Snow stopper

Posted by Melissa Cullen on 1 December 2022

Wendy and Andy met at a Blondie tribute night. "I had a run of personal losses, including my best friend, partner and dad," says Wendy. "I had left nursing and wanted to focus on taking over my bridal shop when I went to the tribute night.

Andy and I turned out to have mutual friends and hit it off immediately. He was so understanding and compassionate, and I have never felt more cherished. After only a matter of weeks, he never went home. When you know, you know!"

Loving couple Andy popped the question during a surprise weekend away. "We went to Manchester for the night and then got the train the following day to York," shares the bride. "My mum had been admitted to a home with her rapidly developing Alzheimer's, and so once Andy proposed, we booked and had our wedding within six months to try and ensure she could make it and still know who we were."

"We only visited two venues, and when we saw Browsholme Hall and The Tithe Barn, we knew immediately it was the place for us," explains Wendy. "We both got goosebumps and emotional and booked it the same day!

As it was so close to Christmas and everyone was in need of a good celebration, we decided to create a very intimate, festive day with a good party that we all deserved!"

The couple gave their guests seeds to plant as favours. "These were attached to their place names and placed on a small log slice with handpainted pinecones and poinsettias," reveals the bride.

"We decorated the tables with large log slices and wreaths that were placed around mason jars with lights and foliage in. The tables were also covered in petals and wooden hearts."

Flowers "Our flowers from Fleur Bloom were used in the centrepieces, and we had a long trail along the top table," recalls Wendy.

"We also had wooden love letters, drapes and lights from the ceilings, a Christmas tree and candles."

Wendy and Andy chose their cake from Jon's Cakes and placed it on a log slice decorated with eucalyptus.

"The food was provided by Twelve Event Management," remembers the bride. "We had canapés and drinks on arrival, followed by a threecourse meal."

Bride's Dress "I ordered my dress directly from Badgley Mischka as I didn't want to purchase a dress that I have in my shop, so my colleague kindly ordered it for me," says Wendy.

"It was a design called Danica which I had floral straps added to. It was very sparkly and had a real Christmassy feel to it.

I thought I was desensitized to dresses as I see them every day, but I cried when I put this one on, my daughter came with me, and we also brought my mum from the home so she could be there."

Andy wore a dark grey suit with a waistcoat and braces from Swarbricks Suit Hire. "He chose a gold tie and pocket square, and his brother, the best man, wore green to match my daughter's dress," shares the bride.

"The groomsmen had a paler grey suit, no waistcoat and wore burgundy ties and squares to match my sister, who was my matron of honour."

"My daughter, Amelia, had a deep green velvet midi-length wrap dress and my sister, Nikky, wore the same in burgundy from Valdenize Soares," explains Wendy.

"I gave them both a diamanté choker and a snowflake bracelet for the day, and we all had coordinating porcelain hair pins/combs from The Bobby Pin."

Magician

To keep their guests entertained, the couple hired Ian Lavin - The Event Magician, to perform while the canapés and welcome drinks were being served.

"He astonished our guests," reveals the bride.

"In the evening, we booked the Steve Farringo Band, who got everyone up and dancing."

Ceremony "On the morning of the wedding, I was excited beyond words to marry the love of my life," recalls Wendy.

"I bought Andy a watch which the best man gave him whilst he got ready, and Andy sent over some beautiful diamond earrings for me to wear for the day.

I was in so much shock that we were actually able to get married against the Covid-19 odds that I was bouncing on my toes down the aisle! Andy asked if I was ok when I arrived as I was so hyper and giddy!

The ceremony was very emotional, as both Andy's parents and my dad are no longer with us and my mum was there with a carer to watch us at the church, and although she wasn't able to stay for the rest of the wedding, it meant so much to have her there and witness it as she always wanted to see me happy again. We got some great photos with her at the church.

We didn't get to practice the ceremony due to snow, and so on the day my daughter was asked by the vicar 'who is giving this bride away' to which Amelia replied 'hello' and waved! The vicar said under his breath, 'I do' to try and get Amelia to repeat after him, but Amelia said: 'yes, that's me', and he again repeated 'I do', so she said: 'oh yes, I do!' Everyone laughed, including the vicar and my daughter!"

Speech

The couple loved their speeches.

"My daughter was amazing doing her 'giving away' role speech, and every speech was both funny and emotional," says the bride.

"The fact that everyone made the effort to come despite the Omicron Variant rearing its ugly head and being so close to Christmas, we even had guests travel from London, was amazing!

One guest, an old friend and work colleague, sadly passed away two months before the wedding, so there were tributes to those missing, including parents during the speeches."