A gorgeous brown and cream styled real wedding in Bolton

This elegant brown and cream colour pallet was perfect for this couple’s pretty real wedding in Lancashire…

How they met

“We met in the local pub – we knew of each other before, and that night we got talking and Al walked me home. Of course I made him chase me for a couple of weeks before going out with him again, he took me to an Italian restaurant and didn’t let me pay for anything.”

The proposal

“As a 22nd birthday present, Alan took me on holiday to Halkidiki in Greece. One night, he arranged a trip to a cliff top restaurant and then popped the question after our meal. I was so surprised, and even more surprised the ring was so gorgeous,” laughs Alison.

Bride’s outfit

“I looked online for styles and designers that I liked, and found Sophia Tolli. Bridal Couture Italia on Chorley Old Road in Bolton. Luckily they stocked Sophia Tolli and there, I found my dress ‘Carmella’. It was made from ivory bridal silk, with Swarovski crystals covering the fitted top and a beautiful long train. With my dress, I matched a tiara and floor length viel scattered with Swarovski crystals. I never believed people when they said ‘I felt like a princess’, but I really did.”

“Alan popped the question after our meal. I was so surprised, and even more surprised the ring was so gorgeous.”

Groom’s outfit

“Alan, the groomsmen, and our dads all hired their suits from Chester Formal Menwear in Horwich, Bolton and all had brown shoes from Burton to match.”

The bridesmaids

“I had four bridesmaids – my two sisters, my cousin and my best friend. My friend Keiran from The Dressing Room, Wigan, made their dresses. They were 3/4 length, chocolate-brown with an ivory waistband going round to a big bow on the back. They all looked gorgeous.”

Getting Ready

“I kept my make-up natural on the day, just adding a few false eyelashes. My make-up artist did a brilliant job, and it lasted all day. I would say getting to know your make-up artist is a good idea, because I felt just like I was talking to a friend with Sian, and trusted her to do a good job. I had my hair half-up, half-down and loosely curled while the girls had their hair up to the side with a crystal lily clip. Our hair was so beautiful.”

The ceremony

“Our church service started at 1pm, but I, of course, was fashionably late. My dad walked me down the aisle to the bridal march, dad had to keep making laugh because I was so nervous, but I was excited at the same time,” remembers Alison.

The reception

“Our venue was the Rivington Hall Barn, a rustic old-fashioned building surrounded with acres of countryside, which was all reserved just for our wedding. We catered for 96 people at the wedding breakfast and about 250 at the evening reception, where we had a buffet, the wedding cake and the treat of a chocolate fountain,” she explains.

“I was so nervous, but I was excited at the same time”

The honeymoon

“Five days after the wedding we went to the Restia Suites in Corfu, Greece. It was absolute heaven – a swanky suite with private pool, spa on site and the food there was to die for. We were definitely in need of a reality check when we got home after two weeks there,” smiles Alison