outside, Andrew was chatting to another girl and I remember feeling so jealous and angry and I was questioning myself as to why I felt like this because we weren't together or anything going on! One of Andrew's other friends then started messaging me when I became single, again telling him I wasn't interested in anything, but we all became friends. This friend could drive so we used to go out most Friday and Saturday nights and we'd always end up in the King Arthur. This is when I really got to know Andrew and started to like him. One specific night, we went to the King Arthur Pub and one of Andrew's best men, Llew was there I remember speaking to him and asking who I was better suited to. Andrew or this friend and he said, Andrew! I think it was that night we shared our first kiss, round the side of the pub where no one could see us and it was the type of kiss where there'd been so much tension, we literally grabbed each other... just like the movies!! We didn't want people to see us as we didn't want to upset the other friend. However, he then cottoned on that Andrew and I were getting on very well and the nights out stopped! From then on I didn't see much of Andrew because neither of us could drive however he could drive a tractor so it was then tractor dates!!
Tell us about your first date.
Our first date was not romantic at all... one Saturday morning he picked me up at 8:30 am (I was told he'd pick me up at 8 am but was late!) and we delivered bales to Richie in Pennard. It was lunchtime by the time we were on the way back so he bought us lunch which was a pasty, diet coke and we shared a kit kat chunky! From then, he realised I was a cheap date and I realised he was rubbish at being on time... and 8 years later, things haven't changed haha!! I don't think either of us called it a date initially, it was just a spin in the tractor for me and company for him. However, we do now call that our first date and we wouldn't change it.
When did you know they were the one? Was there something he/she did?
We were very young getting together, 16 & 18. We had a few break ups over the years, we did a lot of growing both as a couple and individually. So for me, it definitely wasn't a case of Andrew being the one from day 1. Our last break up we split for 4 months and had no contact, it was a very mutual break up, we just weren't on the same paths in our lives and were on different chapters. We ended up talking again because we both went to the same party at the sports club, but we were both under the impression the other wasn't going to be there and we both said, if we knew one another would be there we wouldn't have gone! He was there most of the night, I walked in later on in the night and just died inside. I did not want to see him... however, I went outside and he followed me, we spoke about things and started texting again. He definitely grew up in those months apart and I think it was from then, we realised this was forever.
How did your partner propose?
This is a bit of a sunny story. So we went away with our dog for a little summer break and this one particular night we'd booked a table at our favourite restaurant in Narbeth. It wasa boiling hot day so I said to Andrew we'd go for food and then go for a walk later on in the evening and take the dog out then. Andrew said he wanted to take the dog out first and then go for food but I said no, it's too hot. So we went for food, got back, changed and took the dog to the beach. Andrew had his hands in his pockets the whole time which isn't like him because he always holds my hand. I thought he was in a foul mood and asked him with a bit of an attitude 'what's wrong because you've been silent since we got here?' and he replied with 'nothing, I'm fine'. We'd walked so far and it started to get dark o I said we'll turn round, as we turned round I didn't realise Andrew wasn't next to me and then he said 'Nia, turn round' so as I did he was one one knee with the ring in his hand and said 'Nia, will you marry me?' and I think my first words were 'are you serious?' but it was then of course a yes! So we hugged, I had tears and Andrew was white! His initial plan was to take the dog for a walk, propose and then food out would be our celebratory meal but that didn't go to plan and he nearly proposed to me in the car park, again to celebrate with a meal but he probably knew if he did that I'd have said no... in a carpark!! After getting engaged, I rang my mum and he said 'she already knows' because Andrew had asked my mum if it was the right time and if she was happy for him to ask me to marry him.
Tell us the one thing you love most about each other.
There isn't one thing in particular I love about Andrew, but the two things that stick out for me are how caring he is and how much he works to provide for us. Whenever I'm upset or we've had a small argument he will always se if I'm okay and always apologise if he shouted. With his work, Andrew says he never had much as a child so wants to give his children everything they can and never feel like they miss out as well as providing for me. I don't think there are many men out there these days that want to work like that and I'm forever grateful. He always makes a joke when the money comes in 'that's paid for your clothes' or 'that's paid for all the things you have planned this year'.
Andrew said he doesn't love one thing about me, he loves everything about me!
If you feel comfortable, share with us something silly or quirky the other person does.
Andrew, since the day we started to texting has always given me about 7 kisses on a text. I give 1, or 2 but without fail, he'll give that many. Another thing he does, when he gets in late from work and I'm still awake, he'll have a shower and he always listens to music in the shower. After his shower he does what I call the naked dance. He'll get out the shower, still with the music on and do a little dance for about a minute. Every single time.
Andrew says I do a pig laugh... when I laugh I sound like a pig. Not sure that's accurate but we'll go with it! I'm sure I don't snort anyway...
What’s your favorite trend for weddings right now?
I don't specifically have a favourite trend, I do like all different trends and I think the trend that someone chooses is unique to them. I think it also depends on the venue people choose.
Tell us about your wedding?
Our day was just perfect! I loved every second of it, but my favourite was the church. The service was beautiful. Leading up the wedding neither of us were nervous, even on the morning we weren't nervous. My mum rang Andrew on the morning and asked him how he was feeling and he said 'fine, I'm down the farm feeding the cows'. He said he was more nervous in the church and then when he knew I was outside he was very nervous! I became nervous on the way to the church and eve more so outside the doors waiting to go in. I said to my mum and dad 'I can't do this' and my dad said 'too late, were going in' and mum said 'yes you can'. The minute I got to the alter I was fine. We had some giggles with the vicar, Andrew's ring didn't fit him and wouldn't go on and we both felt really at ease. Andrew doesn't have a favourite part but I think it was leaving the church in the tractors and then going for our photos as he got to drive the tractor. The speeches were brilliant too, my grampie pulled on everyone's heart strings and Andrew did really well. He hates speaking in front of people and only wrote his speech on the Monday before the wedding with my mum and didn't practice. The whole day was perfect and I'd love to do it all again!
What inspired your décor or theme?
For us, it was always going to be the country / farmer vibe with Andrew being a farmer. Neither of us are glitzy glam people so never wanted anything in your face. I'd say our décor was quite elegant, simple, not too much but just the right amount of everything. The only thing I googled for ideas was flowers as I had no idea what I wanted, I just knew I didn't want roses as I feel everyone has them. In the end we had yellow fresias and I didn't know that when I chose them, my grandparents also had yellow fresias in their wedding. I never wanted fancy wedding cars either, so Andrew had the tractors, bridesmaids went in a Range Rover and I went in my dads friends car which was a Jaguar.
Suppliers
Suits - Dyfed Menswear
Bride's dress and Veil - Samantha K's
Andrew's ring and Nia's jewellery - H.Samuel
Nia's ring - Clogau Gold
Bridesmaids dresses - Asos
Wedding favours - logs supplied by Nia's grandfather Peter, and then made into tea light holders by Nia's father, Andrew and then decorated by Nia and her mother, Carol-Ann
Cakes - made by Andrew's mother Roslyn
Welsh cakes on arrival - made by Nia's grandfather Ron
Florist - Nia's aunty Gwyneth
Videographer - Skillzkid films
Photography - Morgan James Photography
Venue - Ocean View
Church - Llanrhidian Church
Hair - Sarah Brain
Makeup - Chanel Joseph & Chloe Thomas from the Empire
Tractors - Paviland Farm
Cars - Andrews uncle & Nia's dad's friend
What’s one thing you wish you would have known earlier in regard to planning?
Probably the catering in the evening. Although I catered for less than the actual numbers, I wish I'd gone lower again as we had so much left over food!
Besides getting married - what’s the one thing you are looking forward to on your wedding day?
The party!! We both love a good party. I just love to dance and that's definitely what I did all night. I was also so excited to wear my dress and people see it, especially as my dress was everything I said I didn't want but everything I did want just looked awful on me! I also couldn't wait to see Andrew in his suit and meet him at the altar.
For Andrew, he said he was looking forward to me walking down the aisle and seeing me.
Finally
We had an engagement shoot with Peter, and Andrew hates having his photo taken so really wasn't looking forward to it. After the shoot, we got back in the truck and Andrew said 'book him, he's class'. Peter made us feel really chilled and made us laugh the whole time during the engagement shoot and we knew that's the type of person we needed on our wedding day, especially with all of our friends and families having photos too! So we booked. Our engagement photos were beautiful and our wedding photos were amazing, we absolutely love them.
