Sarah and Andy
25/06/2006 – The Last Drop Village Hotel, Bolton
How and when did you meet?
We met through mutual friends on a night out in Manchester in 1997, but it took us until 2003 to get our act together!
How old are you both?
We are both 27.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
Andy arranged a surprise weekend away which turned out to be at Melville Castle in Edinburgh. I thought he might propose that weekend, but I thought in case I was wrong then I would propose instead. I didn’t need to though for as soon as we got to the hotel, Andy got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. He’d even smuggled champagne, glasses and a single red rose into his weekend bag.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations? If so, what did you do?
We had both. For my hen night, my bridesmaid arranged a fun night in a fancy hotel in Manchester for five of my closest girlfriends. Andy’s stag do was spent climbing Kinder Scout in the morning, and going for a curry in the evening!
How did your groom help with the wedding planning?
Andy helped to chose everything, and made sure that he knew what was going on (a big help!). He arranged the car and found a florist too.
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
I used the forum, both to read and post on for ideas and reassurance about all sorts of things!
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
My guest book came from Confetti and it was bought online.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it
My Margaret Lee dress was a strapless, ivory two-piece dress with crystals on the bodice. The skirt had a chiffon overlay and a small train. I didn’t wear a veil. For jewelry, I wore a gold heart pendant that belonged to my great-great grandmother and pearl earrings which were a present from by parents. My dress was from the lovely Brides of Rochdale and my shoes were from BHS.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
I just had one bridesmaid, my oldest friend. She wore a burgundy strapless dress from BHS.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Andy’s best man was his best friend, Bob, and instead of ushers, he had Martin, his brother-in-law, as a groomsman. Bob wrote the best man speech and Martin read it out – a true team effort! They all wore outfits from Moss Bros – simple black suits and waistcoats.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
Civil ceremony.
Where did you hold your ceremony?
The Last Drop Village Hotel, Bolton.
Where did you hold your reception?
The Last Drop Village Hotel, Bolton.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
A very old Daimler – it nearly conked out but I’ve always wanted to do the whole classic car thing!
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We invited around 90, and they were all invited to the whole day.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
The colours were burgundy and ivory, and we wanted the day to be simple yet classy.
How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?
The table linens were burgundy and ivory, and we had red, silver and pink heart sprinkles on the tables. The roses on the tables were burgundy and ivory and were just two roses in a plain glass vase with a little bear grass.
Did you give your guests favours?
Yes – Green and Black’s chocolates in a box with paper roses on top.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
The bouquets were hand-tied roses. Mine was red and ivory roses with diamantes in the red roses and my bridesmaid’s was ivory. The table settings were two long stem roses in a vase. The florist was All Blooming Things of Brandlesholme, Bury.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
Instead of a sit-down meal, we had a hot buffet so people could have what they wanted. The venue did the catering.
What did you choose for your wedding cake, and who made it?
Our cake was three tiers of fruit cake (the only kind of cake I like), and was decorated with burgundy and ivory sugar roses with trailing sugar ivy. It was made by Pam at Cakes of Distinction of Middleton.
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a string quartet for before the ceremony, during the ceremony, during drinks and during the meal. We then had a disco in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
No.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We spent our first night in the Bridal Suite at the Last Drop, and our honeymoon, booked with Tradewinds, was spent in Hong Kong and Dubai.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Other than actually getting married, the best part of the day was the receiving line, where we were able to greet and spend time with each and every guest.
Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?
Our wedding took place during the World Cup (the kick-off was exactly the time of the ceremony!) and we were convinced no-one would turn up! They did though, and England won, so people were in a good mood!
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
I would say have a receiving line, even if it’s just the two of you, as it’s the only part of the day where you can spend time with your guests. I’d also put your foot down as much as possible, and try not to let anyone take over the planning – the day is about the two of you and no-one else!
