“Hello I Love You” A Real Wedding In Yorkshire – Amy & Matthew

Posted on: 19/07/2012

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This afternoon’s post is a little different to most on the wedding blog, but at the same time, so, so similar. 

Amy and Matthew’s wedding day was the most lovely and joyful of days, but sadly their wedding had to be brought forward because the groom was suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma, from which he never recovered.  Amy and Matthew’s day, full of happiness, really celebrated their love for each other, and I am so thankful to Amy for sharing their photographs with Brides Up North this afternoon.

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Next time you are stressing out over favours or finding the exact shade of peony to match your bridesmaids’ dresses, take a minute to remember what it’s all about: love.  We don’t all get our happy ending and as some wise men once said, love is all you need.

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Andrew of Insight Photography says: It was the highlight of my UK career when Matthew and Amy ‘tied the knot’ at St Andrews Church in Kirkella and held their enormous celebration at The Hallmark Hotel on a glorious Bank Holiday.

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If you’re a celebrity voyeur, you will no doubt have come across Matty – he is one of the UK’s most highly decorated hair stylists working with the internationally renowned icon Mark Hill for over 25 years.

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I met Amy about six years ago when I returned from my nine years of ‘retirement’ whilst living in Canada and when they approached me to cover their special day, I was totally honoured. Matthew had been battling Hodgkins Lymphoma for over 2 years however due to the rigours of his treatment, the couple pulled out all of the stops to move their wedding to Bank Holiday Monday.

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Their wedding day was nothing short of one of the most moving experiences I have ever witnessed. Just to put Matthew’s popularity into perspective, personal messages were read out during the speeches from Fearne Cotton, Ant & Dec, Jonathan Ross, Trevor Sorbie and Nicky Clarke – all apologising for not being able to make it due to the ‘other’ Royal wedding which is apparently happening the following weekend!  A true legend married his bride in a style that only Matthew and Amy could pull off under such incredible circumstances.

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I am really proud to say it was definitely a defining moment for me and a total privilege to capture the most special of days and I will never, ever forget seeing Matthew’s face as Amy walked down the aisle and the beam of light that emanated from this couple all day will never leave me.

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Amy says:  Matthew and I got engaged on Sunday 17^th January 2011 in The Wheatsheaf, Kirk Ella, the same place we met 8 years earlier.

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We arranged to get married on Saturday 4^th June 2012, however with Matthew’s diagnosis worsening, we brought the wedding forward and got married on Easter Monday, 25^th April 2011. Everyone was great, suppliers couldn’t do enough for us and friends rallied around to make things happen. 

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We were married at 12 noon at St Andrew’s Church, Kirk Ella, with the reception at The Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby. The reverend Jonathan Juckes conducted the service and we were joined by over 200 guests. The village was brought to a standstill from well wishers, it was amazing!

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We both wanted to get married in Church and our village church was just the perfect choice. Jonathan Juckes had really supported Matthew through his illness and I had known him for a long time too as I run the local Brownie unit. He was more than obliging to anything we wanted, including moving the wedding to get married on Easter Monday.

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There wasn’t a theme as such. I put my mark on the day and Matthew had his spin on it too. It all fitted just so well together.  We both chose a colour. My favourite colour is pink and when I asked Matthew, he said black… I said try again, how about silver? He said OK!

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I went to Deborah Moore Bridal in Hessle as I loved Maggie Sottero dresses I’d seen on the internet. I tried lots of dresses on… all the same style… I just didn’t put ‘the one’ on.  As I was leaving Deborah’s mum said to me, “Amy, just try this…” She pulled a dress out, I didn’t like it at all, it wasn’t anything like what I had tried on during my appointment. I put it on and immediately said I want it. Sonya by Maggie Sottero,  one-piece, corset, strapless gown with A-line skirt and chapel train. Satin are chiffon bands are ruched on the bodice. The side hip is accented with a crystal brooch. Fluted chiffon cascades from the side hip to the hemline. I love it!

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For the bridesmaids, I knew exactly what I wanted. Matthew was a massive MOD and the guys would be in dapper suits (by Moss Bros).  My bridesmaids wore a calf length 50’s style dresses. It took me ages to find it, then driving through a local village one day, there it was in the window of Jacqueline’s. I made an appointment for the following Saturday and all the girls loved it too. 

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Hair and make up on the day was done by The Mark Hill Salon and Jan Lloyd of Lloyds Hair & Beauty, Hull. 

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I carried a bouquet of hot pink gerbera, orchids and roses by The Flower Stylist in Kirk Ella.  The adult bridesmaids carried white orchids with bright pink centres, wrapped in aspidistra leaves and my little bridesmaids had hot pink gerberas. 

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My Brownies sang for our guests as they arrived at the church then were our choir throughout the service.

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The boys arrived at the church on Vespas. Matthews got a retro vespa which is the replica of Sting’s from Quadrophenia, they looked amazing.  I travelled to the church by horse & carriage from KRM Carriages , which Matthew and I left in afterwards too. The bridesmaids, the groomsmen, my mum and Matthew’s mum travelled in cars supplied by Marshalls of Hull.

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As favours, we gave every guest a packet of gerbera seeds.  Everyone has planted them this year in remembrance of our special day. 

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In the evening we had a band, Kinked, and then a DJ with karaoke. Matthew loved to sing and I’d give it a go too… it was just one big party!  Matthew was a massive Jim Morrison fan and the band did a full Doors set with Matthew, him singing as Jim Morrison, he loved it.

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We went to Lanzarote on Honeymoon.  Lanzarote was where we first went on holiday together in October 2003, 6 months after we met. We got the OK from Matthew’s doctors to go away for a week, we pushed them and eventually they let us away for 10 days!  We stayed at The Sandos Papayago Arena in Playa Blanca. It was lovely. 

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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be plan ahead, don’t think you’ve got ages to sort things, time creeps up on you very quickly. You need to be ‘too’ organised when you’re planning your wedding, there’s so much to do.

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Many thanks to Amy for sharing her and Matthew’s story with Brides Up North. 

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2012 Insight Photography

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