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I’m recovering this morning after an absolutely fabulous first Brides Up North event of the season at the gorgeous Allerton Castle yesterday. Thank you so much to all our wonderful suppliers for making the day so, so special (you really are Yorkshire’s finest) and to all you beautiful brides to be who came along en gorgeous masse to soak up the inspiration, see the stunning venue and say hello!
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I think I love you.
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If you missed it, click here to see a list of our upcoming events. Don’t miss out.
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In fact, there’s a lorra lorra love in the air this week post Valentine’s day (hello new readers, and welcome! I’ll drop the Cilla Black, I promise!), and as usual the wedding blog is just bursting with it (love, not Cilla impressions). Today we join Brides Up North reader Natalie and her new husband David at the lovely Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, for a pretty vintage influenced Christmas wedding that brought the outdoors in. And would you check out that DIY cake?! Impressive stuff.
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With images by brilliant Brides Up North Featured Supplier Helen Russell Photography.
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Natalie says: We got engaged on the 18th December 2008 in New York. After going for a helicopter ride we decided to go ice skating by the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. With Christmas music playing, we stood by the tree, he began telling me how he will always love me, and he got down on one knee.
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We were married on 8th December 2012 on our six year anniversary at Alnwick Garden. From being a little girl I had always wanted to marry in a secret garden – somewhere full of magic and true beauty. Alnwick Garden is the magical venue I’d always dreamt of: flowers growing, twinkled lights, a treehouse, a castle, a place where the beauty of outside was visible from within. We chose a vintage theme with just a hint of Christmas, with a colour scheme of minks, pinks, ivories and browns.
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I had two dresses for my wedding. My day time dress was purchased from The Wedding Wardrobe in Chester-le-Street and it was a sweetheart neckline, lace, fish tail, Farage dress. My second dress was a bespoke vintage tea length, v neck, lace wedding dress.
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I carried a mixture of vintage toned roses, white poppies, frosty foliage and pinecones by Bels Flowers.
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My bridesmaid dresses were from M&S and the flower girls wore dresses from Monsoon.
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I travelled to the venue in a 1940’s Wolseley police car – vintage and yet unique. The car was supplied by Brooklands Wedding Cars.
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From the whole day my favourite part was arriving at the venue, I walked down the aisle with my dad, and David had his back to me. The moment when he turned around to see me with tears in his eyes, it truly was the best moment in my entire life. To know that even though we were in a room full of people, it felt like no one else was there, we were in our own, confessing our love for one another.
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Since we got engaged by a Christmas tree in New York it seemed only appropriate that we would marry by the huge tree in the Gardens. On our engagement holiday in New York we purchased a beautiful red bauble which opened up on a clasp. I decided to line the bauble inside, place our rings inside and hang it from the tree on our wedding day. As we reached out together to get our rings, I felt it signified that we would go on in our journey in life together, full of joy, and many many surprises.
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I choose a vintage style cake to go along with our theme. It was made up of vintage coloured roses, ivory ribbons and lace. I made the cake myself.
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I chose piano to be played during the drinks reception, a jazz trio for the wedding breakfast and a DJ for the evening reception.
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We’re going on our honeymoon in June. We’re going to Canada for five nights, then flying to San Francisco for two nights, driving to Monetary Bay and staying for three nights, then back to our engagement destination in New York. It should be a real adventure.
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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be to take a moment to take in all the special moments from the day. For example, the way you looked at one another, the words of wisdom from your friends, the hugs and kisses you had the night before because you knew you wouldn’t see each other until the next day. All in all it’s the special moments in life and your love for one another that really counts.
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Congratulations Natalie & David!
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 Helen Russell Photography
Helen Russell Photography is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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