Your Wedding Day Dream Team
Photographer: The Vedrines www.thevedrines.com, Instagram: @thevedrinesphoto
Florist: Marias Flowers, www.mariasflowers.online Instagram: @mariasflowers__Band/DJ: Emily White on the grand piano for the ceremony then keyboard in the courtyard for the drinks reception, www.emilywhitemusic.co.uk, Instagram: @emilyjwmusic
Photobooth: Snapcandy, www.snapcandybooths.co.uk, Instagram: @snapcandybooths
Hair (all bridal party): Hair by Hannah Taylor, www.hannahtaylorhair.com, Instagram: @hairbyhannahtaylor
Make up (all bridal party): Hannah Atter at Muse Studio, www.muse9.co, Instagram: @thisismuse9
Stationery: Sheaf Stationery, www.sheafstationery.co.uk, Instagram: @sheafstationery
Welcome sign: Apple & Bee, www.apple-bee.co.uk, Instagram: @appleandbeedesign
Accommodation (night before): The Coachhouse, www.coachhousederby.com, Instagram: @thecoachhousederby
Accommodation (night of): The Mill House @thewestmill
Meal (night before): Cottonworks, www.thecottonworksderby.co.uk, Instagram: @thecottonworksderby
Tell Us About Your Incredible Outfits What and who did you wear?
Essense of Australia dress from Emily Bridal (www.emilybridalwear.co.uk, Instagram: @emilybridalwear)
Accessories: Shoes, Jewellery etc Jimmy Choo shoes with Tiffany bracelet with blue gem (my something blue gift from Dan!), Dinny Hall necklace and earrings from Etsy
What and who did your partner wear? Marc Darcy suit (from www.thebridgewater.co.uk, Instagram: @bridgewatermenswear) with Loakes shoes
What and who did your wedding party wear? The four bridesmaids wore Sorella Vita gowns and the groomsmen and page boy all wore Marc Darcy suits from Bridgewater Menswear (as above)
Your Love Story How did you meet, was it love at first sight? Tell us about the proposal!
We met on our first day at University back in 2006 and didn’t get on at first! We were part of the same friend group throughout our degree and became closer friends as time passed before finally becoming a couple in 2008. 11 years later, in November 2019, Dan surprised me with a trip to our favourite place in the world (New York!) for my birthday. Then one day, when at our favourite spot in Central Park, he got down on one knee and proposed! I can’t even remember what exactly he said as I immediately just cried and it all became a blur!
Your Wedding Day Vision & Inspiration What was your inspiration and vision for your day?
We loved the venue as it is so didn’t want to do anything to detract from that. We just had lovely stationery drawn up by Sheaf Stationery and then used Marias Flowers for the flowers. To keep with the industrial feel, we went for a copper and blue theme generally and kept it light-hearted/informal.
Why did you choose The West Mill Venue?
Now that was love at first sight! I had my eye on The West Mill since before we were engaged so it was the first venue we visited when planning the wedding. From the second we arrived, we both just knew it was exactly what we wanted – we loved the exclusive use, the progression through different floors for different parts of the day and the general industrial feel. We had bookings at other venues but cancelled them as nothing could have possibly compared!
Did you do any DIY projects?
To go with the general feel of the venue, we made up cotton stem decorations placed in recycled brown beer bottles. It was a team effort. I prepared the cotton stems and Dan drank the beer to empty the bottles! We put them in between photo boards of our relationship, which we also put together ourselves. Otherwise, we ordered most decorations from Etsy to support independent businesses.
Tell us about the details – Flowers, Cake, Decor, Stationary….
We are from Sheffield/Barnsley and wanted to use suppliers local to us as well as Derby based ones. One of the Derby based suppliers was an easy choice. Marias Flowers provided all the flowers and bouquets for the day and she couldn’t have been more aligned with our vision – we asked for simple flowers of greens, whites and pops of spring colours to fit in with the dusky blue bridesmaid dresses. Maria knows the venue so well and it shows.The main supplier from closer to home was Leanne at Sheaf Stationery. She designed and produced all of our on the day stationery, including our amazing drinks menus and seating plan. All stationery kept the same style and we included New York places as table names as a nod to our proposal – each of the places was an area of New York we visited on that trip. We also wanted the signs to be personal and less formal so we included Yorkshire slang on them – “Ey up! We’re all pals, sit where tha wants” for the ‘pick a seat’ sign in the ceremony room and “tek ya heels off” by the night do flip flops.
Alcohol. Because No Great Story Started With A Salad (…or did it?) What was on your food & drinks menu?
Drinks: Prosecco and wine (red, white and rose) from Darley Abbey Wines, beers from a number of breweries for variety, Sheffield Gin and tonic, and juices/Nozeco for our pregnant guests/designated driversCanapes: cherry tomato, basil and mozzarella crostini, mini Yorkshire pudding with braised beef and horseradish and sausage rolls (with gluten and dairy free alternatives for me – coriander and red lentil dhal with crispy shallot, papadum and red amaranth, mint and pea arancini and beetroot tartare with sesame and linseed rice cracker)Starter: arancini balls with mozzarella, chorizo and pesto served with tomato salsa and rocket salad (vegetarian – tomato, mozzarella and pesto tart fine served with rocket salad)Main: braised short rib of beef served on a bed of crushed new potatoes and basil, roast carrots and winter greens with red wine and port jus (vegetarian – asparagus, pea and edamame risotto)Dessert: Eton Mess with whipped cream, meringue shards, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries with mint leavesThe food was amazing! After the tasting we knew it was going to be great and all the guests commented upon how good it was. I have allergies and the West Mill Kitchen did everything possible to accommodate me and make sure my meal was a close to the wider menu as possible. We even served an entirely gluten free starter – not that anyone noticed. I had full confidence in what I was being served and that’s really important for me generally but more so on an important part of the day. The Kitchen was so accommodating in every way. As the wedding was on Easter Sunday, we served mini eggs with the teas/coffees after the meal and this went down a treat! Who doesn’t love mini eggs!
The Hangover Only Lasts A Day But The Memories Last A Lifetime Can you sum up your wedding day in 3 words?
Worth the wait!
What are your favourite memories or highlights of your day?
Walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time, the first looks I did with the bridesmaid and mums and my dad, the time we had together just the two of us in the dressing room after the ceremony, the confetti tunnel and mingling with guests during the drinks reception… it’s so hard to choose highlights from such a perfect day!
Do you have any advice for future Brides & Grooms?
Everybody says this but… enjoy every minute because it really does flash by! Find time to steal a few moments away together. Also enjoy the planning and trust that everything will come together – The West Mill were fantastic and made us feel so confident and calm that they had everything sorted and knew exactly how to set everything up for us. So I guess our other advice is… choose The West Mill!