A day filled with love and laughter with a rainbow theme decorated with colour, butterflies and sparkles!
Tell us about the proposal – how and where did it happen?
Lisa was working a night shift on Christmas Eve at the Manor Nursing Home in Taunton back in 2002 when Darren sneaked into the Manager’s Office at midnight armed with a ring and a bunch of roses. You’ve guessed, it was a YES…
What was your first step in planning your wedding?
“The first thing I started thinking about was the colour scheme and wanted a ‘rainbow theme’. First thing was to start looking on Ebay for colourful bridesmaid dresses. I then downloaded the app ‘Bridebook’ and shortlisted the venues. I also used Pinterest for ideas, mainly for anything sparkly. We visited St. Audries Park and it was just perfect, especially as Darren grew up locally in Donniford close to his home.”
How did you organise your budget?
“Our parents were our main people to help with our budget, Lisa’s parents helping with the venue and Darren’s parents paid for the videographer and decorations whilst we paid for the dancing waiters as they were a surprise for the guests. We also had a personalised carpet runner for my Dad!”
What made you choose your wedding venue?
“The Bridebook app highlighted St. Audries Park and we booked a viewing. As soon as set eyes on the venue it was breathtaking. When we entered the Great Hall we were met by Aly and made to feel so welcome and she even gave our daughter sweets! As we looked around it even made our parents cry. It was perfect in every single way.”
Styling your wedding: how did you personalise your big day?
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m all about rainbows, colour and sparkles. We used rainbow fabric to decorate the pillars in the Orangery, rainbow colour chair sashes, colourful butterflies on our trees, colourful bouquets, rainbow ribbon on our favour boxes with personalised M&M’s inside as well as colourful table centre pieces. Our wedding Chocolate Cake even had rainbow ribbon and lots of sparkles.”
Wedding photographer: how did you choose your photographer?
“First of all we chose our videographer – Darren Jack and he then recommended Lee Hatherall to us. When we met we knew that our photos would be perfect. He is a funny guy and he managed to get natural laughter photos on our day.”
Wedding suppliers: how did you choose your suppliers?
“We did attend a few wedding fairs to get some ideas but we were so lucky to have friends and family that could do so much for us.”
Describe your wedding attire?
“I wore a slim fitting dress which was totally full of sparkles and I actually had a friend to add more sparkles which was amazing. The men meanwhile wore light blue suits with different coloured ties which was totally fitting for our rainbow colour theme.”
What accessories did you wear on the day?
“I wore a silver sparkling pair of earrings and matching necklace. My shoes were white glittery heels, full of detail on the side with lace flowers covered in crystals.”
Tell us about your Bridesmaids, Groomsmen and their outfits?
“I had 4 older friends – 2 close friends, my sister and sister in law whilst my 2 daughters as flower girls. I invited them to dinner and gave them each a box which contained a balloon. I asked them to pop the balloon with a note inside asking them to be my bridesmaids. Darren had his best friends as groomsmen.”
What was your biggest wedding splurge?
“The Dancing Waiters, which were a surprise for all of the guests, as well as Darren. They were worth every penny.”
What was your ceremony like?
“My Dad walked me down the aisle and as a surprise had a personalised aisle runner with a message to my Dad printed on it which was very emotional. Our son did a reading and we then listened to a recording of a song that my daughter sang.”
Tell us about your drinks reception and wedding breakfast?
“We offered our guests either Belly Pork or Potato Gnocchi followed by Cheesecake or Chocolate Brownie – all very yummy! During the speeches our Dad gave us a new car personalised number plate with our new married name on!”
Did you have a band or DJ for your evening reception?
“We used the St. Audries Park DJ in the Great Hall as well as my friend Jay Quick who sang some songs.”
Tell us about your first dance – what song did you chose and why?
“We chose ‘You are the reason’ by Callum Scott as we love the words and have also seen him perform live where he explained the reasons for the wording in the song! We also had a father/daughter dance to ‘Daddy’s Little Girl’ by the Shires.”
What was the most memorable moment of the day?
“Everything was so amazing. But in the evening our brother, brother in law and Dad made a video of them performing the Greatest Showman but they changed the wording to reflect us.”
Did any members of staff stand out to you in particular?
“Aly, our Personal Wedding Manager was the best. Nothing was too much trouble and she went above and beyond to help us with everything!”
What did you enjoy the most about St Audries Park?
“The Orangery just finishes it off. The Main House and Gardens are beautiful anyway but nobody expects the Orangery to be ‘hiding at the back.’ The Disco Room hidden away was also another great hit. Our guests still, even today say how ‘it was the most amazing wedding they have EVER been to’.”
Based on your own experience, give us some top tips?
“A lot of our items were homemade, this made it very personal to us and a lot cheaper as we knew that nobody else would have the same at their wedding.”
Did you go on a honeymoon or mini-moon?
“We went on a mini moon the day after the wedding to Alton Towers on our own without the children, then onto a posh spa hotel. We are planning a honeymoon with the children to Disneyworld in Florida next year.”
Purchase & Hire – Tell us who your suppliers were:
Photographer: Lee Hatherall
Videographer: Darren Jack
Brides Dress: Rookery Bridal
Grooms Attire: Moss Bros
Wedding Rings: Warren James
