7 minute read
ONCE UPON A TIME
time... Once upon a
Joe and Sophie celebrated their fairytale-themed wedding surrounded by loved ones
Images courtesy of Kathryn Edwards Photography
Joe and Sophie love story started at university, where they met through mutual friends. After a night out, the pair spent hours walking around campus together in the cold. They ended up sitting on a bench and speaking about their shared interests. Sophie says, “As cheesy as it sounds, we both knew from the start that we were a perfect match.”
Joe proposed to Sophie at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, right in front of Hogwarts. The location was very appropriate as they’re both huge Harry Potter fans. She says, “It was such a surprise, even though we had spoken about getting married before.”
SETTING THE SCENE
The pair set the wedding date for the 7th August 2021 and set off to find the perfect wedding venue. After looked at many gorgeous venues throughout the Midlands, none of them compared to the Trent Building at the University of Nottingham. Sophie says, “For years, we’d spoken about getting married at the venue as we both studied at the university. Plus, it’s right by the lake where we first got together – so it held a lot of significance!”
The couple settled on a tartan colour scheme, which featured blue, dark green and burgundy hues. These bold colours complimented each other perfectly and gold accents tied everything together perfectly.
The couple spent a lot of time searching for centrepieces as it was important that each one was eye-catching and represented their day. The bride says, “We decided to have a small stack of vintage books that matched our colour scheme on each table with a few tall candles in gold brass candlesticks. To bring a more fairytale element, we included a few touches of greenery.” The table numbers featured different quotes from books and the pair’s venue stylist created the perfect finishing touches such as the chalkboard-style table plan.
To keep a lasting memento of the day, the lovebirds opted to have artificial flowers at their wedding. The bride selected a bouquet from their florist’s website as well as two matching table pieces for the top table and buttonholes for the groomsmen and the couple’s dads.
Strawberry Cupcakes created the three-tiered cake, which featured raspberry and white chocolate flavours. Sophie says, “We originally looked at a selection of small desserts like cupcakes or doughnuts, but eventually we decided a traditional wedding cake would be best. We didn’t have our hearts set on a particular design and ended up choosing one with a beautiful-marbled effect.”
The venue provided all the catering throughout the day, and the couple had the option of a set meal with table service or a carvery-style buffet. The pair opted for the second option to ensure guests received food they enjoyed, which went down a treat.
LOOKING THE PART
When it came to finding the perfect gown, Sophie didn’t get as many opportunities to try on dresses as she would have liked because of Covid-19 restrictions. From the start of the planning process, she knew a ballgown-styled dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves and gold detailing would be the perfect option. She says, “I never expected to find the exact dress I pictured in the first shop I went to – I knew I had found the one as soon as I saw it.”
The bride added a fingertip-length veil to add a hint of shimmer and a tiara, drop earrings and a gold tennis bracelet to finish off her look.
The groom wore a three-piece suit and a tie to match the colour scheme, while the groomsmen each picked a two-piece navy suit – so there was a little variation in cut and colour. Joe stood out from the others with a waistcoat and a larger buttonhole.
Each bridesmaid could pick their own dress, as long as it was floor-length and dark green – different tones and styles were encouraged. The bride says, “It was important that they picked a style they’d be most comfortable in; they’ve all got great taste and looked incredible on the day!”
TIME TO CELEBRATE
The couple hired a selection of lawn games to keep guests entertained, which allowed them to mingle and catch up. Sophie says, “The biggest hit was the giant Jenga, which created some fantastic photos!”
A talented string quartet played during the ceremony, which helped create the perfect moment when Sophie walked down the aisle. The company also played throughout the drinks reception and made the atmosphere even more romantic.
A DJ played in the evening to get the party started and guests loved the magic mirror photo booth, which provided the perfect souvenirs for guests. Sophie comments, “Our DJ was great and we asked guests to provide song requests on the invitations. The man running the photo booth was fun and charismatic; he brought plenty of props that made for great photos!”
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
A wedding is always full of lovely moments to look back on and remember – a huge reason why wedding photography is so important. Joe and Sophie couldn’t have been happier on the day, despite being a little bit nervous in the morning, and everything went so smoothly. Being around family and friends they hadn’t seen for so long because of Covid-19 restrictions made the day even more special. Jo from My Perfect Ceremony created the perfect ceremony that will always stand out to the pair.
Some of the bride’s younger cousins made great friends with one of the wedding planners and helped coordinate the day by escorting guests to their tables for the meal – they did a great job! Sophie says, “One of the best parts about the wedding was not having to worry about anything because Hannah, the main wedding planner from Black Pearl Weddings & Events, did a fantastic job. We don’t know how we would have coordinated all the suppliers arriving in the morning without her.”
HONEYMOON
After a busy few months planning their wedding, the couple deserved some relaxation time to reminisce their day. The pair’s original plan was to go to Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, but they decided to wait another year due to the lingering restrictions in Scotland at the time. Instead, the lovebirds decided to go to Anglesey in Wales.
“Our advice for other couples would be to get someone to help plan and coordinate all of the suppliers on the day. Also, use a wedding website to streamline RSVPs and collate all the information for the day.” – Sophie
THE GRANARY AT FAWSLEY - WEDDING VENUE
The Granary at Fawsley, a stunning exclusive use barn wedding venue for 20-150 guests. Beautiful countryside location offering unrivalled photo opportunities. Fully licensed for ceremonies including outdoors. Onsite accommodation for up to 20 guests. Open events held monthly, check our website for dates or contact us for a private show round.
THE CITY ROOMS IS AN EXCLUSIVE-USE VENUE SITUATED IN THE HEART OF LEICESTER CITY CENTRE.
Built in 1792 and boasting a Grade I listed status, The City Rooms is steeped in Georgian history, which is apparent from your very first steps inside. High ceilings, vast windows and grand chandeliers provide the perfect backdrop for your special occasion, with a magnificent Ballroom spanning the entirety of the first floor and accommodating up to 200 guests. Combine these elegant surroundings with our professional and experienced team and we can guarantee your wedding day will be filled with memories to last a lifetime.
Exclusive-use venue | Three function suites | Four boutique bedrooms | Stunning bar onsite | Expert wedding coordinators | Civil ceremonies
Contact us to book a private showround. Call: 0116 251 5337 Email: info@thecityrooms.co.uk Visit: www.thecityrooms.co.uk
JOE AND SOPHIE’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK
Venue, www.nottinghamconferences.co.uk/Weddings/Weddings.aspx | Photographer, www.kathrynedwardsphotography.com Bride’s dress, www.facebook.com/Leadornments | Hair and make-up, www.rachelliney.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, ASOS, JJ’s House, John Lewis & Partners | Groom’s suit, Marks & Spencer | Cake, www.strawberrycupcakes.co.uk | Flowers, www.silkinfinityflowers.co.uk Stationery, www.etsy.com/shop/inspirationidodesign | Entertainment, www.nottsdj.co.uk | Wedding planner, https://blackpearlweddingsandeventsmidlands.co.uk | Venue stylist, www.nerissaeveweddings.com | Videographer, www.brightandbeautifulfilms.com | Magic mirror, www.mirrormirrorphotobooth.co.uk | String quartet, www.bowbelles-stringquartet.co.uk Alterations, https://tailoring-alterations-nottingham.co.uk | Celebrant, http://myperfectceremony.co.uk
