I’ve waited nearly a whole year to share this magical Christmas wedding at Manor by the Lake in Cheltenham with you all!
It was the most spectacular of days and the perfect end to a year of exquisite weddings for the NKP Team.
Claire and Tony (who both work in the energy sector) had planned and created so much for their wedding day. And all of their hard work paid off. The detail… oh my word… it was out of this world! So many little hand crafted finishing touches to ensure that their guests felt welcomed and entertained during their day were all perfect. And as you know; I love detail!
Our romantic couple live near Reading but had chosen to come to our beautiful county to get married with the jigsaw wedding theme of “Our Missing Piece”. Seriously romantic!
It was a hugely emotional day and being their wedding photographer and having got to know them both before their wedding day even I had tears.
Without further ado, here is their Wedding Story in their own words (and yes there are some award winning images too!) with fabulous ideas and inspiration if you are planning your very own winter wedding or a Christmas wedding…
“We hired Tony’s suit for a formal classic look.”
“Claire searched and searched across 4 counties with her friends Sue and Abi only to like bits of one dress and bits of another.
She then brought a dress but carried on looking and brought another unworn and brand new from an online marketplace to then have redesigned and customised by a professional dressmaker.
We wanted a dress which worked with the time of year, building, age of bride…something elegant and timeless.”
“Claire’s bouquet carried a photo of her mother in her bouquet, and a memory table at the ceremony. We also created our sand ceremony decanter.”
“6 months from booking with Manor By The Lake to our wedding day.”
“Tony took me to Portland Bill for a glass of champagne on a very sunny October 2nd 2014 and proposed.”
“Claire’s brother travelling from America for the first time in 14yrs and Tony’s father from Finland for the first time in 16yrs. Also our sand ceremony with our family. We also gave each other wedding boxes in the morning on the day and laughing at the Mr & Mrs.”
“Ellie Goulding “How long will I love you”?”
“It was very much a DIY affair.”
“Ability to have a venue exclusively without it being too big for our small wedding.”
“We needed someone we trusted with our precious day, someone who would do their upmost to capture the special moments that only happen once.
After the day itself we only have our memories and the photographs.”
“We loved it all and would love to do it all again…..with each other!”
“It was a winter wedding with Christmas decorations around the manor so we wanted to be in tune so choose burgundy & pearl, with handmade decorations – jigsaw pieces, hearts, letters, selfie frame, ps. I love you box etc”
“A four tier stack cake – Victoria sponge, Lemon drizzle, Caramel & Raspberry & White Chocolate”
“Claire made everything…….including the surprise leather jacket!”
“We met on a random night out in Swindon – neither of us was meant to be there but found each other.”
“Have exactly what you want and don’t compromise.”
Ceremony & Reception Venue: Manor By The Lake
Photographer: Nikki Kirk
Dress: A customised Ronald Joyce dress
Hair & Beauty: Leanne from Cotswold Wedding Hair