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Anna and Lee’s sparkling Winter wedding feels like the perfect way to begin a fresh new week here on the wedding blog.  With tons of twinkle, crisp whites and beautiful images by super talented Brides Up North Featured Supplier Dominic Wright Photography, Anna and Lee’s day is inspiration all the way.  Enjoy. 

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Anna says:  We got engaged at the Minster in York on the 14^th February 2012. I wasn’t expecting it all at as Lee hates Valentine’s Day so I was very shocked and thrilled.

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We were married on Sunday 23^rd December 2012 at The Hospitium, Museum gardens, York.  We loved the 14^th century building and the mixture of the stone work and pillars downstairs and more modern upstairs. We thought it would be the perfect Christmas wedding venue. The setting in Museum gardens meant that we could have beautiful photographs (thanks to our amazing photographers!) in the Abbey ruins that are in the grounds of the park.

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I wanted a winter wonderland with lots of foliage, twinkle and Christmas touches.  I used a lot of white sparkle and then greens through the bridesmaid dresses and the foliage. 

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We put a surprise guided bus tour on (with bubbly!) for all our guests. It picked the guests up from Hotel Du Vin, York and the guests then had a personalised tour of the city before being dropped at the venue of the wedding.

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I wanted a huge princess dress that was very classy and beautiful. I bought my stunning Pronovias dress from Brides of Harrogate. I wanted the groom, best man and fathers to be in classic three piece suits. The groom’s suit was a William Hunt (Savile Row) suit.  The bridesmaid’s dresses were from Brides of Harrogate also and were made by the designer Mori Lee.

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My make-up was by Julia Spink and the beautiful hair (bride, bride’s mother, bridesmaids and flower girls was all done by Hannah Green.

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I had recorded the children in my school singing a beautiful and moving song to be played through ceremony (which had many of our guests in tears). Then we had Christmas songs playing throughout the drinks reception.

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Its so hard to pick a favourite part of the day! The reaction of everyone (including the groom who cried) when I walked into the room, the relaxed atmosphere and the knowledge that everyone was absolutely loving the day and buzzing with it and of course wearing my stunning dress and seeing my groom looking gorgeous, as were all of my guests. It really was the most amazing day.

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I carried a bouquet of white roses with eucalyptus and sparkle. I wanted something very simple and classic that wouldn’t date in the photographs.  Our florist was the amazing and talented Susan Dudley-Smith.

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We had personalised crackers which matched the incredible stationery designed and made by my sister in law, Kate Wells. She made the most stunning ‘Advent Calendar’ invitations for our guests to open on the days leading up to the wedding. The guests loved them! There were also personalised teddies for the flower girls to open at the meal.

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The delicious catering was by Bradshaws of York.  My mother in law made a beautiful ivory wedding cake with flowers on it to tie in with the theme.

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Given the time of year and the fact that our daughter is only two, we didn’t fancy a long hall flight for our honeymoon. We ended up booking a luxury cottage in Northumberland, so we had five nights relaxing as a family, with meals out and beautiful walks on the beach every day.

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My top tip for other Brides Up North is to make sure you stick to your guns about the sort of day you want. If you are happy and relaxed on the day all your guests will be too. Unfortunately the saying is true – you get what you pay for, so pick out the things that are really important to you and then see if you can cut back (or make your own) in other areas. Guests will love your personalised and individual touches.

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Congratulations Anna & Lee!

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Get in touch to see your own Real Wedding featured on Brides Up North – here’s how. 

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 Dominic Wright Photography

Dominic Wright Photography is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

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