Jo and John met while working at the same Liverpool law firm. At the time John was going through a difficult time due to the sad passing of his father and Jo, who was unaware of his struggles, asked him on a date – not once, but twice! Understandably he wasn’t looking for love, his focus being purely on trying to overcome his grief, but Jo’s persistence helped him through that in a way, and the couple have never looked back. John proposed in New York on a helicopter ride over the Hudson River seven years later, which was a complete surprise to Jo. The pair chose Blessed Sacrament RC Church in Walton Vale, Liverpool for their ceremony. Jo had attended the church with her nan and grandad as a child and it was always her dream to get married there since it holds such special memories for her. The Titanic Hotel would host their celebrations – “Its rustic vibe was perfect for us,” Jo explains. Here, the newlyweds give us the lowdown on W-day, 22nd April, 2022… SETTING THE SCENE In homage to the city of their engagement, Jo and John opted to style their day with a New York theme complemented with an oh-so romantic ivory, blush and gold palette. The table plan featured the New York skyline in gold and the place names were designed to match. The tables were all named after iconic Big Apple landmarks. Wedding favours were M&Ms as a further nod to the city, which is home to the brand’s huge store in Times Square. The beautiful centrepieces included tall ivory blossom trees along with glass cylinders and floating candles; while the floral arrangements all featured blush and ivory roses and peonies, with plenty of gorgeous greenery. The venue was decked in more blooms in the shape of a pretty flower wall, floral cake stand and arch leading from the bar to the main room. The cake was comprised of three delicious tiers flavoured with chocolate orange, Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle all iced in buttercream. It was adorned with fresh flowers and topped with a gold Mr & Mrs Radcliffe and two cat silhouettes, plus a toddler, to represent their family. The bride and groom travelled in style in a Royal Imperial and Daimler limousine. “Travelling from the church to the wedding reception was the first time we were alone as a married couple and it felt nice to have a moment to take it all in,” John remembers. The guests meanwhile were transported from church to hotel in a vintage London Routemaster double decker bus. LOOKING THE PART Jo wore a tulle A-line dress by Millie May Bridal with bespoke alterations. Crystals were added to the tulle to mirror her veil and lace added to the neckline to create a round neck rather than a V. The shoulders were also customised with the addition of a cap sleeve. “I bought an ivory diamante belt and asked my seamstress to sew this on to the waist. I found this made it even more flattering. I always wanted a princess-style gown as I’m not really one for wearing tight-fitting clothes. It was perfect for me and no one else will ever have the same one thanks to the 43 REAL WEDDINGS
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