menu featured baked prawns, roast beef and Eton mess. “Due to some allergies and dietary requirements, we also had some variations, vegetarian, and vegan options so everyone was catered for,” Alice says. “Everything was delicious and went down a treat.” LOOKING THE PART “Many dresses – probably too many – were tried on!” Alice says. Eventually, she found the one at the Harrogate branch of Elite Bridal. “I bought one dress in the January but returned it soon after as I felt it was too soon and not what I really wanted,” the bride continues. “My second dress I bought a few months later, a classical off-the-shoulder ballroom style. But ultimately my confidence issues caused me to have a panic last minute and look around at more boutiques.” Eventually she made it to Elite Bridal where she tried on a few more styles that made her feel more confident, and she fell in love with the final dress. “It was beautiful with lace details and sleeves, and it still had a train, which I wanted. I also felt it matched the venue perfectly,” Alice explains. The couple’s hair stylist, Brodie from Joanne Mahoney Howden, has been their go-to for the past couple of years. “It was fantastic to be able to include him in our special day as he knows us both so well,” Alice shares. Alice’s make-up was done by Victoria Senior MUA, who she reached out to on a recommendation. “As I don’t wear make-up too often, Victoria was very helpful and patient with all of my questions about what would work,” Alice says. “I was over the moon with the natural and classic look that she created for me on the day.” Josh chose a lighter shade of blue for his own suit, while his best man, groomsman and Alice’s father all wore a darker navy. The bride’s sister performed maid-of-honour duties. Flowers from her bouquet were added to her hair, and she was gifted a pair of earrings and a silver bracelet from the bride as a thank you, which she wore to finish her look. “We both knew we were in capable hands, so we didn’t have to stress about organising anything or what was coming next as it was all managed by Rise Hall.” – Alice TIME TO CELEBRATE For the ceremony and drinks reception Alice and Josh booked a pianist, Finn Barnaby. “After seeing the venue and the grand piano in the main hall by the staircase, we just knew it should be used,” Alice explains. Finn met with the couple ahead of the big day for a consultation, which helped them to visualise the atmosphere. “The piano really added to our classical literary vibe,” Alice continues. For the evening reception, Jonny Ross Music provided a DJ, who the couple knew would be just perfect having discovered them at one of Rise Hall’s open days. MEMORABLE MOMENTS “We very much treasured the private time together just after the ceremony when we had a drink in the library as guests were preparing for the group shots,” Alice remembers. “It was lovely to have a quiet moment together to be giddy about finally being married. We couldn’t stop smiling. It wasn’t a long time, but in a day we both knew would pass so quickly, it was a time we’ll treasure forever.” Having enjoyed a wedding that went off without a hitch, Alice has some great tips for us: “Be sure to communicate and talk to each other about what you want. Sometimes it can get lost in the planning with many opinions and advice from friends or family. So, chat and discuss as much as you can, make a list of priorities, and ensure you’re both getting what you want. The day should be what you both envision, to help you treasure those memories forever.” 29 REAL WEDDINGS
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