WEDDINGS Couple enjoy laid-back wedding

The couple: Andrew Claridge, 30, a wind turbine technician from Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd, and Vicki Claridge, 31, a midwife from Staffordshire. The couple now live together in Llantwit Fardre. The venue: The couple were married at St Illtud’s Church, Llantwit Major, on September 11, followed by a reception at Rosedew Farm Barn. How they met: The couple met in December 2013.

Vicki said: “Andrew and my cousin set up that I would meet with him when I was in Wales visiting my cousin.

“He appeared when we were at St David’s shopping centre and met me playing a trumpet.

“I wasn’t impressed at that moment, or when he tried to kiss me under the mistletoe, although when he came around to my cousin’s house the next day I got to meet him properly and realised he was someone special.

“We went on our first date in January 2014.” The proposal: Andrew proposed during Vicki’s 30th birthday surprise trip to New York.

The couple were at the top of the Rockefeller building the day before her birthday.

Vicki said: “I remember there being a lot of nervous laughs from both of us but of course I said yes.” The wedding: Vicki and Andrew opted for a laid-back wedding.

The theme was “rustic undone” and they wanted it to be a relaxed family occasion.

Vicki said: “We both always knew we wanted to marry in a church and our vicar at St Illtud’s was brilliant.

“It was a beautiful service and many of our guests commented on it after.

“We visited many beautiful venues for our reception but Rosedew Farm really stood out for us because of the laid-back nature.

“We had a ukulele player for the drinks reception and a DJ for the evening.

“We also decided to have a caricaturist drawing our guests in the evening.”

The couple had a wonderful day. The honeymoon: The couple jetted off to Texas in September before enjoying a driving tour of Florida.

They visited places such as Orlando, Miami, Key West and St Pete Beach.