A picture-perfect real wedding with beautiful homemade details, for a personal touch…
WHO: Anna and Tony
WHERE: St Nicholas Church and The Maynard, Derbyshire
WHEN: July 2011
PHOTOS: s6 Photography
The proposal
“We were away with my family when Tony popped the question, staying at a little cottage in Suffolk,” recalls Anna. “Having not spent Christmas together, my Mum suggested a weekend away. Tony and I had gone back to the cottage after a walk on the beach (little did I know this was all part of the plan!) and he kept trying to get me to come outside on the patio, even though it was freezing. I was busy making a cup of tea, and when I turned around he had gone down on one knee and pulled out a ring. He later told me he’d been trying to ask me in the snow, as it would have been more romantic, but I refused to go outside! When my family came home (of course they knew what was going on!) we had a few bottles of bubbly to celebrate.”
The bride’s outfit
“I found my dress at a fantastic little shop called emilybridalwear.co.uk in Sheffield,” recalls Anna. The designer was Mikaella at Paloma Blanca, and the gown featured a fishtail shape, from ivory-duchess satin, with an organza waterfall at the back, leading into the train. Anna also asked for sheer straps to be added, which worked perfectly.
“We were away with my family when Tony popped the question, staying at a little cottage in Suffolk,”
The groom’s outfit
“Tony wanted a classic look, so opted for a grey suit and a stripy cravat that was kindly made by a family friend. He completed the look with a pair of pearl cufflinks and a diamond and pearl tie pin that was a gift from his Dad for the wedding,” says Anna
The bridesmaids
“I had three bridesmaids and one flowergirl,” recalls Anna. My sister Lucy was my Maid of Honour, then I had my best friend and my cousin as bridesmaids. Tony’s niece was our gorgeous flowergirl, she wore an adorable outfit from John Lewis, while the older girls wore dresses from Dessy – the colour was called Wisteria.”
The ceremony
The couple’s ceremony was a traditional C of E church service, which included three hymns and readings by Tony’s sister Siobhan and Anna’s cousin, Louise.
“We had a budget to stick to, so a lot of what we used was either a bargain or homemade”
The reception
“Our wedding was a real family affair, we had so much help from everyone with all the details,” explains Anna. “We had a budget to stick to, so a lot of what we used was either a bargain or homemade! My Mum, aunties and cousin made our gorgeous cake from a picture I found, my friend Claire and I made all the stationery, and a family friend kindly bought and designed all our flower displays.”
The honeymoon
“We travelled to South Africa, stopping in Cape Town, and then on to a private safari park. Finally, we flew to Mauritius for a little sun and relaxation – I would highly recommend it!”
