Full names
Mike Barrett & Mandy Barrett

How did you meet/ how long together?
She was the girl next door. Been together 4 years.

Date of wedding
23rd October 2010

Location
Yorkshire Sculpture Park – West Yorkshire

Did you have a theme/colour scheme?
Reds and oranges / autumnal. Because of the time of year and also because they are our favourite colours! Mandy’s red, Mike’s Orange. Although, in the end, the colour scheme was a little random.

What made you decide to get married where you did?
Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a stunning place that has a special place in our hearts. We had always planned to get married at YSP as it is one of our favourite local places to visit for county walks, chilled out summer picnics and fun with friends and family. It is a truly beautiful place with the added attraction of having some of the best works of art from world leading sculptors both past and present.
For one reason and another we had decided to have the wedding breakfast and evening shenanigans at a different venue, which was a little closer to our home. When that fell through at the 11th hour (some 12 days before our wedding) we were somewhat panic stricken to say the very least.
We contacted YSP to see if they could accommodate us for the evening do as well as the ceremony. Upon hearing our plight Sally Meyrick the Conference & Hospitality Manager pulled out all the stops to help make sure that our wedding would run as smoothly as possible. She took into consideration all the things that we had put in place and did her utmost to ensure that we would have the day that we had planned despite such large changes at the last minute. The YSP and all the staff were fabulous.

Who was your dress by
After realising the stereotypical wedding dress was not for me. I approached a local dress designer ‘Cella Thomas’. Jeannie and Rebecca instantly understood where I was coming from and the three of us created the dress design together.

And the suite?
Suit by Ted Baker and Trilby by Christy’s of London

How would you sum up your day?
Our wedding day was awesome in every way. As much as possible we wanted the day to be informal, relaxed and fun. We wanted everyone to enjoy themselves as much as we were going to.

Did you have any personal touches? Or things that you did yourself?
I am an artist (Mike) so I was always going to be hands on with the design side of our wedding. I created our invitations and table name designs. I also put together the poster for the seating arrangements. Mandy, also being very creative made all the table place names with a nod towards ye olde ransom note, using letters cut from newspapers and old quirky buttons. We also collected jam jars in the months leading up to the big day (friends and family also helped with this – soaking all the labels off was a task and a half to say the very least) and used them to contain the flowers on tables. We also used jam jars for our favours on the tables and filled them full of peanut M&M’s. We created little rustic looking tags containing romantic quotes and tied them to the jars with twine. We also bought and arranged our own flower displays. The major personal touches were having the wedding bouquet made by artist and friend Catherine Green and our rings were hand made by Charlotte Brown and engraved with ‘love and laughter’, the date of the day, venue and our shared initials M.L.B.

How many guests?
We had 80 guests.

What were your special moments/highlights?
It’s hard to single out any particular moment we bothenjoyed every single minute. But seeing each other for the first time was certainly one of our highlights. We both travelled to the venue on a vintage double decker bus but managed to create an air of suspense. Mike travelled upstairs and I travelled downstairs for the 45minute journey. We managed not to see each other until we arrived at the venue where we were secretly separately ushered to the formal gardens. Meeting for the first time in private with our guests loitering behind a hedge was a truly magical moment.

Is there anything you would do differently?
No way! From the outset we intended to do the entire day completely our way and that is exactly what we did. We wouldn’t change a single thing.

What advice would you give any other couples?
Do it your way. Decide between you both how you want your day to be and do exactly what you want to do, the way you want to do it. It’s your wedding day after all and there are no rules! We did everything exactly the way we wanted and it was a fabulous day for it. We would also certainly recommend Greyeye Photography www.greyeyephoto.com to cover the day. They took some absolutely amazing shots and were the consummate professionals.

What was your biggest surprise of the day?
No big surprises really. Everything was just perfect. A fabulous day where I got to marry my soul mate.

I’d like to thank Matt for sending in this wonderful wedding and also wish Mike and Mandy many years of happiness together.

For more information on Matt’s photography go to:
Matt Tordoff - Photographer
I work: www.greyeyephoto.com
I blog: www.matttordoff.com
I tweet: @MattTordoff
I make friends: http://www.facebook.com/matt.tordoff1
I even have a phone: 0845 8678496
I also carry one: 0781 0663298

I’m a bit gutted as my 60s photo shoot with Shelly has had to been re arranged, due to the stupid snow. Its’ now happening at the end of January instead, so watch this space for more info.

Jo and Andy’s Engagement shoot took place in October in the lovely Yorkshire countryside of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The park is a great place for photos and also for weddings (see my post HERE)
Shelly says
‘I’m petrified of having my picture taken and I’d not planned on having a photographer, can you just come along for an hour and do some snaps?’ The very words Jo (pictured above looking like she’s having a great time) used in her first email to me.
If I had a penny for every time a bride or groom told me they hate having their picture taken, I could probably retire. However, instead I coax them round telling them that a shoot with me is not about standing to attention and feeling distinctly uncomfortable but having a laugh and getting to know each other – I just happen to take a big camera along. Which is why Jo, her husband-to-be Andy, and I headed to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park recently to have some fun in the autumn sun.
Of course Jo tried hiding her face in her lovely blue coat but once I got her twirling amid the long grass and jumping up and down, she was well on her way to loving it and proving that even the most camera shy folks can feel a little less self conscious when the conditions are right.
The YSP is a great place for a shoot – although not so good on a beautiful Sunday when the entire world seems to have descended on the same place and you’re dodging walkers and families and trying to coax the lovebirds to show you their romantic side. ‘

For more information on Shelly’s photography services go to:
www.toastofleeds.co.uk
Toast Blog
Toast on TWITTER
shelly@toastofleeds.co.uk
0113 3560157

Todays pictures are from Chris Barber Mediawho I have only discovered recently (I know where have I been) but I am in love with their work already!!….Amazing is all I can say! and if you go to the Blog you will be able to see a fabulous new video that has just been put together……..using the same strap line as i do on my website ‘Fun, Fresh and Modern’ I should have know I would fall in love with this style of work straight away.

The Civil Parternship is of Philippa and Pippa who got married in early June at Yorkshire Sculpture Park one of my favourite venues. I love the clean, modern lines and the amazing art that surrounds the building, with fantastic photo opportunities around the grounds, These photos really do the venue justice!……..enjoy!!

A massive thanks to Chris Barber Media for sending in this wedding, I’m sure you will agree that it is simply stunning! A big Congratulations to Philippa and Pippa may I wish them many many years of happiness together!!
For more information on Chris Barber Media go to:
www.chirsbarbermedia.com
www.chrisbarbermedia.com/blog
studio@chrisbarbermedia.com
07922 594848

And may I also thank everyone who has contributed to this 6 part special, you’re all been utterly fabulous!! xxxxxxxx

It is a little known fact that YSP is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and partnerships, and with it’s amazing surroundings why wouldn’t you want to get married here?

The stunning five hundred acre setting and intimate function spaces make Yorkshire Sculpture Park an outstanding location. Whether it’s a civil wedding ceremony in the Auditorium, an intimate dinner in the YSP Restaurant or celebration drinks and canapés on the outdoor terrace, enjoy your special day in the unforgettable surroundings of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The ceremony itself is held in the Roger Evans Auditorium: The Auditorium is licensed to hold civil ceremonies and partnerships and is situated in the award winning Visitor Centre. This contemporary space has been designed to offer maximum flexibility for intimate gatherings of 30 or large celebrations of up to 120. This versatile space can be adapted and dressed for every occasion.

The reception is then held at the YSP Centre and Restaurant: The entire YSP Centre can be exclusively hired for special evening entertaining, including the beautiful 18th century terrace in the formal Garden. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks and canapés on the Centre concourse or outdoor terrace overlooking YSP’s rolling landscape. Enjoy a delicious evening meal for up to 130 guests in the fabulous licensed restaurant, which opens up panoramic views of the Country Park and Henry Moore’s monumental sculptures.

Sally The wedding and Events Manager advices that weddings are held later on in the day, ideally at about 4pm-5pm. The Park outlets are shut at 5pm and the park it self at 6pm so this then leaves the wedding party complete exclusivity to the whole venue.
There is also the option for a small cost of hiring the underground gallery for an exclusive viewing, this is a fantastic option for the art loving couple who want to offer their guests something a bit different.

The parks award winning restaurant will cater for the wedding breakfast and offers a huge amount of variety in it’s menus. You can choose from a 3 course sit down wedding breakfast, a hot fork buffet, snack menu, canepes and a large selection of drinks packages.
As well as the food the park offers an alternative gift list. The couple are able to make up their gift list from the parks shop, which is full of art, individually made jewelery pottery and a selection of books.

And if you are looking for a photographer, the park has it’s own official photographer Lee Allen. Of course they allow you to use whom ever you like, but Lee has been given exclusive access to all of the parks grounds and has the insider knowledge of the best places for those amazing shots!

Since my meeting with Sally, Boho has been put on their prefered supplier list for wedding planning, so if you have any questions, or need help for you big day I am the person to speak to.

A big thanks to Sally for meeting up with me and taking time out of her busy day to show me around the grounds. It really is an amazing venue, and certainly on top of my list if I were to renew my vows. The grounds are amazing and the ceremony and reception it self, modern, light and really offers something different for your wedding day.

For more information go to www.ysp.co.uk
or mail Sally at: weddings@ysp.co.uk or call 01924 832 508.
More more information on Lee Allen and his photography go to www.leeallenphotography.com.