GOING FOR GREEN

Katie and Tom’s venue styling was inspired by their love of houseplants

Images courtesy of Blue Bug Photography

Katie and Tom met at their university Freshers’ Week and by the following year they’d decided to move in together, just the two of them. Tom got down on one knee and proposed to Katie on holiday in Greece seven years later.

“We feel incredibly lucky that we decided on September 2021 as our wedding date. It was our 10-year anniversary and we thought it would give us lots of time to save some money,” Katie says. Little did they know the disruption the intervening pandemic would have caused them if they’d chosen an earlier date. “Somehow, everything worked out completely in our favour,” Katie continues.

The couple adore North Wales. Katie has holidayed around Conwy since she was tiny and since being together she and Tom have spent many a week walking the hills in and around Snowdonia. So, the area holds a special place in their hearts. “When deciding on a venue we wanted to choose somewhere that showed off the area to our friends and family and we were so impressed with Plas Maenan that we didn’t really consider anywhere else,” Katie explains.

Join us now, as the bride tells us more about the big day itself...

BOTANICAL CHIC

Katie and Tom have over 60 houseplants and these served as their inspiration for their venue styling. Table and place names matched the invitations and order-of-the-day, designed in a botanical style with foliage. The tables were all named after various types of houseplants such as pothos, fern and palm. Other venue décor, as well as the centrepieces, was kept simple and classic, using candles, glass jars, foliage and plants. And the wedding favours? Why houseplants all round, of course!

The beautiful bouquets, buttonholes and corsages were predominantly made up of foliage including eucalyptus, pine and ferns, with small white wax flowers and navy thistles dispersed throughout. Katie remembers, “Amanda and Jane at Plas Maenan went above and beyond in decorating the venue for us, with green and white everywhere, and even a blossom tree at the top table. It was truly perfect.”

“Attend a wedding fair early on in the planning process. This way you can tick off all the suppliers in one go and get them booked well in advance.” – Katie

Katie wore an off-the-shoulder, champagnecoloured lace mermaid-style dress with a bustle. “I wanted a fitted gown and knew as soon as I tried it on that it was the one,” she tells us. She kept her jewellery simple and elegant with a pearl necklace and earrings, and completed the look with a pair of navy heels for a pop of colour.

The groom was dressed in a navy check suit with white shirt and brown leather shoes, accessorised with a gold tie and pocket square. His groomsmen were dressed to match with smaller buttonholes, which allowed Tom to stand out.

Katie’s sister Becky reported for bridesmaid duties and chose a navy off-the-shoulder dress to complement the palette and the silhouette of Katie’s gown.

The wedding rings are particularly special as they were handmade by the couple, while being overseen by jeweller Amber CooperGreen, and old friend of Tom’s.

MUSIC TO MY EARS

Piano and vocal duo Carly & Russ performed during the ceremony and Katie walked down the aisle to their rendition of The Book Of Love by Peter Gabriel. “It was a true highlight for everyone, Carly has the voice of an angel,” Katie remembers. For the evening a DJ provided the music and was a great success.

“Have a whole wedding weekend if you can as the day itself will fly by. Splashing out on a full two days means you actually have time to relax and take it all in.” – Tom

MEMORABLE MOMENT

Katie recalls, “Just before the ceremony, I was in the bridal suite looking out at the view and pulling myself together. I looked down and there was Tom, outside the main entrance doing the exact same thing. My hair and make-up artist quickly shouted, ‘Don’t turn around!’ This moment of both taking some deep breaths, together yet apart, was very special.”

KATIE AND TOM’S SUPPLIERS

Venue and catering, Plas Maenan Country House, www.plas-maenan-hotel.co.uk | Photographer, Blue Bug Photography, www.bluebugphotos.com | Hair and make-up, Cassie M Bridal, www.cassiem.co.uk | Suits, Moss Bros | Cake, Waitrose | Flowers, Scent With Love, https://scentwithloveflowers.co.uk | Wedding rings, Amber Cooper-Green, www.ambercooper-green.com | Videographer, Woodpecker Films, www.woodpeckerfilms.co.uk | Entertainment, Carly & Russ, www.carlyandruss.co.uk | Stationery, Zazzle

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