County Brides Wedding Magazine 23/24
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53 pages<br />
of fabulous<br />
real life<br />
WEDDINGS<br />
Your local <strong>Wedding</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
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towards your<br />
HONEYMOON<br />
Designer<br />
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20<strong>23</strong>/20<strong>24</strong><br />
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1 COUNTY BRIDES 2017/18 <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> 2022/<strong>23</strong> 1
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
SAVE THE DATE 20<strong>23</strong>-20<strong>24</strong><br />
AUTUMN 20<strong>23</strong><br />
MERE GOLF RESORT & SPA<br />
Sunday 3rd September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 4.00pm<br />
Chester Road<br />
Mere, Knutsford<br />
Cheshire WA16 6LJ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
ETIHAD STADIUM<br />
Sunday 10th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
11.30am – 4.00pm<br />
Ashton New Road<br />
Manchester M11 3FF<br />
Admission - £4.00 pp<br />
(for pre-registration)<br />
£5.00 on door<br />
Free parking<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW<br />
Sunday 17th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Plough Lane<br />
Christleton<br />
Chester CH3 7PT<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
LAST DROP VILLAGE<br />
Sunday <strong>24</strong>th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Bromley Cross<br />
Bolton, Greater Manchester<br />
BL7 9PZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
MERCURE HAYDOCK HOTEL<br />
Sunday 8th October 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Penny Lane, Haydock<br />
St Helens WA11 9SG<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
THE MONASTERY<br />
MANCHESTER<br />
Sunday 15th October 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
89 Gorton Lane<br />
Manchester M12 5WF<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
CREWE HALL<br />
Sunday 22nd October 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm - 4.00pm<br />
Weston Road<br />
Crewe CW1 6UZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
COURT HOUSE<br />
Sunday 29th October 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Toft Road, Knutsford<br />
Cheshire WA16 0PB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
CREWE ALEXANDRA<br />
Sunday 12th November 20<strong>23</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Gresty Road<br />
Crewe CW2 6EB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
SPRING 20<strong>24</strong><br />
ETIHAD STADIUM<br />
Sunday 14th January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
11.30am – 4.00pm<br />
Ashton New Road<br />
Manchester M11 3FF<br />
Admission - £4.00 pp<br />
(for pre-registration)<br />
£5.00 on door<br />
Free parking<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW<br />
Sunday 21st January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Plough Lane<br />
Christleton<br />
Chester CH3 7PT<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
LANCASTER GOLF CLUB<br />
Sunday 28th January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Ashton Hall, Lancaster<br />
LA2 0AJ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
THE MONASTERY<br />
MANCHESTER<br />
Sunday 18th February 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
89 Gorton Lane<br />
Manchester M12 5WF<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
LAST DROP VILLAGE<br />
Sunday 25th February 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Bromley Cross, Bolton<br />
Greater Manchester<br />
BL7 9PZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
COURT HOUSE KNUTSFORD<br />
Sunday 3rd March 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Toft Road, Knutsford<br />
Cheshire WA16 0PB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free Parking<br />
CREWE HALL<br />
Sunday 17th March 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 4.00pm<br />
Weston Road<br />
Crewe CW1 6UZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
CREWE ALEXANDRA<br />
Sunday 7th April 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Gresty Road<br />
Crewe CW2 6EB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
AUTUMN 20<strong>24</strong><br />
ETIHAD STADIUM<br />
Sunday 8th September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
11.30am – 4.00pm<br />
Ashton New Road<br />
Manchester M11 3FF<br />
Admission - £4.00 pp<br />
(for pre-paid)<br />
£5.00 on door<br />
Free parking<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW<br />
Sunday 15th September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Plough Lane, Christleton<br />
Chester CH3 7PT<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
LAST DROP VILLAGE<br />
Sunday 22nd September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Bromley Cross, Bolton<br />
Greater Manchester BL7 9PZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
CREWE ALEXANDRA<br />
Sunday 29th September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
Gresty Road, Crewe CW2 6EB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
LANCASTER GOLF CLUB<br />
Sunday 6th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Ashton Hall, Lancaster LA2 0AJ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
COURT HOUSE KNUTSFORD<br />
Sunday 13th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Toft Road, Knutsford<br />
Cheshire WA16 0PB<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
CREWE HALL<br />
Sunday 20th September<br />
12.00pm – 4.00pm<br />
Weston Road, Crewe CW1 6UZ<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
THE MONASTERY<br />
MANCHESTER<br />
Sunday 27th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
89 Gorton Lane<br />
Manchester M12 5WF<br />
Free admission<br />
Free parking<br />
2 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Log onto our website:<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
To find out more call:<br />
01942 206446<br />
More dates to be announced<br />
on social media.<br />
<strong>County</strong>brides<br />
@countybridesltd<br />
<strong>County</strong>brides<br />
instagram.com/countybrides<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 3
editors letter<br />
Welcome to the latest <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>!<br />
First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! This magazine is designed to help you navigate your<br />
wedding planning journey here in the North West. Think of it as your trusty companion; brimming with real<br />
stories, suppliers, wedding fayre dates and much more.<br />
As we approach 20<strong>24</strong>, it’s no surprise that ‘tech’ and ‘sustainability’ are the big buzzwords in the industry.<br />
From drones, apps and 3D printed deserts (yes, really!) to plantable invites and eco favours - we’re seeing it all!<br />
Over the coming year, we’ll be sharing the latest trends, tricks, topics and tips on our blog and socials so be<br />
sure to follow so you don’t miss a beat!<br />
This edition of the <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is focused on providing you with all the tips, tools and advice you<br />
need for planning your big day. Our real local weddings are brimming with inspiration, featuring suppliers and<br />
ideas that you may not have otherwise thought of. There are also competitions and plenty of amazing local<br />
suppliers covering all areas of your wedding.<br />
With the theme of classic elegance, our cover was taken at the fittingly refined Eaves Hall in Clitheroe. Nestled<br />
in the scenic Ribble Valley, it’s a beautiful venue and the perfect backdrop for that timelessly elegant look.<br />
In addition to this magazine, we have plenty more helpful tips, ideas and inspiration on our website and socials.<br />
Our online Bride Bible is a directory with some of the North West’s leading venues, suppliers and creatives all<br />
in one place.<br />
If you have a great experience with a supplier, be sure to cast a vote for them in our annual North West <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
Awards so they receive the recognition they deserve! Voting will open on our website on 1st September.<br />
We hope this magazine helps you on your exciting journey ahead, wishing you all the very best in married life<br />
and beyond!<br />
The <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> team<br />
Editor Dawn Thornborough<br />
Editor:<br />
Dawn Thornborough<br />
dawn@countybrides.com<br />
Sales:<br />
Duane Thornborough<br />
duane@countybrides.com<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres:<br />
fayres@countybrides.com<br />
General Enquiries:<br />
info@countybrides.com<br />
For more information please contact:<br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> & Events Ltd<br />
The Old Smithy Loft<br />
253 Newton Road, Lowton<br />
Warrington, Cheshire<br />
WA3 1LB<br />
Tel: 01942 20 64 46<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
4 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Facebook www.facebook.com/countybrides<br />
TWITTER @countybridesltd<br />
INSTAGRA instagram.com/countybrides<br />
© No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publisher <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> & Events Ltd.<br />
Whilst every care is taken, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors and/or omissions in advertisements, venue information,<br />
photographs or illustrations. The opinions given in this magazine do not necessarily express the view of the Editor or publisher.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 5
CONTENTS<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
2-3 & 86-93:<br />
Meet the best suppliers in the<br />
North West<br />
Bridal & <strong>Brides</strong>maid<br />
13-17 & 26-31:<br />
Gorgeous gowns<br />
Jewellery<br />
40:<br />
For him and her<br />
Transport<br />
41-42:<br />
They will get you to the church<br />
on time!<br />
Catering<br />
80-82:<br />
A great choice of catering ideas<br />
for indoor and outdoors<br />
Tipi’s:<br />
83:<br />
Unique venue for outdoors<br />
Hair, Health & Beauty<br />
16-18:<br />
How to look your best on the<br />
big day<br />
Registration & Legal<br />
Information<br />
46 - 47, 60 - 62 & 84 -85:<br />
All the legal stuff<br />
Honeymoon’s & Travel<br />
93 – 101:<br />
Some of the most exotic and<br />
exciting locations in the world<br />
Stationery<br />
16:<br />
Creative ideas to get your<br />
guests attention<br />
Occasion Wear<br />
19:<br />
A great selection for mums to look<br />
their best on the big day<br />
Menswear<br />
19 & <strong>24</strong>-25:<br />
Ideas and advice from formal hire<br />
experts for the bridegroom<br />
<strong>Brides</strong>maids<br />
32 – 33:<br />
Great ideas to complement<br />
the bride<br />
Photography &<br />
Videography<br />
51- 54:<br />
A fantastic choice of the best<br />
throughout the North West<br />
Entertainment<br />
62- 66 & 126:<br />
Fantastic entertainment at a range<br />
of prices to suit all budgets<br />
Venue Styling, Flowers<br />
& Co-ordination<br />
66 -76, 83 & 148:<br />
An amazing choice of florist, venue<br />
dressers and Co-ordinators<br />
Venues<br />
102 – 147:<br />
Choose your perfect location<br />
and venue in the North West<br />
6 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
2-3, 86-93 16-18<br />
19<br />
13-17, 26-31<br />
32-33<br />
46-47, 60-62, 84-85<br />
51-54<br />
66-76, 83, 148 19, <strong>24</strong>-25<br />
102-147<br />
93-101<br />
40<br />
80 -82<br />
16<br />
62-66, 126<br />
41-42<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 7
Photoshoot 20<strong>23</strong><br />
This year we decided to<br />
go a little more traditional<br />
with our front cover.<br />
Mark Copeland from Envision<br />
Images thought we would dedicate<br />
our shoot to some of the people<br />
behind the scenes of a wedding.<br />
We asked Debbie from Adeava<br />
Bridal to supply her beautiful dresses,<br />
Country Flowers to supply some<br />
gorgeous bouquets, the venue styling<br />
was supplied by the team at Creative<br />
Venue Styling, Jewellery is from Henry<br />
D Johnstone, hairstyling was designed<br />
by Heluco Hair, Make-up was created<br />
by Make-up by Carla Knight, Suits<br />
were supplied by Swarbrick’s Suit Hire,<br />
Photographs and videography was<br />
shot by Envision Images, transport was<br />
supplied by Envision <strong>Wedding</strong> Cars and<br />
the team at the stunning Eaves Hall<br />
who went above and beyond to make<br />
sure everything was just right, and of<br />
course not forgetting a special thank<br />
you for our models Joanna and Greg.<br />
8 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Our thanks go to<br />
the people who<br />
helped us create such<br />
fabulous images:<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
www.envisionimages.co.uk<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
www.swarbricks.co.uk<br />
www.creativevenuestyling.co.uk<br />
www.countryflowersflorist.co.uk<br />
www.henryjohnstone.co.uk<br />
www.facebook.com/Makeupbycarlaknight<br />
www.facebook.com/HelucoHair<br />
www.eaveshall.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 9
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Levy<br />
Married 5th February 20<strong>23</strong><br />
A<br />
fter a decade in the dating<br />
world, I found my guy<br />
swiping right on an app during<br />
lockdown 2020. Two years after<br />
our first date, we got married<br />
and it was honestly the most<br />
magical and stress free day.<br />
Photographs by Ruthless Images<br />
10 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
We got engaged at Mere Golf Resort and Spa, so we<br />
decided on Mere for the actual wedding weekend, it felt<br />
extra special. We wanted somewhere where everyone could<br />
stay over and continue the celebrations with us the following<br />
day. We got engaged in June 2022 and the wedding was<br />
the following February. Nine months to plan a wedding<br />
felt a little overwhelming, so we decided it was best to<br />
hire a wedding planner and OMG we are glad we did!<br />
exceeded all my expectations. All the details, from the smaller<br />
things like the placement of the candles and favours to the<br />
position of the bar, band and dance floor were all perfect.<br />
The food was an extremely important part of the day for us.<br />
Dan and I are massive foodies. We had a canapé reception<br />
with a cocktail station featuring our favourites for the first hour.<br />
"The fine dining three course wedding<br />
breakfast was sensational."<br />
The canapés were beautifully presented, and they were<br />
delicious. The fine dining three course wedding breakfast was<br />
sensational, and the miso cod was a winner all round. As we<br />
had dinner quite early, we wanted to make sure we had yet<br />
more food to keep the party energy going. We decided to go<br />
with chips, burgers, and something a little sweeter, deep fried<br />
Oreos. All I can say is they went down an absolute treat. I loved<br />
working with the catering company, they executed everything<br />
I wanted and the presentation and food were exceptional.<br />
Yvonne was an absolute dream to work with. The most<br />
professional and calming influence for a first time bride.<br />
I fully trusted her opinion in all the areas I had no idea<br />
about; the room layout, chair covers, lighting, centre piece<br />
sizes... who knew there were so many things to think about?<br />
The colour scheme of the wedding was one of the most<br />
difficult decisions, as it was a Winter wedding, I wanted a<br />
strong colour. I went back and forth between purple, deep<br />
pink and red. We ended up deciding on red as my husband<br />
is a HUGE Arsenal fan. The flowers, bridesmaid dresses and<br />
centre pieces looked incredible, and I couldn't have been<br />
happier with how it turned out - red was the right choice.<br />
Getting married in the James Braid Suite worked so well for us<br />
as we split the room into two sections. One for our ceremony<br />
and one for the main event. With it being such a large room,<br />
we wanted to create the right atmosphere. The band did such<br />
a mega job at this - they kept everyone on the dance floor the<br />
entire evening.<br />
We created a wedding play list that allowed everyone to enjoy<br />
conversation over dinner. That said, it was a lively crowd with<br />
a lively play list and everyone was soon dancing on their chairs.<br />
It was a perfect combination.<br />
On the morning of the wedding, the sun was shining, and<br />
I just knew it was going to be the most epic day. Getting<br />
ready was very relaxing as I had all my favourite people<br />
with me. I only started to feel nervous when I put my dress<br />
on and it was time to leave for the ceremony. I hadn't seen<br />
Dan (now hubby) for a week, so it was all very emotional.<br />
The amazing thing about having a wedding planner is that<br />
you get to see most things on the day for the first time.<br />
Walking into the main room after our ceremony was breath<br />
taking. I was in awe of how stunning it looked. I had an<br />
idea in my head of how I thought it would turn out, but it<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 11
• Get a wedding planner if you can - they are worth every<br />
penny.<br />
• Remember to eat and enjoy the delicious food you have<br />
chosen.<br />
• Don't stress over anything - on the day nothing matters,<br />
everyone is there to celebrate the two of you.<br />
Not a tip but this magical day would not have been possible<br />
if it wasn’t for my amazing mum and dad and now mother-inlaw.<br />
Dan and I are so grateful to have such amazing parents.<br />
Love Mr and Mrs Levy xxxx<br />
Thank you for making our day so special.<br />
We initially wanted the band to play for four hours and then<br />
switch to a DJ set. However, everyone was so engaged they<br />
made the decision to carry on for the rest of the evening and<br />
it was the best decision. Luckily, we had time to rehydrate<br />
in between sets. Jam Hot all I can say is WHAT A BAND!!<br />
The entire day was photographed by my amazing friend Ruth.<br />
She is so fun to work with and captures the most stunning<br />
pictures. 4,000 to be exact!! All our guests commented on what<br />
a fabulous photographer she was. She even tracked down a<br />
golf buggy at 1.30am when she had been working since 10am<br />
to take us to the front entrance of Mere for a nighttime shoot.<br />
Some top tips from us:<br />
• Give a friend your phone for the evening, they can do your<br />
social media if you want them to, or they can just capture lots<br />
of moments from the day. You and your partner can then look<br />
through them when you get into bed that night and re live the<br />
day together.<br />
• Take 5 minutes just the two of you after the ceremony - it<br />
totally relaxed us and allowed us to take in everything that<br />
was happening.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CATERER: Feast by Ed Shaerf<br />
www.kosherfeast.com<br />
HAIR: Louise Moreland<br />
Instagram - Hairbyloulou_m<br />
MAKEUP: Stephanie Swain<br />
www.stephanieswainmua.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ruth Less Images<br />
ruthlessimages_05<br />
VENUE: Mere Golf Resort<br />
www.mereresort.co.uk<br />
WEDDING PLANNER: Yvonne Dixon<br />
www.pandaeventdesign.co.uk<br />
12 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Puure Bridal<br />
1-2 Whitefield Court, Taylor Business Park, Warrington WA3 6BL<br />
T 01925 767527 W www.puurebride.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 13
With bridal ranges from Morilee,<br />
Julietta, Ellis and Romantica of Devon<br />
we have a varied selection of sample<br />
dresses for you to try.<br />
Samples vary in size from a size 6<br />
through to a size 26.<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
14 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Adeava Bridal Boutique & <strong>Brides</strong>maid Studio<br />
15 Chester Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8DG. Telephone: 01625 409082<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 15
HELUCO<br />
HAIR<br />
WEDDING HAIR<br />
SPECIALIST<br />
HELUCO<br />
Bridal alterations<br />
for every member of your wedding party!<br />
Available in Macclesfield and Poynton, Stockport.<br />
100,50,25,65 0,35,13,0<br />
Email kimberleybarr90@gmail.com or call 07887638908<br />
www.timelessbride.co.uk<br />
HAIR<br />
HELUCO<br />
HAIR<br />
For more information or for a quote please call<br />
HELUCO<br />
HAIR<br />
M: 07525 132518<br />
E: helucohair@gmail.com<br />
Find me on instagram and facebook<br />
@helucohair<br />
t<br />
Bridal Specialist<br />
N O F<br />
A Y<br />
L O O K A N D F E E L T H E B E S T V E R S I O N O F<br />
Y O U R S E L F O N Y O U R W E D D I N G D A Y<br />
stationery for lovers looking for luxury.<br />
SAVE THE DATE CARDS / INVITATIONS / PLACE CARDS / MENUS<br />
ORDER OF SERVICE / SEATING PLAN + MUCH MORE<br />
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F I R S T P L A C E N O R T H W E S T B R I D A L<br />
M A K E U P A R T I S T 2 0 2 3<br />
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F i n d m e o n I n s t a g r a m a n d F a c e b o o k<br />
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Get your FREE wedding stationery planner e-book:<br />
www.paperswanstationery.co.uk<br />
07807 <strong>24</strong>3 082 • lucy@paperswanstationery.co.uk<br />
16 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 17
E D I T O R I A L<br />
Radiant <strong>Wedding</strong> Day Glow:<br />
A Medical Approach to Perfect<br />
Skin on The Special Day<br />
While makeup can do wonders, a radiant<br />
complexion starts with healthy skin. To improve your<br />
skin's appearance before the big day, it's essential<br />
to take a medical approach and focus on nourishing<br />
your skin from the outside-in, and the inside-out.<br />
Dr Gemma explains: “The build up to my wedding was an anxious<br />
time. I was worried about my acne; being the centre of attention;<br />
and the photographs! I was overwhelmed by the number of<br />
skincare options and did not know where to start. This has fuelled<br />
my passion to specialise in Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetics.<br />
I truly believe that everybody should feel confident in their skin!”<br />
Your journey to radiant skin<br />
starts here!<br />
Your Initial Consultation<br />
When you see Dr Gemma, she will take a thorough history of<br />
your skin concerns and what you would like her help with. Your<br />
skin will be analysed using the latest technology, to look at the<br />
deeper layers of the skin. You will receive a bespoke treatment<br />
plan tailored to your budget which includes:<br />
SKINCARE:<br />
Dr Gemma only recommends medical grade skin care with<br />
powerful active ingredients that cannot be bought on the high<br />
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18 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
The place to find your amazing<br />
outfit for your special occasion<br />
One of the largest stockists of Occasion wear spanning 2 floors with over 3,000 sq. feet<br />
She Devil, Distinctive Ladies’ Wear<br />
2/4 High Street, May Bank, Newcastle-under-Lyme<br />
Staffordshire ST5 0JB<br />
T. 01782 710998<br />
info@shedevilclothing.co.uk<br />
www.shedevilclothing.co.uk<br />
0161 643 4040<br />
www.swarbricks.co.uk<br />
formalhire@swarbricks.co.uk<br />
Follow us on<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 19
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Holmes<br />
Married 27th August 2022<br />
Mike proposed on Friday<br />
13th (unlucky for some)<br />
March 2020 during our holiday<br />
on the Isle of Skye just as<br />
Covid 19 was becoming news.<br />
Photographs by Jenny Appleton Photo & Film<br />
20 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
We had planned a hike to see the Old Man of Storr and<br />
had been waiting all week for the best day to go and<br />
we were running out of time, we had gone to bed the<br />
night before to snow and sleet and didn't hold much<br />
hope for getting our hike in before we headed home.<br />
Unbeknown to me, Mike had bigger plans for this hike than<br />
I had ever imagined and luckily for us, we awoke to a beautiful<br />
clear blue sky and crisp snowcapped mountains, so off we<br />
went. We hiked up towards the Old Man of Storr with breathtaking<br />
views across the sea to the Isle of Raasay with our<br />
Border Collie Lily who just loves the snow. The conditions<br />
underfoot were not so idyllic and at times I hesitated to carry<br />
on much to Mike's frustration. He pleaded with me to continue<br />
which isn't like him at all. We reached the top and it was very<br />
slippery, I was keen to descend and I was a little nervous when<br />
Mike grabbed onto me whilst dropping to one knee to propose.<br />
Reiki and Reflexology session earlier that morning or the fact<br />
that I am at the point where nothing else can be done and<br />
“what will be, will be” my most frequent saying of 2022.<br />
No surprise, I was wide awake at 5.30am and still felt incredibly<br />
calm. We had our Breakfast – Full English of course in<br />
preparation to soak up the fizz later and I pottered around until<br />
Carrie Anne Hair & Make Up arrived to work her magic shortly<br />
followed by our Photographer Jenny Appleton. After feeling<br />
like I had hours to get ready, the time eventually came for us<br />
to head off to our <strong>Wedding</strong> Venue, The Plough Inn, Eaton.<br />
"Her name was Sandy, and<br />
she is just gorgeous."<br />
My Dad and I arrived at the venue in the most beautifully<br />
restored 1960’s VW Camper van I have ever seen. Her<br />
name was Sandy, and she is just gorgeous. I searched<br />
and searched for the perfect camper van for our day and<br />
when I found I Do Campers I knew Sandy was the one. The<br />
renovation is immaculate, including the engine – spotless.<br />
David made us feel so comfortable during our journey<br />
to our venue and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. As<br />
we pulled up to The Plough, I suddenly had an almighty<br />
wave of nerves and emotions but quickly felt relieved when<br />
Laurie our <strong>Wedding</strong> Co-ordinator from The Plough was<br />
there to help and guide me through the next steps.<br />
The Plough is a beautiful 15th Century Oak Barn and<br />
Gastro Pub. Stunning original oak beams, neutral décor,<br />
and amazing food. We knew The Plough was the venue for<br />
us, it was the first wedding venue we viewed. The Plough<br />
also has 17 rooms which was a huge positive for us and<br />
I was in total shock as we have been together a long time<br />
and I was not expecting it at all. Of course, I said yes, and we<br />
headed back to our car where we sat in the boot and sipped<br />
champagne that Mike had also managed to hide in his rucksack.<br />
I am feeling very calm<br />
It is the Friday before August Bank Holiday, and our <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
Day is very nearly here. I arrive at The Leigh Arms, Prestbury,<br />
where I will stay the night before our wedding and where<br />
we are also hosting our pre wedding meal. The weather is<br />
glorious and surprisingly, I am feeling very calm. My Man of<br />
Honour and <strong>Brides</strong>man Alex and Simon are waiting with a cold<br />
G & T. I’m not sure if the calmness is a result of my lovely<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 21
meant we could share our first breakfast as Husband and<br />
Wife with our nearest and dearest. The team at The Plough<br />
are so lovely and ensured everything ran as planned.<br />
Hidden gem<br />
Our day was as perfect as it could be, the food and service<br />
throughout was incredible. We could not have wished for<br />
more. The Plough certainly is a hidden gem of a venue and<br />
I’m sure it will continue to be spectacular for years to come.<br />
The Plough Inn was the perfect blank canvas to work with.<br />
We loved the history of 15th century oak beams, neutral<br />
interior, and the relaxed rustic surroundings. We envisaged a<br />
timeless neutral colour palette, a warm and welcoming vibe<br />
with a touch of elegance. Together with our incredible Stylist<br />
and Florist – Florence & Vera Events & The Flower Lounge,<br />
we compiled a mood board with ideas and suggestions<br />
of possible tablescapes, colours, florals and all the finer<br />
details. For the florals, we requested a neutral, warm pallet<br />
incorporating olive leaves for foliage and British grown<br />
varieties where possible. In terms of styling, we absolutely<br />
adore Florence & Vera Events signature style and selected her<br />
eclectic collection of brass candlesticks and props, delicate<br />
crockery and glassware, co-ordinating muted toned candles<br />
and naturally dyed organic muslin table runners and napkins.<br />
I created complimenting frosted acrylic signage with a touch<br />
of marble and brass place settings to continue the theme. As<br />
a nod to our love of all things Italian and our upcoming Italian<br />
Honeymoon, we added little touches of Italy here and there.<br />
"The Flower Lounge also created the<br />
most incredible ceremony backdrop."<br />
I knew that the ceremony set up in the barn would look<br />
incredible as I had my industry friends on the job, but I have<br />
to say when I walked in and saw the florals and styling, it<br />
took my breath away. My Husband commented on the sweet<br />
fragrance of the flowers when he arrived, perfect. My bouquet<br />
was the most beautiful bouquet I could have ever imagined. I<br />
could not stop looking at it, it was pure perfection, so delicate<br />
and pretty, exactly as I had envisaged. The Flower Lounge also<br />
created the most incredible ceremony backdrop using gold<br />
columns which we later used to create a centrepiece for our<br />
wedding cake. They also decorated the oak beams of the barn<br />
with green foliage which just looked incredible and really gave<br />
us an outdoors feel as if we were in woodland. We cannot<br />
thank Kate of Florence & Vera Events & Sian of The Flower<br />
Lounge, together with their teams, enough for the absolute<br />
talent they exhibited on the day. They truly are the dream team<br />
and if you are looking for a Stylist and Florist to collaborate<br />
on your day, I would most certainly recommend them.<br />
Love Actually<br />
Our acoustic guitarist - Nathan Lewis Thomas played during<br />
our ceremony and wedding breakfast. He played on the<br />
mezzanine which instantly gave me ‘Love Actually’ vibes.<br />
I walked up the aisle to “Here comes the Sun” – The<br />
Beatles which was just beautiful, and Nathan learnt Tom<br />
Misch’s version of Solange Knowles “Cranes in the Sky”<br />
which was breathtaking and because I’m such an 80’s<br />
22 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Movie geek we walked out to “Nothings Gonna Stop Us<br />
Now” – Starship. Nathan played an eclectic mix throughout<br />
our wedding breakfast, and he was just incredible.<br />
We were so lucky to have a dry, sunny day and so we were<br />
able to use The Plough’s outdoor space. We booked Crazy 9<br />
to keep our guests entertained and they were an enormous<br />
success.<br />
Tasted delicious!<br />
Pink Cocoa created our beautiful cake. We had a consultation<br />
with Sarah and decided on a buttercream finish, modern,<br />
minimalistic with a neutral pallet. I secretly discussed the<br />
detail of my dress with Sarah and shared our wedding vision<br />
board with her and gave her free rein to do her thing. We<br />
loved Sarah’s creation, it was so delicate and the tones were<br />
perfect. We selected three tiers of vanilla sponge with vanilla<br />
buttercream and raspberry, lemon & elderflower sponge with<br />
lemon & elderflower buttercream and for the top tier we<br />
had our favourite salted caramel sponge with salted caramel<br />
buttercream. We had decided to save the top tier to share<br />
with our family the day after. The cake tasted just as delicious<br />
as it looked, and we thoroughly enjoyed our reserved tier the<br />
following day when we had come back down to earth a little.<br />
lychee and olive and topped with a wooden topper made<br />
by me. Sextons also provided an array of artisan crackers<br />
which complimented the cheeses perfectly. As a finishing<br />
touch we prepared small bottles of Port as favours to our<br />
guests to enjoy along with the cheese later in the evening.<br />
"She advised us with her vast<br />
knowledge on the best cheeses."<br />
As if one cake wasn’t enough, we also had a cheesecake<br />
supplied by our wonderful local bakery & deli Sextons Bakery<br />
in Lymm. We discussed our tastes with Sarah, and she advised<br />
us with her vast knowledge on the best cheeses, keeping in<br />
mind important practicalities like the temperature and conditions<br />
of the venue. We decided on Crumbly Lancashire, Cornish<br />
Yarg with wild Garlic, Picos Blue and a tiny Goats Cheese<br />
for the top tier. The cheesecake was decorated with figs,<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
DRESS: Lulu Browns Bridal<br />
www.lulu-browns.com<br />
MENSWEAR: L & J Formal Hire<br />
www.landjformalhireltd.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jenny Appleton Photo & Film<br />
www.jennyappleton.co.uk<br />
STATIONERY: Jelly Press<br />
www.jellypress.co.uk<br />
TRANSPORT: I Do Campers<br />
www.idocampers.co.uk<br />
VENUE: The Plough Inn at Eaton<br />
www.theploughinncheshire.com<br />
VIDEOGRAPHER: Jenny Appleton Photo & Film<br />
www.jennyappleton.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> <strong>23</strong>
Local Stockist<br />
Swarbricks Formal Hire<br />
Three Arrows, Middleton Road<br />
Manchester M<strong>24</strong> 4GY<br />
formalhire@swarbricks.co.uk<br />
Telephone: 01625 409082<br />
www.swarbricks.co.uk<br />
<strong>24</strong> COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Local Stockist<br />
Swarbricks Formal Hire<br />
Three Arrows, Middleton Road<br />
Manchester M<strong>24</strong> 4GY<br />
formalhire@swarbricks.co.uk<br />
Telephone: 01625 409082<br />
www.swarbricks.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 25
Local Stockist<br />
Puure Bridal<br />
1-2 Whitefield Court<br />
Taylor Business Park<br />
Warrington WA3 6BL<br />
Telephone: 01925 767527<br />
www.puurebride.co.uk<br />
26 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Local Stockist<br />
Puure Bridal<br />
1-2 Whitefield Court<br />
Taylor Business Park<br />
Warrington WA3 6BL<br />
Telephone: 01925 767527<br />
www.puurebride.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 27
Local Stockist<br />
Swan <strong>Brides</strong> Boutique<br />
9 Park Street<br />
Congleton<br />
Cheshire CW12 1EY<br />
info@swanbrides.co.uk<br />
Telephone: 01260 272250<br />
www.swanbrides.co.uk<br />
28 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Local Stockist<br />
Swan <strong>Brides</strong> Boutique<br />
9 Park Street<br />
Congleton<br />
Cheshire CW12 1EY<br />
info@swanbrides.co.uk<br />
Telephone: 01260 272250<br />
www.swanbrides.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 29
Local Stockist<br />
Adeava Bridal<br />
15 Chester Road<br />
Macclesfield<br />
Cheshire SK11 8DG<br />
Telephone: 01625 409082<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
30 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Local Stockist<br />
Adeava Bridal<br />
15 Chester Road<br />
Macclesfield<br />
Cheshire SK11 8DG<br />
Telephone: 01625 409082<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 31
Adeava Bridal<br />
15 Chester Road<br />
Macclesfield<br />
Cheshire SK11 8DG<br />
01625 409082<br />
www.adeavabridal.co.uk<br />
32 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 33
14th North West <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
Awards 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Cast your vote now!<br />
AWARD CATEGORIES 20<strong>24</strong><br />
• Accessory<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
• Celebrant<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Beauty, Health & Well Being<br />
Bridal Retailer<br />
<strong>Brides</strong>maid Retailer<br />
Cakes/Sweet Treats<br />
Catering & Bar Services<br />
Ceremony Provider<br />
Entertainment Act<br />
Entertainment Agency<br />
Entertainment DJ<br />
Entertainment (Non-Musical)<br />
• Floristry<br />
• Floristry Artificial<br />
• Hair<br />
• Jeweller<br />
• Marquee/Tipi<br />
• Menswear<br />
• Occasion Wear<br />
•<br />
•<br />
• Photographer Male<br />
• Stationer<br />
• Toastmaster<br />
• Transport<br />
• Travel/Honeymoon<br />
Photobooth/Magic Mirror<br />
Photographer Female<br />
• Venue Cheshire<br />
• Venue Cumbria<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
• Venue Stylist<br />
• Videographer<br />
•<br />
•<br />
•<br />
Venue Manchester<br />
Venue Lancashire<br />
Venue Merseyside<br />
Venue (No Accommodation)<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Co-Ordinator<br />
New Business of the Year<br />
Business of the Year<br />
34 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Your vote<br />
counts!<br />
it's so easy to vote<br />
<strong>Brides</strong> and Bridegrooms help us by giving something<br />
back to the wedding suppliers that helped make your<br />
wedding day a dream come true.<br />
Its easy, log onto our website www.countybrides.com<br />
and vote for the suppliers that made your wedding<br />
dreams come true.<br />
As always, we will be raising money on the evening<br />
for a local charity.<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
For more information please contact <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> on:<br />
01942 206446<br />
To vote for your favourite wedding supplier log onto<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
Hosted by <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong><br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 35
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Downey<br />
Married 30th April 2022<br />
Tony and I first met eleven years<br />
ago in a pub in Fazakerley Liverpool<br />
in January 2011, and we both fell<br />
head over heels for each other.<br />
With a few bumps in the road we<br />
officially got together in April 2011.<br />
Photographs by Wowtastic Photography<br />
36 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
After being together for four years, in 2015, Tony finally<br />
popped the question in Tenerife and I was blown away. If<br />
anyone knows Tony, he was the last person they thought<br />
would ever settle down. It was so romantic, he got someone<br />
to film the whole proposal which we will cherish forever.<br />
The year after, in 2016, I fell pregnant with our beautiful<br />
baby girl Sienna who was born in October 2016, and we<br />
settled into family life. After a year I started to pester Tony<br />
about setting a date for the wedding and sure enough<br />
he finally caved, and we went to view some venues.<br />
Nothing really gave us what we wanted and then the last<br />
venue to view was The Bentley. As soon as we viewed<br />
this venue, we knew it was exactly what we wanted.<br />
start by the staff at The Bentley. Ryan our wedding organiser<br />
was absolutely brilliant, he made sure every request was met<br />
and gave us so much confidence. He has now become a<br />
friend of mine and Tony’s and we can’t thank him enough.<br />
From January 2022 it was all go, we were invited for the food<br />
tasting, and the food was exquisite, it was so hard to choose.<br />
The little touches like giving our little girl the choice of the kids’<br />
menu was so lovely.<br />
The lead up to the big day was stressful, but with the help and<br />
support of Ryan and the team, we knew we were in safe hands.<br />
We got married in Blessed Sacrament church on Walton Vale.<br />
The church holds so many memories for us both. Tony and I<br />
were both christened there and so was our daughter. Tony’s<br />
grandparents who are so special to Tony were also married<br />
there in 1961.<br />
I walked up the aisle to an acoustic version of our song, Call<br />
me Maybe, sang by Lucy Mayhew, it was so beautiful.<br />
Three Graces<br />
Tony and I both like a good party and the whole layout was<br />
simply perfect. With the Cunard Room offering the most<br />
amazing view of the Three Graces and floor to ceiling windows<br />
overlooking the strand it was perfect for our wedding breakfast<br />
with all our guests. The middle room would hold the cake<br />
display and the selfie mirror and mirror wall for the pictures.<br />
The Port of Liverpool was the “party room” with the amazing<br />
stage for our singer and DJ’s, it was a done deal. We booked<br />
our wedding for 26th April 2021. Unfortunately, when the<br />
pandemic hit it put all our wedding plans on hold. I was<br />
working in a children’s hospital and Tony was sadly made<br />
redundant. As the rules of covid were changing all the time,<br />
we made the very hard decision to postpone our wedding until<br />
30th April 2022.<br />
Wowtasitc!<br />
After the ceremony we were whisked off to The Bentley where<br />
we were met by Ryan and Jay with drinks of course and they<br />
explained what the next steps were. We went up to the rooftop<br />
which was just breath taking. All our guests were relaxing with<br />
drinks and canapes whilst we and the wedding party had our<br />
group pictures taken by our photographer’s, Wowtasitc. In<br />
the middle of this, Ryan ushered us both downstairs to view<br />
the rooms which were dressed by the amazing Rainbows<br />
and they were exactly how we wanted them. The Cunard<br />
room was perfect, better than we had ever imagined.<br />
Tony and his best friend, Ryan set up their own business and<br />
from then Tony worked every hour god sent to give me the day<br />
I had always dreamed of. We were looked after from the very<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 37
table with cookies and cakes as treats for<br />
our guests. We then had the chance to<br />
mingle and dance with our family and<br />
friends before our first dance, our song<br />
was Simply the Best by Noah Reid, which<br />
Tony choose one night after watching<br />
the Schitts Creek episode it was in. The<br />
song means so much to us and our<br />
first dance was so special. After that it<br />
was the father daughter dance which<br />
was Coldplay Yellow. It’s a song that<br />
means so much to me and my dad and<br />
I am so happy we got to dance to it.<br />
Our guests were seated for the meal and Tony and I sat on<br />
the rooftop taking in the beautiful views, just me and him<br />
taking in everything that had just happened and the fact that<br />
we were finally MARRIED!<br />
We had the most amazing Toastmaster, Mike, who organised<br />
our whole day, he welcomed us into the Cunard room as the<br />
new Mr and Mrs Downey, with all our guests standing and<br />
clapping as we took our seats.<br />
Amazing speach<br />
The staff at The Bentley really do go that extra mile, from<br />
start to finish they were amazing. The food was served, and<br />
the speeches began, Tony’s two best men Ryan and Matty<br />
did so well and of course the father of the bride, Dave, gave<br />
such a heartfelt speech there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.<br />
Tony’s speech was amazing, and he did us all proud.<br />
After that, the guests went into the Port of Liverpool room<br />
were the DJ was playing the good old party tunes. Tony<br />
and I had the chance to have some beautiful pictures<br />
taken with the backdrop of the Three Graces and it was<br />
filmed by our fabulous videographer, Greg Burkett.<br />
We were welcomed into the Port of Liverpool room for the<br />
cutting of our cake, made by Delicious Cakes which was<br />
just beautiful. She also made the most amazing cake display<br />
An hour later, we were serenaded by the<br />
most unreal singer, Holly Ellison, she really<br />
is one of a kind. She had everyone up dancing to all different<br />
songs and she was an amazing entertainer.<br />
We then had the brilliant and iconic Liverpool DJ, Lee Butler<br />
from InDemand Events, he did a DJ set for 90 minutes and<br />
he played us and our guests the best tunes, we were all up<br />
dancing, having the time of our lives.<br />
"The Bentley just made it that<br />
one bit extra special."<br />
As the night ended, we went home so happy and content.<br />
We couldn’t have imagined a better wedding day, from the<br />
four years of planning with a postponed date thrown in the<br />
mix, it really was worth all the ups and downs, we couldn’t<br />
have wished for anything better. Our day wouldn’t have been<br />
what it was if we didn’t have the help of everyone involved,<br />
but the team at The Bentley just made it that one bit extra<br />
special. They totally deserve the North West wedding award,<br />
best venue Liverpool 2022 and Tony and I can’t thank them<br />
enough for what they had done for us. They are incredible.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: Delicious Cakes<br />
www.facebook.com/TheDeliciousCakeBoutique<br />
DRESS: Natalie Ann <strong>Brides</strong><br />
www.natalieannbrides.com<br />
HAIR: Hair by Sophie Smith<br />
www.instagram.com/sophiesmith_hairdressing<br />
MAKE UP: Kate Christopher<br />
www.instagram.com/katechristopher_mua<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Wowtastic<br />
www.wowtasticphotography.co.uk<br />
VENUE: The Bentley Liverpool<br />
www.bentleyliverpool.co.uk<br />
VENUE STYLING: Rainbows<br />
www.facebook.com/rainbowspartyshop<br />
38 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
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COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 39
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Black diamond<br />
Smooch by Angela<br />
Smooch by Angela in<br />
the North West.<br />
I have been an advisor for Smooch <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
Rings since September 2019. Smooch<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Rings has grown steadily over the<br />
past decade to become the UK’s leading<br />
supplier of wedding and eternity rings. It<br />
has been trading in its current form since<br />
2000, but the family have been in the<br />
jewellery business for over 40 years.<br />
Rings can be made in yellow or white<br />
gold, in 9 carat or 18 carat, platinum<br />
or palladium. All rings are tailored to individual customers,<br />
making them stunningly unique. Smooch offers a very<br />
convenient service where customers can try on as many<br />
rings as they like in the comfort of their own home.<br />
Ten Good Reasons:<br />
· Our Price Promise.<br />
· Our Lifetime Guarantee.<br />
· Our Home Selection Service.<br />
· Our Bespoke Designs.<br />
· FREE Cleaning, Polishing and<br />
Re-sizing for Life.<br />
· FREE Gifts for your Bridal<br />
Party.<br />
· Our Easy Payment System<br />
Interest Free.<br />
· Diamonds guaranteed quality<br />
and clarity.<br />
· Super-Fast Delivery.<br />
· Shaped to Fit Rings to fit<br />
flush around all shapes.<br />
z<br />
An independent<br />
Jeweller<br />
since 1900<br />
Unrivaled quality<br />
& exceptional<br />
value<br />
Make an<br />
appointment<br />
Come to us…<br />
...or we can<br />
come to you<br />
51A London Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7DY<br />
Telephone: 01625 583 565<br />
59 Park Lane, Poynton, Cheshire SK12 1RD<br />
Telephone: 01625 872 470<br />
Email: alderley@henryjohnstone.co.uk<br />
www.henryjohnstone.co.uk<br />
Facebook: www.facebook/henrydjohnstonejewellers<br />
SERVICES<br />
• <strong>Wedding</strong> Rings home<br />
appointment service.<br />
• Lifetime Guarantee<br />
with all rings.<br />
• Shaped to fit wedding<br />
rings.<br />
• Bespoke Designs and<br />
much more...<br />
Type of metal supplied: Yellow Gold,<br />
White Gold, Platinum and Palladium.<br />
Tungsten, Titanium and Zirconium.<br />
CONTACT: Angela - Smooch Advisor<br />
Mobile: 07813 98<strong>23</strong>45<br />
www.smoochrings.co.uk<br />
40 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Corporate Hospitality<br />
&<strong>Wedding</strong> Services<br />
GRAB YOUR FREE WEDDING PLANNER at: www.bellevue-mcr.com/weddingbushire<br />
AwardWinningTransport<br />
Cost – effective quality transport solutions on time, every time<br />
From a chauffeur driven car to a multi vehicle conference event.<br />
One Call Does It All: 0161 947 9477 | www.bellevue-mcr.com<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 41
• Award Winning Family Business<br />
• Covering Cumbria & The Lake District<br />
• Fleet of Vintage, Classic & Modern wedding cars<br />
hello@cumbriaclassicweddingcars.co.uk<br />
07810 608 250<br />
www.cumbriaclassicweddingcars.co.uk<br />
Tesla <strong>Wedding</strong> Car Hire<br />
Tesla <strong>Wedding</strong> Car Hire • Arrive in Style<br />
Fixed packages and bespoke journeys<br />
More vehicles available for family and guest travel requirements<br />
info@reemexecutive.com | 01606 950095<br />
www.reemexecutive.com<br />
42 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Denson<br />
Married 11th December 2021<br />
Karl and I quite casually swiped<br />
right on one another on a dating<br />
app and after a series of bad<br />
dates ‘I’d had’ I wasn’t feeling too<br />
hopeful. However, it was Karl’s<br />
first dating app date and while he<br />
was nervous, I couldn’t help but<br />
notice his charm shine through.<br />
Photographs by Howes Your Photo<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 43
After another couple of dates, we were completely<br />
involved. It seems funny that an online platform could<br />
lead to the love we share today and take us all the way<br />
up the aisle, but here we are. Karl is in the army and so<br />
every time he is home it feels even more special, and we<br />
knew we were onto something good very early on.<br />
The proposal<br />
Our engagement was nothing short of intimate and romantic,<br />
in bed at home on my birthday with all my presents opened<br />
before me, Karl mentioned he had another little surprise,<br />
one very special present, my beautiful engagement ring…<br />
Our proposal was perfect and just how I wanted it, in the<br />
comfort of our home in the middle of the day with little<br />
fuss, just us two. Stuck in the middle of a pandemic and<br />
negotiating army leave left us with a limited time frame to get<br />
the wedding planning underway. Between Summer, Easter<br />
and Winter leave we landed on Winter as we knew all our<br />
families would be home for Christmas and close by to help<br />
us celebrate – not to mention how pretty everything looks at<br />
Christmas time. We thought it would be the perfect setting<br />
and so we settled on a date of December 11th. We knew<br />
we wanted our wedding to have a similar feeling to our<br />
engagement, low key, just us celebrating with our nearest<br />
and dearest so that’s really where the planning began.<br />
The planning<br />
We chose The Vicarage in Cranage for its rustic simplicity<br />
and its ability to cater to all our needs and requirements<br />
with a fuss-free attitude. I knew we wanted a venue that<br />
had picturesque charm but without the grandeur of some<br />
other venues in Cheshire. The Vicarage was the first publike<br />
restaurant we visited and it was perfect. As soon as we<br />
stepped foot into the building for our tour with the incredible<br />
events team, we knew this was the place for us. The centre<br />
aisle shone out in the middle of the restaurant, with the central<br />
double fireplace a stunning feature at the end. As we were<br />
booking a 2021 wedding, coming out of Covid restrictions,<br />
we knew that the Vicarage team could seamlessly and safely<br />
support our intimate wedding of 85 people, as their Covid<br />
policy had been so robust throughout the pandemic itself.<br />
We were assured by the events team that no request was<br />
ever too great, and they truly did deliver on that promise.<br />
"Rustic, homely and intimate<br />
atmosphere we wanted."<br />
We chose to hold an exclusive wedding which gave us<br />
free rein of the entire venue and meant our family could be<br />
close to us before the big day by booking out the stunning<br />
boutique bedrooms. Continuing the rustic, homely and<br />
intimate atmosphere we wanted, we opted for the beautiful<br />
handmade leather chairs the Vicarage has throughout the<br />
restaurant, from this base we wanted to decorate within<br />
the festive theme already surrounding The Vicarage, so<br />
worked closely with the flower shop in Sandbach to create<br />
a beautiful selection of white and cream floristry.<br />
From there we spent a couple of months in the planning<br />
process, collaborating our ideas with the amazing events<br />
team. With the venue being so flexible, we were able to<br />
craft an entirely bespoke menu with flavours that spoke of<br />
our travels together as well as more traditional comfort<br />
dishes that would suit friends and family. We chose the<br />
Ivy Package which had everything from Asian fusion starters,<br />
classic British dishes for our mains and a selection of lovely<br />
street-food for our little late-night snack. Naturally, we were<br />
salivating throughout our taster sessions and the chef<br />
was quick to adapt to our requests, which we were so<br />
grateful for.<br />
Celebrate before the big day<br />
I had stayed in the bridal suite the evening before the big<br />
day with my two beautiful bridesmaids, we were looked after<br />
so exceptionally with glasses always topped up and it was<br />
lovely to have the venue to ourselves to celebrate the night<br />
before with friends and family. My girls made sure I got<br />
some beauty sleep and then it was time for the big day…<br />
44 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
I don’t really remember feeling nervous, I knew I was marrying<br />
the man I couldn’t spend my life without and more than that,<br />
the seamless wedding planning felt like we knew the day<br />
would go smoothly. As I walked down the stairs, I could see<br />
a glimpse of our friends and family behind the fireplace but<br />
couldn’t yet see Karl – our own selected playlist played as I<br />
walked up the aisle following my gorgeous bridesmaids and<br />
the setting was utterly stunning. Warm lighting and winter sun<br />
settled on the restaurant as we said our vows and within half<br />
an hour we were husband and wife! We had a lovely drinks<br />
reception before our speeches and toast commenced.<br />
"Everyone said what a fun,<br />
fantastic time they'd had."<br />
As we had exclusive use, the restaurant became our dance<br />
floor, and my God did we dance! My feet hurt for days<br />
afterwards, and everyone said what a fun, fantastic time<br />
they’d had helping us celebrate our love. Rest was much<br />
needed after our big day, so we headed up to the amazing<br />
honeymoon suite and sank into the hotel’s luxurious sheets –<br />
there’s nothing quite like a hotel sleep and a hotel shower<br />
and The Vicarage didn’t disappoint. The following morning,<br />
we had a slightly hungover, full English breakfast with our<br />
lovely family and friends and with that, we were wed!<br />
Our wedding breakfast was utterly delicious from start to finish<br />
and The Vicarage took on the most amazing atmosphere as the<br />
sun set during the meal, while we celebrated, ate and drank,<br />
the lighting transformed the space ahead of our party time.<br />
From Asian fusion flavours to some all-important British classics,<br />
our guests absolutely devoured the meal and loved every<br />
moment of it. The Chef had really captured the simplicity of the<br />
day, and nothing was too much for the incredible service staff.<br />
Settling into the swing of the evening, our fantastic DJ kept<br />
everyone entertained with a combination of live music and<br />
classic DJ sets. Roaming the room was a surprise magician<br />
that we had booked to keep guests on their toes, and he<br />
didn’t disappoint. In the breakaway games room, we thought<br />
we’d have a bit of fun thrown into the mix with a retro games<br />
station set up. Everyone was competing at table football<br />
and old school arcade games while laughing, drinking or<br />
taking silly selfies in the photobooth. We knew we wanted<br />
to capture the day in a more relaxed way and so alongside<br />
our incredible photographers, we opted for a photobooth<br />
to get the guests in their tipsy states. The Vicarage benefits<br />
from three breakout rooms as well as the main restaurantcome-dance<br />
floor and aisle. This gave us the opportunity<br />
to sneak off for some moments just the two of us and they<br />
were the most special moments throughout the day.<br />
Our summary<br />
The simplicity of the venue, attention to detail from the staff<br />
and their unwavering commitment to delivering our special<br />
day exactly the way we wanted it, really sticks out to us as<br />
the best bit about having our intimate Cheshire wedding.<br />
We couldn’t thank the team enough for their dedication<br />
and for making Karl and my special day so stunning.<br />
We’re always seeing our beautiful wedding pics on social<br />
media and I think it shows what a happy day we had and<br />
what a collaborative effort it was to plan our wedding.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: Little Lois Cake Company<br />
www.loislittlecakecompany.co.uk<br />
FLORIST: The Flower Shop Sandbach<br />
www.theflowershopsandbach.co.uk<br />
HAIR & MAKEUP: Mimi Lomax<br />
www.mimilomax.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Howes Your Photos<br />
www.howesyourphoto.com<br />
VENUE: The Vicarage Cranage<br />
www.flatcaphotels.com/the-vicarage-cranage<br />
VENUE STYLIST: Tamaryn Treasures<br />
www.tamarynstreasures.co.uk<br />
SPECIAL MENTIONS: Sarah Fleury (Events Coordinator)/<br />
Rachel Cooper (Manager) – Culinary and Service Team<br />
at The Vicarage<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 45
Registration<br />
Services<br />
You have decided to get married or register<br />
your civil partnership and the thoughts of<br />
dresses, bridesmaids, suits, flowers and<br />
invitations fill your mind - but do you know<br />
about the legal requirements you will need<br />
to go through before your celebrations<br />
become legal?<br />
You can get married or register your civil partnership<br />
without the dress/suit (jeans and a tee shirt will do!).<br />
Also there is no legal requirement for a ring. However,<br />
if you do not follow the correct legal procedures your<br />
big day might end up as a very expensive party!<br />
The following information on Notices relates<br />
to all Marriages or Civil Partnerships in<br />
England and Wales (with the exception<br />
of Church of England or Wales) –<br />
providing both parties are British, Irish<br />
or have European Settled Status.<br />
If either party has does not have British or<br />
Irish nationality or does not have European<br />
Settled Status please contact your local<br />
Register Office for advice.<br />
If you wish to have a civil marriage or partnership,<br />
the ceremony may take place in any Register Office<br />
or Approved Venue (hotels or stately homes etc which<br />
are licensed for this purpose – each Register Office<br />
should have a list of these venues on their web site).<br />
If you wish to have a religious marriage the<br />
ceremony must take place in a religious building<br />
in the district in which either you or your partner<br />
live. If the religious building is outside of your district<br />
of residence please consult your local register office<br />
for advice. You will need to speak to the person in<br />
charge of the religious building to arrange the date<br />
and time before the appointment at the Register Office<br />
to give your Notices of Marriage or Civil Partnership.<br />
46 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
What is a Notice of<br />
Marriage/Civil Partnership?<br />
For all weddings (except Church of<br />
England or Church in Wales where banns<br />
will be called – you will need to speak to<br />
the Vicar about this), each of the parties<br />
to a marriage or civil partnership has to<br />
give Notice of their intention. The Notice<br />
is a legal statement which you must<br />
sign. You cannot ask a friend or relative<br />
to do this on your behalf. Your Notices<br />
will be displayed in the Register Office<br />
for any legal objections to be made.<br />
Providing no objections are received, and<br />
all necessary documentation has been<br />
produced, 28 days after your Notices<br />
are given the authority for your marriage<br />
or civil partnership may be issued.<br />
When can you give your<br />
Notices of Marriage/Civil<br />
Partnership?<br />
A Notice is valid for one year. The<br />
minimum amount of time before<br />
the wedding that the Notice can<br />
be given is 28 clear days.<br />
Where can you give your<br />
Notices of Marriage/<br />
Civil Partnership?<br />
Your Notices of Marriage must be<br />
given at the Register Office covering<br />
the district in which you normally reside<br />
or in which you have 8 consecutive<br />
nights residence immediately<br />
preceding the giving of the notice.<br />
Do you need to make<br />
an appointment?<br />
Liverpool Register Office, in common<br />
with many others, operates an<br />
appointment system. Please contact<br />
your local Register Office to confirm.<br />
What documents will<br />
you need to provide?<br />
You will need to provide evidence<br />
of your name, age, and nationality<br />
and marital condition. The most<br />
commonly accepted documents are:<br />
• Name, age and nationality – current<br />
passport. If you do not have a current<br />
passport your birth certificate will suffice<br />
providing you were born on or before<br />
31.12.1982. If you were born on or after<br />
1.1.1983 you will need to provide your<br />
full birth certificate (which contains your<br />
parent’s details as well as your name,<br />
date and place of birth) and evidence<br />
of your parent’s nationalities also.<br />
• Condition (this is required when you<br />
have been previously married or formed<br />
a legally recognised civil partnership)<br />
– evidence of how the marriage/civil<br />
partnership ended, for example Decree<br />
Absolute of Divorce or death certificate<br />
of former husband/wife/civil partner. A<br />
Decree Nisi of Divorce is not acceptable.<br />
You will also be asked to provide specific<br />
evidence of your current address.<br />
If you cannot provide any of the<br />
above documents please contact your<br />
local register office for advice.<br />
How much does a Notice of<br />
Marriage/Civil Partnership<br />
cost?<br />
The fee payable for each Notice is £35-<br />
£47 (£70-£94 per couple) depending on<br />
immigration status. Your local Register<br />
Office will be able to advise you of<br />
the fee payable for you. (correct at July<br />
20<strong>23</strong>). You will also need to pay a fee<br />
to the Registrar who attends to register<br />
your marriage or civil partnership.<br />
How much will the<br />
Registrar charge?<br />
Fees for marriages at the Liverpool<br />
Register Office at St George’s Hall<br />
range from £57-£255. The fee<br />
charged reflects the time and day<br />
chosen, the number of guests and the<br />
enhanced ceremonies available.<br />
The fee for a wedding at an approved<br />
venue varies. You will need to<br />
contact the register office who will<br />
perform the ceremony to confirm.<br />
The fee charged at a religious building<br />
varies. You will need to contact the<br />
person at the religious building who is<br />
arranging your wedding to confirm.<br />
Registration and<br />
Certificates<br />
On 4 May 2021 the way marriages are<br />
registered changed. The registration and<br />
obtaining the certificate is now the same<br />
process for both marriages and civil<br />
partnerships.<br />
Marriage and Civil<br />
Partnership at Register<br />
Office or Approved Venue<br />
On the day of the ceremony the Registrar<br />
will ask couple and their witnesses will sign<br />
a Schedule. The Registrar will then take<br />
the Schedule back to the Register Office<br />
and the registration will be made on the<br />
national database. Any certificates you<br />
have paid for will then be sent to you.<br />
Marriage at a religious<br />
building<br />
For CoE or CoW churches the couple and<br />
witnesses will be asked to sign a Marriage<br />
Document. For all other religious buildings<br />
the couple and witnesses will be asked<br />
to sign a Schedule. The Document or<br />
Schedule must be delivered to the Register<br />
Office covering the locality of the religious<br />
building within 21 days of the ceremony.<br />
The registration will then be made on the<br />
national database. Any certificates you<br />
have paid for will then be sent to you.<br />
So, a lot to take in! Do your research –<br />
decide if you want to marry or form a<br />
civil partnership, visit the venue, register<br />
office or religious building and see what<br />
they offer. Remember when you give your<br />
notices you have to know where you are<br />
getting married/civil partnered. Good luck<br />
and we wish you all the best for your big<br />
day and your future together!<br />
Liverpool Registration Service<br />
St George’s Hall<br />
Visitor Centre Entrance<br />
St George’s Place<br />
Liverpool L1 1JJ<br />
www.ceremonies.liverpool.gov.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 47
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong> NORTH WEST<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Awards<br />
The 13th annual North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards, the region’s most prestigious<br />
event recognising excellence in the wedding industry, took place on<br />
14th June 20<strong>23</strong>. The awards ceremony brought together top wedding<br />
suppliers, venues and creatives from across the North West to celebrate their<br />
exceptional contributions to creating unforgettable wedding experiences.<br />
Organised by <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong>, the North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards has become a<br />
hallmark event for the wedding industry in the region. Year after year, it honours<br />
the tireless efforts and remarkable talents of wedding professionals who go above<br />
and beyond to make dreams come true for couples. Finalists did incredibly well this year to make it through with over 15,000<br />
votes and 2,400 individual companies nominated.<br />
The theme for the evening was ‘Diamonds are forever’ which created a backdrop of elegance and glamour at the Mere Golf<br />
Resort & Spa. Welcomed with a red carpet entrance, guests had chance to network with their peers before a gala dinner,<br />
auction, live entertainment and of course, the awards. In addition to recognising outstanding achievements, the North West<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Awards demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the community. The event raised an impressive £8,400 for<br />
Destination Florida Children’s Charity, a remarkable organisation dedicated to giving ill children the holiday of a lifetime.<br />
“We were thrilled to celebrate the 13th Annual North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards and honour the incredible talents and<br />
hard work of our region’s wedding suppliers,” said Duane Thornborough, Director at <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong>. “It was a night<br />
filled with joy, camaraderie, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. We are equally proud to have raised<br />
£8,400 so far including “Gift Aid” for Destination Florida and contribute to their important mission. We extend our<br />
heartfelt gratitude to all the participants, sponsors, and supporters who made this event a resounding success.”<br />
The 13th Annual North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards served as a reminder of the resilience and creativity within the wedding<br />
industry, even amidst recent challenging times. By recognising and applauding the exceptional talents of wedding<br />
professionals, this event has continued to set the standard for excellence in the North West.<br />
Suppliers’ acknowledgement:<br />
• Hosts: <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong><br />
DJ Chris G: www.djchrisg.co.uk<br />
AV: iCatching Events<br />
DJ/Compare: Jon Holling<br />
• Large Letter & Draping: Ice<br />
Entertainment UK<br />
Venue Styling: Cover Story & Events<br />
Band: Mint<br />
Magician: AC Magic<br />
• Ice Sculpture: Glacial Art Ice Sculptors<br />
Photo Mirror: Big Creative Events Thank Casino Tables: Manhattan Casino<br />
Florist: Country Flowers<br />
Photographer: Envision Images<br />
Videographer: Paul Jon Films<br />
Venue: The Mere Resort & Spa<br />
• Table Plans: NDigital Print & Sign Ltd<br />
you for all the prizes:<br />
• Top Table & Events<br />
Cheshire Music Events<br />
Liverpool Laser Clinic<br />
Gin, Gin Geroo<br />
The Last Drop Village<br />
The Mere Golf Resort & Spa<br />
Liz’s Country Kitchen<br />
Destination Florida Children’s Charity<br />
Furness Videography<br />
• Bargain Booze, Lowton<br />
The Queen Anne in Lowton<br />
Country Flowers<br />
Ntertain<br />
Henry D Johnstone<br />
Oscar & Olivia<br />
Manchester City Football Club<br />
Ridgway Caterers<br />
Your Work Spa<br />
The Mercure Haydock Hotel<br />
• Taylory Ltd<br />
For more information about the North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards, please visit www.countybrides.co.uk<br />
48 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
OUR WINNERS FOR 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Best Accessory<br />
Alison's Bridal Alterations<br />
Best Artificial Florist<br />
Bloomin <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
Best Beauty Health & Well Being<br />
Bridal by Frankie<br />
Best Bridal Retailer<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Belles Bridal Boutique<br />
Best <strong>Brides</strong>maid Retailer<br />
Little Betty's Boutique<br />
Best Cake<br />
Laura's Cakery<br />
Best Caterers<br />
Ridgway Caterers<br />
Best Celebrant<br />
That Celebrant Guy<br />
Best Ceremony Provider<br />
Cheshire East Registration Service<br />
Best Entertainment Act<br />
The Singalong Waiters<br />
Best Entertainment Agency<br />
Ice Entertainment UK<br />
Best Entertainment DJ<br />
DJ Tom Finkill<br />
Best Entertainment Non Musical<br />
Crazy 9<br />
Best Florist<br />
Country Flowers<br />
Best Hair<br />
Danielle Broughton Evans<br />
Best Jeweller<br />
Henry D Johnstone<br />
Best Menswear<br />
Marc Darcy<br />
Best Photographer Female<br />
Julianne Noon Photography<br />
Best Occasion Wear<br />
Genevieve of Carlisle<br />
Best Photographer Male<br />
Joe Hague Photography<br />
Best Photobooth<br />
The Added Extra<br />
Best Venue Cheshire<br />
The Plough at Eaton<br />
Best Stationer<br />
Hewitts Prints<br />
Best Toastmaster<br />
Dave Knowles - Stirk House<br />
Best Transport<br />
Cumbria Classic <strong>Wedding</strong> Cars<br />
Best Venue Merseyside<br />
The Bentley<br />
Best Venue Cumbria<br />
Low Wood Bay<br />
Best Venue Lancashire<br />
Stirk House<br />
Best Venue Manchester<br />
Last Drop Village<br />
Best <strong>Wedding</strong> Coordinator<br />
Kathryn Dagger - The Villa Wrea<br />
Best Venue No Accommodation<br />
The Oak Tree of Peover<br />
Best Venue Stylist<br />
Cover Story <strong>Wedding</strong>s & Events<br />
Best Videographer<br />
Mark Herrington Videographer<br />
Best New Business of the Year<br />
Melrose & Pops Designs<br />
Best Business of the Year<br />
Manchester Disco Company<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 49
e<br />
inspired!<br />
Congratulations on your engagement!<br />
The fun of planning your perfect day<br />
starts with the <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> website,<br />
with all the information you need<br />
gathered in one place.<br />
Our website features more than ever before a<br />
comprehensive directory of the North West’s<br />
best wedding suppliers and creatives, searchable<br />
by category to make it easy to find exactly what<br />
you are looking for.<br />
<strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> organise wedding fayres<br />
throughout the North West where you can chat<br />
to the wedding experts about your plans, and see<br />
the latest exclusive designs in wedding gowns,<br />
formal wear for the groom and groomsmen,<br />
bridesmaid dresses and occasion wear in our<br />
stunning catwalk shows.<br />
Vote for your favourite suppliers in the<br />
annual North West <strong>Wedding</strong> Awards.<br />
Be inspired by the Real Life <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
features.<br />
Plan with the help of our hints and tips.<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
Start<br />
planning,<br />
be inspired,<br />
visit our<br />
website now!<br />
50 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Lancashire Based <strong>Wedding</strong> Photographer<br />
Tel: 07591 884171, Email: jon.harrison@trusilver.com<br />
www.jonharrisonimage.co.uk<br />
Natural, Fun & Personality Driven<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Photography<br />
It’s true, your wedding day will pass you by in a blur. And your photos will need to capture<br />
every important moment. I love recording those significant moments; but I also love<br />
capturing the little moments - the ones not everyone sees. The way your partner reaches<br />
for your hand to reassure you. The way you laugh at their terrible jokes. The kids who are<br />
pulling funny faces during the speeches. The crazy moves your bestie pulls out on the<br />
dance floor. Your family laughing and joking together - usually at your expense. The<br />
moments that make your wedding uniquely yours.<br />
If these sound like the moments you want to remember, get in touch!<br />
info@fish2.co.uk |www.fish2.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 51
A COMMITMENT TO<br />
CREATING PHOTOGRAPHY OF<br />
THE HIGHEST STANDARD<br />
Stephen Redfern Photography, The Studio, 7 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9HU<br />
Telephone: 07801 957 362<br />
www.stephenredfern.co.uk<br />
OUR PACKAGE<br />
www.nikbryantphotography.co.uk<br />
nik@nikbryantphotography.co.uk<br />
07979 291870<br />
@nikbryantphotos<br />
• Consultation<br />
• 1 photographer<br />
• 8 hours coverage<br />
• Online digital gallery<br />
£995<br />
Quote <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong><br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
Email: hello@thistleandbee.co.uk<br />
thistleandbeephotography<br />
www.thistleandbee.co.uk<br />
Nicola: 07540 329 344 Lisa: 07547 190 871<br />
52 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
CHESHIRE BASED INTERNATIONAL<br />
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER<br />
best female<br />
photographer<br />
2019<br />
Helen Williams<br />
Photography<br />
helenwilliamsphotography.co.uk<br />
07476 075 530<br />
enquiries@helenwilliamsphotography.co.uk<br />
MULTI AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY<br />
FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY IN THE UK AND ABROAD<br />
ENVISIONIMAGESUK<br />
as seen on<br />
WWW.ENVISIONMAGES.CO.UK<br />
07835 390431<br />
ENVISION4IMAGES<br />
as seen on<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 53
Capture all the magical moments at your<br />
wedding reception with West Yorkshire 360 Booth’s “I DO” package<br />
Our rotating camera will capture every angle of you and your guests enjoying your special day, while the<br />
360 Team share these videos and photos instantly to your guests smart phone. Alongside this we can still<br />
do the traditional style photo booth photos which can be printed on site at your request.<br />
If your wanting fun, laughter and to take your wedding to the next level then look no further.<br />
Other party packages are also available please contact us for more information.<br />
THE BEST IN THE<br />
NORTH WEST<br />
07942 360 360<br />
westyorkshire360booth@outlook.com<br />
www.westyorkshire360booth.com<br />
@westyorkshire360<br />
westyorkshire360<br />
54 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Mulligan<br />
Married 28th December 2021<br />
In the heart of the Lancashire town<br />
of Clitheroe stands the former textile<br />
mill, Holmes Mill, lovingly restored<br />
to proudly showcase its heritage<br />
and history while still retaining a<br />
luxurious and modern feel.<br />
Photographs by The McHendry's Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 55
With an abundance of features - a Duckpin Bowling Alley,<br />
on-site Brewery and Beer Hall, Artisan Food Hall, and the<br />
glitz and glamour of The Bar & Grill - it’s bursting with<br />
opportunities. Full of fascinating architectural areas and<br />
details, each one contributing to a truly unique ambience<br />
and atmosphere. The photo opportunities were endless<br />
and for once, the weather didn’t need a second thought!<br />
Holmes Mill may have been restored on the outside, but<br />
it has been re-imagined and recreated on the inside.<br />
Completely unique<br />
The stunning industrial chic space that is the Cotton Room,<br />
with its exposed materials and period features, is licensed<br />
for civil ceremonies and can accommodate 150 guests<br />
during the daytime and up to 180 for your evening party -<br />
there’s no more versatile space. Or why not look at the<br />
Love on the Lanes or Bar & Grill <strong>Wedding</strong> Package? The<br />
Bar & Grill is the ideal place to celebrate in a space that’s<br />
completely unique. The Art Deco influence makes for a<br />
stunning setting and backdrop for any special occasion -<br />
everything from the hand painted ceiling tiles to the ornate<br />
and dazzling chandeliers - there really is nowhere like it.<br />
The on-site Spinning Block Hotel features 39 stunning<br />
bedrooms, perfect for friends and family looking for somewhere<br />
to stay. Holmes Mill really becomes its very own little village<br />
setting, which can feel truly like home during your wedding.<br />
Holmes Mill wedding couple Oonagh and Chris met in a club<br />
when they were 18, where Oonagh chased Chris up the stairs<br />
“to snog him” before ignoring him for the rest of the night.<br />
Playing hard to get (after the kiss!) must have worked because<br />
it led to their gorgeous winter wedding at Holmes Mill! From<br />
first meetings and engagements to their classic, neutral and<br />
timeless wedding day in the Cotton Room at Holmes Mill.<br />
Here's what Oonagh and Chris had to say about their<br />
special day.<br />
We got engaged in a lodge in York on a trip for my 30th<br />
birthday. Chris surprised me by asking my best friend<br />
and her husband to be there when we arrived. Shortly<br />
after arriving my best friend took me to get something<br />
out of the car and for a look around the grounds. When<br />
we came back there were balloons and candles laid out<br />
everywhere, and our daughter and three month old son<br />
were both wearing t-shirts saying: “Mummy will you marry<br />
Daddy?” it was so lovely, of course I said: “Yes!”<br />
56 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
"We just loved the character of the<br />
room and how unique it was."<br />
When it was time to look around wedding venues, we instantly<br />
fell in love with Holmes Mill. I saw it on my friend’s wedding<br />
photographer’s Instagram and saw there was a wedding fayre<br />
the following weekend. As soon as we walked into the Cotton<br />
Room at Holmes Mill we knew that was it was the one for us!<br />
We just loved the character of the room and how unique it<br />
was along with everything else going on at the venue. It was<br />
just beautiful and was exactly what we were looking for!<br />
Because the venue was so beautiful and there was so much<br />
to look at already, I didn’t want to detract from that, so I tried<br />
to keep everything else quite neutral and timeless. I just wanted<br />
it to be modern, simple and fresh looking, so the bridesmaids<br />
all of our guests a little message with our favourite memory<br />
or private jokes with them and to thank them personally for<br />
coming along on the day. We also had an extra big top table<br />
with the majority of our bridal party and family sat with us. It<br />
was exactly how we wanted it with the people closest to us.<br />
Winter warmer<br />
We wanted to keep things relaxed and so for our food we<br />
had pie, mash, mushy peas & gravy with sticky toffee pudding<br />
to follow. We chose this because firstly, the pie is UNREAL,<br />
but also because we wanted to give people a winter warmer<br />
to line their stomachs ready for the big party ahead!<br />
I walked up the aisle to Train – Marry Me, which set the tone<br />
for the day perfectly. We had a DJ & Sax player from Jonny<br />
Ross music. Sax was Nick Baya, and together with the DJ they<br />
were absolutely amazing everyone loved them. We had the<br />
McHendry’s as our photographers, they are literally the coolest<br />
couple we’ve ever met. They were so friendly we felt like we’d<br />
always known them, and they made us feel so comfortable, their<br />
photography and videography were just beautiful and so natural.<br />
Our <strong>Wedding</strong> Coordinator Emily was amazing, she was<br />
fantastic and nothing we asked was too much. She was<br />
really easy to talk to, offered great alternatives and was very<br />
efficient. Lesley-Anne, our Functions Manager who ran our<br />
day was so amazing! She was so lovely, worked so hard, and<br />
definitely put me at ease in the morning before the wedding.<br />
The day was exactly what we’d hoped for and more, and<br />
Holmes Mill was the perfect place for us to kick-start our<br />
married life!<br />
were in white outfits that they had picked themselves, so they<br />
all felt comfortable and weren’t in the same dress that might<br />
not have suited each of them and their individual styles. They<br />
all looked stunning on the day, and I was so happy that they’d<br />
chosen exactly what they wanted! We had green foliage<br />
bouquets, table runners and a garland hanging from the ceiling<br />
over the top table. Black and Perspex accessories and lots of<br />
candles and foliage.<br />
We planned most of our wedding ourselves, with the help of<br />
some of my bridesmaids. CarriAnn, our venue dresser and<br />
Sam from Wildfire Floral Co just completely brought my vision<br />
to life. In fact, they made it so much better than my vision<br />
and made it become a Pinterest mood board, we loved it so<br />
much! We made our own name cards and wanted to write<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
DJ & SAX: Jonny Ross Music<br />
www.jonnyrossmusic.com<br />
FLORIST: Wildfire Floral Co<br />
www.wildfirefloral.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: The McHendry’s<br />
www.themchendrys.com<br />
VENUE: Holmes Mill<br />
www.holmesmill.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 57
THE BRIDAL<br />
GALLERY<br />
Every year in the UK over <strong>23</strong>0,000 couples<br />
get married. Here are a small selection.<br />
MR & MRS BARTLETT<br />
The Riverbarn - 30th June 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Envision Images<br />
MR & MRS HARPER<br />
Monastery Manchester -<br />
30th April 20<strong>23</strong> - Envision Images<br />
SALLY & TRACY ROBINSON-MOIR<br />
The Oaks Burnley -<br />
26th February 20<strong>23</strong> - Envision Images<br />
MR & MRS WALL<br />
The Royal Toby - <strong>24</strong>th June 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Envision Images<br />
MR & MRS O'KEEFE<br />
Norton Grange - 27th April 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Envision Images<br />
MR & MRS COLE<br />
Abbeywood Estate - 1st April 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Fish2 Photography<br />
MR & MRS HADDOCK<br />
Didsbury House Hotel -<br />
31st March 20<strong>23</strong> - Fish2 Photography<br />
MR & MRS SOAR<br />
Skipton Registry Office -<br />
26th April 20<strong>23</strong> - Fish2 Photography<br />
MR & MRS WILSHAW<br />
Cragwood Country House Hotel -<br />
6th August 2022 - Fish2 Photography<br />
MR & MRS CRAVEN<br />
Peckforton Castle - 5th November 2022<br />
- Helen Williams Photography<br />
58 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
MR & MRS GIBLIN<br />
Grange Barn - 10th June 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Helen Williams Photography<br />
MR AND MRS ANDERSON<br />
The Ashes Barn - 26th June 2022 -<br />
Helen Williams Photography<br />
MR & MRS DENT<br />
Sparth House - 27th August 2022 -<br />
Jon Harrison Photography<br />
MRS & MRS FARNDON<br />
Peckforton Castle - 31st March 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Jon Harrison Photography<br />
MR & MRS ROACH<br />
Inn on the Lake - 12th September 2022<br />
Jon Harrison Photography<br />
MR & MRS MCKAY<br />
Gisburne Park - 4th September 2021 -<br />
Nik Bryant Photography<br />
MRS TYLDSLEY & MRS RAND<br />
The Coppermines - <strong>23</strong>rd July 2022 -<br />
Nik Bryant Photography<br />
MR & MRS BOARDMAN<br />
Stirk House - 21st July 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Stephen Redfern Photography<br />
MR & MRS CARROLL<br />
Castlefield Rooms - 8th July 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Stephen Redfern Photography<br />
MR & MRS KENNY<br />
Higher Trapp Hotel - 18th May 20<strong>23</strong> -<br />
Stephen Redfern Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 59
Your ceremony<br />
When you two tie the knot, legally marry, get hitched.<br />
The culmination of all those decisions about where and when and how.<br />
There so many lovely decisions to make<br />
In England and Wales, you can legally marry in a religious<br />
marriage in Church or in a civil marriage in an Approved<br />
Venue (there are so many fabulous venues to choose<br />
from) or a short legal ceremony in a Register Office.<br />
Each registration district will have a list of all venues<br />
approved in their area. There’s so much choice! You could<br />
choose a non-legal Celebration ceremony conducted by<br />
a celebrant, but the only way you get to say your I Dos in<br />
front of all your family and friends and have your specially<br />
chosen ceremony venue on your marriage certificate is<br />
by marrying in a gorgeously proper legal ceremony!<br />
Did you know you can legally tie the knot outside now too!<br />
This doesn’t quite mean anywhere you fancy though.<br />
Your outdoor ceremony location still needs to be within<br />
the boundary of your Approved Venue. If this fits with<br />
your wedding daydreams, chat with your venue and<br />
registrar to make sure saying I DO outdoors is doable!<br />
Remember too to have a backup plan in case the<br />
weather decides not to play nicely on the Big Day.<br />
There’s a good few myths out there on social media<br />
about what can and can’t happen in a civil ceremony<br />
so let’s hear it from the horses mouth...<br />
“Registrars won’t allow me to<br />
personalise my ceremony”<br />
Whilst there are the legal bits that must be included (to<br />
make sure you’re legally married!), please don’t think<br />
because of this, it won’t be special. Here in Cheshire East,<br />
we’re incredibly proud of our ceremony and we pride<br />
ourselves on the multi-award winning service we offer.<br />
We love working with our couples to make their ceremony<br />
as unique as their relationship. We know our registration<br />
family across the country want exactly the same for you.<br />
“But I wanted a themed wedding”<br />
Go for it! We have lots of couples choosing themes around their<br />
favourite movie, book, or TV show. We’ve had Game of Thrones<br />
fans injecting some medieval fantasy, Great Gatsby lovers<br />
wowing us with vintage decorations, birdcage veils and trilby<br />
hats and even some sports fanatics giving some light-hearted<br />
humour with a hand tying ceremony using their opposing<br />
teams’ scarves ‒ take me and you take my team as well!<br />
“I can’t include any readings<br />
in a civil ceremony”<br />
Oh yes you can! Whilst anecdotes about drunken antics and<br />
how the couple met should perhaps be reserved for the<br />
speeches, including a reading is a heart-warming way to convey<br />
what love, marriage and commitment ultimately mean to you,<br />
and we're here for it! They just need to be non religious. They<br />
really let you stamp your personality on the day and allows you<br />
to show your guests who you are as a couple. They’re also a<br />
lovely way to make loved ones feel involved, they might even<br />
feel like writing their own words to share with you both.<br />
“What about other ceremony<br />
enhancements?”<br />
We are all about helping couples create<br />
ceremonies that are personal to them and<br />
what they feel is important. Talk to us about<br />
introductions, writing your own promises,<br />
including your fur baby, unity candles,<br />
sand ceremonies and more!<br />
“Registrars are a lot more<br />
formal and serious than<br />
a celebrant”<br />
Whilst any ceremony (legal or otherwise) should reflect<br />
the solemnity of the occasion ‒ there’s plenty of room<br />
for laughter too! We’re professional, helpful, and full<br />
of smiles ‒ with not a hint of stuffiness in sight!<br />
Your ceremony really can be everything you wish for and<br />
more! Your registrar will be the one who helps you make your<br />
ceremony come to life, with your readings, promises, music<br />
and your personalities woven through every single minute<br />
of your ceremony. They are THE professionals in creating a<br />
personalised and meaningful ceremony with you and just for<br />
you, yours from the moment you first speak with them to the<br />
minute you skip back down the aisle well and truly married!<br />
Remember, it really is Your Ceremony. Enjoy every single<br />
minute of all that planning and if you need any further help,<br />
please visit www.Yourceremony.org.uk<br />
Your award winning<br />
Registrars and Celebrants.<br />
60 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 61
We are Independently owned & coupled with over<br />
12 years in the entertainment & event management sector,<br />
we have the know–how, the innovation & the passion that<br />
tells our client’s story.<br />
We love what we do, we’re passionately creative, regardless<br />
of the budget - be it big or small - we promise one thing,<br />
that’s this... to tell your story through remarkable events.<br />
We make every moment turn into a BIG moment!<br />
Please contact us for a no obligation quotation on, quoting ref CB1<br />
email: creators@bigeventgroup.com<br />
Telephone: 03452 601106<br />
www.bigeventgroup.com<br />
62 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 63
64 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
MUSIC<br />
entertainment.<br />
2 SCOOPS<br />
ICE CREAM<br />
twoscoopsicecreamuk@outlook.com<br />
CARNIVAL GAMES HIRE UK<br />
carnivalgamesuk@outlook.com<br />
CASINO<br />
sales@manhattancasinonights.co.uk<br />
07710 373 442 / 01978 5021<strong>24</strong> • www.manhattancasinonights.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 65
Piano entertainment for your <strong>Wedding</strong> Day<br />
Ceremony - Drinks Reception - <strong>Wedding</strong> Breakfast<br />
www.domtheweddingpianist.co.uk<br />
Adverts - Final 20<strong>23</strong> Dawn everything.pdf 3 27/07/20<strong>23</strong> 14:46<br />
C<br />
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CM<br />
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Styling breathtaking weddings, making your day<br />
the talking point for year’s to come<br />
66 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Bear<br />
Married 7th July 20<strong>23</strong><br />
We met in Spain on a sports<br />
tour with university, and<br />
looking back, if someone had told<br />
us that seven years later we would<br />
be on a private boat in the middle<br />
of Lake Garda, Italy, with a poem in<br />
my hand and a ring box in Jordan’s,<br />
we would not have believed them.<br />
Photographs by AFS Media<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 67
But Jordan asked me to be his wife on a gorgeous sunny day<br />
during one of the best trips we have ever had, in one of the<br />
most romantic places we have visited. I said, “Yes”, so it was<br />
homeward bound as the newly engaged Mr and Mrs Bear to be.<br />
Growing up, my aspirations in life held little focus towards<br />
‘weddings’ or being a ‘bride’. So, to anyone newly engaged<br />
out there struggling slightly with their new title, please don’t<br />
fret. It is a very exciting, emotional, and sometimes challenging<br />
time but trust me when I say that everything really will fall<br />
into place. Ignore the pressures around you and the fanfare<br />
that comes with it, what matters is the commitment you<br />
and your partner are choosing to make to one another.<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> planning<br />
When we started planning, the idea of a wedding felt quite<br />
daunting, but as my now husband said, “it’s something we will do<br />
once, so we should make the most of the occasion.” We wanted<br />
a simple day incorporating traditions whilst making new ones,<br />
with a real focus on the importance of our marriage, and we<br />
really wanted a good party with lots of fun throughout the day.<br />
day. Nothing was too much trouble and the support given went<br />
further than we could have anticipated.<br />
A hidden gem within the Cheshire countryside, a short drive<br />
from Chester city centre, as the name suggests, the venue has<br />
the most spectacular views across the county. The venue itself<br />
has three large rooms to cater for any size wedding with the<br />
possibility to use one or all for your special day. The outside<br />
space at the venue makes it, with huge lawned areas and<br />
lots of seating meaning you really can make the most of the<br />
outdoors especially if the weather allows, and thankfully we<br />
had the sunshine. We had seen that other couples had used<br />
the outdoor space for tepees to create a festival themed day<br />
and just loved that the possibilities here really felt endless.<br />
Being born and raised in Chester, the tradition of marrying in<br />
the bride’s hometown was something Jordan was keen for us to<br />
do and having worked in the creative marketing industry for the<br />
past 10 years, I am no stranger to event planning… so we<br />
began our search for a venue.<br />
A hidden gem<br />
From the first moment we explored Cheshire View we knew<br />
instantly it was the venue for us, and it did not disappoint,<br />
hugely with thanks to Mark the venue manager who was<br />
invaluable in ensuring we had the most incredible wedding<br />
On the day<br />
We wanted the venue to ourselves for our wedding day and<br />
used all the reception rooms including the outdoors where we<br />
chose to hold our ceremony. Being able to tailor your wedding<br />
day from the room décor, food, and suppliers you bring, is<br />
something very few venues (especially in Cheshire) can offer<br />
or accommodate.<br />
A key consideration in our planning was to make sure we were<br />
sustainable where possible. We bought decorations from thrift<br />
shops which Mark used to set the tables. Our amazing white<br />
rose bouquet and Gypsophila pew ends from The Flower Box,<br />
Chester were used after the ceremony as the focal point of our<br />
tables, splitting the bunches up into individual stemmed<br />
recycled glass vases. A simple but elegant touch.<br />
As our new surname is Bear, we wanted to pay homage by<br />
incorporating this into our wedding theme by making it a unique<br />
focus for the day. We had the British stamp company make<br />
68 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
us one of their re-useable stamps that we put across all our<br />
wedding invitations which were printed on recycled materials,<br />
and then we digitalised these as timelines for guests’ reference<br />
on the day thanks to the digital displays throughout the venue.<br />
We printed Bear badges for our guests to wear throughout<br />
the day, something fun and different for everyone to take<br />
away. Jordan’s is now on his golf bag. Another favourite for<br />
our guests was our photo booth supplier, Capture IT UK.<br />
Along with bringing props (and allowing us to supply our own<br />
custom props like our dog) they printed out the photos on<br />
guests arriving and provided personalised ice cream wafers.<br />
Becki was fantastic in helping us narrow down our flavours<br />
(so many to choose from) and it felt like such a nice nod to<br />
our Italian engagement.<br />
Another fantastic decision made was to have In Bloom<br />
Events Band. They sang during the ceremony, performed<br />
throughout our drinks reception, and ensured we really got<br />
the party started in the evening. They honestly created such<br />
an amazing atmosphere, and their talent knows no bounds.<br />
"My dress which was designed by<br />
myself and a very special lady who<br />
created something unique."<br />
the night for guests to take away with them. Our photo cards<br />
were tailored for our wedding and afterwards we received a<br />
link to digital copies of all the printed cards along with every<br />
individual photo taken in both black and white, and colour.<br />
Meaning all our guests could access them after the wedding<br />
and Jordan and I could see the fun our friends and family had.<br />
As foodies, we created our wedding menu in collaboration<br />
with Sticky Sausage Catering. All our guests, including those<br />
with dietary requirements, could not get over how delicious<br />
and plentiful the food on the day was. To quote just a few…<br />
“We have never eaten so well at a wedding before.” Sticky<br />
Sausage Catering really are magicians in the kitchen and can<br />
tailor all sorts of amazing menus to suit your preferences.<br />
Our wedding cake was two tiers, lemon drizzle and traditional<br />
fruit cake. Lovingly made by my mum and decorated by our<br />
fabulous caterers, it was such an amazing personal touch that<br />
meant so much to us. We chose a wire framed Mr and Mrs<br />
Bear as the topper which we have since used in our home as<br />
wall art and included a miniature model of our dog Dennis.<br />
Our best sweet treat of the day was the Ice cream cart, an<br />
Italian style ice cream supplier that set up for our evening<br />
Just like our incredible photographer, Rob at AFS Media<br />
Limited, he along with his team did the best job capturing<br />
our day as you can see from these images. One of the most<br />
valuable parts of our package was the amazing engagement<br />
shoot we had prior to the day which helped us get used to<br />
being in front of the camera which made our wedding day<br />
so much more seamless. He photographed the details so<br />
well including my dress which was designed by myself and<br />
a very special lady who created something unique that will<br />
be treasured forever. I styled it with custom made blue Jimmy<br />
Choo’s that had a personalised date plaque on the base and<br />
my maiden initials JC on the heel. The whole look completed<br />
with a cheeky hair cut the morning of the wedding, thanks<br />
to my incredible hair stylist Zoe from Deva Hair, Chester.<br />
We felt so incredibly proud on our wedding day to be<br />
surrounded by our family and friends. They often say when<br />
times are tough you realise who your people are, and we<br />
realised this is true of the good times too. Our advice to you<br />
is to stay focused and enjoy the journey to what will be the<br />
most incredible day of your lives.<br />
Mr and Mrs J Bear.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CATERING: Sticky Sausage catering<br />
www.stickysausagecatering.co.uk<br />
ENTERTAINMENT: In Bloom Events band<br />
www.inbloomeventsband.com<br />
FLOWERS: The Flower Box<br />
www.theflowerbox-chester.webs.com<br />
HAIR STYLIST: Zoe Anne Gator<br />
www.facebook.com/devahair86<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: AFS Media<br />
www.autofocus.me.uk<br />
VENUE: Cheshire View<br />
www.cheshireview.co.uk<br />
WEDDING RINGS: Smooch rings<br />
www.smoochrings.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 69
70 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
WE ARE<br />
Creative<br />
We promise to style events that create lasting impressions. Whether you’re planning your<br />
dream wedding, your new arrivals christening, a lavish party or corporate event, we will be with<br />
you every step of the way to make sure your vision comes to life and give your guests an<br />
experience they will never forget.<br />
Adam Hudson Photography<br />
Eighth Avenue Photo & Film<br />
Samantha James Photography<br />
We can transform your chosen venue into anything you want it to be. All our fabrics are made in-house<br />
by our creative team of artists, so we can customise your chosen venue with styling and decoration<br />
that packs a punch. From quirky out-of-the-box ideas to traditional styling, we can reflect your unique<br />
personality or embody a theme of your choice. It doesn’t matter what your event is, let our talented<br />
venue stylists take the pressure off you and help you to blow your guests away!<br />
Melissa Hague Photography<br />
Individuality, personality and experimentation are what makes the world so colourful. That’s why we<br />
don’t offer standard, run-of-the-mill packages – where’s the fun in that? Everything we do is bespoke<br />
and designed just for you. If you’re ever in need of ideas, get in touch with our Creative team or explore<br />
our Aladdin’s Cave of inspiration at our beautiful showroom<br />
scan me!<br />
<br />
<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 71
72 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 73
E D I T O R I A L<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong>s by Angela<br />
Packages<br />
• FULL PLANNING<br />
• 3 MONTH PRIOR<br />
• ON THE DAY<br />
CO-ORDINATION<br />
• VARIOUS BESPOKE<br />
PACKAGES<br />
Services<br />
• Consultation with the<br />
couple to identify their<br />
needs<br />
• Budget preparation<br />
• Supplier sourcing<br />
• Detailed checklist and<br />
Timelines<br />
E: info@weddingsbyangela.co.uk<br />
W: www.weddingsbyangela.uk<br />
M: 07813 98<strong>23</strong>45<br />
• Venues sourcing<br />
• Invitations and RSVP<br />
Tracking<br />
• Co-ordination of<br />
deliveries/services on<br />
the wedding day<br />
• and much more...<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong>s by Angela is based in the<br />
North West.<br />
My main responsibilities are to support couples and their families<br />
with planning a successful wedding, having a strong relationship<br />
with couples and discovering what they want from their wedding<br />
and from me as their wedding planner.<br />
Being available and providing support on the day of the wedding,<br />
to oversee the celebrations and to be a point of contact.<br />
We are here to guide you every step of the way whilst ensuring<br />
couples still have full control of their special day. We take the time<br />
to understand the ‘vibe’<br />
you are looking for.<br />
My main levels of service<br />
are full planning which is<br />
from start to finish. Partial<br />
planning for those who<br />
are organised and just<br />
want a little help to<br />
oversee the final stages.<br />
Day Co-Ordination for<br />
those who just want to<br />
pass over the stress and<br />
responsibility so that they<br />
can enjoy their day!<br />
We’re a family-owned, bespoke business that loves to supply our clients with Fabulous<br />
must-have event decorations for <strong>Wedding</strong>s, Events, Birthday’s, Christenings and other<br />
occasions. We know how important it is to make your wedding super special, but we also want<br />
to help make it absolutely perfect. No wedding is too small or too large; we work closely<br />
with all our brides and grooms to provide a personalised service.<br />
Team Fabulous will help choose your décor, whether it’s lights, balloons, backdrops, table decor,<br />
flower walls, or anything else to suit your colour theme and ideas. We’ll make it come to life!<br />
On the day of your event, we will dress the venue leaving you to enjoy your day.<br />
www.fabulousroomsandballoons.co.uk | 07981 892595<br />
74 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Unleash the extraordinary with Panda Event Design!<br />
Luxury events beyond your imagination<br />
weddings, corporate parties, and more<br />
Meticulous attention to detail<br />
Exceptional customer service<br />
Trend-setting designs<br />
Create unforgettable moments<br />
Contact us now:<br />
www.pandaeventdesign.co.uk info@pandaeventdesign.co.uk 07725 131335 @pandaeventdesignuk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 75
Country Flowers<br />
AWARD WINNING BESPOKE WEDDING SPECIALISTS<br />
www.countryflowersflorist.co.uk<br />
info@countryflowersflorist.co.uk<br />
01565 722116<br />
76 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Amy & Niki<br />
Wells<br />
Married 14th January 20<strong>23</strong><br />
I<br />
haven't grown up imagining the<br />
dream wedding or picturing how the<br />
day would go. My partner Amy (and<br />
now wife!), on the other hand, was<br />
a sucker for a wedding and always<br />
had every small detail planned in her<br />
head for her big day, from how she<br />
wanted the venue to look down to<br />
the colour of the place cards on the<br />
table. With that, I knew Amy would be<br />
a tough one to impress for any venue<br />
with her VERY high expectations.<br />
Photographs by Ladybirds Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 77
We went to see a few wedding venues around the Lake District,<br />
but we knew Abbey House was definitely ‘the one’ as soon as<br />
we took a left turn into the hotel grounds. The hotel itself looked<br />
stunning from the outside, but what was so nice is that you<br />
could take a walk around the hotel, through the woods, and find<br />
yourself exploring the beautiful area so easily and so privately.<br />
We were greeted with open arms at Abbey House, and our<br />
wedding planner Lauren was so easy to chat to and so helpful<br />
(especially for me who didn’t have a clue!). She was great at<br />
guiding us around and answering any questions we had, even<br />
the many silly ones I’d ask. With the fantastic (and cheap<br />
compared to other venues) package we were sold, we<br />
couldn’t see our wedding day being anywhere other than at<br />
Abbey House.<br />
We booked our wedding for one year’s time and gradually<br />
got the planning process underway - well mostly Amy<br />
did. We met with Lauren, our wedding planner, several<br />
times to ensure everything was on track and to talk about<br />
the aspects of the day: menu choices, decorations and<br />
timings during the day. She was always on hand to help<br />
in any way she could. She gave us some great ideas, like<br />
having a Jägermeister machine by the bar, which went<br />
down great on the day, and she was just so attentive and<br />
efficient helping us with our needs. She always responded<br />
to our emails instantly and never left us feeling unsure.<br />
Slight hiccup<br />
The only slight hiccup we experienced was that we found<br />
out a couple months before the wedding day that Lauren<br />
was unable to be there on our wedding day, so therefore<br />
we’d have a different wedding planner called Laura. This did<br />
slightly fill us with dread thinking ‘oh no Lauren knows us so<br />
well!’ But we really had no need to worry as we then met<br />
Laura and she was just as wonderful and so experienced.<br />
She eased any worries we had as she’d been completely<br />
briefed on exactly how we wanted everything to go.<br />
We decided to book the whole private room out in the<br />
restaurant the day before our wedding so that some of our<br />
guests could chat and get to know each other before the big<br />
day. We had around 40 people attend the dinner, and the<br />
restaurant staff were wonderful. The food was delicious, it<br />
was all on time and it set up our wedding day so perfectly,<br />
knowing that some of our guests already knew each other<br />
and this would make them feel more comfortable.<br />
The night before our wedding day at Abbey House was<br />
probably the second most nervous I’ve ever been in my life.<br />
The first was just before I walked up the aisle!! As Amy and I<br />
didn’t want to see each other on the morning of our wedding,<br />
it’d been decided that I would be able to walk around the<br />
grounds of the hotel (to burn the nervous energy off) and<br />
Amy would stay with her bridal party in her room. When I<br />
woke up at 4am, I was glad that decision had been made,<br />
as I got my steps in pacing around the hotel grounds. The<br />
staff were genuinely so lovely that at 4am in the morning, I<br />
ended up chatting to the receptionist for 10 minutes about<br />
how nervous I was, he made me feel a lot better!!<br />
78 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
I did manage to get some sleep however in the gorgeous bridal<br />
suites they have at Abbey House. The rooms were huge, the<br />
beds were comfortable and there was so much space to have<br />
multiple people in the room, which was just what we needed<br />
when our hairdresser Poppy and makeup artist Raf arrived.<br />
Abbey House is quite a unique place in the sense that<br />
everyone seems to know each other and get on so well. We<br />
chose their recommended professionals for hair, makeup<br />
and photography and it was a great decision as Poppy and<br />
Raf had worked together numerous times before, and they<br />
the aisle until a few minutes later when Amy walked up the<br />
aisle (it felt like forever!) It was an amazing moment that I’ll<br />
cherish forever. When the wedding ceremony was over, we<br />
left to cheer and confetti, we stepped out of the venue and<br />
there was Laura, waiting for us with a big glass of Prosecco<br />
in each hand and congratulated us with a big hug.<br />
Million dollars<br />
The day continued with our photographer, Eftal. He was so<br />
confident and took the lead in organising where he wanted<br />
us and our guests to go for photos. He was so complimentary<br />
to us both which made us feel a million dollars. Sometimes you<br />
can worry about the fact people may feel uncomfortable as we<br />
were having a same sex wedding, but not Eftal, his favourite<br />
quote was ‘NIKI… KISS YOUR WIFE’, before preceding to take<br />
a picture.<br />
The rest of the day was just beyond perfect, the food was<br />
delicious, the DJ played all the songs we asked him to play,<br />
and everyone must have been having a good time as they<br />
stayed until the end.<br />
Amy and I will certainly be returning to Abbey House for our<br />
wedding anniversary at some point. The venue holds such a<br />
special place in our hearts now and I would recommend<br />
anyone getting married to do it there! The staff are so<br />
welcoming and great in every department, and the best thing<br />
is that everyone genuinely wants you to have such an amazing<br />
day that it’s so hard not to!<br />
both knew our photographer Eftal, which made us feel so<br />
comfortable as the conversation was so easy. They all had<br />
their work cut out as they had me and 6 of my bridal party<br />
that needed hair and makeup, and then had to rush over to<br />
Amy’s room for her and 2 of her bridal party, so 10 altogether!<br />
We were treated like Queens by Abbey House during the<br />
morning’s antics, breakfast delivered to the room and anyone<br />
of our bridal party could order anything on the menu!<br />
"The feeling knowing you are going to<br />
marry the person you love is amazing."<br />
So… finally the time came to walk up the aisle and Laura<br />
was so lovely trying to keep me calm! My nerves were<br />
through the roof but when I finally got to walk up the aisle,<br />
the feeling knowing you are going to marry the person you<br />
love is amazing. The venue looked stunning and was exactly<br />
what we wanted and had asked for. I waited at the end of<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
DRESS: Liverpool Bridal Boutique<br />
www.liverpoolbridalboutique.co.uk<br />
DRESS: New York Bride<br />
www.newyorkbride.co.uk<br />
ENTERTAINMENT: Jess Kemp<br />
www.jesskemp.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ladybirds Photography<br />
www.ladybirdsphotography.com<br />
VENUE: Abbey House Hotel<br />
www.abbeyhousehotel.com<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 79
vanilla_half-page-ad_1007<strong>23</strong>_new images_v2 with qr code_print with marks.pdf 1 11.07.<strong>23</strong> 13:21<br />
Creating memories that last<br />
& relationships that endure<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
Are you looking for a catering service for<br />
your wedding or special event?<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
T 01260 543 977<br />
E info@vanillainallseasons.co.uk<br />
www.vanillainallseasons.co.uk<br />
Find us on Facebook & Twitter:<br />
@VanillaInAllseasons<br />
@VinAcatering<br />
@VANILLAINALLSEASONS<br />
80 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 81
Cocktail Master<br />
Class Sessions<br />
NO BAR, NO PROBLEM!<br />
• Full bar service • Bespoke drink packages<br />
• All bar equipment supplied<br />
The perfect cocktail<br />
for any occasion<br />
Great night!<br />
YOUR PERFECT WEDDING PARTNER<br />
Contact us today on 07710 373442 / 01978 5021<strong>24</strong> • Email: info@the-mobile-bar.co.uk<br />
www.the-mobile-bar.co.uk<br />
Classic Conveniences<br />
Traditional Service at your convenience<br />
Classic Conveniences is a premier provider of first class<br />
portable toilet facilities. With years of experience and the<br />
best equipment available we ensure that the most important<br />
facilities for your wedding are supplied with the utmost<br />
discretion and care. Our dedicated staff are only too aware<br />
of the huge difference that quality service can make to your<br />
wedding and constantly strive to provide just that. We have<br />
luxury trailer units available and we also have the superior<br />
modular style toilets which can be configured to cater for<br />
any amount of guests for that wow factor.<br />
82 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
RSEvents Tipi’s are in the Lancashire and Merseyside<br />
area. Our Tipi is the perfect wedding and event venue<br />
set in beautiful countryside surroundings.<br />
We specialise in bespoke weddings<br />
and events. Our wedding and events team<br />
will be able to assist you in planning the<br />
most perfect day. A wedding or event in our<br />
Tipi is such a unique experience, we will be<br />
able to tailor to your requirements and create<br />
lasting memories that will last a lifetime.<br />
Choosing a venue can be the most important<br />
decision you will make. It needs to be perfect for you.<br />
You will be able to picture yourself here on the day<br />
whether you are looking for something large or a<br />
small intimate wedding/event. We can create a truly<br />
magical day for you and a unique setting. RSEVENTS<br />
Tipis are suitable for weddings all year round.<br />
RSEVENTS Tipis allows for an open venue in the<br />
summer where the sides of the Tipis can be raised<br />
so your guests can enjoy the weather and stunning<br />
views of your location, where in winter we lower the<br />
sides to keep the cold out and heat RSEVENTS Tipis<br />
with roaring fire pits.<br />
Contact Nick or Anthony at info@rseventsuk.com or 01772 846647<br />
Adverts - Final 20<strong>23</strong> Dawn everything.pdf 2 27/07/20<strong>23</strong> 14:46<br />
www.rseventsuk.com<br />
Styling breathtaking weddings, making your day<br />
the talking point for year’s to come<br />
C<br />
M<br />
Y<br />
CM<br />
MY<br />
CY<br />
CMY<br />
K<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 83
marriages<br />
Marriages Abroad It is becoming increasingly<br />
popular for couples to get married abroad,<br />
particularly if they want to increase the chance<br />
of fine weather on their wedding day.<br />
If you want to get married abroad, your first step should be contacting<br />
the appropriate embassy in the UK for the country you want to get<br />
married in. The embassy will be able to give you up to date information<br />
and advice on the formalities that you will need to observe and the<br />
documentation that you will have to provide to make sure that your<br />
marriage is legal. Each country has its own rules and regulations so<br />
your local register office is not the best place to seek advice on this.<br />
We would advise that you purchase at least two marriage certificates<br />
on your wedding day if you get married abroad so that you can store<br />
them separately when travelling home. (If you lose the certificate you<br />
won’t be able to just pop to the register office to get another one!)<br />
You will also need to get a translation of the marriage certificate if it is<br />
written in a foreign language, in case you need to provide it for any<br />
purpose once you are back in the UK.<br />
If there are lots of family and friends who could not join you at your<br />
wedding abroad why not celebrate with a ‘Renewal of Vows’ service<br />
when you get back home? You can arrange this to be just like a second<br />
wedding ceremony if you wish, (although it is purely celebratory) and<br />
because it does not have any legal element to it, it can be held at a<br />
venue that is not licensed for marriage ceremonies. Check with your<br />
local register office to see if they offer these sorts of ceremonies.<br />
The day can be as simple or elaborate as you wish, with a wider choice<br />
of venues, and you could use the occasion to do something less formal<br />
as there is no legal wording required.<br />
Please check the government website<br />
www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-andgreen-list-rules-for-entering-england<br />
for any travel restrictions.<br />
84 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
abroad<br />
The choice is yours!<br />
For example you could:<br />
• Wear your beautiful outfits again.<br />
• Be walked up the aisle with a relative or friend.<br />
• Have more contemporary music.<br />
• Say special words/promises/vows to each other.<br />
• Include your children with special words and promises.<br />
• Show footage of your other wedding ceremony to<br />
family and friends.<br />
• Include readings.<br />
• Sign a commemorative certificate for photographs.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 85
86 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Crewe Hall<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
LOTS OF LOCAL<br />
EXHIBITORS<br />
FREE Parking<br />
FREE Entry<br />
FREE <strong>County</strong><br />
<strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
Two stunning catwalk<br />
shows at 1pm & 3pm<br />
Let love blossom at Crewe Hall<br />
Your <strong>Wedding</strong> is one of the most treasured, special and important<br />
days of your life, so if you want to experience a fairytale wedding -<br />
in which your dreams come true and your memories will be treasured<br />
forever – Crewe Hall will make a lasting impression on your cherished<br />
guests, with a host of period features, grand fireplaces and elegant formal<br />
gardens to wow them and leave an everlasting impression.<br />
Sunday 22nd October 20<strong>23</strong> - Sunday 17th March 20<strong>24</strong> - Sunday 20th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12 noon - 4.00pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com Telephone: 01942 206446<br />
facebook.com countybrides twitter.com countybridesltd instagram.com countybrides<br />
Crewe Hall, Weston Road, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 6UZ<br />
Frank Henshall Photography.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 87
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
The Court House Knutsford<br />
LOTS OF LOCAL EXHIBITORS<br />
FREE Parking, FREE Entry, FREE <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, Catwalk show at 1.15pm<br />
. Sunday 29th October 20<strong>23</strong> . Sunday 3rd March 20<strong>24</strong> . Sunday 13th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
Telephone: 01942 206446<br />
88 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
The Court House, Toft Road, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0PB<br />
countybrides countybridesltd countybrides
SOMETHING BLUE...<br />
Why not have your wedding in one of the most prestigious venues in the<br />
country. Whether you’re planning a traditional wedding breakfast, evening<br />
reception, or both, we can tailor our package to suit your exact requirements.<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayre hosted by <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong><br />
Etihad Stadium, Etihad Campus, Manchester M11 3FF<br />
East Stand<br />
The home of Manchester City Football Club<br />
Sunday 10th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Sunday 14th January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Sunday 8th September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
11.30am – 4.00pm, Free parking,<br />
£4.00 entry per adult pre-paid. £5.00 on door<br />
2 catwalk shows 1pm & 3pm and<br />
3 floors of inspiration for your wedding day<br />
For more information and to pre register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
T: 01942 206446<br />
For security reasons - bags and prams maybe searched.<br />
facebook.com/countybrides twitter.com/countybridesltd instagram.com/countybrides<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 89
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
Sunday 15th October 20<strong>23</strong> • 18th February 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Sunday 27th October 20<strong>24</strong> • 12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
Lots of local exhibitors • FREE Parking • FREE Entry<br />
FREE <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> • Catwalk at 1.15pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
Telephone: 01942 206446<br />
90 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong><br />
facebook.com/countybrides twitter.com/countybridesltd instagram.com/countybrides<br />
The Monastery Manchester Ltd. Gorton Lane, Manchester M12 5WF. Tel: 0161 2<strong>23</strong> 3211
Last Drop<br />
Village <strong>Wedding</strong> Fayre<br />
Sunday <strong>24</strong>th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Sunday 25th February 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Sunday 22nd September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
• Drinks on arrival • FREE Parking • FREE Entry<br />
• FREE <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> • Catwalk at 1.15pm<br />
12.00pm – 3.00pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register<br />
visit www.countybrides.com<br />
Tel: 01942 206446<br />
Your <strong>Wedding</strong> Your Way at the award winning Last Drop Village Hotel & Spa.<br />
Whether you are planning a micro wedding with close friends and family or a<br />
extravagant wedding celebration, we are here to create a perfect and memorable<br />
day for you. One of the leading wedding venues in the North West, located on<br />
the edge of the beautiful West Pennine Moors, we are surrounded by manicured<br />
grounds and have a choice of elegant wedding suites to create your dream wedding.<br />
Last Drop Village, Bromley Cross, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL7 9PZ<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 91
Cheshire View<br />
WEDDING FAYRE<br />
LOTS OF LOCAL<br />
EXHIBITORS<br />
FREE Parking<br />
FREE Entry<br />
FREE <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong><br />
Catwalk show at 1.15pm<br />
Sunday 17th September 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Sunday 21st January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Sunday 15th September 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com | Telephone: 01942 206446<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW<br />
Plough Lane, Christleton<br />
Chester CH3 7PT<br />
facebook.com countybrides<br />
twitter.com countybridesltd<br />
instagram.com countybrides<br />
92 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
<strong>Wedding</strong> Fayres<br />
MERE GOLF RESORT & SPA<br />
. FREE Parking . FREE Entry . FREE <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
. Two fabulous catwalk shows at 1pm & 3pm<br />
Sunday<br />
21st February 2025<br />
Sunday<br />
21st September 2025<br />
Whether you’re looking for the perfect setting for a grand wedding, or an intimate celebration in the heart of the<br />
Cheshire countryside, The Mere offers stunning lakeside views and the choice of four luxury event suites for up to 550 guests.<br />
Choose from a selection of chic menu packages hand crafted by our award-winning<br />
chef to create the perfect wedding breakfast for your guests.<br />
Enjoy breath-taking views over the Mere Lake, to capture those memories in wedding photos that will last a lifetime.<br />
12.00noon – 4.00pm. For more information and to pre – register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com<br />
Telephone: 01942 206446, Chester Road, Mere, Knutsford WA16 6LJ<br />
countybrides countybridesltd countybrides<br />
WEDDING FAYRES<br />
LANCASTER GOLF CLUB<br />
LOTS OF LOCAL<br />
EXHIBITORS<br />
• FREE Parking<br />
• FREE Entry<br />
• FREE <strong>County</strong><br />
<strong>Brides</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
• Catwalk show at<br />
1.15pm<br />
Sunday 28th January 20<strong>24</strong><br />
Sunday 6th October 20<strong>24</strong><br />
12.00pm - 3.00pm<br />
For more information and to pre-register visit<br />
www.countybrides.com Telephone: 01942 206446<br />
facebook.com countybrides twitter.com countybridesltd instagram.com countybrides<br />
Lancaster Golf Club, Ashton Hall, Lancaster LA2 0AJ<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 93
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Pringle<br />
Married 27th May 2022<br />
Craig and I met when we worked<br />
together at a local coffee shop.<br />
It was a couple of months before<br />
we plucked up the courage to<br />
go on a date with each other, but<br />
after that, the rest was history.<br />
Photographs by Icon Studios<br />
94 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Within two years, we had been on several holidays, bought<br />
our first home together and acquired three kitty companions.<br />
Like many couples, there were times when we struggled with the<br />
relationship. In 2018, Craig suddenly fell very ill with Meningitis<br />
and despite that time being extremely scary and worrying,<br />
it brought us closer together as a couple and made us both<br />
realise what we had and that we didn’t want to lose that.<br />
Before he got ill, we had booked a trip to New York, so we<br />
were lucky to still be able to go and have an amazing time.<br />
To top it off, Craig had already decided that he was going<br />
to propose whilst we were there which he did, and it was<br />
perfect. We had just left the Museum of Natural History and<br />
decided to take a walk around Central Park when it started<br />
to snow heavily. We found a nice little photo spot and when<br />
I turned round, Craig was down on one knee. It was very<br />
romantic and unexpected and of course, I said, ‘Yes.’<br />
Many of our friends and family were travelling from the south<br />
so it was important to find a venue that wasn’t too far from<br />
the motorway or a train station. We also always knew we<br />
didn’t want a venue that had accommodation on site as we<br />
had been to several weddings in the past where guests kept<br />
disappearing to their rooms during the evening and we wanted<br />
everyone to be always present with us to enjoy the day. We<br />
knew the venue had lots of local nearby hotels and B&B’s,<br />
so we sent out a list to our guests with their invitations.<br />
"We gave ourselves a budget<br />
for the wedding."<br />
We ended up having three years between our engagement<br />
and wedding day, so I had many different Pinterest boards,<br />
and my ideas changed many times. We didn’t really have a<br />
theme, but I knew I wanted some colour and dried flowers<br />
so that’s where all the ideas arose from. We gave ourselves a<br />
budget for the wedding, so we tried to keep our costs low by<br />
doing a lot of the décor ourselves. The Oak Tree is beautiful<br />
as it comes with real bougainvillea growing up around the<br />
beams and twinkly fairy lights inside and out, so it was only<br />
the centrepieces and aisle décor that I had to think about. I<br />
still spent hours on eBay and Facebook marketplace looking<br />
for small items like candle votives, vases, artificial flowers and<br />
frames. My aunty grew the pampas grass in her back garden<br />
which we cut down and hung up for several months to dry<br />
out. I knew I wanted real flowers for the bouquets, buttonholes,<br />
and aisle décor, so we used Flossie’s <strong>Wedding</strong>s for this.<br />
They were beautiful and exactly how I had imagined them.<br />
I booked Hannah Gill MUA for my make-up and hair.<br />
She offers a more natural style which was more suited<br />
to me as I rarely wear a full face of make-up. I got<br />
Oak-framed building<br />
A couple of months later, we started looking at wedding venues<br />
in the area and booked one local to ourselves that we had<br />
visited several times for other weddings and events. After a<br />
few issues, we realised that it really wasn’t the venue for us<br />
so ended up cancelling and booking The Oak Tree of Peover<br />
instead and it just felt right. The venue was beautiful and<br />
unlike any other venue we had seen elsewhere. As a joiner,<br />
Craig loved the bespoke, oak-framed building and I loved how<br />
light and airy the place felt which was important for me as I<br />
have a thing about places that are dark with no windows.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 95
surprise but no one else did, not even Craig. We were so<br />
excited to see everyone’s reactions. Just as we finished our<br />
food, the guys from the company burst into song and soon<br />
after, everyone else joined in. It was brilliant and so much fun<br />
for everyone. We had looked at a few companies but decided<br />
on Silver Service. If you’re not sure whether to have singing<br />
waiters at your wedding, do it! You really won’t regret it.<br />
ready at the venue as they have a beautiful bridal prep<br />
room on-site. When I was ready, it was just a case of<br />
making my way downstairs to the ceremony room.<br />
We had hoped for an outdoor ceremony, but unfortunately<br />
the weather wasn’t great, so we opted for inside instead.<br />
This didn’t bother us as the ceremony room at the venue was<br />
beautiful and the floor to ceiling windows and foliage brought<br />
the outside in. We had an early ceremony which meant we<br />
had lots of time for drinks, canapés and chatting to our guests.<br />
We then went off for photos with our lovely photographers,<br />
Icon Studios. There were lots of locations at the venue for<br />
photo opportunities. The wilderness meadow was beautiful<br />
with the long grasses and it felt peaceful. We were a bit<br />
nervous about having our photos done as this isn’t something<br />
we’re used to, but Ant and Lyndsay made us feel so at ease<br />
and we had a bit of a giggle and just enjoyed each other’s<br />
company before returning to the hustle and bustle of the day.<br />
When we returned, it was time for my dad’s speech and for<br />
us to cut the cake as we were serving it for our dessert. We<br />
then sat down to dinner and enjoyed a relaxed style wedding<br />
breakfast provided by one of the venue’s approved caterers,<br />
Pizza Principles. My mum & dad had arranged a special<br />
surprise for after dinner – singing waiters! I knew about this<br />
In the evening, we knew we wanted tasty treats so opted<br />
for stone-baked pizza, the venue’s crepe company and we<br />
had a table with sweet treats. It was too much food but<br />
who cares! We also had a Selfie Pod for photos and booked<br />
Manchester Disco Company as our DJ. We struggled to<br />
decide on a first dance song. Again, dancing in front of<br />
everyone isn’t something we were overly confident about,<br />
so we didn’t want anything too soppy. As a lifelong McFly<br />
fan, I was thrilled when Craig suggested their song ‘Love<br />
Is Easy,’ so that’s what we chose. It was perfect for us.<br />
Our suppliers and the team at the venue were all brilliant<br />
and nothing was too much trouble. They all went above and<br />
beyond, and it makes such a difference when you know<br />
people love and care about what they do. Everything was<br />
under control and meant we had very little to worry about<br />
when the big day was finally here. The entire day was perfect,<br />
but it is true when people say it goes by so quick. It’s a<br />
whirlwind of emotions from being so happy that the day is<br />
finally here to sad, as it’s all over within the blink of an eye.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CATERING: Pizza Principles<br />
www.pizzaprinciples.co.uk<br />
ENTERTAINMENT: Manchester Disco Company<br />
www.manchesterdiscocompany.com<br />
FRESH FLOWERS: Flossie’s <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
www.facebook.com/Flossies<strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
MAKE-UP & HAIR: Hannah Gill MUA<br />
www.hannahgillmakeup.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Icon Studios<br />
www.icon-studio.co.uk<br />
VENUE: The Oak Tree of Peover<br />
www.oaktreeofpeover.co.uk<br />
96 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
All the best for your big day<br />
Our Honeymoon Gift Registry service lets your guests<br />
give you the most memorable gift of all – the perfect<br />
honeymoon you’ve always dreamed of.<br />
No duplicate toasters. No lifetime supply of kettles. Our Honeymoon Gift Registry service helps<br />
you enjoy the ultimate in honeymoon luxury by allowing your guests to contribute towards your<br />
dream honeymoon... including those fine details and finishing touches like private transfers, VIP<br />
airport lounge passes and once in a lifetime excursions.<br />
Whether you’ve set your heart on a luxurious retreat to postcard-perfect faraway shores, a<br />
romantic city break or the ultimate adventure trip, the Gift Registry will help make it happen.<br />
Another option available with this unique service is a beautiful keepsake pack which includes<br />
cards specially designed to send to your guests, telling them how they can give towards your<br />
dream honeymoon via your own personal webpage.<br />
All we ask for is a small commitment fee which will simply be deducted from the cost of your<br />
honeymoon when it’s booked.<br />
Claire Young<br />
T R A VEL COUNSELL O R<br />
0161 297 0508<br />
claire.young@travelcounsellors.com<br />
travelcounsellors.co.uk/claire.young<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 97
Win £1000 towards your<br />
dream honeymoon<br />
East Winds in St Lucia takes centre stage in our honeymoons feature for <strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> –<br />
What is the name of the pretty bay on which the hotel sits?<br />
1) Rodney Bay 2) Labrelotte Bay 3) Marigot Bay<br />
Enter by email or at your nearest <strong>County</strong> <strong>Brides</strong> wedding fayre<br />
T&Cs apply, visit www.countybrides.com/competitions for details<br />
98 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
I specialise in creating all kinds of stunning holidays,<br />
including honeymoons & destination weddings. With<br />
over 27 years industry experience I put the human<br />
connection back in your travel plans.<br />
Here’s why you should book your<br />
next trip with me:<br />
• Expert travel guidance<br />
• Personal caring service<br />
• ATOL & 100% Financial protection<br />
• Always available to take your call<br />
Claire Young<br />
T R A VEL COUNSELL O R<br />
0161 297 0508<br />
claire.young@travelcounsellors.com<br />
travelcounsellors.co.uk/claire.young<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 99
Where<br />
to go When<br />
Jan<br />
CARIBBEAN<br />
It’s dry season in the<br />
Caribbean, and its extremely<br />
popular, so book early<br />
Apr<br />
H A W AII<br />
The sweet spot for Hawaii<br />
a warm climate but fewer<br />
crowds<br />
Jul<br />
SOUT H AFRICA<br />
The perfect time to view big<br />
game in South Africa<br />
Feb<br />
MALDIVES<br />
Leave the winter blues<br />
behind with a honeymoon in<br />
the Maldives<br />
May<br />
SEY C H ELLES<br />
Experience the Seychelles<br />
spectacular shores in May<br />
Aug<br />
BALI<br />
When it comes to long haul<br />
luxury, Bali is hard to beat<br />
Mar<br />
MEX ICO<br />
There’s guaranteed<br />
sunshine in Mexico this time<br />
of year<br />
Jun<br />
MALAY SIAN<br />
Get a taste of the exotic with<br />
a Malaysian honeymoon<br />
Sep<br />
I T A LY<br />
The prime time for weddings<br />
or honeymoons in Italy<br />
Oct<br />
SOUT H AFRICA<br />
Honeymoon with the<br />
backdrop of South Africa’s<br />
natural wonders<br />
Nov<br />
DUBAI<br />
For year-round sunshine,<br />
opt for Dubai<br />
Dec<br />
M A URIT IUS<br />
Escape the Winter blues on<br />
Mauritius pristine beaches<br />
100 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Honeymoons<br />
How a multi-centre honeymoon could help you make the<br />
most of adventurous destinations and moments of bliss.<br />
Imagine you’re in your favourite<br />
restaurant, you order the dish you<br />
have been wanting to try and your<br />
server is in the know, recommending<br />
the perfect wine to pair with your<br />
choice of meal – before you know it<br />
the whole thing is heightened as the<br />
flavours in your food are intensified<br />
by the wine and vice versa.<br />
Travel is the same, it’s the food for<br />
the soul, so whilst the term, multicentre<br />
probably doesn’t have the<br />
dulcet romantic tones of some<br />
honeymoon descriptions, scratch<br />
beneath the surface you will find a<br />
world where vibrant cities pair with<br />
pristine beaches, adventure meets<br />
relaxation and Caribbean islands<br />
blend with perfectly with each other.<br />
Still need convincing??<br />
Here are our top three reasons<br />
you should put multi-moon<br />
at the top of your list.<br />
Value for money<br />
By reducing the amount of time, you<br />
spend in your number one resort,<br />
hotel room or destination and adding<br />
in another stop to compliment your<br />
trip, you open up the possibility of<br />
experiencing everything you wanted<br />
to – and more. Even something as<br />
simple as splitting your time between<br />
unique resorts in the same destination<br />
can give you great value for money<br />
without compromising on luxury.<br />
Iconic destinations<br />
From Route 66, Cambodia, Vietnam,<br />
Sri Lanka, India, Japan, China and more.<br />
By mixing up your itinerary you have<br />
the opportunity to see some of the<br />
worlds most famed sights such as<br />
The Great Wall of China, The Taj Mahal,<br />
The Grand Canyon, to name but a few.<br />
Best of both worlds<br />
You’ve just cemented your love for each<br />
other in front of all your friends and<br />
family, and this is your time together<br />
to relax and reconnect. But even the<br />
most loved-up couples will have very<br />
different appetites when it comes to<br />
what you do, or don’t do on holiday.<br />
Whether adventure travel is your thing,<br />
from zip-lining through the jungle,<br />
rock climbing, jeep safari in the desert<br />
to seeing the big 5 on safari. Or,<br />
maybe you’re the type that wants to<br />
have a facial and be spoilt in the spa,<br />
sip your expertly crafted cocktails,<br />
hand delivered to your sun lounger<br />
or while away the days on the beach<br />
watching endless blue skies.<br />
A multi-moon allows you to pick the<br />
things you both want to experience<br />
and make your first holiday as a married<br />
couple one you will remember forever.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 101
My<br />
Recommended<br />
Multi-Moon<br />
Itineraries<br />
St. Lucia<br />
Come with me as I take you on a journey of body, soul, and mind – not to mention the<br />
colourful culinary experiences that abound in some of the world’s most vibrant destinations.<br />
#1 – St Lucia, One Island –<br />
Two unique experiences<br />
From the moment you arrive you will<br />
be astounded by her beauty, after all<br />
the country’s tagline is Let her inspire<br />
you and that she will. As you make<br />
your way from the airport through<br />
verdant green rainforests, merging<br />
from the roadside and into Rabot<br />
Estate the home of Hotel Chocolat.<br />
This 140-acre sustainable Caribbean<br />
cacao farm is not only home to the<br />
place that they make some of the best<br />
chocolate in the world – it is also home<br />
to Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolat.<br />
Your stay here will be in one of the 25<br />
private lodges, all with Open-air rain<br />
shower and king size four-poster beds.<br />
Eco-Lodges overlooking the garden<br />
courtyard with views of Petit Piton and<br />
Luxe Eco-Lodges which are set in a<br />
magnificent position, offering you views<br />
over the hotel grounds, as well as twin<br />
views of both majestic pitons. These<br />
lodges also offer a huge veranda with<br />
sun loungers. Expect to see wildlife in<br />
abundance, some of whom might even<br />
pop in to say hi every now and again.<br />
There are plenty of opportunities to feed<br />
your senses, the open-air restaurant, bar,<br />
pool, and spa all overlook the UNESCO<br />
Heritage Site and Pitons. For experiences<br />
to compliment your stay you can<br />
choose from poolside yoga, wellness<br />
therapies, chocolate and rum tasting<br />
or herb garden visits. The immersive<br />
chocolate experience Project Chocolat<br />
Ultimate Tree to Bean experience is<br />
complementary with upgrades available<br />
for the full Tree to Bar experience.<br />
There isn’t much you find here that is<br />
not infused with the cacao experience.<br />
From the white chocolate mashed<br />
potato (I know, it shouldn’t work – but<br />
it does) to the signature cocktails<br />
such as the Fresh Cacao Bellini or the<br />
Cacao detox body wrap available<br />
in the Beaute de Cacao spa.<br />
Off resort you can take a trip out to<br />
the Sulphur Springs at the world’s only<br />
drive-in volcano. Hike to the summit<br />
of Gros Piton or see Diamond Falls.<br />
Photos by Claire Young Travel Counsellor.<br />
102 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Leaving the lush rainforest behind,<br />
driving through the south coast of the<br />
island as pretty villages and the<br />
picturesque Marigot Bay pass you by.<br />
Your next stop is Labrellotte Bay on the<br />
West Coast of St Lucia, home to the<br />
exclusive-inclusive boutique hotel<br />
East Winds.<br />
With just 30 cottage style suites, this<br />
is not your average Caribbean allinclusive<br />
resort.<br />
Mornings are spent waking up just<br />
steps from the private beach with<br />
uninterrupted sea views. In the<br />
afternoons you can enjoy relaxing by<br />
the perfectly formed pool, complete<br />
with swim up bar and enveloped<br />
perfectly in the 12 acres of gardens<br />
that span the property and are also<br />
home to 100 different species of plant<br />
life and 30 different species of birds –<br />
all cared for by Sylvanus and his team.<br />
You can even find a hammock or two<br />
where you can relax with a book if the<br />
mood takes you.<br />
Sunsets here are awe inspiring as you<br />
watch the blue skies take on orange<br />
to purple hues, sipping the cocktail<br />
that Wendell, in the Sunset Bar, has<br />
hand crafted for you, until finally the<br />
sun has set, and you meander through<br />
to the Bamboo Lounge where you can<br />
enjoy a cold glass of champagne before<br />
your expertly crafted 4 course dinner<br />
with perfectly paired wine is served in<br />
the main restaurant, The Flamboyant<br />
room. On Friday’s you can enjoy the<br />
weekly barbecue – which includes the<br />
Lobster Grill.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 103
Sporty types can take advantage of<br />
the onsite running/fitness track and<br />
tree top gym. Whilst the yoga and spa<br />
pavilions are the perfect place to relax<br />
and enjoy a treatment with Theresa.<br />
From the beach you can enjoy<br />
complementary snorkelling, paddle<br />
boarding and more. Or you can add<br />
in any number of experiences to<br />
explore the island some more. Aerial<br />
tram adventures, snorkelling tours,<br />
see a steel band orchestra, or take a<br />
sunset boat trip – to name a few.<br />
I recommend a 2/3-night stay at Rabot Hotel, followed by a<br />
7/9-night stay at East Winds. Contact me for a personalised<br />
quotation based on your travel dates and requirements.<br />
I was also lucky enough to visit St Lucia in October 2022 with<br />
my partner Paul. We stayed at both East Winds and Rabot Hotel;<br />
we are happy to share our experiences of this trip in more detail<br />
with you.<br />
East Winds is also the perfect spot<br />
to say I do, and being a smaller<br />
boutique property, they are perfect<br />
for a family gathering to share your<br />
special day, offering exclusive use of<br />
the property for you and your guests.<br />
From the moment you check in to the<br />
moment you wish you didn’t have to<br />
leave, you will feel at home – truly.<br />
Photos by Claire Young Travel Counsellor.<br />
104 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
New York & Iceland<br />
Two amazing destinations offering<br />
you the opportunity to explore<br />
the city that never sleeps and<br />
Iceland’s dramatic scenery.<br />
5 Nights in New York, staying in<br />
Midtown Manhattan, your trip includes<br />
a city pass giving you access to<br />
5 of the city’s top attractions.<br />
4 Nights in Iceland, staying in Reykjavik,<br />
your stay includes a Northern Lights<br />
Cruise, Golden Circle by super-jeep with<br />
snowmobiling on Langjökull glacier and<br />
time at the Blue Lagoon to rejuvenate<br />
before you head home. This is the<br />
perfect multi-moon for ticking off two<br />
iconic bucket list destinations in one trip.<br />
Singapore & Bali<br />
Starting your honeymoon in the cultural<br />
melting pot of Singapore, over 4 nights<br />
explore Chinatown with its historic<br />
temples and hip bars. Visit Marina<br />
Bay, modern and stylish. Orchard<br />
Road is filled with a buzz from dawn<br />
till dusk and if a couple of days retail<br />
therapy is a must, then head out to<br />
the Harbourfront or Sentosa, which<br />
is also home to pristine beaches and<br />
thrilling theme park experiences.<br />
Followed by Bali, a destination that will<br />
leave you awestruck. Where over the<br />
next 9 nights you can explore ancient<br />
temples, and the sacred monkey forest.<br />
Or see the amazing rice paddies step<br />
down hillsides. Relaxing your days<br />
away on pristine beaches, where pretty<br />
coloured umbrellas sit overhead and in<br />
the evening twinkling lights come to life.<br />
Stay-Cruise-<br />
City Break<br />
The WOW-factor is in full effect here.<br />
You can take in vibrant Miami from<br />
downtown to South Beach, staying<br />
a couple of days before embarking<br />
on a 10-night Carribean Cruise.<br />
You could be waking up in a new<br />
place every day such as Dominican<br />
Republic | St Kitts | Barbados |<br />
St Maarten | Grenada | Antigua<br />
and more.<br />
A luxury hotel at sea, allowing you to<br />
unpack once and see more, with the<br />
option to take advantage of offers<br />
that allow you to make your cruise<br />
‘all-inclusive’ with selecting the<br />
drinks package that suits you best.<br />
Ending this amazing trip with a few<br />
nights in a European city to break up the<br />
journey, acclimatise from your overnight<br />
return flight and then enjoy the local<br />
culinary delights or wander around<br />
the city for some easy sightseeing.<br />
All the options highlighted here<br />
can be completely tailor-made<br />
to your specific requirements.<br />
A Multi-Moon could be the answer to<br />
your honeymoon prayers, and I lend<br />
the expertise required to curate your<br />
perfect multi-moon from scratch.<br />
Get in touch for an informal<br />
chat and a personalised<br />
quotation based your preferences.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 105
Countdown GUIDE<br />
DO IT NOW . . . Announce your Engagement!<br />
Set the date but bear in mind that<br />
some venues are booked years in<br />
advance so consider times outside the<br />
wedding season (May to September)<br />
or a day other than a Saturday.<br />
Decide on a civil or religious<br />
ceremony; if you want to include any<br />
religious element in the service this may<br />
restrict your choice of venue, so make<br />
sure to ask about any restrictions before<br />
committing.<br />
Set a budget; discuss your guest<br />
numbers and priorities for the day, taking<br />
account of who will be footing the bill<br />
of course!<br />
Contact potential venues to check<br />
prices, availability and whether they can<br />
accommodate your number of guests<br />
then draw up a shortlist to visit. Check<br />
any terms and conditions concerning<br />
minimum numbers, deposits and<br />
cancellation policy carefully before<br />
making any bookings for the service<br />
and/or evening reception.<br />
Consider using a wedding planner<br />
or an App to keep track of your plans,<br />
suppliers’ details, payment schedules<br />
and appointments.<br />
Send out ‘Save the Date’ cards if<br />
your wedding is more than a year away.<br />
Set up a ‘wedding fund’ or<br />
dedicated account for savings/expenses<br />
and arrange wedding insurance.<br />
Select the bridal party; best man,<br />
bridesmaids, ushers and tell them the<br />
good news! Then arrange to go to some<br />
bridal fairs and look at magazines for<br />
inspiration.<br />
Choose your main suppliers<br />
including photographers,<br />
videographers, wedding cars and any<br />
additional transport, look at wedding<br />
stationery and arrange menu tastings<br />
with caterers and cake companies,<br />
asking about lead times for orders and<br />
confirmations with anyone you are<br />
considering using.<br />
Try on some wedding dresses,<br />
remember that a dress may take six<br />
months to arrive at the bridal shop and<br />
may need minor alterations. Look at<br />
bridesmaids dresses too.<br />
Meet with your florist to discuss<br />
colours and styles for arrangements.<br />
Book your reception or ceremony<br />
entertainment and try and see them<br />
perform live so you make sure they<br />
are right for your event.<br />
6-12 months to go<br />
Arrange to meet your registrar.<br />
If you are having a civil ceremony, book<br />
the registrar and reconfirm your booking<br />
with your venue.<br />
For marquee weddings at home,<br />
you will need a Temporary Event Notice<br />
if you are having a pay bar, or any<br />
music and dancing your caterer or bar<br />
provider may be able to apply for this on<br />
your behalf. You will also need to think<br />
about power, water, toilet facilities and<br />
rubbish disposal so ask if the marquee<br />
company can provide these services.<br />
106 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
4-6 months to go<br />
If you have not done so already<br />
and you are not getting married in a<br />
C of E church, give notice of the<br />
marriage to the superintendent registrar<br />
at your local registry office.<br />
Confirm your readings and choice<br />
of music for the ceremony with your<br />
minister or registrar, remembering if<br />
it is a civil ceremony there can be no<br />
religious content.<br />
The groom should arrange suit hire<br />
for himself, his groomsmen and the<br />
wedding party.<br />
Order your wedding cake if you have<br />
not already done so and enquire about<br />
a stand which you may need to hire<br />
separately if your venue cannot provide<br />
something suitable.<br />
Select your wedding rings. Check<br />
all the wording on the invitations with<br />
your stationery supplier.<br />
Register a gift list so you can include<br />
the details with invitations along with<br />
any other guest information such as<br />
directions, accommodation details, menu<br />
choices and so on.<br />
Finalise your guest list, taking into<br />
consideration the numbers allowed at<br />
your venue.<br />
Select or start to make your wedding<br />
favours and book any other venue<br />
dressings or hired equipment required.<br />
Attend your first dress fitting with<br />
your shoes, accessories and lingerie and<br />
order bridesmaids dresses if not already<br />
done so.<br />
Select a hair and make-up artist,<br />
decide who will be having their hair and<br />
make-up done.<br />
Book a toastmaster, if required.<br />
The best bit... plan and book your<br />
honeymoon!<br />
2-4 months to go<br />
Send out your invitations, and<br />
guest information. Date RSVP’s at least<br />
one week before you need the final<br />
numbers for your venue or caterer<br />
to allow you time to chase any late<br />
replies.<br />
Confirm your booking if marrying<br />
in a registry office and check the fees<br />
payable.<br />
Meet your minister or celebrant to<br />
arrange a rehearsal date if needed;<br />
finalise your Order of Service and have<br />
it printed.<br />
Finalise plans for your honeymoon,<br />
including visas, jabs, travel insurance<br />
and passports. If you require any jabs<br />
for the honeymoon have those as soon<br />
as possible.<br />
Buy a guest book or organise an<br />
alternative idea. Plan your hen and<br />
stag parties. Buy gifts for the bridal<br />
party and decide how they will be<br />
presented; as part of the groom’s<br />
speech, placed at their table or<br />
before the big day.<br />
1-2 months to go<br />
Follow up any unanswered<br />
invitations.<br />
Finalise your seating plan.<br />
Give the final numbers and dietary<br />
requirements to your caterer/venue.<br />
Arrange the final meetings with your<br />
venue, caterer, florist, cake maker and<br />
photographer to ensure that no details<br />
are overlooked, and all suppliers have<br />
the information that they need.<br />
Arrange your hair and make-up<br />
trial, remembering to wear a neckline<br />
and colour like your dress.<br />
Arrange final fittings for your dress<br />
and the bridesmaids.<br />
Hold your stag and hen parties.<br />
2 weeks to go<br />
Write out your place cards or send<br />
them to be printed.<br />
Give the seating details to the<br />
stationer making your table plan or<br />
create your own.<br />
Gather all the items that will need to be<br />
taken to the venue.<br />
Confirm your honeymoon details.<br />
Ensure you have everything you<br />
need for the honeymoon, such as<br />
travellers’ cheques, toiletries, clothes,<br />
and so on.<br />
Arrange to pick up your wedding<br />
outfits.<br />
1 week to go<br />
Confirm again final numbers to your<br />
caterer or venue.<br />
Pick up outfits and all accessories<br />
for the wedding party to try on and<br />
allocate the job of returning everything<br />
after the wedding to someone you trust.<br />
Wear-in your wedding shoes.<br />
Collect your rings. Pack for your<br />
honeymoon.<br />
The day before<br />
If necessary, help to decorate<br />
the venue.<br />
Have a manicure and pedicure.<br />
Deliver all the table décor<br />
items to the venue.<br />
Try to have a relaxing evening<br />
and an early night.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 107
MOTTRAM HALL<br />
HOTEL, GOLF & HEALTH SPA<br />
Say I Do<br />
AN ELEGANT 18TH CENTURY GEORGIAN<br />
COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL IN THE HEART OF CHESHIRE<br />
Mottram Hall is a beautifully elegant setting for both wedding ceremonies and receptions.<br />
Set in 270 acres of breath-taking countryside with picturesque rose gardens and a private lake,<br />
our fairy-tale venue will make your wedding day dreams come true.<br />
With opulent reception rooms, beautiful grounds, mouth-watering menus, the finest<br />
selection of wines and a team of wedding co-ordinators on hand, we look forward to<br />
personalising your big day and making it one to remember.<br />
108 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
GET IN TOUCH WITH OUR WEDDING TEAM<br />
To speak to our experts about your dream day or arrange a viewing of the venue, please get in touch below.<br />
01625 828 135 | weddings@mottramhall.com | Champneys.com<br />
Mottram Hall, Wilmslow Road, Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, SK10 4QT<br />
Photography by: Kimberley Jones Photography, Photography by Charli, Andy Griffiths Photography, Emma Wilkinson Photography and Helen Williams Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 109
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Gray<br />
Married 9th September 2022<br />
he 9th September 2022<br />
T marks a day we will never<br />
forget - the day we tied the knot<br />
at the beautiful Mottram Hall<br />
in Cheshire.<br />
Photographs by Andy Griffiths Photography<br />
110 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Dan and I met at high school. We started off as friends,<br />
but fast forward a few years, and it was clear that there was<br />
more between us than just friendship. I always joke with<br />
him about how he managed to escape the ‘friend zone’.<br />
We were eighteen when we got together and some nine<br />
years later, on 4th October 2020, Dan finally proposed to<br />
me on a yacht in Dubai (it was worth the wait!) Even though<br />
we had been together for so long, it came as a complete<br />
surprise as it was a last-minute holiday. It turned out he had<br />
planned to propose earlier that year whilst travelling around<br />
Sri Lanka, but our holiday was cancelled due to the global<br />
pandemic. I still cannot believe he had the ring all that time!<br />
on the terrace overlooking the gardens. Even before we got<br />
engaged, I always said I wanted to have a magician at our<br />
wedding. We booked Matt Windsor and he was incredible!<br />
We booked Alison at Lasting Memories <strong>Wedding</strong>s & Events<br />
who was Mottram Halls recommended venue dresser to style<br />
the venue for us. I wanted a neutral colour scheme, something<br />
classic that wouldn’t look outdated, so most of the décor<br />
was white and gold with just a touch of pink. I felt that this<br />
colour scheme would also complement our modern/fairytale<br />
theme. I was blown away by the colour scheme - Alison went<br />
above and beyond and truly brought my vision to life.<br />
We have both always loved to travel and so we wanted<br />
to somehow incorporate this. We decided to have table<br />
names based on places we have travelled to rather than table<br />
numbers. I loved doing this as it added a personal touch<br />
to our special day.<br />
I remember the day we got engaged like it was yesterday. I was<br />
on cloud nine and while sunbathing, my mind was in overdrive<br />
thinking about colour schemes, bridesmaid dresses, décor etc!<br />
As soon as the covid-19 restrictions were lifted and we were<br />
able to view venues. Mottram Hall was at the top of our list.<br />
Surprised my bridesmaids!<br />
Our day couldn’t have been any more perfect from start to<br />
finish and it was everything I had dreamed of and more. The<br />
day ran smoothly and Mottram Hall were incredible to work<br />
with. Nothing was too much trouble. I loved getting ready in<br />
their new bridal dressing room with my bridal party. It was<br />
the most elegant and perfect space for us all to dress and<br />
where I surprised my bridesmaids with the news that I was<br />
in fact 6 weeks pregnant! The best early wedding gift we<br />
could have wished for! It was indeed a very sober wedding<br />
for me, but of course I wouldn’t have had it any other way.<br />
"We loved the elegant style<br />
of the venue and couldn’t believe<br />
how spacious it was."<br />
The grounds at Mottram Hall are simply stunning, even the<br />
driveway is spectacular. We loved the elegant style of the<br />
venue and couldn’t believe how spacious it was. Mottram Hall<br />
just ticked all our boxes. We had our reception drinks in the<br />
gorgeous champagne bar where we had a live singer perform<br />
and after our wedding breakfast, we had a magician perform<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 111
We certainly got lucky with our suppliers. Our photographer,<br />
Andy Griffiths was amazing. Our wedding photos are stunning<br />
and he blended in so well on the day. We loved his “natural”<br />
approach to photography. He gave us so many useful tips in<br />
the run up to the big day too. We also booked a videographer,<br />
Mike Langley at Satin Pictures. He and Andy both worked<br />
well together. Booking a videographer was one of the best<br />
decisions we made. The day really does fly by and so we<br />
love being able to look back at the footage and re-live our<br />
special day. Andy and Mike were both so friendly and easy to<br />
get on with. We had Doves in memory of our grandparents<br />
who sadly were not able to share our special day with us<br />
which was a lovely touch. In the evening, we had a DJ and<br />
saxophone player and they certainly got the party started.<br />
"One of the best days of our lives."<br />
Our wedding day truly was one of the best days of our lives<br />
(alongside giving birth to our beautiful baby boy) and we are<br />
truly grateful to our friends and family, all the staff at Mottram<br />
Hall and our suppliers for making our day so special.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
DRESS: Natalie Ann <strong>Brides</strong><br />
www.natalieannbrides.com<br />
MAGICIAN: Matt Windsor<br />
www.magicmatt.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Andy Griffiths Photography<br />
www.andygriffithsphotography.co.uk<br />
VENUE: Mottram Hall<br />
www.champneys.com/hotels/mottram-hall<br />
VIDEOGRAPHER: Satin Pictures<br />
www.satinpictures.co.uk<br />
112 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Nelson<br />
Married 17th June 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Romantic, yet fun. Structured,<br />
yet informal. Memorable, yet<br />
understated. Oh, and we want an<br />
all vegan menu and to reduce<br />
our waste.<br />
This was the rather tricky brief<br />
we had for our wedding.<br />
Photographs by Opperhill Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 113
We viewed six venues in the North West but there was only<br />
one that ticked every box for us, Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s.<br />
The venue has a private forest nestled away in the countryside,<br />
perfect for saying “I do” surrounded by nature and in<br />
the open air. And what’s more, the outdoor setting has a<br />
wedding licence meaning you can complete both the legal<br />
paperwork and your ceremony on the same day - something<br />
we discovered many other outdoor locations aren’t able to do.<br />
We visited the venue twice before committing; once in the<br />
blistering summer sun and once in light summer rain. Both<br />
times the tree canopy kept the elements at bay giving us<br />
the confidence that an outdoor summer wedding in the UK<br />
is an option.<br />
But all was not as it seemed.<br />
As we were locking in a date for June 20<strong>23</strong>, the venue started<br />
asking us some rather odd questions. “Do you want archery<br />
and the segways?” “Should axe throwing be available all<br />
afternoon, or only once guests have moved on from mini-golf?”<br />
You see, Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s is full of surprises.<br />
Included in your venue fee are an array of laughter inducing<br />
activities which you and your guests can enjoy as and when<br />
you wish.<br />
"A white snowy barn owl<br />
will swoop through the trees<br />
to deliver the rings."<br />
They have an on-site falconry team who greet you with birds of<br />
prey and provide a display later in the afternoon. Plus, if you<br />
don’t trust your best man with the rings, they have a white<br />
snowy barn owl who’s happy to swoop through the trees<br />
mid-ceremony to deliver the rings in time for you to become<br />
newlyweds.<br />
We kept this element secret from our friends and family -<br />
which explains the audible gasps as Jess glided onto the arm<br />
of our best man.<br />
If, like us, animal welfare is a concern, don’t worry. The birds<br />
we met are very well cared for.<br />
Most of the venues we viewed gave us a small list of ‘approved’<br />
caterers we had to use. But we wanted a vegan specialist to<br />
take the reins and provide our loved ones with catering they<br />
won’t forget, regardless of their food choices on a normal basis.<br />
Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s can of course recommend<br />
catering, but if it’s not right for you, they’re happy for you to<br />
use who you like.<br />
114 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
And we did. The husband & wife team of Vegan Junkies<br />
served up an array of snacks & bites all day - one of<br />
our meat eating friends has now discovered the joy of<br />
jackfruit, something we never thought we’d see!<br />
Oh... and Sophie & Dave’s Mac and Cheese balls became<br />
an unexpected talking point of our day - delicious.<br />
The team at Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s is headed up<br />
by wedding coordinator Ebony Wimbush. Goodness knows<br />
how many weddings she’s overseen, which is why she was<br />
able to effortlessly take charge of our day, advising us on<br />
timings and logistics and making sure all the extra touches<br />
were taken care of. Vegan ice cream on the lawn, not a<br />
problem. A retro sweet cart filled with tasty delights, already<br />
sorted. Cherry Pepsi for the bride - perhaps one of the most<br />
odd requests she’s facilitated - that’s been organised.<br />
After two years of planning our big day arrived.<br />
The weather was a satisfying 22 degrees, our loved ones filled<br />
seats in the middle of the enchanting woodland and I was led<br />
up the aisle on the arm of my Dad. I felt giddy with excitement,<br />
yet quietly composed.<br />
By contrast, Aaron was breathing rapidly at the top of the aisle,<br />
supported by his brother as his best man, and feeling like<br />
popping the question in a surprise proposal was the best<br />
decision he ever made.<br />
Delivering the vows<br />
With all eyes fixed on us the following 30 minutes was almost a<br />
blur. But we do remember grasping each other's hand so tightly<br />
in the hope neither of us would let the emotions take over,<br />
delivering the vows we carefully crafted and the gentle ripple<br />
of giggling when we both struggled to repeat the line about<br />
having patience with each other - after seven years together<br />
it’s a part of our relationship we’re still openly working on.<br />
When my Dad first saw the venue two years ago he described<br />
it as ‘something from a fairytale’. And on the day it felt like<br />
that was exactly what we were living.<br />
The natural setting allowed us to reduce the number of flower<br />
arrangements on the day - who needs an abundance of roses<br />
when your aisle is already lined with natural ferns and dappled<br />
sunlight is drifting through the trees.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 115
Saving time and money<br />
All this was yet again provided as standard by<br />
Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s, saving us both<br />
time and money trying to replicate a similar look…<br />
and again it all helped us to reduce our waste.<br />
As our day came to an end and the sun went<br />
down, the venue took on a whole new lease<br />
of life. The sunlight had been replaced with<br />
twinkling fairy lights, the marshmallow roasting<br />
fire pit gave the seating area a new amber glow<br />
and the barn was illuminated by the large five<br />
foot letters spelling out ‘Love’ above our top<br />
table, or as we renamed it, our family table.<br />
And to help us capture these memories we had Tasha<br />
from Opperhill Photography and former BBC videographer<br />
Gavin Stewart from GeeDee Films shooting the action on<br />
the day. Both worked seamlessly together and disappeared<br />
into the background, nobody wants an intimate moment<br />
ruined by an overzealous photographer or videographer<br />
and at no point were they at risk of doing so.<br />
After the ceremony our guests ordered drinks from the<br />
woodland bar, some tried their hand at air rifles and<br />
some simply sat in the early summer sun and chatted<br />
amongst themselves. We didn’t have to go more than a<br />
few metres for our more formal wedding photos. From<br />
a bandstand overlooking a lake to a swinging love seat<br />
nestled amongst the trees, we were spoilt for choice.<br />
Then it was time for everyone to head to the rustic barn<br />
and take their seat for our wedding breakfast. We kept<br />
our table décor simple. Wooden place mats, hessian table<br />
runners and potted lavender plants as centrepieces -<br />
but this is where we need to confess something.<br />
“This has been the best wedding I’ve ever<br />
been to”. “If we knew this place existed we<br />
would have got married here”. “This is the<br />
first wedding I’ve attended, but I’m told this isn’t normal” -<br />
all feedback from our friends & family who didn’t quite<br />
know what to expect from a wedding in a forest.<br />
As the clocks struck midnight, our guests returned to the<br />
various hotels or rental cottages in the area and Aarons’<br />
family strolled back to onsite glamping lodges less than five<br />
minutes away in Blakemere Village.<br />
"A visual venue that screams personality."<br />
Nothing will ever replace the intimacy and importance of<br />
swapping your vows to become life partners and you could<br />
argue the setting doesn’t really matter. But if you want a<br />
visual venue that screams personality, Cheshire Woodland<br />
<strong>Wedding</strong>s is it.<br />
People talk about the post wedding blues once the<br />
manic organisation is done and your day has passed<br />
off without a hitch. We’ve not experienced that because<br />
every time we think back to our day, look through Tasha’s<br />
photos or watch Gavin’s television standard video another<br />
great moment enters our mind… all because Cheshire<br />
Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s packed in enough romance, fun<br />
and joy to give us lasting precious memories.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: Leafy Creams<br />
www.leafycreams.com<br />
CATERER: Wholesome Junkies<br />
www.wholesomejunkies.co.uk<br />
FLORIST: Hannah Williams Flowers<br />
www.hannahwilliamsonflowers.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Opperhill Photography<br />
www.opperhillphotography.co.uk<br />
VENUE: Cheshire Woodland <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
www.cheshirewoodlandweddings.com<br />
116 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
“An enchanted<br />
venue for those with<br />
one love… the great<br />
outdoors”<br />
Unique Features<br />
• Thatched Ceremony Hut<br />
• Waterside Bandstand<br />
• 75ft Open Reception Barn<br />
• Two fully Licensed Bars<br />
• Birds of Prey (including owl ring delivery)<br />
• Outdoor activities (including crazy golf & axe throwing)<br />
• Blakemere Hideaways – onsite luxury glamping lodges<br />
Our exceptional Coordinators will be with you<br />
from your show around right to the day of your<br />
wedding. The team are committed to delivering<br />
the very best service and to being your wedding<br />
guru’s! To arrange a personal viewing or to<br />
book onto our open days contact us now on<br />
01606 8822<strong>23</strong>.<br />
Find out more at<br />
www.cheshirewoodlandweddings.com<br />
or follow us on Instagram<br />
@cheshirewodolandweddings<br />
for updates<br />
Photos by Michael Barrow Photography<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 117
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Durrant<br />
Married 14th May 20<strong>23</strong><br />
little insight into what your<br />
A spring wedding would look<br />
like at Hilltop Country House.<br />
Early spring, the nights get lighter,<br />
and the gorgeous daffodils<br />
surround the entire venue.<br />
Photographs by Joe Gardner Photography<br />
118 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
like. Mary and Jack’s favourite tipples were Aberfalls Gin and<br />
Bollington Best Cask Ale. This is exactly what was added<br />
to Hilltop’s already fantastic bar for their wedding day.<br />
Every celebration at Hilltop ends with everyone dancing<br />
in Hilltop’s very own nightclub!<br />
The lambs suddenly appear in the surrounding fields and<br />
take on the role of meeting and greeting your guests.<br />
As we progress into April and May, the daffodils give way<br />
to beautiful bluebells, the amazing wisteria on the house<br />
blooms and the pretty blossom covers the garden.<br />
Mary and Jack’s real words<br />
As soon as we saw Hilltop we knew it was the perfect venue.<br />
The house and gardens are stunning and provided the perfect<br />
spring wedding backdrop. Clare and her team were fantastic<br />
in every way when we were planning our wedding. Head Chef,<br />
Iain’s food was amazing and he listened to our ideas for our<br />
evening food and created a delicious Mediterranean spread<br />
which our guests loved. They were all brilliant at organising<br />
Mary and Jack chose to have their wedding in May. On this<br />
occasion they had the cows to entertain their guests. They<br />
even came right up to the marquee windows to listen to<br />
Jack’s speech.<br />
"Sunshine and blue skies enabled the happy<br />
couple to have their wedding outside."<br />
Mary and her bridal party enjoyed a lovely morning getting<br />
ready in Hilltop’s bridal suite whilst Jack and his groomsmen<br />
took the time to get some photos together. Sunshine and<br />
blue skies enabled the happy couple to have their wedding<br />
outside in Hilltop’s stunning setting. Mary and Jack had<br />
their ceremony on the terrace, with the backdrop of the<br />
country house covered in greenery and wisteria. Their<br />
aisle stretching throughout the gardens. Once they tied<br />
the knot, Mary, Jack, their gorgeous little boy Max and all<br />
of their guests had a relaxing reception. The drinks were<br />
flowing and it wasn’t only the children who had fun with<br />
the garden games! This was accompanied by a selection of<br />
canapés which included sticky honey and mustard sausages<br />
and tempura prawns with a shot of sweet chili sauce.<br />
All shades of green<br />
Mary and Jack decorated the marquee with gorgeous flowers<br />
in vases of all different colours, bringing spring inside. They<br />
also chose to hang bunting in all shades of green which<br />
tied in the country feel. Mary’s mother kindly created the<br />
table centerpieces which were a special personal touch.<br />
Their wedding breakfast started with a warm feta, sun-dried<br />
tomato and spinach tartlet. Followed by a chicken breast<br />
wrapped with serrano ham, filled with chorizo and Manchego<br />
cheese served with delicious sides. For dessert Mary and<br />
Jack went for lemon posset with a raspberry and a shortbread<br />
biscuit. As for their evening food, Mary and Jack went<br />
completely off-piste with a selection of Mediterranean<br />
sharing platters.<br />
Hilltop allows complete flexibility throughout your food and<br />
drinks menu, so that you can eat and drink whatever you<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 119
us on the day, making sure everything was just perfect and<br />
anticipating anything that we or our guests may have needed,<br />
including showing my 7 month old son the neighbouring<br />
cows when the ceremony all got a little too much for him.<br />
"Friendly cows that were the<br />
star of the show."<br />
The day ran perfectly, we had the most glorious weather, so<br />
all of our guests took full advantage exploring the grounds,<br />
playing lawn games and using the outdoor bar. We were<br />
so happy to use Joe for our photographs, he knew the best<br />
places for the photos and we have enjoyed looking back on<br />
these over the last few months to remind us of a stunning day.<br />
There are so many moments of the day we absolutely love<br />
but standing on the terrace with my husband and our closest<br />
family, is one I will never forget. There is also one moment that<br />
everyone always reminds us of and that is the friendly cows<br />
that were the star of the show during our wedding breakfast,<br />
they were great entertainment and had great comedic timing.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: Little Button Bakery<br />
www.littlebuttonbakery.co.uk<br />
DRESS: Maria Modes<br />
www.mariamodes.com<br />
HAIR: Wild Flower Hair Company<br />
www.wildflowerhaircompany.co.uk<br />
MENSWEAR: Cheshire Menswear<br />
www.cheshiremenswear.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Joe Gardner Photography<br />
www.joegardnerphotography.com<br />
VENUE: Hilltop Country House<br />
www.yourhilltopwedding.com<br />
120 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Located in Prestbury in the Cheshire countryside,<br />
discover Hilltop Country House. A charming 17th century<br />
house with accommodation, surrounded by formal gardens<br />
with flowers for all seasons.<br />
Hilltop’s location offers complete privacy. The venue bursts<br />
with character and has all the classical features to make<br />
you fall in love. Breathtaking views through every window<br />
and with every corner you turn, the fabulous gardens<br />
can be admired wherever you may be.<br />
Hilltop has four magnificent ceremony areas to suit all<br />
weddings. Indoor ceremonies are held in the garden room<br />
or marquee. Choose the terrace or top lawn for<br />
your outdoor ceremony.<br />
The marquee with magical lighting and glass<br />
bifold windows and doors presents a blank canvas for<br />
your special wedding style. Their dedicated wedding<br />
coordinators, in-house chef and bar manager will take<br />
care of you throughout the entire planning process. Hilltop<br />
offers a unique outdoor chillout area with garden games<br />
and an outdoor bar with a wood-fired pizza oven and BBQ.<br />
Hilltop’s has its very own nightclub and our in-house DJ<br />
who will create a bespoke playlist.<br />
Start your Hilltop Journey...<br />
enquiries@hilltop-countryhouse.com<br />
yourhilltopwedding.com<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 121
A collection of five Dream Venues across<br />
the Ribble Valley & Yorkshire Dales.<br />
WWW.DREAMVENUES.CO.UK<br />
122 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Say I do<br />
TO YOUR<br />
DREAM VENUE<br />
From a classic country inn and a simply<br />
astounding contemporary mill conversion to a<br />
gorgeous stately home and a romantic manor<br />
house, we have the perfect wedding venue to<br />
make your dream wedding day come to life.<br />
WEDDING<br />
SHOWCASE<br />
EVENTS<br />
Please see the website<br />
for dates and details<br />
Scan to view<br />
the Collection<br />
DREAMVENUES.CO.UK<br />
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Laura Wade Photography & The McHendrys<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 1<strong>23</strong>
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Rosie Porter<br />
& Jack Lynch<br />
Married 30th April 20<strong>23</strong><br />
After initially meeting at our local<br />
Crossfit gym, I didn’t think much<br />
about it at first due to Jack being<br />
4 years younger than me, other than<br />
obviously thinking he was a very<br />
handsome chap! But little did I know,<br />
Jack was already on a mission to get<br />
to know me. He started changing his<br />
class times so we would bump into<br />
each other more. And it worked!<br />
Photographs by Georgie Beck Photography<br />
1<strong>24</strong> COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Jack proposed July 2021 in Snowdonia, 3 years after our<br />
CrossFit romance started. I had never been to Wales and had<br />
always wanted to go on a walking trip. He surprised me the<br />
morning of the trip and proposed that afternoon on the top<br />
of a big hill with a beautiful backdrop of nature which is my<br />
favourite thing.<br />
He'd even been secretly emailing my boss to give me the<br />
time off work. My boss convinced me I was going to a four<br />
day training course as her substitute because ‘she couldn’t<br />
be bothered to go’ and I was absolutely fuming! I made it<br />
"We have a great group of<br />
friends and family, each and everyone<br />
brought the day to life."<br />
Jack and I did the planning ourselves, and my maid of honour<br />
Sarah really helped to keep us grounded and on track. I am<br />
a bit of a ‘stick your head in the sand’ person when things<br />
get stressful, but Sarah helped to remind us that it’s our special<br />
day and everything about it is exciting. We have a great group<br />
of friends and family, each and everyone brought the day to<br />
life. We did have a surprise act, Encore Entertainment, a secret<br />
singing duo. They were an absolute highlight of the day. I’ll<br />
never forget the surprise on people’s faces when they burst<br />
into song. It was awesome!<br />
The day ran perfectly. I spent the lead up to the day very<br />
stressed about the rain and completely ignoring everyone<br />
who said, ‘as soon as you see Jack the rain won’t matter!’<br />
I have to begrudgingly admit they were right. The staff ensured<br />
we still managed to get our outside shots and the rain didn’t<br />
dampen any of our spirits.<br />
Running the day was the amazing, Lesley-Anne, <strong>Wedding</strong><br />
Operations Manager at Mitton Hall. It was like having your<br />
good mate there with you, in charge of everything and<br />
making sure you were happy and having a good time.<br />
quite clear to everyone in my office I wasn’t happy. I was<br />
totally unaware everyone was in on the secret. That was a very<br />
embarrassing realisation the morning I woke up to my surprise.<br />
We chose Mitton Hall because it is absolutely beautiful! It’s a<br />
lovely combination of old beauty; a 15th century manor house<br />
with so much character, and then a contemporary fresh, light<br />
and airy reception room with huge windows meaning you can<br />
overlook the beautiful grounds and Ribble Valley throughout the<br />
day. You can see fields and sheep and blue skies (or grey skies<br />
as it ended up on our big day). It is big enough to hold a<br />
substantial wedding like ours but still feels extremely intimate<br />
and special. A really homely feel and no corporate hotel vibes<br />
to be seen!<br />
We also decided on using a celebrant, Vikki Haris, who<br />
was wonderful! She made our day completely personal and<br />
unique. We had meetings with her beforehand to ensure our<br />
wedding was exactly how we wished and that special touch<br />
brought a tear to even the toughest people in the room.<br />
Every single member of staff there was amazing. The wedding<br />
coordinators went above and beyond, they replied to every<br />
random question we had extremely quickly, they had multiple<br />
meetings with us to keep us feeling confident we were on<br />
track with the planning, and they genuinely showed excitement<br />
for our day alongside us. They always snuck me a few<br />
extra biscuits to go with my brew on meeting days too.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 125
kindly agreed to play during our drinks reception, which was<br />
a really nice touch and everyone loved him! Finally, we had a<br />
DJ from Exceed Events who came as part of the package with<br />
Mitton Hall and he was great. We got to list all our must-have<br />
songs and they kept everyone on the dance floor all night.<br />
We had pinks and greens as our colours, and our theme was<br />
all based on nature and English flowers - I always had the<br />
book ‘The Secret Garden’ in mind when thinking of aesthetics.<br />
I love art and have always enjoyed drawing, so I hand drew<br />
a floral design for our invites as well as a different flower for<br />
each of our table number cards and our table plan.<br />
Our florist, Sophie at Walter and Blossom, took our ideas and<br />
created bouquets and arrangements beyond anything we<br />
dreamed. I cannot tell you the amount of compliments those<br />
flowers got!<br />
I was very close with my Gran growing up and into my adult<br />
years. Unfortunately, she passed away four weeks before I<br />
began my relationship with Jack and she never got to meet<br />
him. I know she would have absolutely adored him. On the big<br />
day I wore my Grans veil from her wedding, it was beautiful<br />
and very delicate. It meant a lot to me to wear it. It was worn<br />
by her mother and grandmother too! It is 112 years old!<br />
I walked up the aisle to Canon in D by Brooklyn Duo, and we<br />
exited together to Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen<br />
to really set the tone for the day. In addition to our surprise<br />
singing act, we had a band called Furious Styles for our<br />
evening entertainment who were amazing and so much fun.<br />
One of my bridesmaid’s boyfriend is in a band and he very<br />
Emotions, feelings and spirit<br />
Georgie Beck Photography was our photographer, we picked<br />
her after seeing her in action at my best friend and maid of<br />
honour’s wedding 5 years ago. I knew I wanted her to be<br />
my wedding photographer before I had even met Jack! Aside<br />
from her being the loveliest person ever, her photographs<br />
are second to none. She captures the emotions, feelings and<br />
spirit of the day in every single picture. Each time you look<br />
at the photos it’s like reliving every moment of the day.<br />
There were so many amazing moments from our day - whether<br />
it be me and my bridesmaids attempting to go for a classy<br />
photo outside the front of the building and it quickly turning<br />
into us all doing ridiculous poses and finding ourselves very<br />
funny, the reaction of our guests when the surprise act started<br />
in the reception room or the cheeky little looks Jack and I were<br />
giving each other throughout the ceremony. It's too hard to<br />
pick just one!<br />
Mitton Hall and the team truly made our day the perfect<br />
day for us! Full of laughter, love and confetti canons. The best<br />
day a million times over!<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CELEBRANT: Vikki Harris Celebrant<br />
www.vikkiharris.com<br />
DRESS: Ava Rose Hamilton<br />
www.avarosehamilton.co.uk<br />
FLORIST: Walter and Blossom<br />
www.walterandblossom.co.uk<br />
HAIR & MAKE UP: La Bella Boutique<br />
www.facebook.com/labellaboutiquehair<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Georgie Beck Photography<br />
www.georgiebeck.com<br />
VENUE: Mitton Hall<br />
www.mittonhallhotel.co.uk<br />
126 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
We believe that your wedding day should be one of the most perfect days of your life,<br />
which is why our wedding venue goes the extra mile to create a wedding tailored too just for you.<br />
Cunard Room Perfect for intimate wedding celebrations and cosy moments with your loved ones,<br />
The Cunard Room is a bright and airy wedding venue that is sure to sweep you off your feet. With an incredible<br />
backdrop of floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the beauty of the most stunning views in the city overlooking the<br />
Three Graces and the Liverpool waterfront. Exchange your vows surrounded by your nearest and dearest and<br />
enjoy the wedding ceremony you’ve always dreamed of in the Cunard Room.<br />
If you are after a large, lively function with loud entertainment and plenty of dancing, our Port of Liverpool room<br />
is the one for you! The Port of Liverpool room is home to a 1930s-style stage and state-of-the-art sound system,<br />
guaranteeing your entertainment steals the show at your event!<br />
Our Rooftop Terrace at Liberté is a spectacular rooftop bar located on the top floor of The Bentley.<br />
Recently voted the UKs number one rooftop bar. Liberté boasts views like no other with sweeping<br />
panoramic views of the waterfront.<br />
Call Us 07756 264706<br />
Enquire via enquiries@thebentley.co<br />
www.bentleyliverpool.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 127
Your <strong>Wedding</strong>, Your Way!<br />
Say ‘I Do’ to<br />
Your Venue<br />
Enquire about our tailored Cheshire wedding packages<br />
weddings@flatcaphotels.com | 0330 137 3771<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW<br />
Cheshire countryside venue<br />
with panoramic views and<br />
bespoke packages tailored to<br />
create your perfect day.<br />
EVENTS@ CHESHIREVIEW.CO.UK<br />
01<strong>24</strong>4 332 442<br />
CONTACT US:<br />
CHESHIRE VIEW, CHRISTLETON<br />
CHESHIRE_VIEW<br />
128 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 129
<strong>Wedding</strong> Package<br />
Special late availability offer at<br />
£5500 for 50 day and 80 evening guests<br />
Additional day guests at £68. Additional evening guests at £18.<br />
For more information, please contact our dedicated wedding manager<br />
on 01565 622132 or events@cottonshotel.co.uk<br />
The perfect setting...for a magical wedding<br />
Manchester Road, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0SU<br />
01565 650333 | cottonshotel.co.uk | danielthwaites.co.uk<br />
ASKHAM HALL<br />
WEDDINGS<br />
The Perfect Exchange<br />
Bank Barn<br />
Old Chapel<br />
Medieval Hall<br />
Pavilion<br />
Askham Hall, Askham, Penrith, Cumbria CA10 2PF<br />
01931 71<strong>23</strong>50 www.askhamhall.co.uk | weddings@askhamcollection.co.uk<br />
Say ‘I Do’ in one of the most iconic buildings in Manchester<br />
City Centre. Let us assist with creating your lifetime<br />
memories - your perfect exchange.<br />
Ceremony and weddings for up to 100 guests.<br />
Contact: events@stockexchangehotel.co.uk<br />
0161 470 3901<br />
www.stockexchangehotel.co.uk<br />
130 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Crafting LOVE STORIES since 1680<br />
New to the Wirral for 20<strong>23</strong>, The Barn at the Manor is a romantic<br />
and sophisticated wedding barn blending historic character with<br />
contemporary elegance.<br />
Celebrate your marriage in this lovingly- restored barn, boasting its<br />
own private bar area and accommodating up to 100 guests; offering<br />
the perfect backdrop in which to create life’s finest memories.<br />
Discover this brand-new wedding<br />
venue at The Barn’s free wedding<br />
open evenings throughout the year.<br />
Register your interest by emailing<br />
weddings@themanorgreasby.co.uk<br />
The Manor at Greasby, 91 Greasby Rd, Greasby, Wirral CH49 3NF<br />
0151 677 7034 | info@themanorgreasby.co.uk | www.themanorgreasby.co.uk<br />
Owned and operated by Nelson Hotels & Inns www.nelsonhotels.co.uk<br />
themanorgreasby.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 131
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Coppola<br />
Married 4th February 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Nia and Riccardo’s story.<br />
Nia and Riccardo met at<br />
Nia’s work Christmas party in<br />
fortuitous fashion when Riccardo<br />
was an unexpected guest.<br />
Photographs by Alin Turcanu photography<br />
132 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Crashing the event with his friend, who worked with Nia,<br />
Riccardo very nearly missed the opportunity to meet his future<br />
wife as he took so much convincing to attend. Push came to<br />
shove and Riccardo made it on the night. The rest, as they say,<br />
is history.<br />
Five years later during the pandemic, a weekend in Shrewsbury<br />
saw the couple enjoying one of the rare weekends during<br />
which they could savour a date night at a restaurant (and<br />
enjoy they did, with a feast at a favourite curry house and<br />
a walk by the river). With five years down and the hope<br />
of a lifetime to go together, Nia couldn’t help but bemoan<br />
Riccardo’s seeming lack of will to walk up the aisle. That<br />
was, until Riccardo popped the question there and then!<br />
inspired by winter sun when they chose their understated yet<br />
bright ivory colour palette for the day, allowing simplicity to<br />
reign in a stunning décor concept accented by ivory blossom<br />
trees and sparing accents of natural foliage. This enchanting<br />
theme carried through to not only the civil ceremony itself,<br />
but the subsequent wedding breakfast and evening reception,<br />
all of which took place within the elegant Grosvenor Suite.<br />
Despite the venue managing plenty of the wedding day, the<br />
occasion was made all the more personal to Nia and Riccardo<br />
with Nia’s own crafty touches. She used DIY projects including<br />
the table place-names, top table centerpiece, bouquet and<br />
floral button holes to calm her nerves in the lead-up to the<br />
wedding day.<br />
The big day<br />
On 4th February 20<strong>23</strong>, Nia and Riccardo were finally<br />
ready to say “I do” during an incredible day surrounded<br />
by family and friends. With the very best laid plans and<br />
the laid-back couple’s best efforts, some wedding day<br />
jitters crept into the big day at its beginning. Nia recalls<br />
serious nerves setting in on the way to the ceremony<br />
when she nearly put the brakes on the order of the day,<br />
stopping short of asking her dad to turn the car around.<br />
The journey to ‘I do’<br />
True to their nature, Nia and Riccardo hoped for a calm<br />
run-up to the big day and were able to take a lot of the<br />
stress out of planning the occasion when they chose<br />
Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa as their venue and with<br />
it, the venue’s dedicated wedding coordinator Emma. The<br />
choice of an all-inclusive wedding package meant that<br />
many of the wedding’s finer details were covered. “I did<br />
have a lot of questions to be fair, and Emma was always<br />
so quick to respond,” said Nia about the planning of their<br />
wedding day. “Nothing was too much at all. I really felt like<br />
it was in great hands and I didn't need to worry at all.”<br />
Following some reassurance and a moment of composure,<br />
Nia was finally able to walk up the aisle with her father, with<br />
all memory of any anxiety fading the moment she watched<br />
her 16 month old daughter, Aria, lead the way for her up the<br />
aisle for the all-important ceremony. The occasion was made all<br />
the more sentimental by those in attendance, including Nia’s<br />
niece who had travelled all the way from San Diego to play<br />
Nia and Riccardo chose to host their nuptials in February<br />
20<strong>23</strong>, leaning into the cosy comfort and romance of winter<br />
on the cusp of turning to spring. The couple may have been<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 133
After the aisle<br />
The many happy memories of the day were captured for a<br />
lifetime by the couple’s wedding photographer, Alin Turcanu,<br />
whose portraits perfectly embodied the couple’s authenticity<br />
and relaxed nature together. The couple emotionally reflected<br />
on the day when receiving their gallery from Alin, which<br />
included relaxed portraits around the stunning grounds of<br />
the venue and candid moments from throughout the day.<br />
her part as bridesmaid. Not only this, but the blend of Nia and<br />
Riccardo’s respective heritages made for some subtly sweet<br />
additions, such as the addition of traditional Italian sugared<br />
almonds (for good luck) served with a Welsh love spoon.<br />
Not so easy to capture on camera was the infectious laughter<br />
which ensued when the father of the bride and Riccardo’s best<br />
man began their speeches during the wedding breakfast, a<br />
highlight for the couple complete with barrels of laughs and<br />
embarrassing childhood stories. As Nia said, “it's hard to not<br />
choose the part of the day where everyone laughed together as<br />
After vows were exchanged, it was time for Nia and Riccardo<br />
to enjoy their efforts in planning the occasion. Nia recalls<br />
being wowed by her first entrance into the Grosvenor Suite,<br />
dressed for the wedding breakfast, bringing family and<br />
friends together. It was the perfect moment to see her ‘little<br />
extras’ shine, including the Prince of Wales feather napkin<br />
fold she chose as a subtle nod to her Welsh heritage. Day<br />
to night, the captivating suite made the perfect backdrop<br />
for the occasion, with the evening reception for just over<br />
100 guests coming to life with the addition of a dance floor<br />
and twinkling lights enhancing their cosy winter theme.<br />
"Dancing in a sea of glow sticks."<br />
The evening celebration got underway with Nia and<br />
Riccardo taking to the dance floor with their daughter Aria<br />
to John Legend’s ‘All of Me’, which Nia’s nephew mixed<br />
into a dance track finale to get everyone up and dancing<br />
in a sea of glow sticks. This was the start of a great night<br />
ahead, accented with treats for the guests including a<br />
photobooth, fun casino tables and even a snack bar with<br />
sweets and crisps replenished throughout the evening.<br />
Despite the initial jitters of the day, the couple enjoyed<br />
the all-important VIP feeling thanks to the team on-hand<br />
throughout the big day, as well as those who helped<br />
Nia to look and feel her very best. “We hadn't had the<br />
pleasure of meeting any of the other staff until this day and<br />
I have to say they were absolutely fantastic,” said Nia, “I<br />
can't think of anything that didn't go as we expected.”<br />
my favourite memory” (although ask Riccardo and you will find<br />
that his favourite memory was his bride’s stumble over her gown<br />
before their first dance, true to their sense of humour together).<br />
Nia and Riccardo have simple advice for couples embarking<br />
up the aisle and that is to take a breath. Nia recalls how<br />
easy it was to get caught up in speaking to each and every<br />
guest, spreading themselves thin at times to reach everyone<br />
on the day. “Spend some alone time together,” the couple<br />
stress. “The day goes so quickly and everyone wants to speak<br />
to you, which is lovely, but enjoy your couple moments!”<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
BRIDAL MAKEUP: Makeup by Lorraine<br />
www.makeupbylorraine.co.uk<br />
CAKE: Cake Tin Bakery<br />
www.caketinbakery.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER & VIDEOGRAPHY:<br />
Alin Turcanu photography<br />
www.alinturcanu.com<br />
VENUE STYLING: AA Decorative<br />
www.aadecorativeevents.co.uk<br />
VENUE: Grosvenor Pulford Hotel & Spa<br />
www.grosvenorpulfordhotel.co.uk<br />
134 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
YOUR CHESHIRE COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL<br />
Exclusive use upgrade from £1,500<br />
CIVIL CEREMONIES FOR UP TO 150 PEOPLE<br />
OUTDOOR CEREMONIES IN OUR LANDSCAPED GARDENS<br />
WEDDING RECEPTIONS FOR UP TO 200 PEOPLE<br />
PACKAGES FROM £5,000<br />
To find out more about all our stunning venue contact our wedding co-ordinator on...<br />
weddings@merecourt.co.uk | WWW.MERECOURT.CO.UK<br />
Warrington Road, Mere, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 0RW<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 135
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Bonney<br />
Married 21st July 20<strong>23</strong><br />
Andrew proposed in July 2018 at<br />
home when I was least expecting<br />
it. This was partly due to me getting<br />
excited every time he bent down to<br />
tie his shoelaces in the hopes of a<br />
proposal. By this time, we had already<br />
been together for four years.<br />
Photographs by Gemma Collins Photography<br />
136 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
We had originally planned our wedding for June 2020 at<br />
another venue but due to covid this never took place. We had<br />
a further two wedding dates which never went ahead due to<br />
the ongoing restrictions and then my mum needing a procedure<br />
the week of our planned wedding date in 2022. By this time,<br />
we had lost all hope that we were going to get our dream day.<br />
We decided to have a “fresh start” in the planning of the<br />
wedding and had always loved Mere Court, so we arranged<br />
to meet with the wedding team to have a look around. We took<br />
along my mum and dad and as soon as we arrived, we all<br />
knew this was our dream venue.<br />
Our hairdresser, Megan Cooper Hair arrived along with our<br />
makeup artist, Bridal by Terrie and both girls worked their<br />
magic. I’ve known Megan and Terrie for a few years, and they<br />
were so bubbly, laughing with us and putting any nerves<br />
at ease.<br />
Shortly after our amazing photographer Gemma from Gemma<br />
Collins Photography arrived and quickly set up taking lots of<br />
pictures whilst we were getting ready.<br />
Classic Mini<br />
Andrew arrived at Mere Court in a classic Mini which he was<br />
able to park outside the hotel for photos. This very quickly<br />
became a talking point as well as a photo opportunity for many<br />
of the guests including ones that may have had a similar car<br />
back in the day. This was provided to us by Retro Mini Hire.<br />
Gemma quickly ran up to take some photos of Andrew and<br />
his groomsmen Michael, Nathan and Christopher arriving.<br />
Ten minutes before the ceremony my mum had a problem with<br />
her dress which resulted in one of the house keepers rushing<br />
down with a sewing kit and helping repair it for which we will<br />
be eternally grateful.<br />
The weather had cleared up and my dad and I walked up to<br />
the main house and what a beautiful walk that was. It enabled<br />
me to get ten minutes alone with him and just appreciate the<br />
moment we were in.<br />
We walked round the gardens which gave a fairy tale vibe and<br />
saw the venue set up ready for a wedding taking place later<br />
that day. It was magical.<br />
We decided to book for Friday 21st July 20<strong>23</strong> and opted for<br />
exclusivity, something that we couldn’t have had elsewhere.<br />
When it came to walking up the aisle, seeing our hard work<br />
and planning come to life was amazing. Perfect <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
Altrincham provided our ceremony dressing, and it was<br />
outstanding. As we exited the ceremony, Jason from perfect<br />
weddings was there so we were able to thank him in person<br />
for the amazing job he had done.<br />
We opted for the elegance package as this was perfect for us<br />
and such amazing value.<br />
From May 2022 right up until the morning of the wedding,<br />
I had regular contact with the wedding team, mainly Georgia,<br />
who couldn’t help enough. Nothing was too much trouble.<br />
The day before, we arrived with all our decorations and were<br />
able to set up what we needed. We were asked countless<br />
times if we would like any help with anything and absolutely<br />
nothing was too much trouble. We were introduced to Robbie<br />
who would be looking after us the day of our wedding.<br />
The morning of our wedding arrived and waking up in the<br />
lodge still didn’t feel real. Breakfast arrived for us which was<br />
amazing and so fresh.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 137
"Everyone commented how<br />
intimate and beautiful it looked. "<br />
Our ceremony took place in the Arboreum at 12pm and the<br />
room had the most romantic feel with the wooden beams,<br />
chandelier, and the view of the fountain from the bay window.<br />
Robbie and the team got everyone into position and told them<br />
when to start walking up the aisle so that the procession ran<br />
smoothly.<br />
After our ceremony, our drinks reception took place in the<br />
garden. Thankfully the weather held up and our guests were<br />
able to enjoy the grounds. The children loved it so much they<br />
went fairy hunting as their imaginations came to life.<br />
Gemma worked her magic capturing lots of natural photos of<br />
everyone laughing and enjoying the day as well as the family<br />
photos we had requested.<br />
After the wedding breakfast we had singing waiters provided<br />
by Silver Service Singers and the guests were so surprised<br />
but loved every second. They all got involved and this got<br />
them in the party moody ready for our evening reception.<br />
During the turnaround from day to evening, we arranged for a<br />
casino to come and entertain the guests. This was provided by<br />
Pier Fun Casinos and everyone including the children loved it.<br />
The evening got underway and our DJ Steve James from Ice<br />
Entertainment had the dancefloor constantly full and provided<br />
us with an afterparty for the final hour. This was where the club<br />
classics came out as well as the dance moves! We had been in<br />
contact with Steve prior to the wedding and told him the music<br />
we liked and what type of reception we wanted. He really came<br />
through and provided us with the best reception we could have<br />
asked for.<br />
From start to finish it was the most amazing day. The staff<br />
were faultless, the venue was perfect, and I can’t recommend<br />
Mere Court enough. I would do it all again in a heartbeat!<br />
It was everything we could have dreamed of and more.<br />
A special thank you also goes to my mum and dad, we wouldn’t<br />
have been able to have the most amazing day without you and<br />
everything you have done for us.<br />
A thank you to my bridesmaids, Olivia, Emily-Jayne, Rebecca,<br />
Hannah, and Antonia, as well as my two ushers, Shane and<br />
Ryan.<br />
Also, a thank you to Andrews parents, and his groomsmen<br />
Michael, Nathan and Christopher.<br />
You all helped to make our day the most perfect day and kept<br />
our spirits up throughout the postponements.<br />
Thank you to Georgia, Robbie and the team at Mere Court.<br />
We can’t wait to come back!<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
HAIR: Megan Cooper Hair<br />
www.facebook.com/megancooperhair<br />
ENTERTAINMENT: Ice Entertainment UK<br />
www.iceentertainmentuk.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Gemma Collins Photography<br />
www.gemmacollinsphotography.co.uk<br />
TRANSPORT: Retro Mini Hire<br />
www.retrominihire.com<br />
VENUE: Mere Court<br />
www.merecourt.co.uk<br />
VENUE STYLIST: Perfect <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
www.perfectweds.co.uk<br />
138 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Your Vision – Our Mission – Your Dream Day<br />
Sandhole Oak Barn provides you with<br />
the perfect blank canvas to create the day of your dreams.<br />
Our stunning oak barn, set in a tranquil, lakeside location, surrounded by acres of Cheshire<br />
countryside, offers an idyllic setting for you and your loved ones on your big day.<br />
With the option of indoor and outdoor ceremonies, whichever you choose,<br />
you will say your vows overlooking our stunning lake.<br />
Sandhole is yours exclusively throughout the entire day, enabling you to have the<br />
intimacy you would want for your celebration with those closest to you.<br />
With Sandhole farm B&B onsite offering accommodation to 40+ of your guests in the<br />
beautifully converted stable block, the celebration doesn’t have to end when the music stops.<br />
Sandhole is the place where dreams really do come true!<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 139
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Duignan<br />
Married 25th November 2022<br />
Rob and I met in 2011 at the local pub<br />
as young 20 somethings. I still find<br />
it funny that we had no idea that we’d<br />
end up getting married 11 years later!<br />
We got engaged during one of the<br />
many lockdowns on 21st November<br />
2020.<br />
Photographs by Andy Griffiths Photography<br />
140 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
As there wasn’t very much going on, I’d convinced Rob to put<br />
the Christmas tree up early and I was reaching for the final few<br />
baubles, there was one in the mix I didn’t recognise. Written on<br />
it was ‘Will you marry me?’ When I looked up Rob was on the<br />
lounge floor on one knee holding a beautiful ring and saying<br />
something lovely (that I don’t remember!).<br />
We decided to wait six months before we started to plan the<br />
wedding. By May/June time, we booked to see four venues all<br />
with a similar rustic/barn theme which we knew we wanted. We<br />
decided on a winter themed wedding and late November was<br />
the perfect date for us. Practically two years after we got engaged.<br />
for our cards, the welcome board, order of the day and the<br />
table plan all from some old pallets! Robs mum also made the<br />
buttonholes and bouquets from artificial flowers which was more<br />
cost effective but also meant we could keep them forever.<br />
I had five bridesmaids, one bridesman, a flower girl & page<br />
boy. The dresses were soft grey with sequins and the bridesman<br />
wore a bow tie to match and a grey suit. Rob wanted tuxedos<br />
for the groomsmen which looked really smart, with his point of<br />
difference as the groom being a velvet tux jacket from Reiss.<br />
"It was perfect and had<br />
everything we needed."<br />
After viewing Sandhole Oak Barn, we knew it was perfect and<br />
had everything we needed. What sealed the deal was the<br />
accommodation on site which meant our close family and<br />
friends could stay over with us. My sister and Maid of Honour<br />
booked us some trips to go wedding dress shopping across<br />
two different days. I found ‘The One’ at the last place we<br />
visited, Knutsford <strong>Wedding</strong> Gallery. They treat every bride like<br />
a princess from the minute you arrive!<br />
We wanted the theme of the wedding to match the venue and<br />
the time of year. Whilst we were keen to go fully festive, we<br />
opted for more subtle touches such as lots of fairy lights, ivy,<br />
frosted pine cones and open flame candles on wooden logs.<br />
We decided to dress the venue ourselves, barring the lights on<br />
the beams which we ordered through Black Lab Events. With<br />
the help of my mum and mother-in-law, we sourced a lot of the<br />
items through second hand sites and car boot sales, which<br />
added to the fun of it! Robs Grandad also played a huge part in<br />
helping by making us the most beautiful personalised post box<br />
Cupcakes<br />
We ordered cupcakes through a friend. Alicia made us two<br />
different flavours; gingerbread and baileys with vanilla frosting<br />
which were absolutely incredible. Alongside this as a gift for<br />
our wedding, my lovely bridesmaid Sadie made us a brownie<br />
tower and a sponge cake. The treats table was something else!<br />
The day before the wedding was busy, but so exciting. Here,<br />
we enlisted the help from both families to get the room looking<br />
how we wanted it with the support of Top Table who were<br />
incredible as the venues catering and events team. After going<br />
out for a meal locally with my mum, sister and brother, we<br />
stayed the night at Sandhole.<br />
Our makeup artist Alice Marie Roullion and hairdressers Lauren<br />
Holt & Kat Smalley arrived early on the 25th to start working<br />
their magic in the dressing room. They were all so professional<br />
and had us all feeling incredible despite the number of us!<br />
During this time, the photographer and videographer arrived.<br />
Andy Griffiths was the most incredible photographer and what<br />
a guy! He has a special way of making you feel relaxed, given<br />
that the last hour goes so fast, and the nerves really start to<br />
kick in. Likewise, Pat Holt as the videographer had a very<br />
similar style to Andy and they worked amazingly together.<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 141
We had a 2pm ceremony and I walked up the aisle to Ruelle’s<br />
‘I get to love you’. For a cold November day, we were blessed<br />
with glorious sunshine and meant we could enjoy drinks and<br />
canapés outside before it got dark. Here we had the iconic<br />
view of Sandhole’s lake and live music from Daisy on the guitar.<br />
Rob and I had a brief window whilst the sun was setting to have<br />
some time together whilst Andy and Pat captured some special<br />
moments of us.<br />
Laughter and tears<br />
We sat down for the wedding breakfast about 4pm. The<br />
speeches were a mixture of laughter and tears, with a few<br />
surprises. Rob shared the news we were expecting a baby boy,<br />
and the mother of the groom surprised us with a speech as<br />
well! After the emotions subsided, we enjoyed the most<br />
AMAZING wedding breakfast courtesy of Top Table.<br />
Following an epic meal, we cut the cake and invited our guests<br />
to join us outside for sparklers. I still look back on these photos<br />
with the biggest smile on my face.<br />
The first dance was Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer and<br />
we followed this with a DJ set accompanied by Saira Sax & Ad<br />
Bongo, which got everyone on the dance floor! We picked the<br />
majority of the set list for the DJ, but our parents surprised us<br />
with a song request of New York, New York by Frank Sinatra to<br />
mark the start of the honeymoon excitement as we were going<br />
to NYC for Christmas!<br />
We spent the following morning enjoying breakfast with our<br />
guests before heading home to start married life. They say to<br />
enjoy every second as your wedding day goes by in a flash -<br />
and it’s so true! We took that time throughout the day to take<br />
in every minute with all our special people, a day never to<br />
be matched!<br />
We’d like to say a huge thank you to all our suppliers for<br />
making our special day so memorable. From the Duignans x<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CATERING: Top Table<br />
www.top-table.co.uk<br />
DRESS: Knutsford <strong>Wedding</strong> Gallery<br />
www.knutsfordweddinggallery.co.uk<br />
MAKE UP: Alice Marie Roullion<br />
www.alicemariemakeup.com<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Andy Griffiths Photography<br />
www.andygriffithsphotography.co.uk<br />
VENUE: Sandhole Oak Barn<br />
www.sandholeoakbarn-weddings.co.uk<br />
VIDEOGRAPHY: Pat Holt Videography<br />
www.patholtfilms.com<br />
142 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Twilight<br />
Packages<br />
starting from<br />
£1,750<br />
The Celtic Arms wedding suite offers the perfect countryside setting for your wedding, and<br />
our dedicated <strong>Wedding</strong>s Team will be here to support you from the moment you book,<br />
right up until you kick your shoes off at the end of your dream day!<br />
With our Twilight package starting at just £1,750 we can accommodate up to 80 guests<br />
in the day and 120 guests at night.<br />
Email: events@thecelticarms.co.uk, Telephone: 01352 8404<strong>23</strong><br />
www.thecelticarms.co.uk<br />
With its idyllic ambience,<br />
excellent catering and ideal mix of<br />
accommodation, The Plough Inn<br />
offers the perfect setting for any event<br />
with a difference!<br />
Packages<br />
from<br />
£2,4<strong>24</strong><br />
Our medieval oak barn is licensed to<br />
hold Civil Ceremony <strong>Wedding</strong>s (for up<br />
to 85 guests) and we can comfortably<br />
accommodate up to 115 guests for your<br />
celebration in The Oak Barn for your<br />
wedding breakfast.<br />
With packages starting at just £2,4<strong>24</strong><br />
we really do offer an unbeatable all<br />
round experience.<br />
Email: weddings@theploughinncheshire.com<br />
Telephone: 01260 280207<br />
www.theploughinncheshire.com<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 143
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
O'Donnell<br />
Married 26th May 20<strong>23</strong><br />
nthony proposed to me on<br />
A New Year’s Eve 2020 at Lyme<br />
Park in Cheshire. After the shock<br />
of being proposed to had passed,<br />
we got onto the super exciting<br />
part of planning our wedding.<br />
Photographs by Envision Images<br />
144 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
We decided to wait until 20<strong>23</strong> in the hope that by then<br />
Covid-19 would be long gone and big gatherings would<br />
be allowed again.<br />
The first task for us was to decide if we were going to get<br />
married in Manchester or Ireland, as Anthony is from Co.<br />
Mayo. We decided to go for Manchester as we both loved<br />
the traditional idea of me leaving my home with my dad.<br />
We viewed four hotels in Manchester and the Midland Hotel<br />
on Peter Street was the first one we viewed, and no other<br />
hotel could compare to it. It was just fabulous! The whole hotel<br />
had a full renovation during lockdown, and a champagne bar<br />
was installed in the reception which was amazing. There was<br />
had finished. We booked Andy Murphy DJ, and he was<br />
brilliant, he added some little extras into the evening which<br />
made it that little bit more special and personal to us.<br />
As a little bit of extra entertainment, we booked Richard<br />
Sanderson who is a performer on the electric fiddle. Richard<br />
came on while the band was setting up and kept all our<br />
guest entertained and upbeat. He had them standing on<br />
chairs clapping and laughing. He was simply brilliant.<br />
Two thousand photos<br />
Photographer and Videographer were next on the list. I<br />
met Mark from Envision images at one of the first wedding<br />
fayres I went to, and he was brilliant. He did the full package<br />
photography and videography, and this was exactly what<br />
I wanted. Mark showed me examples of the work he had<br />
done at previous weddings and both me and my mum were<br />
extremely impressed with what he showed us. I booked<br />
in with Mark straight away and him and his team did a<br />
fantastic job on the day. We had such a laugh during the<br />
day and the photos and video really captured how amazing<br />
our day was. We ended up with over 2,000 photos!!<br />
Our decorations for the church and hotel were done by Debbie<br />
and her team at Perfect <strong>Wedding</strong>s in Altrincham. She did an<br />
incredible job. The church was decorated delicately just how<br />
I wanted it to be, and the hotel was big and fun with blossom<br />
trees, light up letters, light up dance floor, all the glitz!! Debbie<br />
incorporated my colour theme of pastel pinks and purples<br />
perfectly and the decoration really finished everything off.<br />
such a grand feeling when you walked into the hotel, so it<br />
was a straight up winner for us, and it was central Manchester<br />
which was ideal for all our guests travelling from Ireland.<br />
Once we had secured the venue, we then sorted our church,<br />
we picked St Johns in Chorlton. This was the same church<br />
that my brother got married in, so it had a nice family<br />
connection to it. Fr Gavin was our priest who conducted our<br />
wedding, and he was brilliant. He made us both feel so at<br />
ease and relaxed.<br />
The band was next on list to sort, and we booked the Joe<br />
Keegan band. After hearing them at an Irish music festival in<br />
Manchester, we knew they would be the perfect fit for our<br />
wedding. They were able to play a mixture of Irish songs<br />
to get everyone up jiving and also a good mix of pop and<br />
soul music. The dance floor was full all night so that just<br />
says it all!! We also booked a DJ to be our compare for<br />
the night and to keep the dancing going once the band<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 145
"I had a zoom call with Lucy, and I<br />
went through exactly what I wanted."<br />
Lucy at Paper Swan Stationery did a fantastic job on our<br />
wedding stationery. She sorted out our order of service,<br />
table plan, welcome sign, and name places. She did a really<br />
delicate and simple pastel lilac floral design for me which<br />
fitted my theme perfectly. I had a zoom call with Lucy, and<br />
I went through exactly what I wanted and made the whole<br />
design process so much fun. She even personally dropped<br />
our order of service and place names off to us, so we didn’t<br />
have the worry of waiting for them to come in the post!<br />
For our wedding cake we went for two tiers and one hundred<br />
mini cakes underneath. Our cake was made by Classic Cakes<br />
in Reddish. We always use Classic Cakes whenever we need<br />
a birthday cake, and they are amazing. They designed it<br />
exactly how we wanted it, and we went for vanilla sponge<br />
and chocolate sponge fillings. All the mini cakes were eaten<br />
and both the tiers so that just shows how tasty it was!<br />
Without all of our suppliers, our wedding day would not have<br />
been as amazing and magical as it was. Thank you from the<br />
bottom of our hearts, for being part of our special day.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: Classic Cakes<br />
www.facebook.com/classiccakesuk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Envision Images<br />
www.envisionimages.co.uk<br />
STATIONERY: Paper Swan<br />
www.paperswanstationery.co.uk<br />
VENUE: The Midland Manchester<br />
www.themidlandhotel.co.uk<br />
VENUE STYLING: Perfect <strong>Wedding</strong>s<br />
www.perfectweds.co.uk<br />
146 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Situated in the heart of the Cheshire countryside<br />
The Oak Tree of Peover is a family run wedding and event venue with a small<br />
and dedicated team who work tirelessly to ensure that couples have a wedding<br />
day to remember.<br />
The venue work with local and award-winning suppliers including caterers,<br />
venue dressers, photographers, and evening entertainment who all work<br />
alongside each other to ensure your day runs smoothly.<br />
www.oaktreeofpeover.co.uk<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 147
Mr. & Mrs.<br />
Gray<br />
Married 10th July 2022<br />
W<br />
e have been together for<br />
13 years, we knew the time<br />
was right to be blessed as husband<br />
and wife. We longed to bring a<br />
closer connection within the family<br />
unit and allow our declared love<br />
to be official.<br />
Photographs by Julianne Noon Photography<br />
148 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Despite booking and arranging our marriage within an<br />
extremely short space of time, we managed to fit all the pieces<br />
of the jigsaw together to make the special day everything we<br />
had dreamt of.<br />
We had so much planning to do, but with the support of<br />
everyone this was achievable. We did not propose to one<br />
another, we came to the agreement that we were just going<br />
to take the leap and get married.<br />
Scott had never wanted to get married, he always said the<br />
time was not right from a financial perspective. He had always<br />
relayed that if we got wed, he would want it to be everything I<br />
ever wanted and imagined, from the dress to the guest favours.<br />
Piece by piece everything had started to come together. The<br />
first thing we organised was the venue. We viewed a couple,<br />
but we set our hearts on the Red Hall Hotel. The venue was<br />
perfect, being modern and within the country, it provided us<br />
with adequate ideas to make our day all that more special.<br />
La Fleur bridal a local bridal shop in Middleton, Manchester.<br />
It did not take me long to choose, because as soon as I saw<br />
the dress, I knew it was the one. Estelle, the dress fitter, made<br />
me feel a million dollars going above and beyond to make<br />
everything perfect. I was fortunate enough to have my cousin<br />
do all our makeup due to her being a popular makeup artist.<br />
The theme of the wedding was a mixed combination, we kept<br />
it pale pastel colours, however we went that little bit extra on<br />
the décor. We did not care about the financial aspect, this<br />
was a once in a lifetime opportunity, it had to be perfect<br />
down to the last sparkle. Becca from the Red Hall guided<br />
us with the best company to provide the décor for the room<br />
and the flowers and greenery. We received this service from<br />
Gingerbread events who made everything pretty. We chose<br />
the platinum package for that extra special intimate wedding.<br />
Two doves<br />
Standing at the door waiting to be greeted by my husband to<br />
be I stood there anxiously, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I<br />
had my son walk me up the aisle which made me so emotional.<br />
As we entered the ceremony, it was beautiful to see how many<br />
guests were there to watch me marry the love of my life. At the<br />
top of the aisle were two little doves in a cage, to me this was<br />
a symbol of love and luck. As I walked up the aisle, I met Scott<br />
at the altar. We gazed into each other's eyes mesmerised that<br />
we were finally getting married. The atmosphere was incredible,<br />
guests had come from far away, we had the best company. It<br />
was everything I had ever dreamt of, so beautiful and elegant.<br />
After the ceremony we all stepped outside. The weather was<br />
glorious, a true summer’s day. We had a dove release,<br />
The night before the ceremony we stayed at the Red Hall Hotel,<br />
we wined and dined with the best man and chief bridesmaid<br />
then later headed off to our own rooms to prepare for the<br />
next day. The next morning, the day of the wedding was an<br />
early start, the bridesmaids and I had a large room to get<br />
dressed in. Whilst the groom and groomsman got ready at the<br />
other side of the hotel. It was such an emotional experience,<br />
all I could do was keep my eye on my dress, it was the most<br />
classy and elegant gown I had set eyes on. I had purchased<br />
two dresses but this one won hands down. I purchased it from<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 149
We wanted to have a different type of entertainment for the<br />
guests, so we hired Simon Levi the saxophonist and he lived<br />
up to our expectations, making our night the best, alongside<br />
the DJ.<br />
"A memory table to enable<br />
them to be there in spirit."<br />
although I have a fear of feathers, we just thought it would be<br />
the perfect touch. We also had a magician to keep the guests<br />
entertained throughout the room turn around. Before the meal<br />
the guests were able to re-enter the room before us, we had<br />
it as a surprise. I opened the curtain and I have never seen<br />
a room dressed as gorgeous in my life. No words will ever<br />
describe how impressed we were, we were left speechless.<br />
We could not have asked for more, the food and service were<br />
exceptional, the speeches, the toast, the cake made by The<br />
Sweetest Thing Cakery, the table décor were just excellent.<br />
After the wedding breakfast we had our photographs done.<br />
Outside in the gardens of the hotel it was picture perfect<br />
and we got the best images. We used a local photographer<br />
called Julianne Noon to capture those precious moments.<br />
We had lots of images done of all our groomsmen,<br />
bridesmaids, the flower girl, family members including our<br />
children and friends. These are moments to look back on.<br />
With 130 day guests celebrating the full day with us, it was<br />
time to squeeze a few more in for the wedding evening.<br />
It was a day of mixed emotions. There was love, happiness and<br />
tears, tears of joy but also tears of sadness that there were a<br />
few people who were no longer with us to join our special day.<br />
To help them be a part of it we arranged a memory table with<br />
their photographs to enable them to be there in spirit to help<br />
us celebrate our special day.<br />
As a married couple we could not imagine living a more<br />
perfect day. Nothing will ever compare to these most magical<br />
moments. From start to finish, everything and everyone involved<br />
in the wedding made it the most treasurable day ever imagined.<br />
Ourselves and our children would like to thank everyone<br />
involved. We would especially like to thank Scotts Mother Linda<br />
as without her this day would not have been possible. We are<br />
eternally grateful.<br />
The wedding celebrations continued as we jetted off to Dubai<br />
then the Maldives to have the romantic honeymoon. We<br />
highly recommend all the companies involved in our wedding<br />
from the planning to the actual event. Becca from The Red<br />
Hall Hotel made our wedding day very special. Thank you.<br />
"Thank you for making our day so special"<br />
CAKE: The Sweetest Thing Cakery<br />
www.sweetestthingcakery.com<br />
DRESS: La Fleur bridal<br />
www.lafleurbridal.co.uk<br />
PHOTOGRAPHER: Julianne Noon Photography<br />
www.facebook.com/JulianneNoonPhotography<br />
VENUE: Red Hall Hotel<br />
www.red-hall.co.uk<br />
VENUE STYLING: Gingerbread events<br />
www.gingerbreadevents.com<br />
150 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
Exclusively yours<br />
Philip Burke Photography<br />
“A romantic hideaway amidst the rolling lancashire<br />
countryside dedicated entirely to weddings”<br />
Mill Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 7HJ<br />
01695 4<strong>23</strong>328 sales@westtower.com westtower.com<br />
COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong> 151
www.creativevenuestyling.co.uk<br />
Unit 2 Baublock, Blackburn Road, Simonstone, BB12 7FS | 01282 476592 / 01282 476597 | sales@creativevenuestyling.co.uk<br />
Photographer : Eighth Avenue Photo & Film<br />
152 COUNTY BRIDES 20<strong>23</strong>/<strong>24</strong>
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