1 - Rutland Pride MAY 178.qxp_Layout 2 copy 03/04/2017 11:16 Page 100
WEDDINGS
A Royal Wedding Rockingham Castle is a very grand place in which to get married, but when James & Elizabeth Saunders Watson allow you into the Great Hall for some royal photos, you’re sure of a dream wedding. Photographer: Barry Spiers OBE, Certa Cito Photography, 07595 323213, www.certa-cito-photography.co.uk.
There is no denying that Heather and Andrew’s wedding photos are beautiful. That’s down largely to their incredible photographer, but also the stunning venue, Rockingham Castle, in which they married.
Heather is a primary school teacher and Andrew works in marketing. The two met at university and have been together ever since. Two years before the wedding, Andrew took Heather on a short break to Venice, and while crossing the Rialto Bridge, proposed. “It was so magical,” says Heather. “I started organising it right away. I absolutely loved the idea of planning a wedding, and feel a little lost now I don’t have one to plan!”
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The first thing the couple booked was the venue. Heather wanted to get married near her parent’s home in Leicestershire and her mother suggested Rockingham.
“We had visited two venues before we came to Rockingham (01536 770240, www.rockingham castle.com) and completely fell in love with the look and feel of the place.” “It speaks for itself, but the staff were also incredibly accommodating and we visited regularly leading up to the big day for picnics and family trips.”
Andrew’s family live in Liverpool and having no daughters, Heather’s mother-in-law pleaded with her to come dress shopping.
They went to one shop and Heather fell in love with her gown from Ronald Joyce.
“My flowers came from an absolutely amazing florist in Northamptonshire. We told her what we wanted and she just said ‘leave it with me.’ On the day, they were exactly what we imagined.” Their theme had to be a very traditional style being held in a castle, but Heather put her own vintage twist on the day with old books on the tables and vintage style flowers. “The wedding day itself was so emotional. My dad unfortunately suffered a stroke seven weeks before the day, and we didn’t know if he was going to be able to make it.”