Rob & I met 7 years ago, we are like two peas in a pod, we are always laughing and he’s my soulmate. We knew that walking down the aisle would be difficult for me being disabled having had 2 knee replacements in the same leg, & recently being in bed for 6 & half months waiting for my new knee didn’t either help as I had gained weight with not being able to walk around, I knew once I was up and about the weight would eventually come off, every bride wants to look their best on their wedding day, and of course to wear high heels, this was a challenge!
In the run up to our wedding I was made redundant and we sold our house (after it had fallen through 3 times).We moved in to our new home in Aug 2008 & started major renovating work straight away, our wedding was in November! Good planning was the key.
Choosing our venue was difficult as we knew what we wanted, we had both been to see a few places and nothing really stood out at all until visiting
www.Armathwaite-Hall.co.uk I’ll never forget the first time we saw this amazing place just the drive up to it was so exciting, It looked very grand & inviting, we really couldn’t wait to get inside, first impressions impressive, yes as we thought very welcoming staff walking passed smiling & saying hello, walked into one of the rooms, where the open fire place had been lit huge logs on it, we had arranged an appointment for our guided tour, we were met & greeted by the wedding coordinator & taken in to the lake room, one word ‘WOW’ we both looked at each other, I knew we were going to get married here, I felt quite tearful too, just stood in front of this amazing view over bassenthwaite lake, the staff there are fantastic , with the wedding coordinator everything’s done & made sure your day has been made very special, food was out of this world, our coordinator mentioned we could arrive in a helicopter on the front lawn, we could have a falconry display for guest, we could also plant a tree in the grounds, we could even release white doves, Got the impression straight away that nothing was too much trouble, they also had fantastic packages for all budgets and also food /wine too. We decided to try the food so organised a family outing on Sunday to go back, taking both sets of parents & both daughters too, Sunday lunch was fantastic & impeccable service just couldn’t be faulted, we took our drinks onto the patio & watched the falconry display & sat watching the croquet, this place was perfect, set in 400 acres of land too just stunning and perfect for our wedding ceremony & evening function, we decided for the bridesmaids & myself to also stay & relax the night before which made getting into my dress with lots of help very appealing , we also decided to reserve 12 rooms for our guest that where travelling from far to be able to say and really enjoy themselves at such a stunning location.
We attended one of the wedding fairs there where we did book http://www.saunderschocolates.co.uk. Our theme was winter wonderland, Bob from Saunders chocolates made us the most amazing white chocolate boxes sprayed with silver edible paint! We had our favourite chocolates champagne for me, tiramisu for rob and there was a box on each table, you could even eat the box ha ha.
www.Armathwaite-Hall.co.uk I’ll never forget the first time we saw this amazing place just the drive up to it was so exciting, It looked very grand & inviting, we really couldn’t wait to get inside, first impressions impressive, yes as we thought very welcoming staff walking passed smiling & saying hello, walked into one of the rooms, where the open fire place had been lit huge logs on it, we had arranged an appointment for our guided tour, we were met & greeted by the wedding coordinator & taken in to the lake room, one word ‘WOW’ we both looked at each other, I knew we were going to get married here, I felt quite tearful too, just stood in front of this amazing view over bassenthwaite lake, the staff there are fantastic , with the wedding coordinator everything’s done & made sure your day has been made very special, food was out of this world, our coordinator mentioned we could arrive in a helicopter on the front lawn, we could have a falconry display for guest, we could also plant a tree in the grounds, we could even release white doves, Got the impression straight away that nothing was too much trouble, they also had fantastic packages for all budgets and also food /wine too. We decided to try the food so organised a family outing on Sunday to go back, taking both sets of parents & both daughters too, Sunday lunch was fantastic & impeccable service just couldn’t be faulted, we took our drinks onto the patio & watched the falconry display & sat watching the croquet, this place was perfect, set in 400 acres of land too just stunning and perfect for our wedding ceremony & evening function, we decided for the bridesmaids & myself to also stay & relax the night before which made getting into my dress with lots of help very appealing , we also decided to reserve 12 rooms for our guest that where travelling from far to be able to say and really enjoy themselves at such a stunning location.
We attended one of the wedding fairs there where we did book http://www.saunderschocolates.co.uk. Our theme was winter wonderland, Bob from Saunders chocolates made us the most amazing white chocolate boxes sprayed with silver edible paint! We had our favourite chocolates champagne for me, tiramisu for rob and there was a box on each table, you could even eat the box ha ha.
We had our flower arrangements designed and made at
www.bloomsbury.co.uk another local company who were fantastic, when we said we wanted a winter wonderland theme Clint just knew, colour matching sparkles and snowball etc, he really understood what we wanted, nothing was too much trouble, the rose we liked was an avalanche rose, it took some time to find the colour but they found it and our flowers where stunning.
Finding jewellery for the wedding we knew what we wanted but I couldn’t find a head dress, I took my ideas to www.kingjewellery.com where I sat chatting and met a lovely lady called Stef, we decided to have everything made and I designed my own head dress and stef designed the necklaces, bridesmaids head dresses, bracelets and necklaces and gifts for both mums, my crown was amazing!! For Robs wedding ring I decided to take some gold jewellery that belonged to my nana, this was the most sentimental thing I could think of as I loved my nana so much & when she died I was left some of her gold jewellery so I used a few pieces that where then melted down to make robs wedding ring.
My dress designer was from Eddy K Milan & bought from www.countrydreamsbridal.co.uk the only one which was pink hadn’t thought of buying a pink dress, but knew I wanted something a little different & very princess like too the bodice was white lace & hand sewn with crystals, Id tried a few dresses on 5 in total as I thought this idea would be best and therefore not forgetting which one actually suited me. I loved my dress & darling husband to be, didn’t see it either, I was so excited to see robs face on the day of the wedding x
Unknown to me the day before our wedding that one of my bridesmaids had hired a limo to take all our gorgeous dresses, bride & bridesmaids to the hotel with Christmas music & champagne flowing such a great start very relaxed too (your wedding day should be a very relaxed day) we all decided to take swim wear & try out the spa & pool which was lovely, then back to our room to start pampering for the big day, we laughed so much, champagne tipples too.
The Big Day.......
5 hours sleep due to being so excited, bucks fizz & cooked breakfast in bed, hairdresser was arriving at 7.30am & Chanel makeup artist was arriving soon after that, my sister arrived at 7am with bags of gifts!! And a beautiful handmade card all sewn and a personal message which made me cry.
Rob had also sent a silver gift bag up to the room on the morning a single red rose with it too, I opened the box to a charm bracelet it already had a wedding ring on it with a bride & groom, a wedding bell & ballet shoes this was my something new, rob had even put snow flake confetti & wrapped in silver tissue our theme for the wedding was winter wonderland, snowballs, snow & icicles mixed with silver birch & pale pink avalanche roses to match my dress, I had a gorgeous bouquet & bridesmaids had a handbag each & there flowers had magnets on the back, there flower bags looked amazing, & I had my stole used for these & the bridesmaid sashes too, it’s great to find a bride shop that does everything there cream satin dresses with an overlay of chiffon on their skirts shimmered when it caught the light, the organza stoles had tiny pearls attached and the contrast looked amazing, I made the pearl clips for their hair and wanted a Doris day look about it too and also with the style of their dresses it’s good to mix ideas with different styles, cream satin shoes, with freshwater pearls threaded on an real silver & quite heavy band, all had matching bracelets, necklaces, & earrings to keep as gift.
Coming down the stairs hearing the wedding music we had chosen together all that time ago & everything just flowing nicely on day made it so special, we had lots of pictures taken & hired photographers www.martinsylvester.co.uk & a video man so we wouldn’t miss a thing. Decided to show off the bridesmaids and let them walk into the room first so everyone could see their stunning dresses walked in pairs to.
I linked my dad’s arm and entered the room didn’t really see anyone just my Husband to be in his gorgeous suit,
I gave rob such a big hug & a kiss Id missed him so very much one night apart, we took our vows and exchanged rings everybody clapped tears too, we signed the register & had more pictures taken, off outside for some more and with a stunning back drop like that too.
We had our biodegradable confetti, it was time for the perfect shot martin & his lovely wife took some amazing pictures that day 1100 where taken. after the family pictures my lovely husband & I went off to relax on our own in the billiards room for a brandy & whisky the open fire was crackling too, we stood picking confetti of each other laughing saying your mine, no your mine ha ha we had left the guest to also sign a picture mount which at a later date we would have framed with our wedding picture in. everyone got told to make their way inside ready for the wedding breakfast to be served which was traditional Christmas dinner yummy as my lovely husband & I walked in as the toast master said “please be upstanding for Mr & Mrs Wall” lots of cheering and clapping, being shown to the top table, crackers where pulled & silver party hats put on, the only two littlies there that day where our nephews Alex (4) & Oliver (2), they both had their own goodie bag Oliver just about dragged it across the floor back to his seat, colouring book, pencils & a wooden toy town with cars & trucks they were both really happy, after our lovely Christmas dinner came the cutting of the cake & the speeches cards where read out from Alex robs best man , & my dad surprised rob (husband) with a T-shirt saying “Just Married” It was such an amazing day and very relaxed, everyone tucked into their chocolate box too, my uncle Chris started on the chocolate lid they where amazing chocolates.
We made our way around relatives for more pictures, telling stories & drinking wine, and really enjoying spending quality time with everyone, we did this while everything was being transferred over to the evening function room, we had just enough white porcelain snow men for the evening tables t-lights where put inside and also the 5 foot glass vases also had waterproof t-lights in which gave off a glow, when the lights were turned down, we had a 15 foot piece of birch on the top table & this was used in the buffet area along with church candles & snowball candles too. Lots of people arrived that night we all really enjoyed ourselves & our first dance was, White Christmas by Bing Crosby Little did everyone know for six weeks before hand we’d had dancing lessons & surprised everyone with our moves & on the screen behind us our first site of us on video taking our vows earlier that day
We had www.classicensembles.co.uk perform an arrangement for us I loved Pachelbel Canon in D & Rob really wanted Billy Idol White wedding – so we had to compromise and also make sure we could have this piece arranged in string & flute – so obliging we heard it on the day for the first time and it sounded amazing, I walked into Pachelbel Canon & we both walked out to Billy idol in strings – just awesome
With it being a winter wedding our favours which we had baubles made as rob had decided to arrive in a vintage classic split screen vw campervan we thought it would be a really nice idea for everyone to have & hang on their tree at Christmas & every Christmas then on we arranged with Michael from www.bombki.co.uk to have special ones made for certain guests mine had Swarovski crystals on it, Michael made a wonderful land rover for rob’s dad, my dad had a Citroen 2CV & my sisters nickname is house(Wendy) so we had a little house made everyone else got a vintage campervan these are also sold in Harrods of London too. @harrodsoflondon (twitter)
As an extra special gift we had handmade crackers with gifts in too freshwater pearl bracelets for all the ladies, and lottery tickets & pens for men, Id organised pale pink bags with snowflakes on & hand tied ribboned tags with everyone’s name on which there wedding cake went in, also it had love heart sweets & organza wrapped pink heart soaps lovely for everyone to take home.
This day had been the best day ever and the following morning off home to collect our bags & drive to relax once again at the Hilton hotel for the night followed by a champagne flight to Cuba 2 for 2 weeks
Amazing start to married life only seems like yesterday and not 2008 Robs my soulmate I love him so very much, we both never take each other for granted and always try to compromise, I hope you enjoyed reading our story x
Love Michelle ( Shelly) & rob
©Shellybobbins 2008-2011
What a lovely wedding you had Shelly and Rob! Lovely pictures, memories and you had a fantastic time! That's what weddings should be all about! :) xx
ReplyDeleteAndie_E