Katie and Mark met in 2014 on Grand National Day. “I was working at Claire’s Accessories, and Mark worked at the William Hill across the street,” says Katie. “I went across to the bookies to put a horse bet on, and Mark started making small talk with me. A few minutes after I’d left and gone back to work, Mark came in looking for a gift for his mum’s birthday. We were chatting for a while, and he eventually asked me out on a date. Mark said he thought I was beautiful the moment he saw me, and I thought he was really funny and cute.” Mark popped the question during a picnic at a small nature reserve. “He had ordered a custom engagement ring from a jeweller in Australia,” shares the bride. “It was a stunning rose gold design with a large pearshaped morganite stone at the centre and two smaller triangular-shaped diamonds on either side. He pulled out the ring from its brown velvet box and asked me to marry him. It was a surprise, but we were both overwhelmed and incredibly happy.” SETTING THE SCENE “We loved the Lancashire Manor Hotel from the moment we saw it,” explains Katie. “The Great Hall is Medieval and romantic, and the gardens are stunning. The atmosphere felt so nice and very us. We dressed the tables with rose gold sequin tablecloths and matching blush ruffle hoods for the white chairs. Our centrepieces were gold candelabra with faux greenery and pink flowers twisting up them, and small gold tea lights around the bottom of each one. The flowers were mainly peonies, roses, and sweetpeas in pinks and creams with ivy, mint, and other pretty greenery. We also had two large faux cherry trees, which were placed next to the altar and then over the top table later on.” The happy couple gave their guests two favours as a way of thanking them for attending their big day. “We chose cards with heart-shaped cutouts from wildflower seed paper, appropriate given our surname is Seed,” adds the bride. “The other was five sugared almonds, which were packaged in white boxes hand-decorated by us with pink and gold ribbons and our own wax seals.” For their table plan, Katie and Mark asked Leanne at Little Button Designs to print cards, which they tacked onto a large mirror with a rose gold frame. They named their tables after pink flowers, with faux versions sitting on top of the frame. “Our cake was three tiers,” recalls Katie. “The bottom tier was a pale pink colour covered in cherry blossom. The middle was pearl white with K&M in rose gold mirrored charms, and the top tier was rose gold glitter with a pearl charm. Lancashire Manor Hotel provided the rest of our food. We chose duck liver pate to start, beef roast for the main, and fruit meringue for dessert. Instead of an evening buffet, we had a barbecue; the weather was perfect for it, and some of the wedding cake was served as a second dessert.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS “I wore a gown from WED2B designed by Anna Sorrano called Elton,” reveals the bride. “It was a plain Mikado ballgown with a strapless sweetheart neckline and inner corset. Elton had cuff detail on the neckline and buttons down the whole back with a big round train. I had my seamstress sew on a belt, which was rose gold with clear crystals, and I wore a floral lace bolero with capped sleeves and matching buttons down the back. The bolero gave me two looks in one dress.” Mark chose a two-piece suit from Suit Direct with a patterned waistcoat, paisley ivory tie and pocket square. His best man wore the same two-piece suit but with a plain waistcoat. Katie’s bridesmaid opted for an Adrianna Papell gown in a blush Mikado fabric from House of Fraser. 31 REAL WEDDINGS
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