Informal Vintage Feel Personal Wedding

I really love how down to earth today’s couple is. Their wedding report says is how it is and their fuss free wedding is just gorgeous.

Mary and Paul were married on the 29th August 2015 at Masonic Hall in Leeds. They didn’t have a vision and simply picked the things they love most, which were personal to them as a couple. There was a MMA meets UFC cake, drum stick centrepieces and book favours to name a few. I really adore the sweet Morris Minor transport, the colourful wild blooms and the vivid bridesmaids dresses too.

Mary looked so stunning in her vintage frock and plaited hair, while the gents wore their own suits and floral ties. Just so lovely.

Thanks goes to WWW Supplier Love fave Mark Newton Wedding Photography for sharing these wonderful shots.

 

THE PROPOSAL | Paul took me to Kendalls which is a gorgeous French restaurant in Leeds for our 3 year anniversary. I was a bit suspicious as I wanted to go to our local curry place but he was insistent we went to Kendalls! He got down on one knee with the ring. My reaction was to go “oh my god what are you doing” I said yes immediately. We were so excited we took our pudding home so we could go and tell me parents.

THE VISION | Honestly I didn’t have a vision as such. Paul basically said I’ve put a ring on it my jobs done! We knew we didn’t want a lot of fuss or an all day event and we knew we didn’t want everything to be really formal as that’s just not us.

THE PLANNING PROCESS | Our wedding wouldn’t have happened without my Mum. I had no interest in table decorations or making the place look fancy but my Mum is amazing at all that kind of thing.

We booked the venue first for almost exactly a year after the proposal and took everything else from there.

BUDGET | We didn’t have a set budget but knew we wanted to do everything as cheaply as possible as my parents and Paul’s parents were splitting the cost between them. I would estimate everything it total came to around £7000.

THE VENUE | We only looked at one venue as we loved it as soon as we saw it. We went with the Masonic Hall at Castle Grove. It was really important to us that we have a local venue. I have elderly grandparents and we didn’t want anyone to have to travel. We also thought about how expensive weddings can become for the guests. The venue doesn’t look that much from the outside but it is beautiful inside. We could see so many places for photos and the actual ceremony room made us feel like we were in Game of Thrones!

You don’t have to pay for the venue just for the food and drink which is a bargain.

They also have use of the garden next door for pictures.

THE DRESS & ACCESSORIES | My dress was from Glory Days which is a vintage wedding dress shop in York. Hayley does original vintage dresses but also offers a couture service.

I had a handmade silk slip made by Hayley to wear under my dress and think I had three or four fittings in total.

I picked up some fancy flip flops from Accessorize to wear as I wanted to be comfy!

My bridesmaid Siobhan lent me the earrings she had worn for her wedding, which were my something borrowed. I had a little blue bracelet for my something blue and my bridesmaids had matching ones.

My Mum found me a little gold chainmail bag on eBay which was from the 60s.

Finally I wore some lace which was left over from my dress being shortened in my hair.

FINDING THE DRESS | I initially saw a dress I really liked in Topshop and was planning on using that.

My Dad then found the Glory Days website and insisted on me going to have a look in the shop which I did with my Mum. They had so many styles of dress so I tried a few. I loved one which made me feel like a Tudor or something but I really wanted to be comfy. I then tried on the dress I went with which was basically a glorified nightie! I loved the colour of the lace as it was quite yellowed which I felt went better with my pasty skin than white would! And the main point it was super comfy!

GROOM’S ATTIRE | Paul just wore a suit he already had although I did persuade him to buy some new shoes which he did about 3 days before the wedding!

We weren’t bothered about the ushers and best men being matchy matchy but we did get a tie for them and both our Dads to wear. They all hated the tie and said it was like something a geography teacher would wear!

THE READINGS & MUSIC | We didn’t have any readings. Every wedding I have been to everyone just wants the ceremony done with! Plus the longer the ceremony the more time I had to spend with everyone staring at me!

We had 3 songs play whilst the guests and Paul were waiting for me.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home

Ray Charles – I Got A Woman

Johnny Cash and June Carter – Time’s A Wastin

I walked down the aisle to;

Everley Brother’s -Dream Dream Dream

And then we both walked out to;

Dusty Springfield  -I Only Want To Be With You

BEAUTIFUL BRIDESMAIDS | I had three bridesmaids.

My maid of honour was my friend Carrie who I met at university. Carrie was around 6 months pregnant at the wedding but was a trooper and on the dancefloor all night!

My friend Fran who I have known for 15 years and my friend Siobhan from university were my other two bridesmaids and they organised me the best hen do ever!

There dressed were from Ossie Clark at Debenhams and I’m still trying to steal one back as I love the colour so much! Fran couldn’t wait to swap hers for a mini dress and trainers!

THE FLOWERS | We weren’t going to have flowers. My Mum was just to get some lavender pots. However about 3 weeks before the wedding she decided we would go speak to a florist. We went to one in Crossgates near where I live and she managed to turn my rambling into my amazing bouquet. I wanted mixed colours but wasn’t really bothered what flowers were used. I chose 3 sunflowers for the bridesmaid bouquets which I thought looked amazing with my bridesmaid dresses.

THE CAKE | I had the cake done as a surprise for Paul. Paul is a massive MMA (mixed martial arts) and UFC fan so I got the idea of a cage cake. We also had some more traditional cupcake tiers which were separate to the cake.

I loved the cake and Paul was definitely surprised. It was made by Cupcakes and Bakes and they were so good and turning my idea into reality.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER | We went with Mark Newton as our photographer. We originally wanted a different Mark who had done our friends pictures but he was busy and recommended Mark Newton.

Mark put us at ease straight away when we met him. Mark was the backbone of our day and really helped with keeping me calm before the ceremony. He helped keep everything running smoothly and importantly for us got the pictures done quickly.

THE DETAILS & DÉCOR | My Mum put so much thought into the table decorations and other little details.

We had wedding pictures of our grandparents and parents on both side in the reception area for everyone to see.

We had books as the table numbers as I’m obsessed with reading and my Mum themed the book to the table and guests. My brother applied gold leaf with the table number on to each book.

We also had drumsticks on each table as Paul is a drummer and in a band. I felt it reflected both our personalities. The company that did our invitations Bloomfield and Rolfe (bespoke rubber stamps) provided little cards with space for our guests to draw a picture and write a message on the back. We basically got 100 dick pics back!

My Mum also had little pencils made which said Dream Dream Dream on them which was my song for walking down the aisle.

We also had vintage cars to get to the ceremony.

My dad and I went in a Morris Minor and my Mum and bridesmaids went in a black London taxi.

THE HONEYMOON | We went to Menorca for our honeymoon for a week. It was horrendous! We can laugh about it now but were planning another break this summer to make up for it.

Our hotel bathroom stank of dead jellyfish. The bed was rock hard. I ended up on an IV drip after 2 days from all my mosquito bites (I’m allergic!) and it rained for 4 days. We basically got drunk and ate pizza!

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | My Dad and bridesmaids seeing my wedding dress as I had kept it a total secret and my Dad cried.

Seeing Paul waiting for me.

Our best men and us getting our rings all mixed up in front of everyone.

Our first dance to God Gave Rock and Roll to You.

Just having everyone we love in one place. This only happens at weddings or when you dead and you can’t enjoy it then!

ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES | Just go with the flow. We had a timetable in place and were about 2 hours behind but it didn’t matter.

Make time to see your husband/wife during the day!

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE |

Photography | Mark Newton Wedding Photography *WWW wedding directory member*

Venue | Masonic Hall

Dress | Glory Days

Florist | Monroes Florist

Cake | Cupcakes and Bakes

Stationery | Bloomfield and Rolfe

Morris Minor Car | Superior Motor Cars

London Taxi | Wedding Cars Leeds

My hair and the bridesmaids | Paul Knights by George

Make up | Joanne Worthington

 

 

Fantastic!

Thanks goes to Mary and Paul for sharing their brilliant nuptials with us, I hope you have the perfect honeymoon xo Lou