Stepping out of the norm, this inseparable couple had the day of their dreams! Claire and Lee created a woodland wonderland with their festival wedding theme…
The proposal
When they first got together, Claire and Lee spent so much time snuggled up together in Lee’s room watching DVDs that Lee’s parents put a picture of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘Bed in for Peace’ on his bedroom door! From the night they met, they became inseparable so it made perfect sense for them to marry! Lee proposed on Claire’s 30th birthday, which is also Valentine’s Day. “Lee wrote two cards – one to his girlfriend, and another to his fiancée,” Claire remembers. “He gave me the fiancée one after he had proposed.”
The bride’s outfit
The bride looked stunning in her Justin Alexander fishtail gown, which she bought from Bridal Path in Liverpool. Because the dress features beautiful lace, Claire wanted to keep her accessories fairly simple. She completed her big day outfit with Mimosa shoes by Rachel Simpson and her bouquet featured a locket that belonged to her Nan, which held photos of her nan and grandad in their army uniforms. “It felt good to have them with me on the day,” Claire smiles.
The groom’s outfit
Lee hired his suit from Moss Bros, teaming it up with a bow tie from Bow & Tie London.
The bridesmaids
Claire was attended by five bridesmaids and a flowergirl, and found dressing them a challenge! “All the girls are different shapes and sizes,” she explains. “I know how hard it is to find a dress to fit one person, let alone five!” So she decided to give them the choice of style based on her chosen colour, which was Dessy’s ‘Suede Rose’. She bought them from Emma Bridal Wear in Liverpool and the flowergirl dress were from BHS.
The ceremony
Claire and Lee both wanted to get married outside and found the perfect venue in Walton Hall. The gorgeous wooden gazebo caught the afternoon sun to offer a dreamy spot where they would exchange vows. The couple also had a pagan handfasting ceremony at Delamere Forest that got all of their guests involved.
The reception
At Walton Hall, tea, cakes and sandwiches were served, using teapots passed down
to the couple from both sets of grandparents. At the forest afterwards The Flaming Hot Pizza Company served pizza and then the couple treated their guests to a hog roast – it was relaxed and informal, just what they wanted.
The details
The rustic woodland festival theme worked brilliantly to complement the couple’s personalities. They asked family and friends to collect jars for them, which they decorated and used to hold tealights and flowers. Claire’s mum made floral bunting, which was entwined with ivy and fairy lights – it looked magical. Local florist WSA Living Colour Floral Design in Stockton Heath brought Claire’s vision to life, filling the tipi with moss, wild native flowers and log stacks – they created a woodland wonderland! The pretty cake in pastel colours was made by the Cake Shop in Liverpool, and, each guest was given a festival-style lanyard in-keeping with the theme. The guests wore glow stick bracelets and glasses, which looked brilliant in the evening. A DJ played songs chosen by their guests, “It was great to see people’s reactions when they heard their chosen song come on!” says Claire. A photo booth by Magic Moments of Warrington provided great entertainment and memories, too.
The honeymoon
Claire and Lee opted for a minimoon to Tenerife, a present from their family, followed by
a longer trip to Thailand and Vietnam a few months later.
Photography
Shane Webber Photography (Manchester wedding photographer)
Real wedding gallery
