How did you first meet?
We met at football; we were both on the same team. Zee and I played professional in American at the time. I was back home playing for Reading on loan during the pandemic and then during that time, Zee got traded and I had missed preseason. When I got back, my best friend said, ‘I can’t wait for you to meet Zee you’re going to love each other’, she didn’t mean it like that, but we did.
How did you propose?
We were together for just under 2 years. We didn’t have a proposal, we were just both thinking the same thing and one day I said to Zee, do you want to get married? I wouldn’t have been able to pick a ring that Zee would have liked, she’s so specific with what she likes, so I wanted her to choose what she wanted, so we went to the shop together and she picked her favourite, after trying them all, she finally found one.
Where did you get married?
Sant Ffraed House
What attracted you to the venue?
We agreed Zee wanted to get married in Wales, it wasn’t a choice. I was on camp and I couldn’t get in to see Sant Ffraed House because of my camp and American schedule. I’d just arrived home, and I sent my mum and sister to the venue, as I was so jet lagged.
I’d given my card to my mum and when I woke up, I had this charge on my card, so I rang my sister and mum and said what’s happened? They told me there was no point looking anywhere else as I wouldn’t’ find a venue like this. They took loads of videos, for me and Zee to look at.
I didn’t get to see the venue until a month later. I fell in love with the venue from videos, but they did not do it justice, it is so beautiful. Zee was home Christmas time, so we went to see it together for the first time. I knew she’d love it, but I wanted her to see it in person, she loved it from the photos but in real life it’s more amazing.
We didn’t look anywhere else; it was so beautiful we couldn’t go anywhere else.
What was your first dance song?
Sweet sympathy by Joy Oladokun and Chris Stapleton
What was your wedding theme?
We didn’t have a theme, we just wanted to get both cultures respected within the entire couple of days. From the food and the drink to the music, we I think we did a pretty good job of it.
What stationary did you have?
A table plan and seating chart.
What did you wear?
Yes, I have a very specific style when it comes to dresses and going to formal events. When I went to get my MBE, I had a similar style dress which I didn’t realise. I knew I wanted a high neck and long sleeve dress, and I started my search in Laura May in Cardiff. I got everything from back home (Cardiff).
I saw two dresses that I liked, one had the train, the lace and the sequins, and the 2nd dress had the high neck and long sleeves. I asked the lady in the store, if they could put the two dresses together as I loved the pattern and lace of one dress but wanted the high neck and long arms of the other, and she said the designer would do it, so I had a custom piece. I was more the diva when it came to the dress which not many people would have thought. Zee got her dress from a 2nd hand store, and it fitted her perfectly.
What advice do you have for others?
Our wedding wasn’t super traditional, we really wanted to enjoy every moment together. When Zee was getting ready in the Honeymoon suite at Sant Ffraed House, I popped in to see her, but not for long, only to say good morning. We wanted to experience the day together so after the ceremony we stayed together, and we saw everybody together. We made an effort to visit each guest table which was nice for us and nice for the guests.
Remember the day is a celebration of you both, the more you can enjoy it together the more it will really enhance your day.
