Your North East Wedding - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 31)

REAL WEDDINGS 37  allowed you to see every gorgeous detail.” Choosing the outfits for the groomsmen was an easier process. “We decided on navy three-piece suits for the party, with Liam opting for a grey waistcoat and navy tie to stand out,” says Claire. “Slaters in Newcastle had an excellent selection – plus I was able to haggle a discount because of the amount we needed to buy!” GETTING PERSONAL Claire and Liam were keen to incorporate a lot of personal touches in their big day and took it upon themselves to hand-make a lot of the decorations. “I took a calligraphy course, which was great fun, and loved making the DIY chalkboards and place cards,” says the bride. “I also used the bridesmaids’ bouquets in clear glass coffee jars as table centrepieces, which kept costs down and reduced waste. Our cake was also affordable, as we decided to buy single wedding cake tiers from M&S. We assembled it ourselves, adding extra flowers from the florist and then finishing with a rose gold cake- topper we purchased from Etsy.” Keeping their guests entertained was also important for the couple. “We looked online for non-traditional wedding entertainment and saw the idea of a silent disco,” continues Claire. “One of the concerns we’d had about the evening music is that the guests’ ages varied, meaning it would be difficult to appeal to everyone’s tastes. The silent disco had two channels, so we decided to have music to suit different generations – and it was probably the best idea we’ve ever had! It brought everyone together on the dancefloor, and our wedding wouldn’t have been the same without it.”