Editor loves and inspiration

Sarah Bainbridge from West View Photography created this pink, disco-inspired shoot. “After staying at Holmes Mill, I fell in love with the venue,” says Sarah. “I wanted to create a bright shoot, so I went for different shades of pink with a slight disco vibe.”

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

Make-up artist, Ella French tells us the top bridal make-up trends for 2024.

"As a bridal and occasion make-up specialist, I believe that the prevailing make-up trend in 2024 will be timeless glam and natural elegance. Brides are gravitating towards looks that enhance their features with a touch of sophistication. Imagine radiant skin, subtly defined eyes with bronze tones, rosy cheeks and a focus on the lips.

"As the demand for pared-back foundations and skin tints increases, we can expect to see more looks that conceal and treat the skin simultaneously. Brides will be opting for fresh, second-skin-like make-up that accentuates their individual beauty, steering away from overly dramatic styles."

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

Melisa and Josh met in 2018 at Valley Church. “Josh had been going there for years, but I had just joined,” says Melisa. “I saw him playing bass with the worship team and I was attracted to him right away. I loved how funny he is and that he lights up a room.”

Josh proposed in October 2021 in the Lake District. “He knew of a couple who had a sailboat, so knowing how much I loved the water, he arranged to take me on the boat,” shares the bride. “It was all misty and you could see the hills and mountains in the background – it was beautiful. I was admiring the view and when I turned around, Josh was down on one knee! I knew that Josh was going to propose at some point, but it was definitely a surprise.”

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

The Deaf Institute was the backdrop for this alternative styled shoot. “We wanted to showcase this Grade II-listed Manchester building as it recently opened up its calendar for weddings,” says Beth Atton de Sa from ALT Events Co. “The Deaf Institute is now an internationally recognised alternative music venue that was once a school for the deaf. I really wanted to create a shoot within a city centre venue. I love old buildings with an interesting story and eclectic décor. We used jewel tones throughout the shoot, turned the contrast right down and used minimal décor to highlight the aesthetic of the building.

“The shoot brought together a great collection of skills, products and people,” adds Beth. “I’ve been in business for a year as a solo alternative wedding planner with an ethic to highlight the lesser-known places, people, and ideas in the wedding industry, with a focus on the unique and outlandish.”

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

Danielle and Iffan met at work. “It was my first day in critical care; I asked him for a handover and he was rude to me,” says Danielle. “He was so rude, I decided not to speak to him again, but we kept running into each other at work and eventually started talking. We met again at a work’s do, sparks started to fly, and the rest is history!”

Iffan proposed on Danielle’s 30th birthday. “It was the best birthday present ever,” shares the bride. “He took me away to the Lake District and got down on one knee in our hotel room. He asked me the question I had long been awaiting, and of course, I said yes!”

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

Paper Swan is a bespoke wedding studio offering luxury stationery in Manchester, Cheshire, and across the UK. Owner Lucy Williams tells us: “After leaving school, I decided to follow my heart and enrol in a graphic design course. I graduated and have spent more than 15 years bringing creative ideas to life. My experiences working across different mediums have led me to become obsessed with beautiful textured papers, creative design, and wedding stationery. It made sense to combine my passions, and so Paper Swan was born."

Exclusively for Your North West Wedding, Lucy is offering our readers a 10 per cent discount on her services when you book and mention the magazine. What’s more, you’ll also receive access to a wedding stationery planner, which will help make the whole process more seamless.

To claim this fabulous discount, drop Lucy an email at lucy@paperswanstationery.co.uk

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

The team at Erica Stacey Bridalwear tell us about the latest wedding dress trends.

"Here at Erica Stacey Bridalwear, we believe that you don’t have to follow current trends and craft our gowns for each individual bride. We understand that every bride is different and we can make any style, design, or dress size in any colour for your big day. If you would like something different, why not consider the below to create a bespoke wedding dress?

"Customise your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress: Using a family heirloom and adding your own ideas to it can be a special way to design your own dress. It can be based on the original design or completely remodelled like our real bride, Hollie (pictured). She brought her mum’s 1981 wedding dress, and we used the main fabric as her dress lining, so it was inside, and only she knew it was there. We created a beautiful champagne strapless gown with a soft chiffon balloon sleeve overdress, embellished with trailing floral embroidery and motifs. The overlayer could be shortened and worn at other special events, and maybe at a future family wedding!"

Meet more local companies in our Looking Your Best feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Andrew Cooper from ACMAGIC has won ‘Best Magician in the North West’ at The Wedding Industry Awards 2024 – congratulations! Andrew has been entertaining audiences for more than 10 years and has an impressive 25 years of experience in magic.

“The awards were voted for exclusively by my happy wedding clients, and I would like to dedicate this award to each and every one of them, as if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Andrew. “I’d also like to give a shout out to all my amazing followers for supporting me on this amazing journey. When I started doing magic as my full-time job, I could only dream of being recognised as the best in the North West. A special mention must go to my dad, David Cooper, who has been an integral part of my business, and without his love and support, I would never have come this far.”

ACMAGIC is now a national finalist, with the results being announced on the 24th January 2024 in an awards ceremony in London.

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

Heather and Joe met while studying at university. “Although we were on different courses, we lived together in the same accommodation during our first year,” says Heather. “We were friends for a year and got together the following summer. I always found Joe attractive, particularly because of his bright blue eyes. He was always the funny one in the group, and we would spend a lot of time together as friends.”

Joe proposed on Christmas Eve in 2021. “We had been together for over six years, but it was still a surprise,” shares the bride. “We were out on our annual Christmas Eve dog walk, and as we cut through some woodland, Joe ran off ahead to make sure we could get through a small field at the end. He then came back and said it was all fine, so we carried on walking. Up ahead in the field, there was a tree, and Joe told me there was a surprise waiting for me. As I approached, I could see there was something hanging off one of the branches. Once I got closer, I could see it was a Christmas bauble with the words, ‘Will you marry me?’ on it. When I turned around, Joe was down on one knee with a ring! Joe had handmade the bauble himself, which really showed how much effort he had put into the proposal. He had thought about making sure it was somewhere private but also somewhere we could visit often, as it was not far from our home. Every year, both sets of parents come and stay with us for Christmas, so it was even more special that we were able to celebrate with everyone together that night.”

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

Lauren Young designs bespoke wedding stationery using watercolour paintings. “Each set is unique to the client,” says Lauren. “I bring together my love of painting to create special stationery, and I thrive on bringing wedding themes and personal lives into my work; this may be a pet, a favourite place, or a venue. I can beautifully capture your wedding venue using delicate brush strokes to create your own bespoke venue portrait.”

Lauren will set up at the location of your choice within the wedding venue. Depending on your package and how you would like to run your day, she can either work from a list of guests or groups provided by you, or your guests can choose to visit her throughout the wedding day. She can paint individuals, couples, or groups of up to five guests in one illustration. Each illustration can take between five and 20 minutes, depending on how many people are featured. At the end of the day, she will take all the illustrations home so she can add any finishing touches. She will then post these back out to you so you can send them out to your guests as wedding favours.

Meet more local companies in our Handmade in the North West feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download