Your North West Wedding- June/July 2020 (Issue 62)

REAL WEDDINGS 31 M aria and David met in an oh-so modern way, online. “We bonded over our love of Game of Thrones ,” says Maria. “Dave was like a big friendly bear, and I knew he was the one for me.” David popped the question during a holiday in Corfu. “It was sunset in Paleokastritsa,” shares the bride. “It was a complete surprise, and he cried a lot when he asked me.” SE T ING THE SCENE “Dave grew up near Cockermouth, so we liked the idea of having our photos done at Crummock Water where he used to play as a boy,” explains Maria. “The area is breathtaking! When we saw New House Farm, we loved the setting, cottage and venue itself. It fitted just right with the rustic and natural theme that I’d always wanted. When we saw it, I cried, and Dave said ‘well, this is the place then’, and we booked it right away.” The couple chose a loose The Lord of the Rings theme for their big day. “The flowers contained a lot of greenery to help us bring the outside in,” shares the bride. “I wanted a giant flower crown that reminded me of the May Day festival. We incorporated The Lord of the Rings into our tables. We had a map of Middle Earth as our table plan and used songs from the film throughout the ceremony.” The lovebirds decided to give their guests five traditional almonds as favours. Maria and David purchased their cake from The Moon & Sixpence Coffeehouse. “We chose a lemon, coconut, raspberry and Victoria sponge filling,” adds Maria. “It was three tiers and tasted amazing.” The couple chose to have bird cages for their centrepieces. “They looked great with our table names which were different places in Middle Earth,” shares Maria. “For our flowers, we incorporated eucalyptus, roses, gypsophila, peonies and thistles.” To transform the space, the bride and groom incorporated hanging flower displays. “We had an arch with a curtain, fairylights and lots of beautiful blooms,” explains the bride. DRESSED TO IMPRESS Maria chose a customised dress by Johanna Hehir from The Case of the Curious Bride. “It was the right shape, and the lace was romantic,” says Maria. “I accessorised with a flower crown, jewellery from my mother-in-law and an old ring my mum gave me for my 19 th birthday.” 