Jaydene and David had their real wedding at The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping, Lancashire in August 2009.
A Grecian emerald-green real wedding with flashes of gold meets laidback ‘summer garden’…
WHERE: The Gibbon Bridge Hotel, Chipping, Lancashire
WHEN: August 2009
PHOTOGRAPHER: Ashton Photography
The first date
“We had planned to go for just a quick get-to-know-you drink, but we got on so well, we couldn’t bear to say goodnight!” remembers Jaydene. “We ended up having a long drawn-out meal and spent forever just chatting – our waiter thought we didn’t like the food!”
The proposal
“We’d been enjoying a very rare British heatwave with some gorgeous picnics together, so David asked me to marry him in the picnic-perfect Sefton Park in Liverpool,” explains Jaydene.
The bride’s real wedding outfit
“I wore a stunning silk dupion dress with a really fitted bodice, which made me feel like a bit of a goddess!” says Jaydene. Wearing a fabulous Benjamin Roberts design, Jaydene found her ivory real wedding gown with crystal beading across the corset from Gypsophila Designer Bridal Wear. “To customise the dress, I asked the shop to add a flower corsage detail at the hip,” she adds.
The groom’s outfit
“David wanted to buy a suit he could wear again, so he bought a Hugo Boss suit from Flannels in Liverpool and had it tailored to fit,” explains Jaydene.
“David’s BMW was decorated with ribbons for a brilliant photo op with the groomsmen – it’s one of my favourite pics!”
The bridesmaids
Jaydene’s two best girls pulled off the Grecian-goddess look with effortless cool. Looking gorgeous in green, the girls’ floor-length, floaty, chiffon dresses from Monsoon included a panel of gold sparkling detail at the bust.
The theme
Jaydene’s bridesmaids’ dresses set the tone for the whole day. “At first I wanted a pale green colour for their dresses, but I’m so glad I changed my mind and chose this vibrant green. Our real wedding theme was ‘summer garden’ and the girls’ block of strong colour was a great contrast for our relaxed, informal flower displays,” explains Jaydene.
The ceremony
“We were lucky enough to get married outside in the bandstand at Gibbon Bridge in Chipping,” says Jaydene. “The weather forecast was awful and we thought our dream of getting married outside would fall through, but thankfully, someone up there was smiling down on us and the sun made its presence known.” During the service, David’s mum gave a reading based on an Apache Indian blessing, and then later, the Carlton Ensemble string quartet accompanied the newlyweds bride’s beauty tip back down the aisle to the Beatles classic: All You Need Is Love.
The flowers
“Our florist, Flower Design, was fantastic,” says Jaydene. “I carried a bouquet of brightly coloured blooms, including David Austen roses, and our table flowers were handtied posies of wild garden flowers in clear glass vases. I wanted the flowers quite informal and not too ‘put together’.”
The pic of the bunch
The couple’s florist also decorated David’s BMW with ribbons, and the photographer made sure he took a photo of all the groomsmen together having fun. “We loved the fun, relaxed feel to this shot,” says Jaydene. “It’s nice to have a photo of the boys, too” – “My top tip? Ask your suppliers to recommend other businesses in the industry – they’re in the know!”
The reception
Jaydene and David’s florist dressed the tables at the venue with rose petals, diamanté crystals and tealights. “Dessert at the wedding breakfast was brilliant,” remembers Jaydene. “We served an ‘assiette’ (assortment) dish of four mini puddings including crème brûlée, chocolate pudding, strawberry pavlova and shortcake.”
The cake
“We didn’t want to spend a fortune on the cake and Marks & Spencer were definitely a cheaper option with lots of choice,” explains Jaydene. “We chose a three-tiered cake with white icing, decorated with fresh flowers.”
The favours
Jaydene filled organza bags with fragrant lavender from her garden, ladies as favours. “I also bought small personalised boxes of toys and games to keep the children occupied from Event Smiles.
The first dance
“I was probably more nervous about the first dance than walking down the aisle!” laughs Jaydene. “I encouraged friends and family to join us half way through the song. My nan and grandad didn’t need telling twice!”
The honeymoon
“We spent two weeks in Mauritius in a luxury seafront villa,” says Jaydene. “I can say with some confidence that we pretty much spent the whole time eating!”
