Real Grooms: Thomas Gunning
This week’s Real Groom, Thomas Gunning, spills the beans on his Bournemouth stag-do and his wedding attire (kilts, complete with daggers), and offers some brilliant advice for grooms-to-be. You can check out the amazing images taken by Fiona Kelly Wedding Photography whilst you’re at it.
Your Name: Thomas Gunning
Age: 27
Bride’s name: Rumana
Best man and ushers: Matthew Gunning (Best Man); Khalid, Joseph and Daniel Hussain, and Jason Potter (Ushers).
Where did you get married?
The church was situated in Bayswater – the same church in which my wife was baptised and where her parents were married, and the reception was in the Thistle Hotel in Marble Arch. The staff were amazing here and fulfilled our every need, so highly recommended for anyone planning their big day in the centre of London.
Where was your stag do – any scars?
For my stag do we had a weekend in Bournemouth. We competed in ‘It’s A Knockout’, coming sixth out of 26 teams (Go Ball Cuppers!!!! Our team name with a personal joke!). I was almost drowned, dressed up as a bee and a granny and had to climb up ridiculous things with a beer glass stuck to my head. We also hit the clubs the pubs where we lost half of our group almost every night.
What did the men wear on the day?
Spirit of Bannockburn kilts. Being half Scottish, I wanted to wear a kilt for my big day. We chose Spirit of Bannockburn, not because it is my family’s tartan but because it went with the theme my wife had chosen for the wedding! My brothers-in-law were anxious about wearing the kilts (being from an Asian background they thought they wouldn’t look right), but once they put the whole suit on – with the daggers and everything – they were impressed with the final look! My gifts to my best man and ushers were boxer shorts with my mug shot on one cheek and their mug shot on the other; these were also worn on the day.
What three pieces of advice would you give to other blokes going through the whole wedding thing now?
1. Find ways of including everything you want on your wedding day – don’t cut things out just because of expenses! Get friends and family to pitch in to help you create yours and your bride’s special day.
2. Spend the night before your wedding with your family (dad, brothers, future brothers-in-law etc.) and close friends, and go easy on the beers!
3. When your beautiful bride is walking down the aisle, take a glimpse at her and then look away – trust me, it stops you from crying!
A word for the lady, come on, say something emotional about your bride…
I have seen many beautiful things in my lifetime but the moment I saw my wife-to-be standing in the doorway her beauty took my breath away and nearly brought me to tears. The realisation that I am spending the rest of my life with her was a truly amazing moment; not only have I found my best friend but someone who makes me a better person.
Staggered says:
Well done to Thomas for tackling his stag-do and wedding with gusto and giving it his all. Staggered salutes you! Congratulations to the happy couple. (And top marks for the romantic bit…am welling up. No, really…).
Related Posts:
