We’re in love with this bride’s Carrie Bradshaw dress and designer heels – not to mention the pink Champagne colour scheme!
How they met
Dougie caught Louise’s eye on an evening out, working behind the bar in one of her favourite pubs. “I could tell straight away that he had a great sense of humour and was an all-round cheeky chappy,” she laughs. “Our first date was to Alton Towers, and a bird pooped on us while we were on the log flume! It wasn’t the most romantic start, but we both saw the funny side and we think that bird has brought us good luck ever since.”
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The proposal
After seven years together, Dougie still managed to surprise Louise with his proposal. “I really wasn’t expecting it, as we’d been together such a long time,” she explains. “We were on holiday on the island of Phi Phi in Thailand, and celebrated our engagement with a lovely meal on the beach, and drinks at the seashore – cliché, but very romantic. He’d even asked my father’s permission, which I thought was a lovely gesture.”
The bride’s outfit
Right from the start of her wedding dress hunt, Louise knew there was only one designer for her. “I started by looking through bridal magazines, and fell in love with Jenny Packham’s gowns,” she explains. “The minute I tried on her ‘Aspen’ dress, I knew it was ‘the one’. I’m a sucker for gorgeous fabrics, and it had it all – delicate chantilly lace, flowing silk, crystals, diamanté and pretty detailing on the back. I felt like Carrie Bradshaw!” Louise wore her divine dress with a feather shrug from Biba, a hair vine by Enchanted Atelier and statement Jimmy Choo shoes. “I’ve always wanted a pair of designer shoes, and my wedding was the perfect excuse,” she smiles.
The groom’s outfit
Laidback groom Dougie did away with the jacket and opted to wear a smart-casual waistcoat and trouser ensemble from Next, in dark brown with a faint check. He teamed it with a pink tie from TM Lewin and classy brown brogues. “The suit was perfect for our outdoor wedding, and really reflected his calm and chilled-out nature,” Louise says.
The bridesmaids
Louise chose full-length Champagne gold gowns from John Lewis for her two bridesmaids – her best friend and Dougie’s sister – teamed with pink silk flower hair accessories from Accessorize. The two flowergirls looked adorable in their petal-trimmed dresses and matching oversized hairbands from House of Fraser.
The ceremony
Louise and Dougie were married in the summer house at Heathy Lea, a grade II listed cottage hidden away in the Chatsworth Estate in the Peak District. “It’s the most beautiful, idyllic place – I would live there if I could!” Louise says. Their ceremony featured piano music performed by Dougie’s uncle, before the newly-married couple walked back up the aisle to Take That’s Greatest Day.
The flowers
The pretty bouquets of pink and white blooms were put together by Flora of Sheffield. “We didn’t know it at the time, but it turned out that they did my parents’ wedding flowers, and Dougie’s mum’s too – it was fate!” Louise says.
The reception
After the ceremony, the party continued in Heathy Lea’s marquee and garden, with Pimm’s served on the lawn alongside canapés including mini fish and chips and onion bhajis with mint dip. The guests then dined on ‘posh’ bangers and mash followed by sticky toffee pudding, catered by Chequers. “We chose classic, homely food as we felt it complemented the relaxed vibe of our wedding,” Louise explains.
The details
The pretty bunting that the couple chose to decorate the marquee set the theme of the day, with a colour palette of Champagne, taupe and pink. Louise and Dougie continued the theme with a birdcage post box, oversized Mr & Mrs lettering and dainty bud vases filled with classic blooms. “I thoroughly enjoyed sourcing all our decorations, and we were really happy that we had a marquee reception as it was a real blank canvas and gave us the opportunity to style our day our way,” says Louise.
The stationery
Louise and Dougie enlisted friends and family to help them make their DIY stationery.
The cake
Having spotted a picture of a mouthwatering ‘naked’ Victoria sponge tower, Louise asked her friend Sarah of Jolly’s Creative Catering to conjure up their very own version, covered with sumptuous fresh berries and topped with a spray of spring flowers.
The favours
Louise and Dougie’s guests were treated to handmade Belgian chocolates from Choc on Choc, shaped like flowers for the girls and footballs for the guys.
The first dance
Louise and Dougie thought long and hard about the perfect track for their first dance. “There were so many songs we could have chosen, but in the end, we settled for Where the West Wind Blows by Green River Ordinance. It suited the setting, and the words said exactly what we wanted to say,” Louise explains.
The entertainment
The happy couple opted for a quirky choice of reception entertainment – the mind-reader Looch. “We wanted someone to blow our guests’ minds, and he did just that – he was an instant hit,” Louise says. In the evening, live band Vibetown got everyone up and dancing, while a hog roast kept the hungry partygoers full of energy. “Having a live band created a great atmosphere,” adds Louise. That night, the couple looked back on their wedding and soaked up all the treasured memories. “We spent the evening reliving all the special moments from our day,” remembers Louise.
The honeymoon
Two days after the wedding, Louise and Dougie jetted off to the Greek island of Santorini, where they enjoyed watching the spectacular Mediterranean
sunsets. “The best we’ve ever seen,” says Louise.
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