Wendy and Andy met at a tribute night. “I had a run of personal losses, including my best friend, partner and dad,” says Wendy. “I had left nursing and wanted to focus on taking over my own bridal shop when I went on a Blondie tribute night. It turned out Andy and I had mutual friends and we hit it off immediately. He was so understanding and compassionate, and I have never felt more cherished. After only a matter of weeks, he never went home. When you know, you know!” Andy popped the question during a surprise weekend away. “We went to Manchester for the night and then got the train to York the following day,” shares the bride. “My mum had been admitted to a home with her rapidly developing Alzheimer’s, and so once Andy proposed, we booked our wedding within six months to try and ensure she could make it and still know who we were.” SETTING THE SCENE “We only visited two venues, and when we saw Browsholme Hall and The Tithe Barn, we knew immediately it was the place for us,” explains Wendy. “We both got goosebumps and booked it the same day! As it was so close to Christmas and everyone was in need of a good celebration, we decided to create a very intimate, festive day with a good party that we all deserved!” The couple gave their guests seeds as favours. “These were attached to their place names and placed on a small log slice with hand-painted pinecones and poinsettias,” reveals the bride. “We decorated the tables with wreaths that were placed around mason jars with lights and foliage. The tables were also covered in petals and wooden hearts.” “Our flowers from Fleur Bloom were used in the centrepieces, and we had a long trail along the top table,” recalls Wendy. “We also had wooden love letters, drapes and lights from the ceilings, a Christmas tree and candles.” Wendy and Andy chose their cake from Jon’s Cakes and placed it on a log slice decorated with eucalyptus. “The food was provided by Twelve Event Management,” remembers the bride. “We had canapés and drinks on arrival, followed by a threecourse meal.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I ordered my dress directly from Badgley Mischka,” says Wendy. “It was a design called Danica which I added floral straps to. It was very sparkly and had a real Christmassy feel to it. I thought I was desensitized to dresses as I see them every day at my boutique, Lacy Days of Ramsbottom, but I cried when I put this one on. My daughter came with me, and we also brought my mum from the home so she could be there.” Andy wore a dark grey suit with a waistcoat and braces from Swarbricks Suit Hire. “He chose a gold tie and pocket square, and his brother, the best man, wore green to match my daughter’s dress,” shares the bride. “The groomsmen had a paler grey suit, no waistcoat and wore burgundy ties and squares to match my sister, who was my matron of honour.” “My daughter, Amelia, had a deep green velvet midi-length wrap dress and my sister, Nikky, wore the same in burgundy,” explains Wendy. “I gave them both a diamanté choker and a snowflake bracelet for the day, and we all had coordinating porcelain hair pins/combs from The Bobby Pin.” REAL WEDDINGS 33
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