Editor loves and inspiration

Luxury wedding venue, The Gibbon Bridge Hotel has refreshed its outdoor wedding space. The team repainted the bandstand, which is used for weddings, at the start of the year, transforming it from a wood stain with a red carpet to white with a cream carpet to brighten the space and create a more modern vibe. As well as the new look, there are now Twilight Wedding Packages available that can be tailored to suit varying budgets.

What’s more, the team has also welcomed back a spa offering. Lizzy from Bowland Spa offers manicures, pedicures, massages, and facial treatments, as well as nails, for guests, members of the bridal party and family to enjoy.

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

Rebecca and Kyle met over 10 years ago. “Kyle first spotted me on New Year’s Eve, but we never spoke,” says Rebecca. “A few weeks later, on my birthday, Kyle came up to speak to me and have a dance and the rest is history.”

Kyle proposed while the couple was in London. “The year he proposed, he didn’t give anything away at all; he was so calm,” shares the bride. “It was December 2021. We always go to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and have a few drinks beforehand. He was desperate to go to our favourite rooftop bar, so much so that we were there when it opened. He went to the bar and I went outside onto the terrace and found us a table. Little did I know he was telling the girl at the bar that he was going to propose and could she record it? She didn’t get a chance, of course, because he came back to the table so fast and got it over and done with that she was still busy getting us a bottle of champagne! We drank the champagne and he told me the stories about getting the ring and how he chose it.”

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

Toms Table is an award-winning bistro in the heart of the Ribble Valley. Chef Tom hails from Bashall Eaves, just outside of Clitheroe, and comes from a local farming family.

The team explains: “Our wedding and events menus are born from Tom’s experience in banqueting in the French Alps, tailoring menus to guests’ tastes from all over the world. We offer bespoke catering with a personalised approach and work closely with clients to create tailored menus and experiences that suit their specific needs and preferences. We are passionate about using locally sourced ingredients. Prioritising working with local farmers, growers, and producers to obtain the freshest and highest-quality ingredients available in Lancashire. This commitment to local sourcing ensures that the food is not only delicious but also supports the local economy and promotes sustainability. Tom pays meticulous attention to every aspect of the catering experience. He focuses highly on presentation, ensuring that dishes are beautifully arranged and visually appealing, and is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and exceeding client expectations.

“Every celebration is different and our menus reflect just that. No matter what you envisage for your event, we will help you create a menu that’s perfect for you and just for you.”

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

Caroline Crompton from Willow & Wilde Bridal shares her top tips for buying a wedding dress.

"Get ready for the whirlwind of wedding planning and the excitement of choosing all the special parts to make your day perfect," shares Caroline. "One of the most obvious of these is choosing your wedding dress, so we’ve put together our tips that we recommend every bride consider when choosing their wedding gown:

"Consider your venue: The first step in wedding planning tends to be booking the date at your chosen venue, and the reason this is important is that the location of your wedding can really help with the type of dress you pick. Beach weddings abroad, and you might rule out heavy lace or sleeves. A small, intimate restaurant might mean you can’t have a full princess style due to the space around the tables. You might want to go boho in a tipi or traditional in a church, but the venue really can have an impact on the look and style of your dress.

"Try everything: Many times a bride will say, ‘I don’t want strapless’ and what happens? They buy a strapless dress! Shopping for a wedding dress is not the same as shopping on the high street. The styles, fabrics, colours, necklines, size and shape are crafted by designers who know how a dress should fit. This skill means that styles you would normally turn away could actually surprise you, so make sure you try everything."

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

Hannah and Mark met each other at work and over time, their relationship blossomed. Mark proposed at Rydal Water near Grasmere in November 2022. It’s a place Hannah loves and visited all the time with her grandmother.

"We had our ceremony at St Peter’s Church, where other members of our family have tied the knot," says Mark. "For our reception, we chose The Cumbria Grand Hotel. I have been the general manager of The Cumbria Grand Hotel for over 20 years and has overseen hundreds of weddings. The Victorian building has a large ballroom and beautiful grounds that were perfect for our wedding. The team went above and beyond to ensure we had the perfect day."

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

The team at ALT Events Co. organised this styled shoot at Didsbury Parsonage Trust. “The fact that the property was a Catholic building in the past made it even more meaningful to do a same-sex shoot there with a real same-sex couple,” says the team at ALT Events Co. “We’ve come so far from the antiquated views of the past that I wanted to blend a more modern shoot with the historical aspects. The autumnal colours are something I love to capture in November. As we moved from autumn to winter, the floor was littered with red and orange leaves, which really brought out the deep colour of the sunlight and the stained glass in the windows of the parsonage. We incorporated the autumnal theme into the florals and the tablescape and matched a black dress with dark muted make-up.”

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

Amy and Chris met at work and started talking after they were introduced by Amy’s boss. “We became friends and the rest is history,” says Amy. “We have three children between us and in 2020, they said: ‘Will you marry our dad?’ with my mum’s engagement ring in hand. It was a complete shock and the most perfect proposal, as the kids were included. My mum sadly passed away in 2018 from cancer, so it means a lot to me that he used her ring.”

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

A team of local suppliers worked together to produce this beautiful shoot at Long Acre Barn.

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

Joni Rogan from I Love You Thirteen shares her trend predictions for 2024.

"Couples are focusing on the candid action that happens throughout the day, with some cool portraits thrown in the mix. They’re having fun, and they want their wedding photos to show that.”

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

Cumberland Flower Farm has been accredited by the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. The farm was established in 2018 and grows cut flowers for homes, businesses and weddings near Cockermouth in West Cumbria. Using old- school market garden methods, the team grows flowers and foliage from March until October. The company has a growing reputation for sustainable floristry, designing without floral foam and imported flowers that celebrate the seasons. Its relaxed ‘country garden’ florals have proved very popular with couples marrying in the Lakes, flowering between 40 and 50 weddings a year.

The Sustainable Wedding Alliance was set up in 2020 by Michelle Miles to help the wedding industry reach the country’s ambition to be net zero by 2030. The process of accreditation supports businesses in understanding their current carbon footprint and creating a sustainability strategy that helps them become more environmentally friendly.

Harriet Smithson, the owner of Cumberland Flower Farm, tells us: “We are delighted to have achieved accreditation with the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. It is brilliant to be able to celebrate our work and have a practical plan for our growth and development. The accreditation process has taken us a year and has involved us analysing our carbon footprint, supply chain and processes. It’s very thorough and thought-provoking! It’s easy to say you are ‘eco’ but this really underlines the effort we make to consider the environment. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and to be the first business in Cumbria to be accredited is a great achievement. We encourage others to join and start the process!”

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