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We met at a friend’s party in 1995. We were friends for a while before getting together in 1996 at the tender age of 16!
I'm 26 and Pete's 25.
On my 25th Birthday, Pete gave me all my cards and presents along with breakfast in bed. Just as I thought I'd opened everything he said 'Oh you've missed one.' I opened this last card to find it was from my baby Son Eli. Inside it said P.s. Mummy, will you marry Daddy? Of course I said yes!
Pete went to Nottingham for go-karting, a curry and lap dancers! (typical blokes!)
I had 2, a Kylie themed night in Manchester with my four closest girlfriends and a bigger do two weeks before the wedding which consisted of a pole dancing lesson during the day (hilarious!) then a meal and dancing in Leeds. My friends organised everything with a black, white and pink theme; it was fabulous.
Pete gave his opinion on lots of things and we chose the venue and food together, he did lots of fetching and carrying and helped design the ‘save the date’ magnets and invitations. He did quite a lot really.
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I wore 'Celeste' by Maggie Sottero, with a very long plain veil, crystal tiara and my shoes were ‘Mansfield’ by Benjamin Adams. My hair was a sort of ‘50s film star look.
I had just one Bridesmaid, my fifteen year old Sister Bethany. She wore a Raylia dress in pink orchid colour, silver ballet shoes and a beautiful vintage necklace. She had her hair in a ‘50s ‘up do’ with pink pearl hair pins.
In the groom’s party Pete had one best man, Rick, five ushers, our brothers, two dads and our son Eli. They wore brown suits (in shades and styles to suit them) with matching waistcoats in cream and gold and gold silk wrap ties.
We chose a civil ceremony.
Scaitcliffe Hall in Todmorden, West Yorkshire.
Everything was at the same venue but in different rooms.
We decided not to as it seemed a pointless expense as no one would see them (due to timings on the day) so we hired two Mercedes through my work for the grand total of £30!.
We had just under 70 guests to the day and about another 50 invited to the evening do.
Not really, we tried to keep it looking fresh and spring like, but we weren't too 'matchy-matchy'
The place names and favours were 2 in 1 - a little card made from plantable seed paper. Inside we wrote 'Thank you for sharing our special day' then wrote each guest’s name on the envelope. We also served biscuits in the shape of shoes and ties along with the after ceremony drinks. My mum, my Aunt and I made these two days before the wedding!
Pete's step mum did our flowers. I carried a simple hand-tied bouquet of pink and white roses, freesias and lisianthus tied with white organza ribbon and dotted with crystals. Beth carried a pomander of spring flowers on a sting of pearls. The men wore button holes of white freesias and we had spring flowers arranged on glass cake stands for the table centre pieces.
The venue did the catering; we started with tomato and pesto soup, then the main was a traditional roast with a choice of turkey, beef or nut roast. The dessert was profiteroles – yum.
We actually won the services of our cake lady through a charity auction at work! We chose a central chocolate mud cake with a white chocolate topping, which was finished with two pink sparkly hearts on top that said 'Claire & Pete'. Then around the edge of this we had eighty individual square cakes iced with various things relevant to us as a couple and also the wedding - I loved it!
We had a string quartet for the ceremony and drinks reception and a disco in the evening.
Before and after the ceremony a string quartet played - they actually transcribed a song especially for our exit - Everlong by the FooFighters. Our friend James performed two songs during the signing of the register and we had two magicians entertaining the guests at the evening do.
We asked for Thomas Cook vouchers towards our honeymoon.
The wedding night was spent at the venue; the next morning we jetted off for four nights in New York. There are several, but the highlights were saying our vows (which we wrote ourselves.) James singing, the balloon release, the speeches... I'll shut up now!
There were a few slight hitches on the day, but nothing that anyone noticed.
Don't do it! Only kidding, it was the best day of my life, I just wish I could do it all again in slow motion as it was just a whirl.
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