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Let’s kick off the countdown to the weekend (I always start my countdown on a Thursday afternoon anyway, it’s good for the chi) with a beautiful Real Wedding in Lancashire, sent to me by real bride Kate (who completed her interview whilst on honeymoon in Chicago) and Ashton Photography. Kate and Ben’s wedding has all the right ingredients – love, colour, smiles and song, flowers by the wagon load, clever DIY details and above all, homemade schnapps.
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Hic!
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Kate says: We got engaged in New York, August 2010. Ben planned to propose when we booked the holiday. He had planned to do it on the evening when we arrived but I was in such an awful mood after the long flight and seeing our not so lovely hotel that he decided to wait until the following day. In the morning we took a walk through Central Park, he suggested we sit in a lovely secluded pagoda by the lake and here he went down on one knee. When we went on our honeymoon to NY, our first stop was to visit the pagoda where it all started.
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We got married on 30th June 2012 at St James’ Church in Brindle, Lancashire followed by a reception at the beautiful Beeston Manor. The congregation at St James church are so welcoming and the church is stunning so when we got engaged although this is neither myself or Ben’s local church it is was our first choice, in the process of planning we regularly attended on Sunday and now feel part of the church community which is lovely. We chose Beeston Manor firstly because the location is stunning, set on the edge of the Ribble Valley. Inside it was just what we where looking for, a beautiful natural venue with a heart, and most importantly with no busy carpets or curtains – not to mention that the owners are just lovely, Janet and John where so helpful right from the start.
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We didn’t have a theme, but I just wanted lots and lots of flowers so I guess it turned into a bit of an eclectic country garden filled with all the things Ben and I love. I knew I wanted the palette to be soft and muted and for the mixture of flowers to do the talking. Key colours included sage green, soft/vintage pink, lilac, white and grey.
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I carried a mixture of memory lane roses, lavender, hydrangea, sweet peas and many more I don’t know the name of, needless to say Margaret Mason did a fantastic job in capturing the natural undone look I wanted.
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My bridesmaids wore lovely charcoal wrap dresses by Phase Eight teamed with dusky pink shoes.
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Being a menswear designer this is really where I went to town, all the men wore navy suits, I bought some floral fabric from Liberty in London with which the factory I work with in Hong Kong very kindly made Ben a shirt and tie and his outfit was finished off with a spotty chambray pocket square from Ted Baker. His groomsmen all had white shirts, floral ties and navy and white spot hankies, the Dads had white shirts, floral ties and navy and lilac spot hankies and his best man had a white shirt floral hanky with a lilac tie to set him apart.
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My nephew Euan and godson Archie were page boys and wore skinny chinos, blue chambray shirts, navy and white spot bow ties and blazers and my lovely flower girl Matilda wore a dress from Marks & Spencer and patent navy ballet pumps.
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An amazing musician who everyone should check out, Dan Wilde, played M Ward’s version of “You Still Believe In Me” as I walked down the aisle, a truly emotional experience, he also played during our wedding breakfast tracks from his album ‘This Is The Place’ plus more from his repertoire, fantastic. Our DJ got everyone dancing at night with a playlist requested by us and guests.
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We travelled in a vintage white Bentley driven by the lovely Ray who did a sterling job through the rain despite having tiny wind screen wipers, what a guy!
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Neither myself or Ben could pin point one favourite moment, we loved the whole thing!
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I made bunting to decorate Beeston Manor and collected vintage books and cut glass vases for centre pieces. I collected vintage embroidered table clothes for each table and I have lots of tea cups which were filled with flowers and dotted around the Church and top table.
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Mum made the most fantastic herb boxes which where also in the Church and then taken to Beeston Manor and my friend Jenny and I made damson gin and rhubarb schnapps for favours.
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A good family friend and talented cake maker Sue Mault made our cake, she even did a yummy gluten free centre layer especially for my Mum.
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After a week in NYC, we headed to Chicago for the rest of our honeymoon. We were there for Lollapolooza, the most amazing festival!
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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be do exactly what you want, don’t think you have to have what convention tells you a wedding should be! And don’t stress about the weather, we had torrential rain, fork lightening and cloudy skies, it added to the drama!
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Congratulations Kate & Ben!
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 Ashton Photography
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Congratulations Faye & John! 
Congratulations Sarah & Dave! 
