Your North West Wedding- October/November 2020 (Issue 64)

REAL WEDDINGS 27 R hiannon and Mark met while working on a performance of The King and I . “Our musical director ended up being one of Mark’s groomsmen and a witness for our marriage.” Mark proposed during a romantic trip to Paris. “We spent the day visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and the banks of Seine, but it was blisteringly hot,” shares the bride. “Once we arrived back at our hotel, Mark offered to let me take a cold shower to cool down first, which I gratefully did. Little did I know, he was getting the ring ready and started playing the song Perfect Day from my favourite film, Legally Blonde. I burst into the room dancing to the track and was greeted by Mark on one knee!” SETTING THE SCENE “We discovered The Out Barn while we were still in Paris,” explains Rhiannon. “We saw the website and fell in love with the fact it was remote and an exclusive use venue. I rang them from the airport and booked a viewing. We visited two days after arriving home and put down our deposit the same day. The property was as beautiful as we expected, but it was the staff that really sold it for us. They were so helpful and allowed us to wander around with a tape measure and seemed just as excited as we were.” The lovebirds decided to have trumpet bells converted into candlesticks for their centrepieces. “We surrounded them with rattan rings decorated in white tea roses and purple lavender,” shares the bride. “We handmade them and displayed them with tealight holders and log slices.” For their table plan, they decided to use reclaimed wood pallets. “We used pieces from my grandparent’s farm,” explains Rhiannon. “It was a custom design, and we loved the finished result.” The couple’s big-day bake was made by Kat’s Kitchen. “This was extremely special for us as our cake was designed and made by a close friend from our world of musicals,” shares Rhiannon. “We told her we wanted it to be purple and blue and non-traditional. It was a complete surprise on the day and was simply stunning. We may be biased, but Kat is extremely talented and has a beautiful eye for design.” Since Mark suffers from severe hayfever, the couple decided to purchase silk flowers instead of real ones. “All the buttonholes, corsages and table flowers were designed by me,” says the bride. “For my bouquet and the top table display, we hired Sally’s Florist, who did my grandmother’s and mother’s wedding flowers.” “As eco-conscious people, we were keen to recycle, upcycle and make anything we could,” reveals Rhiannon. “We built a large welcome sign from an old stable door which The Out Barn have kept for future use.” Rhiannon was driven to the venue in her grandad’s electric blue pickup. DRESSED TO IMPRESS Rhiannon wore a gown called Grace by Anna Sorrano. “It was a complete wild card picked out by a member of the bridal party, but it turned out to be the perfect dress,” says Rhiannon. “I accessorised with a belt at the waistline, my mother’s veil from 1995 and her matching pearl-adorned underskirt. I completed the look with blue Mary-Jane shoes as a tribute to one of the intended bridesmaids who 