Emma and Gareth’s Vintage Inspired Yorkshire Wedding With a David Fielden Dress and Paul Smith Suit by Sansom Photography

Happy Friday everyone! I hope this week has treated you well! Today I am off to a wedding, not as a planner but as a guest, and I am sooooo excited! My Friend Alex is marring her fiance Alex in Huddersfield, and I can’t wait to help them celebrate their big day! It’s been a long time since I attend a wedding that I haven’t planned, so it will make  a refreshing change to just turn up and not have to worry about a thing.

So today I shall be finishing off the working week with another Yorkshire wedding. It’s full of gorgeous details, some amazing scenery and the most beautiful David Fielden dress, thanks to much to Chris from Sansom Photography for sending it into me, I’m sure you will agree it’s a beautiful day!

The lovely couple are Emma and Gareth who were married on 9th June at The Red Lion by the bridge at Burnsall, North Yorkshire. ‘Gareth had taken me there for a romantic retreat a few years ago. It’s a place we visit regularly for walks and food. We loved the stunning scenery and we’re both foodies so the gorgeous home cooked food made it a clear favourite! We had 61 guests and it took 18 months to plan’

‘An unforgettable day that surpassed all of our expectations. Having all of our closest family and friends together in the most naturally beautiful place made it perfect for us.’

How they met
We met at The Original Oak pub in Headingley when we were both students at University in Leeds. Gareth is a huge Bolton Wanderers fan; I tried to impress him by talking about one of their players but got all facts muddled up. Still, it must have worked a bit! After university we moved in together and got jobs in Leeds which became our home.
We’ve been together for 6 years now.

The proposal
Gareth hid the ring in my Christmas stocking. I like presents to be nicely wrapped but he’d disguised it using multiple layers of paper. I thought he’d done been slap dash until I got to the box!

How did you choose your photographer?
We searched online and really liked the natural, unposed style created by Chris and Verity. We met the couple and felt a good connection, especially because they’d met in Leeds as students too.

The Dress
The dress was by British designer David Fielden, brought from his boutique in Chelsea. My shoes were by Rachel Simpson and my head piece was designed by Lou Lou Puchalka in who is local to Leeds.

The suit and bridesmaids
Gareth chose his own suit, a slim fit Paul Smith suit. The bridesmaid dresses were from Reiss and then customised with a rose ribbon waist belt.

Theme
We wanted to create a romantic yet rustic feel that pulled together the charm of the Yorkshire Dales alongside our love of all things vintage. We opted to blend similar colours instead of sticking to just one, mostly dusty pinks and lilacs with hint of plum and mink.

Food
Our guests had a choice of 3 starters, mains and puddings
♥ Starters: Smoked Salmon with lemon and rocket salad, parfait of chicken and duck liver pate with Cumberland sauce and granary toast, Homemade spring vegetable soup.
♥ Mains: Individual beef wellingtons with beef fillet, Chicken breast stuffed with Yorkshire Blue Cheese, wrapped in Palma ham with a leek sauce, Loin of cod, sautéed spinach and clam chowder.
♥ Puddings: Sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice-cream, Eton mess, Lemon Tart and raspberry sauce.

Entertainment
We had a live band to start the party as our evening guests arrived called the Busking Riviera, gypsy jazz covers of modern songs that everyone up on the dance floor. Then the venue provided a DJ but Gareth insisted they follow his strict playlist!

Flowers
My florist put together a cottage garden bouquet of English roses and peonies mixed with fresh herbs.

Decoration
Inside we went for mismatched vintage tea pots. My Nan handed down some tea cups and saucers with a pretty gold pattern then I built up a collection, getting most from the charity shops in nearby Ilkley. Tea lights, sepia photos and scattered rose petals added a romantic feel.
We wanted to soften the outdoor terrace so used white paper pom poms, bunting made out of vintage fabric, chunky silver hearts and wedding themed paper chains. My sister in law put together small pots of flowers that she’d handpicked from Gareth’s mum’s garden. We were so touched!

Personal touches
We used a vintage map of Great Britain as the table plan and named each table after a place we’d stayed and loved – Kirkby Lonsdale, Burnsall, Padstow, St Davids, Abersoch, and Leeds! In the early planning stages we also sent out handmade Save the Date cards with a bunting theme.

Special moments
For me meeting Gareth at the end of the aisle will be an unforgettable moment. I loved seeing the venue with all the decorations, Gareth’s mum and my dad had been busy all morning whilst I got pampered! It was lovely to get half an hour alone during out photo shoot and take in the beautiful scenery. And at the very end of the night our guests rounded up to The Beetles Hey Jude – I just remember feeling so happy!

Advice
I think it’s important to make it ‘your day’ – so it should reflect the things you love as a couple and your personal tastes. We tried to keep this in mind and not worry too much about what our guests would think. We’ve had so many compliments so it must have worked!

Supplier Shout Outs

• Venue, food and drink – The Red Lion, Burnsall, North Yorkshire (coordinated by Joel) www.redlion.co.uk/weddings.cfm
• Photographers – Chris and Verity of Sansom Photography www.sansomphotography.co.uk
• Makeup and Hair by Kimberley Brook www.kimberleybrook.co.uk
• Cake and favours by Alison at Macaroon www.macaroonbyalisonseagrave.co.uk
• Stationary by Briony at Boris and Doris www.borisanddoris.co.uk
• Flowers by Joanne at Wharfedale Flowers www.wharfedaleflowers.co.uk
• Dress by David Fielden (code 4022 2011 collection) www.davidfielden.co.uk/home
• Shoes by Rachel Simpson (Mimi Style) www.rachelsimpsonshoes.co.uk
• Headpiece by Lou Lou Puchalka www.louloupuchalka.com
• Bunting by Xtina Lamb at Printed Wonders www.etsy.com/shop/printedwonders

Fore more information on Sansom Photography go to:
www.sansomphotography.co.uk
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0113 8080692

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