11

Dec

2012

Andrea and John’s Cold November Wedding in the Beautiful Staffordshire Countryside by Lorna Roberts

Today sees us head across to Staffordshire for this cold November wedding. Set in the beautiful Staffordhsire Countryside, it is a perfect winter day, crisp but with a lovely glint of sunlight to go with it! It has been captured beautifully by the lovely Lorna Roberts with the make up being done by my good friend Catherine from Ivy Clara

‘The day was a wonderful mix of emotions, with plenty of love, laughter and of course dancing!’

November Wedding

November Wedding

The lovely couple are Andrea and John who were married on 3rd November, the ceremony and reception were both held at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire. They had 90 guests in the day and 150 by the evening and it took 18 months to plan.

November Wedding

November Wedding

How they met
Met at College, been together nearly 10 years

The proposal
We went for a walk with our dog up Snowdon, John was so nervous he forgot his coat and walking boots! He then proposed whilst we were sat down eating lunch in a secluded spot. I was shocked and laughed a lot – and then eventually said yes.

bridal cottage wedding dress hanging up wedding shoes roses in wedding bouquet

Why did you choose your photographer
Lorna was recommended by my cousin Catherine, who did my hair and make-up. They’re friends who’ve worked together previously.

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The dress
My dress is by Ellis Bridals from Maria Modes in Macclesfield. I wore a hair piece by bridalknot.co.uk and earrings from Chez Bec, the shoes were from next.

The suit and bridesmaids
The suits were by Peter Posh that we hired from Maria Modes. The bridesmaids dresses I got from Asos and accessorised with pieces from a lovely Etsy seller and earrings from Chez Bec.

wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding ceremony at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire

Food
We had an incredible three course meal from Jenkinsons caterers, oatcakes for an evening snack (our favourite from our college days) and my 2 sisters made the wedding cake and cupcakes the night before the wedding – I think they’d just about finished by midnight!

Entertainment
We had a brilliant live band called Slinky who kept guests dancing all night

Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple Stafford shire wedding couple

Decoration and Flowers
Different coloured roses, Vintage picture frames, candles and lanterns

Personal touches
We did all the stationary ourselves, again the night before in our usual last minute fashion! Including table plan, place cards, table numbers, menus, orders of the day, I’d also made the invites myself using a design my brother created for us.

wedding reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire wedding reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire

Special moments
I loved the craziness of getting ready with my 6 bridesmaids, mum and Catherine in the morning. Seeing John as I walked down the aisle. Three touching yet hilarious speeches by John, my dad and best man Dave. Destroying the cake at the cake cutting. My favourite moment was definitely the ceremony, particularly when my younger sister was reading a touching poem my 100 year old granddad had written back in the day called “love” a point where everyone was struggling to hold back the tears – until my older sister obviously trying to hold in her emotion snorted loudly and burst out crying, which swiftly turned crying into all round laughter!

wedding speeches wedding speeches wedding speeches wedding speeches wedding speeches

Advice
Take your time planning – 18 months was plenty and made the process enjoyable. Research all suppliers carefully, I took my time choosing and couldn’t have been more pleased with all of them. Keep remembering what the day is about! Everyone will have their own advice and opinions to off-load onto you, take the time to listen to people who have been there and done it (even if it was your parents 30 years ago!) you’ll be surprised at what you take on board (and what you choose to politely ignore!)

Biggest surprise of the day
Actually enjoying the ceremony! Not particularly loving being the centre of attention I thought I’d be too nervous to take anything in but I loved every second of it.

evening reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire evening reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire evening reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire evening reception at The Ashes, Endon, Staffordshire

 

 

Supplier shout Outs

Very special thanks to Catherine – I’m not just bias because she’s family, she’s incredible and gets booked up quickly by word of mouth alone!

Another word of advice, don’t think hiring a photographer is just about the end results, after seeing some loud, bossy, not very personable photographers at previous weddings I’d been to I was worried! Lorna has obviously produced some amazing images that we couldn’t be happier with but she was also brilliant in every other respect from day one  – including being easily contactable, getting us to be relaxed in front of the camera (pre-wed shoot), being open-minded and creative, having a good sense of humour, putting up with my crazy family on the day yet somehow being fairly invisible – and she quite obviously loves her job!

Also the venue, all I can say is wow, stunning place and the day ran like clockwork – without us really even noticing it (no bossing people around, just gentle encouragement for where we need to be and when!) and their caterers and staff were all brilliant. As a few guests put it – “very posh yet somehow managing to be informal and laid back”

 

For more information on Lorna’s work go to
www.lrobertsphoto.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: lornarobertsphoto
Twitter: @lrobertsphoto
Tel: 07583 230648

Second photographer was Paul Marbrook

I’d say my style is pretty relaxed and informal. I try to keep everything as natural as possible – I find that helps when I shoot couples who are nervous in front of the camera. I’m based just outside Manchester.’

 

 

  ♥  You can see more Real Weddings featured on the Blog HERE  ♥

 

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