WEDDINGS Sarah and Joe held their beautiful wedding at Stapleford Park.

A Country House Wedding

From an island paradise to a country house hotel spending time with family and friends. Celebrating their day together ensured this month’s couple, Sarah and Joe, enjoyed marrying at Stapleford Park...

Wedding Photographer: Rachael Connerton Photography, 01664 822342, www.rachaelconnertonphotography.co.uk

SOMETIMES a flash of inspiration is all you need... and so it was when this month’s bride caught a glimpse of what would become their dream wedding reception venue.

Sarah is a solicitor specialising in insolvency work, whilst Joe works for his local hospital trust as an innovation project manager. Both are busy and so found the internet a boon for finding the love of their lives, especially as they were looking for someone beyond those in their workplace. Because of the hours they work, the legal profession can end up being a little inward-looking when it comes to romance, and lawyers are often to be found examining one another’s briefs.

“It really was refreshing to meet someone from out of my industry,” says Sarah. “It’s nice to come home but not bring the job home. We think it’s important for a couple to leave work at work and just enjoy home life together.”

That’s probably advice worth listening to, as six months into their relationship, in summer 2017, the couple were already moving in with one another and knew that they were just right together.

“A year later, we booked a holiday to Majorca. Joe knows the area well as his family owned a property there, and he was really keen – suspiciously keen, in hindsight – to show me around his island paradise.”

“His proposal really did catch me completely off-guard. He had even asked my dad for my hand in marriage, which made it even more special. Looking back I should have known something was going on because when we went for a walk along the edge of the sea one day, he insisted on carrying our bag... as any woman will tell you that’s entirely unusual!” “He dropped down on one knee and took my breath away. We just sat for a while by the sea, in the warm air. It was just so serene.”

“When it came to choosing a venue we really made the most of the job. We were quite sure we didn’t want a church wedding, so we enjoyed looking around a number of places, hoping to find somewhere with enough accommodation for guests from all over the UK with space for a ceremony followed by a big reception afterwards.”

“I always joke with my father that it’s his fault the wedding cost so much... as he suggested we visited Stapleford Park and when we saw its orangery, there was nowhere else; I knew we had to get married there.”

“Having fallen in love with Stapleford Park, we attended a wedding show there and met our photographer Rachael Connerton. She’s so bubbly, friendly, and as soon as we saw her photos we knew that she was really talented. Every time I look through my album I’m instantly taken back to the day.”

“A number of my friends had already married and so I’d seen the inside of quite a few bridal boutiques. But it’s much more difficult to choose your own dress than someone else’s, and I was really undecided until I visited Tiffany Jordan. They’re a mother and daughter team, and they helped to create an overall look by bringing out a veil and accessories. As soon as I had the help and the other elements of the outfit, I was really happy and knew I’d found the dress.”

“The bridesmaids’ dresses were easier to find as we’d opted for a blush pink colour scheme, which we carried through in the groomsmens’ buttonholes. The flowers were created by Sophie’s Flower Company.” >>

WEDDING SUPPLIERS

SARAH & JOE

Wedding Venue: Stapleford Park, 01572 787000, www.staplefordpark.com. Wedding Dress: Tiffany Jordan, 01332 341318, www.tiffanyjordan.co.uk. Wedding Flowers: Sophie’s Flower Company, sophiesflowerco.co.uk. Wedding Entertainment: Bow Bells String Quartet, bowbelles-stringquartet.co.uk. Party Band: www.apollo-music-net. Wedding Photographer: Rachael Connerton Photography, 01664 822342, rachaelconnertonphotography.co.uk.

>> “Her creations are absolutely out of this world and she really is a floral genius! Sophie also helped to decorate the Orangery for our ceremony and our reception. Really we just wanted to let the beauty of the room come through quite naturally.” “I’d always wanted a string quartet and so we hired Bow Bells to play during our ceremony and drinks reception. Joe is a big Manchester United fan, and he and my sister kept threatening me with red footballthemed bridesmaids’ dresses and a football cake. They resisted that temptation but as we were having our photographs taken, the string quartet did play the Match of the Day theme music as we walked back into the hall, which caused much amusement!”

“We were both shattered by the build-up to the wedding and the excitement of the day itself, so though we’ve not had a full honeymoon yet, we’ve at least been able to enjoy a week away in the Cotswolds, as a hotel called Thyme, which was really calming. We went on lots of walks and just enjoyed each others’ company.” For us, the day was about being able to base ourselves at a really special venue and having a day that ran smoothly so everyone could relax and enjoy themselves. That would be my advice to other brides, alongside choosing a photographer who can take lots of candid photos of people enjoying themselves. Once the day is over, those are the photos that will ensure you look back on a really enjoyable day, and smile. n

Images by Rachael Connerton Photography, call 01664 822342, or see www.rachaelconnertonphotography.co.uk

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A RAINBOW of CLUTCH BAGS

1: Bottega Veneta, medium leather clutch, made in Italy, £2275. 2: Bobbies, Savres wallet bag, hand-made in Portugal, £165. 3: Loewe, yellow leather clutch, £1350. 4: L.K.Bennett, Dora suede envelope clutch bag, £179. 5: Zadig & Voltaire, leather shoulder bag,100% leather, £480. 6: Mulberry, Amberley silky calf leather clutch bag, £625. 7: Jimmy Choo, Palace mini purple glittered cross-body bag, £495. 8: Stelar, Lilis woven leather clutch bag, £645. n

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Achieving a Summer Tan

THIS MONTH WE’RE ON A MISSION TO ENSURE YOU’RE GLOWING ALL SUMMER LONG, WITH UV PROTECTION AND MOISTURISATION COURTESY OF SOME LUXURY SUN-KISSED PRODUCTS

1. Protection from the sun and a gorgeous glow...

If summer foundation leaves your skin feel greasy and flat, we’ve an alternative which offers SPF50+ sun protection, and uncompromised beauty. Shiseido’s Sports BB sunscreen is ideal for outdoor activities or to make applying summer makeup easier. It delivers a cooling, replenishing sensation, it’s ultra-compact, practical and helps to reduce the appearance of sweat to keep you looking fresh, £34/12g

5. Sun protection all summer long from Sisley...

Sisley’s Age Minimising Global Sun Care provides high protection (SPF30) from the sun for an age minimising global sun care treatment to prevent wrinkles, brown spots, dehydration and loss of firmness, leaving the skin with a luminous and long-lasting tan. Powerful active ingredients help protect the skin with a combination of antioxidants and solar filters for protection against UVA and UVB rays, £198/50ml.

2. Sunny Honey...

If you’re dreaming of that ‘out-of-office’ glow, Coco & Eve’s Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam is available in three natural shades, each with a fast-drying, non-sticky formula that grants a believable radiance and a natural looking golden tan, £25.90/200ml.

Fairy Godmother Shimmering Body Oil Gel gives you an all-over, golden shimmer that sinks in and nurtures the skin with glow-boosting antioxidants. It’s supercharged with Vitamin C, and CoQ10 provides antioxidant support, there’s a lovely tropical-scent to it as well, £42/100ml.

3. Tan-Luxe Glyco...

Enjoy a refreshing spritz with Tan-Luxe’s Glyco Water exfoliating tan remover, cleanser and primer. Spritz directly onto dry skin, rub into circular motions, leave on for five minutes then rinse off to leave skin flawless and hydrated, £24/200ml.

4. Fairy Godmother... 6. Self-tan with skin repairing qualities...

Tan Luxe’s Super Glow Night Repair is a dynamic oil and elixir duo that allows you to create a custom cocktail – resulting in a nourishing night mask proven to help minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst delivering a gradual glow by morning. Helps regenerate skin and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting a youthful appearance, £40.

n All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, please note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.