Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding - November/December 2019 (Issue 48)

REAL WEDDINGS 31  T hey say that “life can turn on a dime” and how true that is. Only three weeks before James met Ashleigh on social media via mutual friends, he’d booked a one-way ticket to Australia. However, by the time it came for him to depart the pair had already been on several dates and, Ashleigh says, “We both already knew that we were made for one another.” James did go on his trip, but much to Ashleigh’s delight, just for a holiday. He returned to the UK and 18 months later they were planning their wedding! James had proposed to his bride-to-be as the sun set over Port Adriano, Majorca. “It came as a massive surprise, but it’s safe to say I was over the moon,” Ashleigh recalls. Here she shares her account of their showstopping wedding day on 15 th September 2018… SETTING THE SCENE It had been a long held dream of Ashleigh’s to get married in a castle, so the couple set about viewing several historic venues. The bride says, “Peckforton Castle stole our hearts. We instantly fell in love with the place.” The big day was styled in a classic ivory and blush theme with the help of Ian Lloyd Events. The ceremony space was breathtaking with ivory carpet, ice chivari chairs, flower arch and acrylic plinths topped with tea lights and rose petals. The aisle was romantically lined with 100 candles along with white hurricane lanterns and tall vases filled with white and blush flowers. Candles and blooms continued into the reception space with blossom trees framing the top table. The centrepieces also helped to carry the theme through with white and blush flowers interspersed with plenty of candles. “We asked the castle to change the usual red curtains in the drawing room to ivory, which gave the room a fairytale atmosphere,” Ashleigh explains. The couple were keen to add a personal touch to their wedding favours so decided to write individual messages on a scroll for every guest before placing each one into a bottle decorated with clear and pink jewels. The big-day bake by Jo’s Couture Cakes had five tiers, which cleverly reflected the design of Ashleigh’s dress.