My Perfect Wedding Blog Series

Where did your wedding take place, why did you choose that venue, and how big was your wedding party?

Our wedding took place on Sunday 17th July 2011 at the Grange Hotel in Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria. We wanted a beautiful setting in the Lake District mainly because my American family were so excited to come to England for the first time and had visions of rolling hills and countryside filled with sheep, and I couldn't bear to let them down by taking them to the city!



We visited a couple of places in the Lakes, but when we went to the Grange Hotel it just felt right. The hotel was beautiful, well maintained and a really great mix of a stunning Victorian heart with modern updates and additions.



The Grange Hotel has great views from its hilltop position, and near a gorgeous little town with restaurants and shops. It was also a practical choice since it was within walking distance from a train station with direct links to the airport (for all our wayward travellers), and the best value for money venue we had seen. 



Our wedding party was constructed in an American fashion with a maid of honour, best man, four bridesmaids, five groomsmen, a flower girl (and a partridge in a pear tree). We had about 63 guests made up of family and close friends, which was all the more impressive since almost half came all the way from America for the occasion.



Did you have a theme for your wedding, and what sort of look and feel did you want to create?

Since we have been together for over 9 years and spent almost half that time living in separate countries, travel has been a huge part of our identity as a couple, and although we didn't initially decide on a theme, this organically came about throughout the planning process.



We had invitations that resembled airline boarding passes, named our tables after places we had been together, had a world map seating plan, luggage tag name cards, a suitcase cake, and postcards with a red English post box in lieu of a traditional guest book.



The inspiration for our colour scheme, shades of blue, was the ocean. The bridesmaids wore deep blue to match the venue decorations provided by Ambience, and the groomsmen a softer blue that tied in with the blue delphiniums in the bridesmaids bouquets provided by Grange Flower Service.



We really wanted to create a fun and laid back feel since our wedding day was the first time our families met and we didn't need unnecessary tension. We did this by keeping the day relaxed with minimal formalities and a really great party atmosphere in the evening.



Please tell us about the running order and format of your day, including details of any live music or entertainment.

Me and my bridesmaids stayed in a stunning suite at the Grange Hotel the night before the wedding, and were woken up early by heavy rainfall (not exactly ideal!) to be beautified by Jo from JoCoole Makeup.



We were served a breakfast large enough for an army on silver platters as we got ready. Despite getting up at about 6.00 am the morning seemed to go really quickly and before I knew it, it was time to get dressed!



In the meantime Darren arrived at the hotel to help set everything up, check everything was running smoothly, get the groomsmen ready, himself ready, and greet guests as they arrived; he definitely had the harder job!



As the guests arrived for our 1.00 pm ceremony, a string quartet serenaded them with beautiful classical tunes and continued the music through the ceremony and afterwards as guests mingled. It was really important to us to have live music as it really creates an atmosphere.



The ceremony was a quick 30 minutes and passed in somewhat of a blur. It wasn't until we walked out of the room as husband and wife that we really got a chance to look at each other; and we both smiled!



Since the weather was still a bit iffy the guests were served Pimms and canapés in the lobby area while we sneaked off to have photographs taken between showers.



Around 4.00 pm we set up a receiving line to greet all of our guests as they entered the reception for the wedding breakfast. We decided to have the speeches and toast first so everyone could relax and enjoy the food. My sister who is usually so strong surprised everyone by breaking down in tears and was unable to finish what she had planned to say; there wasn't a dry eye in the house!



After the meal it was time for the party! We kicked off the evening with our first dance to Snow Patrol's “Chasing Cars” played by the fabulous Munch.



After that Munch kept everyone entertained not only with their great tunes but with their hats, which became much abused props on the dance floor.



An enthusiastic groomsman even got in with the drummer, and I believe I saw him strumming a guitar once or twice. Even when the band finished playing they were persuaded into an encore by an eager crowd, and then played some iPod tunes for those that couldn't give up the dance floor.



How big an impact did live entertainment have on your wedding day and would you recommend it to others?

We are so glad that we chose to book Munch! We had initially planned to hire a DJ purely based on budgetary constraints but when we heard the demo by Munch we started to realise how much more a live band could offer.



We stretched the budget a bit in order to make the booking and we've never regretted that decision. In fact, we're so glad we did as the evening reception was amazing and provided some of the most memorable moments of the day, and we wouldn't have changed that for the world.



We would definitely recommend that people consider live entertainment; it is well worth the cost and a great band creates an atmosphere that a DJ never could.



What were your favourite moments of the day?

It's so hard to choose! For me, personally, the best moments were those where the pressure was off and you could just relax and enjoy being married and being with friends and family. That started the moment we walked out together as husband and wife and continued through the evening.



I think we can also both say that we loved seeing how well our families mixed together and how much fun everyone was having.



What pearls of wisdom or words of advice would you extend to future brides/grooms who are planning their perfect wedding?

I think the best advice is to remember to enjoy your wedding - all parts of it. In the planning stages, it should be a fun time to spend together and not something to stress or argue about. On the day itself you have to try not to worry about something going wrong or what other people are thinking, and enjoy your day. If you're having a great time then chances are it's because everyone else is too.

 

Where did your wedding take place, why did you choose that venue, and how big was your wedding party?

Our wedding ceremony took place at St James Church in Taxal, Whaley Bridge, followed by a posh marquee reception at my aunt and uncle’s farm, Lane Head Farm.



Did you have a theme for your wedding, and what sort of look and feel did you want to create?

We had a vintage garden party theme, hiring in vintage crockery, table cloths and vintage lace napkins.



Our flowers were amazing – organic wild flowers grown in Shropshire by The Thoughtful Flower Company.




We also had vintage tractors to bring all of our 80 guests from the church to the house.



Please tell us about the running order and format of your day, including details of any live music or entertainment.

At 2.15 pm our guests were collected from the hotel that most of them were staying at and brought by mini bus to St James Church.



Solo singer and guitarist Kevin Stanley was at the church on their arrival and performed some of his own original music and some cover songs.



Flowers hung outside the church, and we had flowers at pew ends and a massive flower display in the font.



I arrived at 3.00 pm and walked down the aisle to a song written especially for us by Kevin Stanley.



Our church service consisted of three hymns, a reading, and a poem written for us by a friend.



We signed the wedding register and left church to more live music.



Vintage tractors with straw bails for seats took us from the church to the farm were we were greeted by Pimm’s and Mojito’s for welcome drinks, plus savoury and sweet scones.



Kevin Stanley provided live music in the background, and a Basil Faulty impersonator mingled with guests and generally gave everybody a good laugh. This meant we had no low point of the day. 



Tables in the marquee were set up in long rows and were named after married couples at our wedding.



The table plan was in a flower basket for each row, and when guests went into the main marquee they were given a glass of champagne with a strawberry at the bottom.



The flowers were amazing, spilling out of vintage tea cups and teapots.



Guests found their places at tables, which also had a picture taken at the wedding of the couple whose table they were sat at. There was information about the married couples and also questions to get guests talking.



We did speeches before the meal, including me – the bride. As my father passed away due to lung disease, we gave lung foundation pins to the men and explained why. Everybody wore them in remembrance of my dad’s life.



The ladies were given lavender filled hearts made out of vintage cloth which you could smell for miles. Dinner was a barbecue with lots to choose from, and some fabulous desserts.



Afterwards, the Basil Faulty impersonator came back in and got people up to audition for Manuel roles, and we all ended up singing "We’re all off to sunny Spain, viva Espana!" It was such a good laugh.



Then the room was emptied while it was turned around for the evening entertainment. Mark and I go to ballroom dancing so our first dance was a waltz to Songbird by Eva Cassidy, and then our band hit it!



We booked 4 piece rock and pop band, The Fubars, who had the place jumping! It was Glasto weekend, and it felt like it on our wedding day - they were amazing!



The mini-buses came back to collect everybody at midnight and the party continued back at the hotel until 4.00 am in the morning! We loved it all.



How big an impact did live entertainment have on your wedding day and would you recommend it to others?

I would definitely recommend live entertainment. Our biggest budget by far was entertainment, but it was so worth it. Yes, the wedding is about you two, but why have loads of guests there if you’re not going to show them a good time! The impact that live entertainment had on our wedding day was massive – to walk down the aisle to a song written for us, and to have all your friends dancing and singing at the end of the night with the band was just the best!



What were your favourite moments of the day?

The church, we all loved it. Our vicar knows us well, and we had written our own vows involving our daughter. It felt so personal, and not stuffy like many church weddings can be.



I loved watching everybody at the end of the night punching the air to the music, but more than anything was when Mark cried during his speech, which was very unlike him, he was just so loved up!



What pearls of wisdom or words of advice would you extend to future brides/grooms who are planning their perfect wedding?

Don't worry about the weather - I stressed over it forever and ever. It rained most of the day and we had tractors and a barbecue, but you honestly wouldn't have noticed. We had umbrellas, and everybody wanted a tractor ride regardless of the rain, plus it kept us all together and made some great shots.



Spend a long time with your photographer and don't worry about how many questions you ask. Jim Hunter Photography was brilliant from the rehearsal shoot to trash the dress. He has been an absolute rock, and he was so calm on the day!



We made lots of stuff ourselves. We even had a real apple tree as a wish tree. It's amazing when all the planning comes together.



Make sure you use an agent when booking entertainment as it takes so much of a weight off your mind. Nick at Alive Network was the best! We had been let down by a band we had booked ourselves, so we weren’t prepared to take that risk again. Nick sorted out booking The Fubars for us, and it all went without a hitch! Cheers Nick x.

Where did your wedding take place, why did you choose that venue, and how big was your wedding party?

We got married at my parents’ local church, St Alban’s in Wickersley, where they were married and I was christened. Our wedding reception was held at Whirlowbrook Hall in Sheffield and we had 120 people for the entire day.


 
Did you have a theme for your wedding, and what sort of look and feel did you want to create?

We themed the wedding as a “Proper Yorkshire Wedding”. I am a Yorkshire lass at heart, despite living in London, and wanted to create a fun, down to earth day that really reflected who we are and the things we love.



Our save the date was a Yorkshire Tea teabag and our invitation was a tea towel.



We ran the Yorkshire theme through the day with lots of little touches like steak and Yorkshire ale pie with good old Henderson’s Relish on the side. Yorkshire “saying” table names printed onto tea pots and, of course, flat caps for the boys!



It’s great when we go round to people’s houses now and see them drying the pots with our faces!



Please tell us about the running order and format of your day, including details of any live music or entertainment.

We brought a little bit of London to Yorkshire, arriving at the church on a traditional London bus. The wedding service was traditional and beautiful, ending with the church bells and tonnes of confetti!



Some of our closest family and friends then piled on the London bus with us for champagne and no-nonsense Yorkshire Crisps as we drove to the reception venue on the other side of Sheffield.



While the guests walked up the winding drive to Whirlowbrook House (which actually forms part of the Yorkshire border walk) for Yorkshire pudding, Yorki rarebit snacks and more bubbles, Leon and I took a short drive out to the Derbyshire dales for photographs on the stunning moors.



We did get a few odd looks turning up at the hikers’ car park in wedding clothes, but it was certainly worth it!



We were welcomed back to the venue by the sun coming out, our guests cheering on the terrace, and a lovely surprise of two kite archways. (All of the guests had designed a kite and my auntie and uncle had joined them together into flying arches). Absolutely perfect!



After a few lawn games and lots more bubbles we sat down to some hearty Yorkshire grub and some truly excellent speeches - including some random celebrity “telegrams” that our best men had managed to get hold of.



Once the tables were cleared, the night really kicked off with our first dance. The Dollars played “Loving You” by Paulo Nutini, and for me it was the most nerve racking part of the day, until the music started….. From that moment onwards I never left the dance floor. The Dollars were AWESOME and had everyone on the dance floor from my grandma to the 3 year old flower girls!
 


When the band broke we decided to bring a bit of Argentina to the wedding (Leon is half Argentinean) with carnival hour. We had crazy hats that Leon’s mum brought over from Argentina, blow up guitars and real carnival music. Everyone loved it and well and truly got into the spirit.



After a lot of dancing we finished the night with some sky lanterns and left the reception though a tunnel made by all of the guests, so that we could say goodbye to everyone as we went.



It was the most amazing and wonderful day imaginable. I wouldn’t change anything and I know that our friends and family all had a great time too. I just wish I could do it all again!



How big an impact did live entertainment have on your wedding day and would you recommend it to others?

The Dollars well and truly turned the wedding into a party and we have had nothing but complements about the band from everyone.



The music they played was just fantastic and they were also the nicest guys!



They were in the spirit of things, wearing the carnival hats for their last set and letting our best man join the line up on stage (despite having no musical ability whatsoever) and playing a whole load of extra songs at the end because no-one wanted to leave! I would say you HAVE to have The Dollars at your wedding.



What were your favourite moments of the day?

It is so hard to pick a favourite moment, but I think I would have to say arriving at the top of the aisle in the church and seeing every person that is important to me there with big grins on their faces, and of course Leon at the end of the aisle!



What pearls of wisdom or words of advice would you extend to future brides/grooms who are planning their perfect wedding?

Incorporate all of your favourite things into the wedding to make it truly yours (and buy pre-tied cravats!)