THE MIDAS TOUCH

THE midas

TOUCH

Emily and Sam opted for a white, gold and glam theme for their elegant fairytale wedding

“ We met in the famous, albeit dingy, nightclub Acapulco in Halifax when we were teenagers,” Emily tells us. She and Sam were both out with their friends who were dating, and when they disappeared to the dancefloor, Emily and Sam were left to get to know each other. “What attracted me to Sam were his cheeky-chap persona and amazing blue eyes, as well as how hilarious he is,” Emily remembers. After bumping into each other again on various other nights out, Sam finally asked Emily for her number. Love soon blossomed and a year into their relationship they both decided to follow their dreams. Sam joined the Royal Marines and was stationed in Somerset, while Emily went to the University of Birmingham. “The long distance was difficult and I think I cried every night for the first year, but it only made our love for each other stronger,” Emily shares. Fast forward five years and Sam left the Royal Marines and Emily had graduated, reunited they bought their first home together.

When they’d been dating for seven years, they took the trip of a lifetime to the Maldives. On the second evening there, Sam told Emily that he’d booked for them to have a meal on the beach. When they arrived Emily didn’t think anything of the hotel photographer being there, snapping away. So when Sam got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, it was a huge surprise. “I don’t think I spoke to him for a few minutes,” Emily says. “He even had to ask me if I was going to say ‘yes’!”

Read on as the bride tells us all about their wedding day, 29th April, 2022...

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Before they even got engaged, Emily and Sam always said they’d get married at Peckforton Castle, having been there for an afternoon tea once and falling in love with it. In fact, they didn’t even look at any other venues, so sure were they. “It’s such a romantic, tranquil, fairytale venue. The grounds are absolutely beautiful and the interior has so much character and charm,” Emily says.

SETTING THE SCENE

The couple opted for a white, gold and glamorous theme for the big day. Flowers were really important to them and Emily had a vision of white roses and hydrangeas everywhere. White blossom trees lined the aisle and white roses decorated the ceremony and top tables. The bride’s bouquet featured more white roses, hydrangeas and peonies, and the bridesmaids all had smaller versions. The men also wore white roses as their buttonholes. Centrepieces were white blossom trees.

The stationery continued the white and gold theme and carried a similar design to the invitations. “We named all our tables after places that are special to us, either where we’ve lived or been to on holiday,” Emily says. Every guest also had a personalised menu and miniature white chocolate vodka-shot favours. “At every party we host, there’s always white chocolate vodka so it reminds our friends of us,” Emily explains.

“It was the best day of our lives.”

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

For the wedding breakfast the couple and their guests dined on goat’s cheese tart to start, followed by braised shin of beef for main course, while chocolate brownie was served for dessert. Their three-tier bake boasted a bottom layer of Victoria sponge adorned in frosted flowers, a middle layer of chocolate cake bearing the newlyweds’ monogram, and a top layer of lemon sponge decorated in glitter.

LOOKING THE PART

Emily wore a stunning gown by Berta Couture. “I always knew I wanted to wear a Berta dress on my wedding day. I’d seen this particular one on the website and found the only UK stockist. I rang to enquire and discovered it was due to arrive in store the following week as part of a trunk show, so I immediately booked train tickets to London to go and see it. As soon as I tried it on, I knew it was the one,” Emily tells us.

Sam chose a bespoke tuxedo by Whitfield and Ward. It was important for him to stand out and match the palette of the wedding, so he wore an ivory jacket whereas his groomsmen where all dressed in black.

The bridesmaids looked gorgeous in their white dresses with cowl neck and fishtail. They had low backs to complement the back of the bride’s dress. “The girls all looked absolutely amazing,” Emily says.

TIME TO CELEBRATE

The entertainment was a key part of the day for Emily and Sam. “We wanted it to be one big party all day long,” Emily says. A string quartet played as guests arrived and during the ceremony. During the drinks reception they played electric strings and were accompanied by a DJ. The sun shone as they entertained guests with Ibiza-style music.

During the wedding breakfast, master of ceremonies and entertainer Howard Wing, hosted the meal and sung. “The atmosphere he brought to the afternoon was wonderful. People are still talking about him now,” Emily tells us. Guests were up and dancing, waving napkins and doing the love train around the room.

In the evening, 10-piece band The White Keys filled the dancefloor and a DJ, sax and percussion player followed, ensuring everyone was partying well into the night.

THE W-DAY TEAM

Venue, Peckforton Castle, www.peckfortoncastle.co.uk | Photographer, Chelsea White Photography, www.instagram.com/chelseawhitephotog Bride’s dress, The Wedding Club, www.thewedding-club.co.uk | Wedding rings, Diamond Heaven, www.diamond-heaven.co.uk Hair stylist, Amy Elliot, www.facebook.com/amyelliotthair | Make-up artist, Enya Doherty, www.instagram.com/enyadoherty1 Bridesmaids’ dresses, Bridesmaid by JB, www.bridesmaidbyjb.com | Groom’s suit, Whitfield and Ward, https://whitfieldandward.co.uk Cake, Zara Cakes, www.zaracakes.com | Flowers, Ian Lloyd Events, www.weddingflowerscheshire.co.uk | Stationery, Eliza May, www.instagram.com/elizamayprints | Entertainment, String Infusion, www.stringinfusion.com | Will Maden, www.instagram.com/willmaden_dj Tom Da Lips, www.instagram.com/tomdalips | Kami Foxx, www.instagram.com/kamifoxx | The White Keys, www.instagram.com/thewhitekeysuk Master of Ceremonies and singer, Howard Wing, www.howardwing.co.uk | Videographer, Marry Me Films, https://marrymefilms.co.uk