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Twice As Nice. A Vintage Afternoon Tea & Chinese Lions For Two Weddings In One – Lisa & Simon

Julia Smith

Damian S Brandon Photography

I just love that today’s bride, Lisa, is all about the cake.  As good a place as any to start planning your wedding, I reckon! Lucky for Lisa that some fabulous local suppliers (including Brides Up North Featured Supplier Liz from The Little Velvet Cake Company) were on hand with the baked goods. 

Lisa and Simon’s double celebration, mixing Chinese and British tradition, has it all – vintage high tea, fancy footwear, a dash of drama, Chinese lions, hula hoops, and plenty of cakey goodness.

With images by Damian S Brandon.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Lisa says:  We got engaged on 18th March 2012 which was Mothers’ Day. We first met on 15th October 2011 so had only known each over for 5 months when we decided to get engaged! We called both of our mums on Mothers’ Day to let them know the good news. It was the first wedding for both families so it was all very exciting!

Damian S Brandon Photography

Our wedding date was 25th May 2013 which also happened to be the day of the Champions League final. Simon supports Manchester United. I can’t tell you how happy I was that they didn’t make it into the final!

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

We decided to split our wedding into two days: one day for a traditional civil ceremony and the other day for a traditional Chinese banquet celebration. Our civil ceremony took place at Tabley House which is a Grade I mansion set in beautiful parkland located in Knutsford, Cheshire. The Chinese banquet took place in Chung Ying Garden Restaurant, Birmingham.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Tabley House is a unique, beautiful and elegant venue. We loved the curved staircase outside and the rooms inside were from a bygone era that echoed romance. There is also a vast garden area which is perfect for the quintessential English tea party!  The staff at Tabley House were wonderful all throughout my wedding planning.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

I hired a 1963 Silver Jaguar MK2 from Platinum Cars to get to Tabley House.  Due to delays in the beautification process and heavy traffic I arrived 30 minutes late! The registrar was about to leave when I got there.  Luckily her next wedding was close by so she stayed and conducted our ceremony. What a close call!

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

My dress was a white strapless A-line dress with beaded detail on the body and a sweetheart neckline from a bridal store in Liverpool.

I carried a cascade bouquet filled with white and purple flowers. I gave Susie at Black Eyed Susie Floral Design a few ideas and left her to it. She produced the most beautiful bouquet! I regretted throwing my own bouquet at the wedding. It was quite heavy so it slipped out of my bridesmaids’ hands who initially caught it and fell to the floor… smashing into pieces. So a word of advice for future brides… either throw a bridesmaid bouquet or get a bouquet especially for throwing!

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

I love cakes (both eating and baking them!) so I decided to have an afternoon tea party with champagne, canapés, finger sandwiches and of course lots of cakes! I’m glad I found Alice from Alice’s Vintage Pantry. She made my afternoon tea dream a reality!  My favourite colour has always been purple so that was my chosen colour scheme.

Damian S Brandon Photography

The cake we chose was a three tier cake decorated with purple ribbons, pearl embellishments and lovely decorative detail from Liz at The Little Velvet Cake Company.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Simon and I are both Chinese and so wanted to incorporate a part of our culture on the day. We opted for a traditional Chinese Lion Dance. We also had a string quartet – Carlton Ensemble – perform during the ceremony and afternoon tea reception.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

My favourite part of the whole celebration has to be when I woke up on the morning of my wedding day and realised that it was a beautiful sunny day! During the days leading up to my wedding day the weather was wet and windy. Obviously this would not have been good weather for an outside afternoon tea party! Also the part when I reached Simon at the end of the aisle and he told me I looked beautiful.

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

Damian S Brandon Photography

We went to Thailand and The Maldives for our honeymoon.

Damian S Brandon Photography

The day goes by so quickly. Enjoy every moment of your day! Also, Brides Up North should research their wedding photographer well since photos and memories will be all you have after the day is over.

Damian S Brandon Photography

 

Congratulations Lisa & Simon!

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2014 Damian S Brandon

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