We did it Our Way, A Real Civil Partnership – Nicola & Carly

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I was fortunate enough to be a guest at this wonderful Real Wedding, a day bubbling over with love, joy and excitement (plus some crazy shapes on the dance floor!).  These two people are truly soul mates and deserve a long and happy life together.  Nicola & Carly are the first of my friends to be featured on the blog and don’t they do me proud!

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Take it away Nic: We’d been together for about 4 years when we realised that our sixth anniversary fell on a Saturday. The Civil Partnership Bill had recently gone through parliament (hurray) and we couldn’t resist the opportunity. At last, we were able to show our friends and family how much we loved each other. Being able to marry to the person that you love is something that people take for granted, but it was such a new and exciting thing for us… we couldn’t wait to get planning!

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Perhaps the best thing about the whole planning process was realising that there was no set format for us to follow. We really could make the whole day as we wanted it to be, and that’s exactly what we did! Above everything else, we wanted a massive party and for all of our guests to have a great time. We also wanted to involve the people that had supported us, as a couple, in our relationship. This lead to our nearest and dearest getting involved in some brilliant ways.

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Some of our closest friends in Leeds had previously worked at London’s best glossy magazines and were incredibly talented with make up and hair. Our “beauty team” did us proud and we both looked amazing on the day (thank you to Julia (Brides Up North note: that’s me!), Rachel and Jess).

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Another friend was setting up a photography business and he did a superb job not only with photographing our ceremony and celebrations, but also the evening before and morning after. In exchange for his services, we now feature in his portfolio album (many thanks to Andrew Wycherley!)

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Believe it or not, another friend was starting a celebration cake venture and used us as guinea pigs for her triple chocolate cake (a chocolate cake, with chocolate icing, decorated with chocolates). Again, another awesome contribution!

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The list goes on and on, but those items on our tick list that we couldn’t source via our immediate circle of friends were quickly and fairly effortlessly located through other recommendations. For example, Carly’s suit was made by a wonderful tailor in Leeds, our flowers were arranged by another friend of a friend and our wishing well hand crafted by another handy mate!

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We did have a few bumpy moments along the way- the first jeweller that we went to refused to serve us as we were a lesbian couple, but we took our business and money elsewhere and ended up having a wonderful experience at a great little shop in Hebden Bridge (Element). It was an epic challenge to find a wedding stationer that had a civil partnership range and finding a hotel that didn’t try and force us to sign agreements that detailed “the bride and groom” was also quite a challenge, but I’m pleased that we stuck it out, it was well worth it.

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Having the freedom to do what we wanted meant an awful lot to us. Our dads still walked us down the aisle, but our guests were saved from their speeches and had to put up with us instead (!). We didn’t have a first dance and we did away with the top table in favour of us mixing with our friends and family as much as we could.

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It all went perfectly and we had an amazing day!

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.Nicola and Carly’s stockists ‘Up North were:

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Cake: Mari Piper

Photographer: Andrew Wycherley

Make Up: Julia Braime, Rachel Nelson

Wishing Well: Hannah Honeywill

Hotel: Chevin Country Park Hotel

Jeweller: Element, Hebden Bridge

Stationer: Mandalay Bride

Florist: Blossoms of Horsforth

Outfits: Oakwood Tailors, Meanwood (Carly’s suit) and Debenhams (Nic’s dress & Carly’s bodice)

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To see your Real Wedding given star billing, contact Brides Up North today!

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