Your North West Wedding- December 2020/Janaury 2021 (Issue 65)

REAL WEDDINGS 27 B ethany and Lee met in 2008 during a night out. “We met through mutual friends,” says Bethany. “We dated for a few months and then parted ways. In this time I travelled the world and went to university in Sheffield while Lee stayed in Carlisle pursuing his engineering career. We reconnected in 2017 and as they say, the rest is history.” Lee popped the question on Christmas Eve in 2019. “I was downstairs sorting presents when Lee shouted down to me as if something was wrong,” shares the bride. “I rushed upstairs, and he pointed me in the direction of the bedroom. As I stepped into the room, he started playing our song, and as I turned around there was a heart made from petals on the bed, and he was down on one knee with a ring.” SETTING THE SCENE “We chose to get married at St. James Carlisle,” explains Bethany. “It’s our local church and is where my parents got married more than 30 years ago.” The couple decided to give their guests personalised tote bags as favours. “We wanted our friends and family to have something personal,” shares the bride. “Inside each one was a bottle of prosecco, a mini wedding cake, snacks, glow sticks, balloons, decorations, name cards, a photo scavenger hunt and personalised hand sanitiser.” The bride put together their table plan. “I used an old pallet, cleaned it down and decorated it, so it tied in with our rustic theme,” says Bethany. “The seating plan was for our parents to socially distance in the garden as our wedding was before receptions were allowed, and we had to follow the Government’s guidelines.” Lee’s mum made their big-day bake. “We chose a lemon filling,” shares Bethany. “To decorate it we used a cake-topper that’s been in my family for four generations.” The lovebirds decided to get creative with their flowers. “The blooms were provided by Vandella Flowers,” says the bride. “I placed a Lego Princess Leia in my bouquet and Harry Potter figures in the bridesmaids’ posies. I made the buttonholes for the groomsmen. They all had Lego Star Wars characters in them and looked great. We continued the theme into our centrepieces and used old jam jars and wands made from chopsticks.” “We travelled in my dad’s classic Daimler,” reveals Bethany. “My uncle drove, and it was a wonderful experience.” DRESSED TO IMPRESS Bethany wore a gown called Brandy by Rebecca Ingram. “I purchased it from Carol’s Bridal Boutique,” says Bethany. “I accessorised with a matching veil and headpiece from Etsy.” Lee chose a tweed suit from Sirri, with a pale blue tie, socks, handkerchief and Boba Fett cufflinks. “The bridesmaids opted for gowns from Debenhams,” explains the bride. “The dresses were a pale blue, multi-way design that looked great.” TIME TO CELEBRATE “Adam Teasdale played acoustic music as we walked out of the church,” shares Bethany. “He was meant to be doing our main 