Diary Of Real Bride – The Surprise Thailand Engagement | Barbaranne Heaton
Written by on January 11, 2015.
Tagged under: Moirai Style, Proposal, Real bride, Thailand proposal, diary of a real bride, engaged
Diary Of A Real Bride – The Proposal
We are super stoked that one of our very own BCME-listed vendors is engaged and, better yet, is now one of our bride-to-be guest bloggers. Today we welcome the gorgeous Barbaranne Heaton, designer and founder of Dubai-based Moirai Style. Barbaranne has worked with Bride Club ME since our launch in 2012; she’s designed and created bridesmaid dresses and, more recently, bridal gowns for countless readers, and was behind the beautiful dresses worn by our founder Rio’s bridesmaids on her big day last year.
Now it’s our turn to support Barbaranne during the planning process, as she takes us through her wedding journey with monthly diary updates. We are so very happy for Barbaranne and are honoured to be sharing her plans here at BCME. Today is her first post and it’s all about the proposal – and what a wonderful proposal it was too! Enjoy!
“You’re a bride-to-be,” someone said to me. “How are the wedding plans going?” another person asked. “Let me see the ring!” Then the realisation hit that they were saying these things to me! I’m the one that usually asks these questions. I’m the one normally fascinated by the proposal story, the ring, where the wedding is taking place and when. And now, all of a sudden, it’s down to me to provide the answers and I sometimes forget! I don’t mean this in a bad way; I spend 99 per cent of my time thinking about weddings, but my business is all about other people’s special days. Thinking about my own left me feeling somewhat overwhelmed at first.
So, here I am, a blushing bride-to-be, freaking out at the thought of having to organise the most wonderful day of our lives when I live, eat and breathe weddings on a day-to-day basis. It was only five weeks ago on 10 October, while on a beautiful sandy beach in Thailand, that the love of my life (he really is) asked for my hand in marriage. It was perfect in every way. It was nothing like what I’d imagined. I had no idea it was going to happen and still can’t quite believe it. Without sounding terribly unromantic, I’d thought we’d gone past that stage and that if he’d wanted to propose, he would have done so by now. It only took him seven years, but hey, who’s counting?
So back to the perfect, sandy Thai beach. It was actually full of jellyfish and I very nearly stepped on one because I was too busy staring at the sparkly rock on my finger! He didn’t make it down onto one knee, either. My fiancé (ooh it sounds so fancy!) asked me in a way that was special to us as a couple. We are both slightly football obsessed and a lot of rivalry between our teams goes on under our roof. After trekking up two mountains to find a hidden cave that monks had built a Buddhist pavilion in, we returned in a rather sweaty state to the beach. I have to say, I am NOT this adventurous normally.
Thom had changed into his Sheffield Wednesday shirt after freshening up a little; I didn’t think this was strange as it’s not uncommon to find him in it. He asked if we could go for a walk up the beach and write our names in the sand. We found a good, jellyfish-free spot and I started writing our names. It was then that he handed me a parcel and said, “I have a pressie for you.” I did get a little excited, until he gave me a plastic bag. I opened it up and inside was a Blackpool FC shirt (my team). I thought cool, maybe he wants us to have our picture taken together wearing them.
Meanwhile, he’s rummaging around in his rucksack, and I notice it has something written on the back. I was a bit too eager and straight away turned it around to reveal the words “Barbaranne, will you marry me?” I started laughing, and Thom lifted his head out of his rucksack and shouted, “You weren’t supposed to look yet!” His plan was to be down on one knee when I looked at the back of the shirt. I then noticed the ring in his hand.
Before I had the chance to gasp, he took hold of me, kissed me and popped the ring on my finger. As if I was ever going to say no! It was perfect. I hadn’t showered that day, my nails hadn’t seen a manicure in months and I was covered in sand and mud, but I didn’t care; it couldn’t have been any better. Cue big smiley happy faces and ring selfies! The ring, by the way, was designed by my very good friend Jane Hewitt of JH Jewellery. Jane and Thom had picked out the stones themselves after visiting a gemologist and designed the ring together. I was über impressed!
We were in Thailand having a reunion with all of Thom’s family, so when we got back to the hotel we were able to share our news with them, which was amazing. We are both very close to his family and they live in all corners of the world, so it was a special trip made even more special by being able to celebrate our news with them. So what happens now? Oh yeah, we have to start planning! Now, if only I knew a good dress designer…
B x
Don’t forget to log on next month to see B’s latest bridal diary post!
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