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Real Wedding

An Intimate, COVID Friendly Wedding / Sally & Ross

Inspiration

An Intimate, COVID Friendly Wedding / Sally & Ross

Sally & Ross held their intimate, COVID friendly celebration at Hartford Golf Club on 26th September 2020.

Photography by Richard Wilkinson Photography.

The Proposal

We’d been to the jewellery quarter in Birmingham to choose a ring together because I thought I knew what I wanted, a halo or something quite unique but more than just a princess cut diamond, but it didn’t suit me at all! Ross knew a princess cut would suit me perfectly but he wanted a more unique setting. I left the details up to him once I tried some on and delivery etc. It was a few weeks later when I called him on the way home from work when he cut our conversation really short and seemed a bit flustered because he was on the phone to the house insurance. It was then I knew that the ring was in the house! I was so excited but couldn’t tell anyone yet! The weather that weekend was looking a bit mixed and the Saturday morning was miserable but we walked out to a local café for lunch and I suggested a walk after hoping he had the ring but as we turned into the houses around us I knew he didn’t.

Luckily the Sunday was glorious, I’d had some girlfriends for a sleepover so as soon as they left we went out for a walk, this time down to the river nearby. Ross hadn’t walked the route before but I hoped he had the ring! We had lovely conversation and were saying so many nice things to each other, we stopped a few times to admire the view of the woods too. I thought he was about to propose when we had stopped on a bridge but I found out later that he bottled it at the last moment, so we moved on. Just before we got to the river, he mentioned his feet were hurting and unbeknownst to him there was a bench just a few meters away. I immediately went to it and sat for a few moments with him still discussing our relationship and how much we cared for him. He then said “I couldn’t imagine spending my life with anyone else…. And on that note…” getting down on one knee,” Will you Marry me?” Pulling out a travel ring box from his pocket and presenting me with the beautiful ring we’d chosen together. The box was so discreet I had no idea that it was in his pocket!

Theme / Colour Scheme

I wanted to be as sustainable as possible, all the stationary I did myself and all with recycled card and paper. Plus we did all our invites by WhatsApp with a picture of us and all the details, we had a wedding website with all the accommodation listings, wedding list and how the day would run etc. and I sent out a Google form for RSVP’s and menu choices for all the guests which made things really easy when giving the venue all the details!

It was also really helpful for any changes we made due to COVID it was just a case of sending out a new message rather than more postage!

Special Touches & Unique Ideas

My maiden name is Casey-Markwell, I pulled both my parents’ names together as my mum kept her own name when they got married and the dress that by happened to be “the one” is called Casey!

I roped in friends to help dress the venue and even asked them all to make a wreath as a table decoration which we did the week before with some instruction form my mum and they all got to take them home for their own tables after the wedding too!

Ross is a firefighter so he bought a watch which features recycled fire equipment especially for the day and I bought him a matching wallet for the occasion. I asked my mum for something old so she melted an old silver necklace down and made a clock charm for my bracelet with our initials and date stamped on the back. Plus I’m originally from Sheffield (we now live in cheshire) and Ross’s ring is a Sheffield Steel Ring which is named after a park i used to go to a lot when I was growing up.

The Big Day

I had my bridesmaids over the night before for fizz and a chippy and fortunately I had enough rooms for them all to say over which was just lovely! I was up first at 6am as I just couldn’t sleep but my hairdresser was coming at 7am to give me a curly blow and pin up so I got to have a nice long shower and wash my hair which just felt like a nice relaxing start to the day!

In general everyone was quite calm, I’m really organised so I’d done a spreadsheet of which order everyone was going in, especially as everyone had to wear a mask to have their hair done before make up! I also did a Tesco order for breakfast items croissants, crumpets etc. and I’d organised a buffet lunch from a local sandwich shop which everyone was really grateful for!

I felt like I had a few hours to kills but I kept myself busy pressing and steaming the dresses with the girls and not really sitting down much! My parents and friends were helping to dress the venue and set up video camera’s for a zoom call with all our guests who weren’t able to make it, I think this was the most complicated and stressful element of the day so I’m glad I wasn’t involved.

The tears started to come as the flowers arrived, they were so beautiful and the emotions of the day really started to sink in! from then on everyone was trying to distract me from my emotions to stop me from crying especially when I was having my make up done including conversations about bird food and chimney shapes! The randomer the better.

One essential element before we left the house was the father of the bride moment, my dad loves that film and he’s always wanted me to have bridal stairs as he calls them, where he’s able to stand at the bottom and watch me come down, we managed it with an immense amount of tears!

I managed to hold it together when I got to the venue until I saw the back of Ross and the opening bars of “Here comes the sun” then chivied along by my dad I only let a couple of tears escape as I made my way down the aisle, focusing on Ross really helped me make it down!

Funny Stories

My brother-in-law as a police inspector is quite a character and wanted the best of us in every way on the day including making sure any golfers on the course behind where we got married weren’t in photo’s or their equipment, hearing him debating with them was quite funny especially when one called back that he was in a competition!

Top Tips

My top tip for being organised is to imagine yourself as one of the people dressing the venue, what information would you want and make sure to provide it.

We always enjoy hosting and wanted to make sure our guests had a good time and were occupied, I’d ordered some dames like snakes & ladders and connect 4 to put in kids activity bags but as most of them couldn’t come I put the games on the table which everyone loved! We even had a word scramble and match the couple game for each household on the tables.

Suppliers

The wonderful local wedding suppliers that helped bring Sally & Ross’ vision to life are as follows:

Photographer: Richard Wilkinson Photography
Venue: Hartford Golf Club
Flowers: Hannah Williamson Flowers
Brides Dress: Wed2B
Bridesmaids & Flower Girl Dresses: ASOS
Hair Stylist: Hair by Stacey Smith
Makeup Artist: Sophie Bruno
Transport: A friend from Bentley
Cake: A friend
Rings: The Diamond Centre Birmingham

We hope this special feature gives you inspiration for your wedding or event.

Want to feature your wedding our blog? Please contact claire@bouquetandbells.com.

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More Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse more beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

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A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

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May, 2020

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Categories
Real Wedding

An Intimate, Rustic Themed Wedding / Shannon & Sam

Inspiration

An Intimate, Rustic Themed Wedding / Shannon & Sam

Shannon and Sam held an intimate and rustic themed wedding in their family home in Great Budworth on 28th August 2020.

Photography by Sarah Brookes Photography.

The Big Day

I got ready alongside my mum, dad, sister, little boy Alfie and best friend Becci at my Mum’s house in Great Budworth. It was all very calm and relaxed, as was the whole day. The groom, Sam got ready with his best man at our home in Barnton.

I was walked down the aisle by my dad, to the traditional ‘here comes the bride’ to meet Sam, holding our baby boy Alfie. The ceremony was short and sweet , due to Covid but everything we could have wished for. We walked out as ‘Mr and Mrs Didsbury’ to ‘At Last’ by Etta James, as it seemed appropriate as we had two wedding cancelled previously. We shared the ceremony with close family only, less than 30 people. After the ceremony we had our pictures, where we shared our very special news WE ARE PREGNANT with baby number two and Sarah captured the shock on peoples faces, which is a lovely keepsake. After this we went to the local pub, across the road from the church for a relaxed meal, followed by a reception in our gorgeous tipi located in my mums back garden.

The wedding was very small and intimate, just what we had always wished for, after waiting such a long time for it to go ahead.

Top Tips

Take it all in, it goes so fast.

All the little things you worried about don’t matter on the day.

It’s not about the money you spend on a wedding, it’s all about the people who are there and the memories that are made.

Suppliers

The wonderful local wedding suppliers that helped bring Shannon & Sam’s vision to life are as follows:

Photographer: Sarah Brookes Photography
Tipi: Tipi Unique
Flowers: House of Cheshire
Brides Dress: Wed2B
Grooms Suits: Peter Posh
Transport: Classic Wedding Cars Cheshire
Makeup: Lucinka Makeup Artist

We hope this special feature gives you inspiration for your wedding or event.

Want to feature your wedding our blog? Please contact claire@bouquetandbells.com.

THE FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS

Share this Article

The Magazine

Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine is the ultimate paper guide for stylish & fun loving couples. Each and every issue is full-to-bursting with the latest innovative fresh content & hottest trends.

More Real Weddings

with BOUQUET & BELLS

Browse more beautiful & inspiring real weddings.

February, 2021

A Last Minute Wedding Day / Aishah & Paul

Aishah & Paul organised their wedding in just one week so it was all hands on deck to get everything ready in time.

November, 2020

A Small Celebration at Old Palace Chester / James & Jordan

James & Jordan brought their wedding forward due to looming tighter restrictions due to COVID-19.

May, 2020

A Beautiful Natural Themed Wedding at Longworth Hall in Hereford

Eilisha and Nathaniel held a beautiful, natural wedding at the stunning Longworth Hall, Hereford in September 2019.

Sign up to our Mailing List

Sign up to our mail list and stay up-to-date with the latest news, articles, inspiration and more!
Plus get 15% off your first order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine when you sign up.

Sign up to our mail list and get 15% off your first
order of Bouquet & Bells / The Magazine!

Bouquet & Bells 2021 © All rights reserved.