Your Yorkshire Wedding - Mar/Apr 2019 (Issue 35)

REAL WEDDINGS 31 R achel and Matthew were childhood sweethearts, meeting when they were just 14 years old. “I thought he was cute so I ambushed him on the way home from school,” laughs Rachel. Eleven years later, the couple bought their first home and were waiting to get the keys; Matthew knew it was the ideal time to pop the question. “For a guy who doesn’t like a cliché, he proposed on Christmas Eve on a frosty winter walk,” the bride tells us. “We were at the top of Sutton Bank on the Cleveland Way. It’s a place we both adore, especially in winter.” The pair soon set the date for 21 st September, 2018, at the stunning Jervaulx Abbey. The theme was inspired by a country hunting lodge with a white colour scheme. Rachel tells us how they did it… SETTING THE SCENE The location and beauty of the venue is what attracted the couple to it. “It has such a peaceful, friendly atmosphere,” Rachel says. “It incorporates the religious element for the guests who would appreciate it, while still being very us.” The realisation of what a huge task it was soon hit them. “DIY and outdoor weddings have to be set up entirely by yourself,” the bride says. “Luckily we had a team of family and friends to help with the military operation of getting everything to the venue the day before. It didn’t help that the heavens opened at 2pm!” The couple left most of their suppliers to create the look based on pictures of what they liked. “I walk past Flower Design in Ripon every morning on my way to work,” the newlywed says. “It’s the only florist where I always stop to look in the window because it’s always so outdoorsy and green – we knew it was the perfect company for us.” The tipi looked gorgeous decked out in white tulle and greenery over the wooden tables and pretty foliage hoops. Where The Ribbon Ends designed the delicious, country-chic cake, incorporating all of the bride’s ideas; Gayle and Anna of the company were even the ones to plant the seed of Jervaulx Abbey at the first wedding show the pair attended. “For the personal touch we gave plum jam as favours, made from my mother-in-law’s homegrown fruit,” Rachel says. “We also had shots at Matthew’s request to get people in the party mood!” The bride’s sister handwrote the place settings and table names for uniformity. They named each table after a place they’d visited on their favourite holiday – a road trip around Canada. COUNTRY CHIC Rachel and Matthew tied the knot at the incredible Jervaulx Abbey Images courtesy of Kieran Paul Photography 