Chris and I met at a Job interview in February 2000 for the role as overseas holiday reps, we both got the job and spent time together training in Majorca, sadly we were posted to different islands, but we both felt a special connection between us and kept in touch for the majority of the summer season, until we finally decided we had to be together, we left our jobs and went travelling around Spain for a few months before returning home to England.
Chris asked me to marry him in November 2007, I thought we were going to London for a Christmas shopping trip, but he had booked a surprise weekend trip to Reykjavik, where he had lovely surprises planned each day. He proposed on our last night after taking me to the famous La perla revolving restaurant, he had liaised with the receptionist at our hotel to have our room decorated for when we got back from the restaurant, with rose petals, candles and had Champagne on ice.
We booked the date straight away for Saturday 11th October 2008 at The Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge, we both fell in love with this venue as soon as we saw it, a modern contemporary hotel in the Lake District, with friendly and professional staff, and fantastic scenery for the photographs
We wanted the whole day to have a unique theme and feel for us and our guests, we decided on a peacock theme as I loved the vibrant colours and amongst other meanings, the peacock represents Love and fidelity.
The men wore blue suits with peacock green cravats, with the exception of the groom who wore an ivory cravat to match my wedding dress, their button holes were a single ivory cala lily with a peacock feather. The bridesmaids wore peacock green dresses with a gold sash which had in the centre, a broach made from the eye of the peacock feather.
I wore a dress designed by Ian Stuart it was an Ivory taffeta mermaid shaped gown with a structured strapless bodice completely beaded with swarovski crystals. The fitted skirt had a hand draped overlay which bustled up to the back waist and was trimmed with a corsage of hand made flowers mixed with metallic ribbon. I did not wear a veil and did not like any tiaras I had seen, however Chris surprised me, by sending my bridesmaids to my room on the wedding morning with a beautiful hand made unique Tiara, that he had chosen to match my dress ( with the help of my mum & bridesmaids)
The ceremony was held in the Ballroom at the swan, I walked up the aisle with my dad and my 3 bridesmaids behind us, I chose No-One by Alicia Keyes to walk up the aisle to, this was sang by Emma Lori who sang for us for most of the day, her voice was like an angel and although I was nervous hearing her sing mine and Chris’s song immediately made me feel at ease, I was filled with so much happiness, and nervous excitement I don’t remember seeing Chris waiting for me I just felt like the most special person in the world.
We held our drinks reception aboard a boat on Lake Windermere, we were so lucky with the weather it was a beautiful warm sunny day, the atmosphere was fantastic everyone looked so happy and relaxed, it gave us a chance to mingle with all our guests in a relaxed and memorable way as we sailed across the lake.
We wanted the whole day to feel relaxed and informal and full of happiness and we wanted to capture this in the photographs, that is why we chose Lisa Aldersley, her reportage style enabled every moment and expression to be captured. It was a pleasure to have Lisa with us on the day, she was not intrusive and fitted in like one of the guests.
Both mine and the bridesmaids bouquets were made with Ivory calla lilies, Singapore orchids and peacock feathers wired around them, I wanted my bouquet to look like the flowers were cascading downwards and I have Lauren Beanland from Budz Flowers in Adlington, Lancashire, to thank for putting my ideas into reality.
All the stationery was designed around the peacock and its ancient meanings, this was designed by my chief bridesmaid Katharine Swift who owns Papermonkeys Wedding Stationery, she incorporated the meaning of the peacock onto the wedding invitations and the order of service and named each table after each peacock meaning, e.g. Love, Beauty, Wisdom, etc
Instead of the traditional table plan Katharine suggested Escort Cards which are small tent cards that have the guests name and table name printed on them, she made these from different coloured card and lined them up at the entrance of the room, it looked really effective.
Each table centrepiece consisted of a tall flute vase, filled with crystal gel beads and poured out white ostrich feathers with 3 Tall Peacock feather in the middle of each vase.
We tied the napkins alternately with the three colours of the peacock, green, gold and blue, ribbon and inserted a peacock feather with a tag attached into each napkin as this made up a part to the guests favours, we asked each guest to write their wishes on the tag, this then was attached to a Thai Sky Lantern for us to release after the wedding breakfast, we chose these as favours, to be different and the lanterns being released represent, taking away peoples worries and makes their wishes come true and brings good luck in the future. The atmosphere with the guests was full of excitement as we all gathered together on the grounds at the back of the Swan, to light and release the lanterns. As they ascended into the air everyone was looking up in amazement, they looked so beautiful and drew lots of attention from passers by and other hotel residents
The whole day was such an amazing experience, it really is the best day of your life, we wouldn’t change anything about it, I am still smiling when I think about it and the fantastic memories will live with us forever.
All photos - Lisa Aldersley Photography
