A FAMILY UNIT

Matt and Michelle Vosper tied the knot at The Arches, Dean Clough Mill with their two daughters, Lauren and Fern with them every step of the way

Images courtesy of Photography by Kathryn

Michelle and Matt have been together for 17 years! Too busy having fun, travelling and building a home together, marriage wasn’t a priority. However, that changed once their youngest daughter, Lauren was born in 2014 and the idea of becoming a family unit and sharing the Vosper surname became so appealing. On Michelle’s 40th birthday, Matt proposed. Pregnant with their second daughter, Fern, Michelle excitedly accepted and wedding planning commenced!

Having been postponed once due to Covid, Matt and Michelle finally said their vows on 23rd October, 2021 at The Arches, Dean Clough Mill, Halifax.

We loved The Arches from the minute we walked in on one of their wedding open days. The canopy of lights in the venue just brings it to life. For favours, we did personalised Mr & Mrs Vosper sparklers which the guests lit for a sparkler arch outside in the evening.

Mutedowl did all our wedding stationery for the day – a black wire grid with some simple foliage. The black and white popped brilliantly against the floral styling on the day. The campervan photobooth gave our guests – especially our younger guests three hours of true creative fun!

Emma the Florist is just amazing. Her and her partner Giles were foraging the week leading up to the wedding, the tree branches in the large windows created such gorgeous shadows in the low autumnal light.

Stacy from Smithy’s Events provided a children’s games area including gnome toss, hoopla and beat the buzzer – we had seen this set up at an open day for The Arches. The space allowed a dedicated area especially for our younger guests. Sian, our wedding planner also offered childcare. She was brilliant! She did a combination of on-the-day planning which took the pressure off me in the weeks up to wedding and met with me in advance to help Fern, my youngest, get to know her and help me relax on the day.

Matts grandad’s war suitcase was turned into a gift card box, with a photo of him and his army friends on show – he was a brilliant photographer and this was his role in the army – it was a nice family touch.

Mark the Head Chef for The Arches is brilliant, there’s a wide range of menu options to choose from or you can create your own suggestions. The evening food option was also really popular – mini dishes which people could just accept standing whilst enjoying the evening reception.

Matt was so impressed with Joshua Adams Menswear, Cleckheaton, and after a couple of trips had picked himself a gorgeous Marc Jacobs suit in grey with a faint rust check. He chose a black waistcoat, different to the groomsmen, and a rust tie.

I chose the Octovia gown from designer Rebecca Ingram with the detachable train. We bought the dress from The Bridal Boutique Baildon – again wanting to keep as many suppliers local to where we live as it’s a fantastic village.

I loved the autumnal mix match look from the start of my Instagram trawl of wedding looks. I had three adult bridesmaids – one wearing cream, one in chianti red and one in rust orange. Our two daughters wore matching flower girl dresses.

We had Ash Francis booked throughout the day. He’s an acoustic singer and guitarist – he played pre-ceremony, ceremony, the reception session as well as our first dance – You’ve got the Love by the Florence and Machine.

MICHELLE’S TOP TIP! It will all come together as you hope and plan, so try to enjoy the process and most definitely enjoy the day – take a moment just you and your partner to look around and smile at having those you care for with you.

During the wedding reception, we booked Mark Waddington, an upclose magician. Mark moved around all the long banqueting tables as we enjoyed our wedding breakfast.

I’m very chatty and confident talking in front of people and had been winding Matt up that I wanted to say something during the speeches, when really Lauren had been practicing a lovely reading, We Want to be your Penguin, at school. She read it perfectly to Matt – it was our way of saying we would always be together as a family. Matt loved it!

MATT AND MICHELLE’S LITTLE WHITE BOOK

Venue & catering, https://thearchesdeanclough.com| Photographer, https://www.photographybykathryn.com Dress, https://thebridalboutiquebaildon.com| Hair stylist, https://carolinelouisebridalhair.co.uk| Make-up, https://www.faces-mua.co.uk Suits, www.joshuaadams.co.uk| Cake, www.threelittlebirdsbakery.co.uk| Flowers, https://emmaweddingsandevents.co.uk Transport, http://compasstransfers.co.uk| Stationery, www.instagram.com/mutedowl| Décor, https://typicaltype.co.uk| Wedding rings, https://dotthejewellers.com| Wedding planner & childcare, www.chaplinevents.co.uk| Magician, www.mark-waddington.co.uk Wedding singer, www.ashfrancismusic.co.uk | Band, https://www.jonnyrossmusic.com