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Over the festive period I’ll be recapping some of my very favourite Real Weddings from the last 12 months on the wedding blog. It’s been a tough choice! In true Brides Up North style, each wedding featured on these pages is unique, beautiful and gorgeously personal. It’s been an exceptionally fabulous year! Enjoy…

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What better way to see the New Year in that with a proper Scottish celebration?  Hogmany, here we come…

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As a professional wedding blogger, trust me, I see a lot of gorgeous wedding dresses on a daily basis.  Consequently, I adore my job.  The downside?  It’s sometimes difficult not to have “dress regret” and wish that I had chosen a particular new style or other for my own wedding, but generally I stay true to my own taste whilst admiring other girl’s choices.  However, today’s Real Wedding sent to me by Mick Cookson Photography and real bride Alina made that particularly difficult for me, as I am simply in love with Alina’s wedding dress.  Hook, line and sinker. 

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For a girl who didn’t want a wedding gown at all, she has absolutely nailed it!  And, come to mention it,  the rest of her beautiful wedding to Michael at Ross Priory near Loch Lomond…

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Alina says:  We got engaged on New Years Eve (2011) at my parents’ house. I was in the shower after a long day at work getting ready to have a nice meal with my family. I was feeling full of cold so felt a bit sorry for myself. Michael was in the bathroom too, keeping me company. We were chatting about our day when he said he had a surprise for me. When I leaned out of the shower curtain he was down on one knee. As I wear glasses I thought he was joking and told him to bugger off. I quickly realised he wasn’t joking and jumped out of the shower into his arms whilst giving out a yelp. I ran downstairs to my parents in a towel and shower cap where they were waiting for us with Champagne at the ready. They knew weeks in advance it was coming. Michael knows I’m not a huge romantic and I would have hated a big gesture so the proposal was simply perfect for me as it was completely hilarious and very us.

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We got married on 20th April 2012 at a little church in Scotland called Kilmarnock Church near Loch Lomond. The reception was held at a place called Ross Priory on the banks of Loch Lomond.  Michael always wanted to get married in Scotland due to the beautiful scenery up there. We also liked the idea of a small wedding and making a trip out of the whole thing. Michael’s mum went for lunch at Ross Priory and showed some us some photographs of the place, I instantly asked if they do weddings there…the rest is history!

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Our theme for the day was England meets Ukraine (I’m originally from the Ukraine and moved to England as a child for my father’s job) Our cake toppers were a Queen’s guard and a girl in traditional Ukrainian outfit and our invitations and order of service also had a logo of the Ukrainian and English flags. We also served vodka at the tables as well as wine and Champagne. 

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Originally I didn’t want to wear a white/ivory dress as I’m not a girly girl and all I wanted to do was elope to Las Vegas but with gentle persuasion from my Mum I decided to get my dress made. I had trouble finding what I wanted as I don’t like frills, flowers, diamantes or anything too girly. So when I saw a pic of my dress I knew it was the one.  It was ivory and a sweet heart shape cut that was fitted to my hips and then slightly went out at the bottom with a small train. I then had a lace top that went over the top of it. The dress turned out to be perfect and had a great vintage look to it. I forgot about Vegas instantly. I also had a second dress for the evening which was exactly the same but only went down to my knee so I could dance the night away!

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I carried a bouquet of dark purple double headed lizianthus with purple hydrangea, ocean song rose and purple freesias. 

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My three bridesmaids wore lovely grey greek style dresses from Phase Eight with purple pashminas and the guys wore suits by Moss Hire.

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The Church service was my favourite part of the day as it was quite emotional and our vows really rang true to me and Michael and to what we have been planning for a long time. 

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We chose three tier lemon sponge cake, round with purple ribbons and few ivory roses. 

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In the evening we had a DJ and we sent him a playlist which was mainly 80’s music as Michael and I love it very much!

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After the wedding we honeymooned in Marbella, Spain. 

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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be don’t stress as you’ll miss out on the really great things that are happening around you. Both me and Michael were very calm and the whole day was absolutely magical and we can remember every detail. 

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Congratulations Alina & Michael

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Newlywed?  Get in touch to see your Real Wedding featured on the wedding blog.

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2012 Mick Cookson Photography

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