Editor loves and inspiration

ThinK Wine is a healthier prosecco and sparkling rosé brand. A glass of ThinK Wine has just 75 calories, low carbs, and 0.58g of residual sugar per 125ml. That’s a significant reduction in sugar for the award-winning wine that aims to offer an alternative to sugar-filled competitors. The product contains no artificial sweeteners or ingredients while still retaining an ABV of 11%. ThinK Wine has a fresh and revitalising finish, despite the health-conscious benefits. All of the brand’s wines are 100 per cent vegan and organic and are low in sulphites, meaning less of a hangover too. The brand currently has two main product lines, with more product development in the pipeline for 2024.

What’s more, the company also offers a retro VW Campervan that can be used for weddings. It’s available to hire with or without staff, serving up its low-sugar wines that taste amazing while retaining all of the percentage volume.

Owner Kath Jones tells us: “I know this concept is a winner. I made it for myself, but it’s turning into a hugely popular product. When people try it, they love it! They can’t believe it is a low-sugar product. People are increasingly health conscious; they are more switched on to things like sugar addiction, additives and sulphites, but they also still want to be able to enjoy a drink now and again. With no palatable alternative available on the market, I felt moved to create something. That’s how ThinK Wine was born, and we’ve been growing ever since.”

Exclusively for Your North West Wedding, ThinK Wine is offering our readers a 20 per cent discount off wine when you use the code NWW20 at www.thinkwinegroup.co.uk. Offer ends on 30th November 2024.

See more fabulous offers in our Freebies and Offers feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Amy and Daniel first laid eyes on each other in a nightclub in 2014. “My friend Louis introduced me to his cousin Daniel, and we got talking,” says Amy. “I soon found out that Daniel was the most down-to-earth and kindest person I have ever met. He always said that from the moment we met, he loved me. We literally spent every day together from then until now.”

Daniel proposed in 2017 outside of a restaurant. “It was a big surprise,” shares the bride. “I was told to get dressed up and that he was taking me out for dinner. He later told me after proposing that he was meant to do it in the restaurant but was too nervous! However, I thought him doing it outside was lovely and I would have been happy no matter what.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Sarah Bainbridge from West View Photography organised this styled shoot with the help of talented, local suppliers. “I have loved the black-and- white wedding theme for a while, so I thought I would try it out for myself in a styled shoot,” says Sarah. “When speaking to The Bridal Lounge of Clitheroe, Lee offered a black dress, which I was so excited about, and it worked amazing with the theme. With Holmes Mill being one of my favourite venues, I was happy to be back working there with a different vibe. I love how the posed couple portraits turned out so well.”

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Lois and Ben met through mutual friends in 2017. “Our relationship blossomed and in August 2022, Ben popped the question,” says Lois. “We were away for the weekend in the Lake District and while on a walk up Loughrigg Fell, he asked me to be his wife. Ben had already secretly asked my dad for his permission the day before.”

"We love walking in the Forest of Bowland, so the Shireburn Arms was the perfect place for our wedding," adds Lois. "It incorporated the beautiful scenery that we love and we adored the intimate feel of the venue. To decorate the space, we chose drapes hanging from the ceiling, an ivory chiffon fairylight background and an ivory skirt hung around the ceremony table. This added to the romantic, soft look that I had hoped to achieve."

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Belinda from Flower B Florist worked with a team of local suppliers to create this beautiful shoot. “The aim was to create an elegant, summery floral vibe,” says Belinda. “I wanted to show couples how flowers can transform any room, even a classically beautiful hall, turning it into a floral sensation! For the flowers, we used a selection of pastel shades with soft meadow-style textures to create a look that was in keeping with the surroundings, using coral peonies, peach and white daisies, tall pale blue delphiniums and many more seasonal florals and foliage.

“When I first visited Wyreside Leisure Hotel, I was blown away by the opulent building. A private long driveway through the English countryside reveals this hidden gem, a Grade II-listed hall, which has been lovingly restored by the current owners to provide an exclusive hotel wedding venue. For the styling of the lovely real model couple, we wanted to again complement the surroundings, going for an elegant classic look with the groom in a black tuxedo and the bride in two statement dresses with natural make-up and a classic relaxed up do for her hair.”

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Charli from Harmony String Quartet explains to us how a string quartet can be the perfect addition to your wedding entertainment.

"Our top tip for booking a string quartet is to simply ask yourself: What can they offer that no one else can? Your supplier should offer top- quality music that exceeds all expectations. If you want to guarantee your guests a good time, our Jukebox service can provide that and more. It allows the guests to interact with the quartet and create an eclectic playlist with the click of a button, plus it’s a feature that your guests will be talking about for months after your special day.

"Other things to take into consideration include where the string quartet will be seated at various points of the day or whether they can perform outside. We have great relationships with many wedding venues around the county and our consistent communication enables us to sort all the little details out before the big day, meaning you don’t have to worry about any of it. Wedding planning is enjoyable and a beautiful journey, so it means the world to us when we are asked to be a part of it too."

See more from our Music and Entertainment feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Healthier choice prosecco and sparkling rosé brand ThinK Wine has announced that its retro VW Campervan can now be used for weddings. It’s available to hire with or without staff, serving up not just any prosecco but low-sugar, vegan, organic wines that taste amazing while retaining all of the percentage volume.

ThinK Wine founder Kath Jones tells us: “Until now, we’ve been using the van for festivals and at venues that want to make a ‘wow’ moment of their welcome drinks. But we’re ready to start hiring her out for weddings, engagement parties and hen dos in the North West, and we couldn’t be more excited. The van is so gorgeous. It makes the ideal backdrop for wedding photos, especially when dressed in flowers to match your colour scheme. It’s the perfect Instagrammable moment! Not only does our van look absolutely stunning in pictures, but you can, of course, serve up our delicious low-sugar prosecco and sparkling rosé to guests as an arrival drink at your venue. The benefits of serving ThinK Wine at your wedding include the fact that it’s fully vegan, organic and low-sugar, but with all the taste and the same 11% ABV. Plus, it’s low in sulphites too, which means less of a hangover for your guests the next day. There’s no minimum spend in terms of the wine, and we can add on dressing and décor to suit your vision if required. We can send our staff along, or if you’d prefer to use the staff at your chosen venue, that’s fine too. We want it to be flexible and accessible for everyone. And if, for some reason, the van doesn’t capture your heart, then you can just order our delicious wines in cans, bottles or minis instead. They’re perfect for hen dos, engagement parties, spa days and, of course, weddings too.”

Read more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Melissa and Brandon met when her college began working with Brandon’s work to learn about business studies. “I came across his profile six months later and we matched on Tinder,” says Melissa. “We went on our first date and we have been inseparable ever since. It just felt really natural to be in one another’s company.”

The couple had been together for just over seven years when Brandon proposed. “I chose my engagement ring and Brandon organised everything else,” shares the bride. “I knew he was going to propose while we were in Rhodes, Greece, but I didn’t know when exactly.”

“When it came to our venue, I wanted something cosy and welcoming with attention to detail,” explains Melissa. “We had visited a few local venues, but they just didn’t feel quite right. When we visited The Glass House, we both agreed straight away that it was ideal in terms of atmosphere and as it was close to home, it was the perfect fit. The pricing was clear and the whole day was so easy to plan. The wedding coordinators were fantastic to liaise with in finalising all of the details. We met a lot of our suppliers at the venue’s showcase, so it was nice to chat with them and get a good feel for what the day would be like.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Wedding cakes are quickly becoming something more than just a sweet treat. They are works of art that can incorporate your personality and the time of year. With so many options to choose from, it can feel overwhelming, but don’t panic; there is something out there to suit everyone. To help give you heaps of inspiration, we’ve interviewed Sally Cooper from Sally Cooper Cake Artist to find out more about her business.

"My name is Sally and I’m an award-winning cake artist specialising in creating elegant and delicious wedding cakes that are designed and made from my home, which is just a stone’s throw from the Lake District. My passion lies in creating bakes that are little slices of edible art. Using ganache as my primary medium, I love exploring different textures and adorning cakes with beautiful arrangements of fresh and dried flowers. My designs often range from classic and timeless to modern and whimsical in a wide range of flavours, including traditional options like Victoria sponge and lemon, as well as more unique combinations such as white chocolate and passionfruit and sticky toffee pudding. Crafted to be visually stunning but also to taste exceptional, it will leave a lasting impression on your guests."

See more from our Cakes feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Felicity Ashby shares her favourite classical bridal look that you'll love for years to come.

"The best place to start is to ask yourself some key questions to really pinpoint your niche. Essentially, decipher exactly what you don’t want first. Doing a one-size-fits-all look is not the way to go; what works for one person almost never works again for the next, and we need to celebrate our unique appearances!

"Personally speaking, I love to keep my wedding make-up looking true to the client. I want them to feel comfortable with themselves as well as empowered and confident. So, if you feel most like yourself when wearing false lashes and bronzy skin, that’s the direction you should go. Equally, if you never use make-up and only wear a smidge of mascara on special occasions, something minimal and more editorial would be perfect."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download