Your Cheshire and Merseyside Wedding - July/August 2020 (Issue 52)

23  REAL WEDDINGS H ayley and Jack met at their local pub: “Our close friends were dating at the time, so they got us talking,” Hayley explains. She’d not long turned 18 so it was one of her first legal drinks! Not long after Jack asked her for a date and that’s when they really started to click. “Jack has a great sense of humour, he’s very witty. We still laugh constantly and are best friends as well as husband and wife.” Jack hails from Inverness and when he asked Hayley on that very first date, it was actually over the phone while he was home celebrating Hogmanay with his family. Eight years later on this very same spot outside Inverness Castle, while the couple were up visiting, he asked her another important question, this time on one knee holding a ring. Hayley remembers, “We announced our engagement that evening at the family’s annual quiz night. Jack’s mum asked the first question: ‘What special event took place outside Inverness Castle today?’ Nobody guessed until I showed them my engagement ring! It was a lovely moment.” Given the significant part it played in their love story, it’s no surprise that the couple drew inspiration for their wedding theme from beautiful Scotland, and the traditional grandeur of Cheshire’s Wrenbury Hall lent itself well to their vision. “As soon as you drive through the gate you get that wow factor. It has such a warm and friendly feeling, and the staff will do anything they can to make your day special,” Hayley says. So, with the venue selected, the date was set for 21 st March, 2020 - blissfully unaware that only two days later the country would go into lockdown. Here, the bride shares her treasured memories of this special day… THE SCENE IS SET The couple’s Scottish-inspired theme was created using a natural palette, and the stunning floral design was largely responsible for holding this all together. Hayley explains, “Our flowers were insanely beautiful, even better than we’d imagined. We wanted a natural look with lots of foliage, and didn’t fancy anything bright, so we asked for a few subtle dusky pinks to be added here and there for a hint of colour. Our arrangements also featured thistles, nodding to Jack’s heritage. I loved my bouquet so much I never wanted to put it down, and the top table was so jam-packed with flowers that I couldn’t take my eyes off it.” The table plan was scribed on a large mirror with a silver frame, draped in ivory flowers and foliage. It was titled: “Thank you for sharing our first meal as Mr & Mrs Maclennan.” Guests arrived at their tables to find heart-shaped Hotel Chocolat favours, because has Hayley says, “Who doesn’t love chocolate?” At the tables’ centres there was either a large arrangement on a tall silver stand or a candelabra draped in foliage and blooms. The tall ceiling in the Orangery allowed the florist free-rein to go to town on the height of her designs. The pair turned their hands to a bit of craft to create their memory board. They sprayed a board in black paint and pegged vintage-style photos to some string. Hayley tells us, “We included momentous times in our relationship such as big holidays, milestone birthdays, buying our first home, welcoming our new puppy, and of course, our engagement.” A three-tier iced bake had always been the couple’s vision. The showstopper was decorated with pearls to complement the bride’s dress and silver to suit the theme. Guests were treated to one tier of millionaire’s chocolate, caramel and vanilla cake with caramel buttercream, one of lemon with lemon buttercream, and lastly After Eight devil’s food cake with white chocolate and mint butter cream. We don’t blame you if you’re thinking about licking the page right now!