SETTING THE SCENE When they told Kelly’s mum of their intent to get married sooner rather than later, she immediately went to work, helping them to look for a venue. Peckforton Castle was one of her discoveries, making it the first and last venue they went to view. Kelly was over the moon as she adores castles, swords and all things historical! So, the date was set for 20th August 2024. With a nod to the setting and their shared passions, they named the reception tables King’s Landing, Lallybrock, Hogwarts, Dragonstone, Casterly Rock, Winterfell and Castle Black. The place names also referenced castles from their favourite movies and TV series Outlander, Game of Thrones and Harry Potter. For wedding favours, the children were gifted plastic swords and personalised colouring packs, as well as sweet treats including a golden snitch from Harry Potter – a Ferrero Rocher with wings attached. The centrepieces gave the impression of rounded white blossom trees with mystically twisted gold trunks featuring orchids and white roses. The couple selected a three tier wedding cake adorned with their initials, sugar flowers and bobbleheads for a bit of added humour. They cut it with the castle’s sword, which has always been a dream of Kelly’s. DRESSED TO IMPRESS Kelly and Erika both wanted to wear wedding dresses and were both determined that neither should see what they’d chosen before the aisle. “That was a difficult task, as I always ask for Kelly’s opinion on all of my clothes,” Erika shares. But with the help of her entourage – Kelly’s mum and two sisters, as well as her aunty Rozo, and her own mum and sisters – she managed to pick a dress in a style that had never before crossed her mind. In fact, she cried when she tried it on, instantly knowing it was the one. Kelly was initially apprehensive about her gown. It wasn’t the style she might otherwise have chosen being pregnant. “But wow, when I saw her for the first time at the end of the aisle, my heart could have burst out of my chest,” Erika remembers. “She was absolutely stunning, I felt like the luckiest woman in the universe.” Meanwhile, the super-cute flowergirls wore beautiful little dresses looking every part the princesses they are. The bridesmaids dresses were a bit of a struggle to find with just six weeks notice, but thankfully Kelly’s mum came to the rescue again. She found a bridal shop with a cancellation of four dresses in the perfect colour, each in different styles that suited the ladies wonderfully. CELEBRATE IN STYLE Kelly’s sister, Olivia Jade, is a singer and performed on Britain’s Got Talent at the tender age of 14. As a wedding gift, she sang to the couple during the signing of the register and the first dance, as well as performing further sets after the wedding breakfast and cutting the cake. “She was amazing. Everyone got up to dance and commented on what a fantastic voice she has,” Erika remembers. Afterwards, a DJ took over for the evening entertainment. “The dancefloor was alive all evening and provided us all with throbbing feet the day after!” Erika says. MEMORABLE MOMENTS The newlyweds’ eldest daughter Eva Rose, six, wanted to read a poem she’d written herself during the wedding. So, she stood on a chair after everyone had eaten and read it aloud for all assembled to hear. “Our hearts could have burst with pride,” Erika remembers. “She wasn’t nervous at all and was very excited about the prospect of speaking in front of everyone with her special poem. And she didn’t let us down, it was epic!” 27 REAL WEDDINGS
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