Written in the Stars – Erika & Dan’s wedding at Eaves Hall

Erika & Dan were married at Eaves Hall in Clitheroe on Sunday 5th July 2015.

“We met in a bar in King Street, Wigan. In 2010 we were meant to visit Las Vegas during a trip to America but because Daniel had a rather silly accident while buggy-boarding on the lake, the Vegas days were spent at a physiotherapist’s clinic in Los Angeles instead. So we planned a return trip in September 2014 and it just so happened to be our five year anniversary whilst we were there. We arranged a special meal out in one of the Bellagio’s restaurants on a patio right near the fountains. Unbeknownst to me, Daniel had been planning for months to propose on this evening – he even asked for my Dad’s permission, and had designed a bespoke ring through my cousin’s ethical diamond jewellery company, and he had even had a special ‘menu’ printed which he presented to me just as he got down on one knee. The most romantic and unforgettable night ever!

We first visited Eaves Hall during one of their wedding fairs. It was so busy and when we enquired into possible 2015 dates we were told that 2015 was already full. Later that week, we were on our way to visit an alternative local venue with my parents when Dan suggested we just drive past Eaves Hall to show them how gorgeous it is. This was fate – when we arrived we saw that the lights were on and the doors were open –little did we know that Eaves Hall had arranged a midweek open night following the wedding fair! On further investigation it turned out there were some Sundays still available in 2015, it was a day we had not previously considered but were happy to. And it just so happened to be Sunday 5th July which was also Dan’s 35th birthday. What better way to ensure no forgotten anniversaries?!

For our wedding we mutually decided on a star theme, with one of our favourite songs from a little-known artist being called Stars, so it just seemed to fit. The theme was carried through everything, the invites, accessories, song choices and even the cake and it all worked perfectly. We wanted a bright, fresh, young and elegant sort of look to the wedding and we believe we achieved it. We both love pink so a bright coral pink was chosen and complemented the beautiful gerbera flowers we used all around the venue.

We found a lot of our wedding suppliers through Eaves Hall as many were included in our package. We also visited wedding fairs including a Little White Books wedding fair at Park Hall nr Chorley in the Spring, and we found it very helpful and informative.

My dress was a Justin Alexander design, ‘Frankie’, and was from Lulu Browns in Whalley. I found the dress on my initial Google searches but didn’t know who stocked the designer locally. At last I found Lulu Browns, and better still, they were just around the corner from our venue! The team at Lulu Browns were so helpful and the moment I had the dress on, before I had even left the cubicle, I knew it was ‘The One’.

Although we followed a traditional day, we changed things around a little by doing speeches before the food and finding on the day that the sit down meal was not overly formal in that people were quite happy to get up and go to the loo, the bar or even chat at each other’s tables. I think our family & friends really enjoyed this relaxed atmosphere.

We also had lessons for our first dance to make sure we were actually dancing rather than going around in a circle! Our first dance song was From Here to the Moon and Back by Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson. We have both always loved Dolly and actually went to see her early in 2014 in Liverpool which was amazing. The words mean a lot to both of us and we knew we wanted a romantic, slower song to dance to more traditionally.

I would advise any bride & groom to make the day theirs and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, your guest will be happy to be there and you don’t have to entertain or speak to them every moment of the day. Make sure you get some moments when it’s just the two of you on the day because time really does fly by and you need to make some memories as just the two of you together.