7 minute read
WITH THIS RING, I THEE MED
I thee Med WITH THIS RING,
Vicky and James styled their day with a touch of Mediterranean magic
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Images courtesy of Anna Beth Photography
Vicky and James met through their best friends. Maid-of-honour Poppy met her true love, Mike, many years ago and he’s best friends with James. The pair knew they’d be perfect for each other and how right they were. Vicky says, “As soon as we met that was just it for the both of us. We have the same daft sense of humour and we’re not afraid to be ourselves.”
James proposed in Paris just before the first national lockdown in 2020. They went out to explore the city of love their first evening there and when they got back to the hotel after enjoying a night of champagne, James got down on one knee. “It was so intimate, so perfect, but he was so nervous he asked me to be his husband,” Vicky laughs.
Speaking of their chosen venue, Peckforton Castle, Vicky says, “Well, what wouldn’t attract you to such an amazing venue?” She’d been a bridesmaid there and had dreamed of one day getting married at the venue herself one day. Without viewing any others she took James along and he fell instantly and equally in love with it. “The Great Hall has the most beautiful aisle, it really was a dream come true to walk down it,” Vicky remembers.
Join us as the bride shares her memories of their magical wedding day, 25th March 2022...
SETTING THE SCENE
Vicky’s favourite colour is lemon yellow, which formed the inspiration and palette base for the wedding’s theme. Her favourite flowers are yellow roses, which were also loved by her grandma who sadly passed away before the big day, so Vicky was determined to incorporate them in her memory. Such a sunny palette was also the perfect choice for their early summer date.
The bride tells us more: “I started looking at yellow mood boards on Pinterest for inspiration and when I saw one with splashes of blue in it, I was in love.” So, the couple’s florist included small touches of blue in the bouquets with thistles, alongside yellow and white roses. “She did a gorgeous job,” Vicky shares.
The aisle in the Great Hall that the bride had fallen head over heels for was the part she really wanted to showcase, and was looking for something out of the ordinary that would fit the colour scheme. She chose lemon trees and the Italian theme blossomed from there. “Our venue stylist, Thornton Events, really went above and beyond for us. The team sourced the lemon trees especially for us and I can’t thank them enough. They spent hours on the phone with me talking through my dream aisle.” The end result was showstopping, featuring four lemon trees with candles hanging from them to create a beautiful romantic setting. White and yellow petals lined the aisle with floating candles and green garlands adorning the signing table. Pea lights added the perfect finishing touch to the back for a warm, romantic glow.
LOOKING THE PART
Vicky’s gorgeous dress was actually a combination of two Enzoani gowns. She explains, “The neckline on Odette suited me better but I was in love with the long sparkly train on Nina, so I bought the latter and had flowers sewn onto the neckline with off-the-shoulder sleeves.”
The bride wore her mum’s diamond earrings (something borrowed) and a family heirloom emerald trilogy ring (something old). She wore her hair up with a gorgeous accessory to show off her veil, which was a single layer with touches of sparkle running through it. She then switched up her look for the evening, taking her hair down for a more relaxed and refreshed look. “My hair and make-up artists were honestly amazing, they were on hand all day if I needed a touch up, and they were such a 33
laugh. I can’t recommend them enough.”
The groom wore the same blue suit as his groomsmen. But while he accessorised with an ivory paisley waistcoat and tie to make him stand out, they wore grey waistcoats with blue ties. “The groomsmen looked so handsome and the colours matched perfectly with the bridesmaids’ dresses and bouquets,” Vicky says.
The bride tribe were dressed in dusky blue dresses from ChiChi London. There was a bow attachment to the side, which pulled in at the waist and suited all heights. “They looked stunning,” Vicky remembers. The maid-of-honour wore a sparkly blue dress allowing her to stand out and the flowergirl had the same silky blue dress as the bridesmaids on the top half with a tutu on the bottom.
TIME TO CELEBRATE
As they’d decided to book Your Singing Waiters to entertain during the wedding breakfast the newlyweds opted to have the speeches before the food. “We were naughty and went for the most awkward scenario they offered,” Vicky tells us. They were present for the whole food service and assumed the roles of a member of waiting staff on her first day and the head waiter watching over her. As he worked the room he made remarks to his new staff member and the bride and groom could see their nearest and dearest falling for the act more and more with each course. Then, after dessert, things reached a climax when the trainee dropped something and the double act had a blazing row right in front of the top table before storming off. “People’s faces were a picture when the two came back singing and they realised they’d been fooled! Everyone was up dancing and singing – Your Singing Waiters were brilliant. I would highly recommend them,” Vicky shares.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
“We were both so nervous,” Vicky remembers. “People tell you to take it all in, but it feels impossible on the day. We both wish we were less affected by nerves, but they didn’t spoil the day, it was magical. We took time out just the two of us and went for a walk around the castle. It was lovely to have a moment of peace away from the madness of it all. The best moment though was definitely when we first laid eyes on each other at opposite ends of the aisle.
A special thanks goes out to The Tall Toastmaster. “He really helped to make our day extra special and helped to organise us with regards timing. He made us feel so at ease on the day, we can’t thank him enough.”
THE PERFECT GETAWAY
The newlyweds headed to Whatley Manor in the Cotswolds for a mini-moon break straight after the wedding to wind down, and spent their main honeymoon in St Lucia. “It was nice to wait as it gave us something to look forward to after the postwedding blues had kicked in,” Vicky says.
ROLL CREDITS
Venue, Peckforton Castle, www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk | Photographer, Anna Beth Wedding Photography, https://annabeth.photos | Venue styling, Thornton Events, www.thorntonevents.com | Dress and accessories, Wedding Belles, https://weddingbellesbrides.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, Chi Chi London | Hair and make-up, Nala & Knot, www.nalaandknot.co.uk | Suits, Dyfed Menswear Newport, www.dyfedmenswear.co.uk | Cake, That Little Cake Place, www.thatlittlecakeplace.co.uk | Flowers, Blooms Floristry, www.bloomsfloristry.com | Stationery, Paul Cooper | Toastmaster, The Tall Toastmaster, www.thetalltoastmaster.co.uk Entertainment, Craig Owen Music, http://craigowenmusic.com | Hipswing, www.hipswing.co.uk | Your Singing Waiters, www.yoursingingwaiters.com | Photo booth, Finesse Photos, www.finessephotos.co.uk
