Shelby and Chris met through a mutual friend, when Chris was serving in the armed forces back in 2017. “It was an instant attraction,” remembers Shelby. “We both knew straight away that we were soulmates. I messaged Chris via Facebook and the rest was history! One of the main things that attracted me to Chris was how amazing he was with his daughter, Esme, as I always knew children were in my future. Within a year we had our own home, and I’d fallen pregnant with our little girl, Romee. Chris decided to leave the army when he found out I was excepting, which is something I’ll be forever grateful for, as the army was all he’d ever known.” Chris proposed in November 2018 at Whinstone View during a romantic weekend away. “I was pregnant at the time so wasn’t drinking, but Chris was knocking them back, which was really out of character,” continues the bride. “I was very confused as he doesn’t usually drink – if anything, he was beginning to annoy me! We sat down to watch a film when he suddenly produced a bag full of wooden hearts listing the 10 reasons why he loved me. I got to the end and realised I’d only looked at nine, with Chris getting down on one knee with the final heart in his hand that read, ‘Will You Marry Me?’. It was the most amazing moment that I’ll never forget.” The couple set the date for the 9 April 2022, choosing South Causey Inn for their big day. Here, Shelby tells us more about their amazing wedding… A DAY TO REMEMBER Shelby and Chris started planning their wedding soon after their engagement, looking around a few venues before deciding on South Causey Inn. “We both wanted a boho-style day, and the décor inside The Old Barn was perfect, with hanging flowers, foliage and wooden beams. We decided to opt for the venue’s Platinum Package, which included lots of extras, such as venue styling, welcome drink and canapés, a four-course wedding breakfast with wine, DJ, evening buffet and even an overnight stay in the deluxe honeymoon suite.” With a boho wedding in mind, the couple set about planning how they wanted the venue to look on the actual day. “We were lucky that South Causey Inn’s package included centrepieces for the tables, choosing pampas displays which looked incredible,” says the bride. “As for flowers, I was always desperate to have a waterfall bouquet, wanting one ever since I saw a picture on Pinterest! I chose a smaller version of my bouquet for the bridesmaids; our flower girls wore gypsophila headbands with ribbons on the back; and we kept the buttonholes nice and simple, with a rose tied with eucalyptus.” When dressing the tables, it was also important for the couple to highlight Chris having served 14 years in the army. “I know from previous celebrations that favours are usually lost or forgotten about,” continues Shelby. “We therefore chose to donate to the SSAFA – The Armed Forces Charity – instead of gifting guests actual favours. We placed handmade cards on the tables, designed in the same theme as our invites and other wedding stationery, to tell our guests our reasons for donating.” ALL DRESSED UP Shelby found her dream dress at Corbridge-based The Wedding Dress Company. “As soon as I put on the Lauren Martina Liana design it made me feel like a Princess, so I knew it was the one for me!” says the bride. “I wanted a fitted dress with a large train and detail, which was everything this style had. I also purchased a beautiful hair vine which matched my dress perfectly, and wore a small pair of round droplet earrings with a bracelet to match. It REAL WEDDINGS 33
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