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This DIY wedding from Brides Up North fan Claire is packed to the rafters with clever details. This wedding has a button theme, but certainly isn’t a make-do-and-mend affair, which is why it is one of the wedding blog’s favourites of 2011. Merry Christmas Claire and Gareth!
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This Real Wedding comes from a regular Brides Up North reader, Claire. I was over the moon when Claire emailed me to let me know that she had used the wedding blog to plan her gorgeous wedding day, and even found her photographer, Chris Milner Photography, and venue, The Old Lodge at Malton, on these pages. She wasn’t disappointed, and you won’t be either! Be inspired!
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Over to Claire: We got engaged September 2009, Gareth proposed whilst we were sea kayaking off a beach in Bali and we married on 22nd October 2010 at The Old Lodge, Malton, North Yorkshire.
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After looking high and low this venue just had the right feeling about it. We wanted a relaxed venue that still felt special. The Old Lodge is rustic and cosy. Our whole aim was an autumnal wedding with the colour of the leaves and a warm feeling. We didn’t focus too heavily on just one thing but there were a few ideas that tied it all together, like the buttons and woodwork. Colour wise, we based a lot of things around the taupe colour of the bridesmaid’s dress.
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When choosing my dress, I wanted something timeless and elegant – I’m also quite petite so I wanted something that would compliment my size. I looked at lots of ideas including shorter ‘tea dresses’ but this one was just right – I didn’t want lots of embellishment or jewels. The dress was called Sex And The City and I got it from Perfect Daze in Denby Dale.
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My sister wore a taupe dress from Dessy via To Have and To Hold in Mirfield where she lives. We got my little niece a girl’s dress from Next but added to it with a bow to match her mum’s dress.
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We made all our own bouquets/buttonholes using buttons that I got from my late Grandma’s sewing box (and it also had her Grandad’s Royal Mail badges in it which was really sentimental as he couldn’t be there on the day) – this really made it feel like our day as we’d done it all ourselves. Gareth and his friend made the wooden table centres and we had lots of jam jars donated by friends and family which I embellished to match everything else.
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We chose a classic homemade fruit cake with loads of booze in it by Gareth’s mum, which was iced to match the other items on the day with buttons all around it. The cake topper was made by Gareth to match our original invitation idea with two little lovebirds.
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We went to a friend’s wedding earlier in the year and decided afterwards that a band was really what we wanted for our evening entertainment. Reservoir Rocks from Sheffield were recommended by a friend and I cannot thank them enough, they were awesome, thoroughly entertaining, played loads of good songs and even learnt two special tracks just for us. We also arranged some fireworks as a special surprise seeing as it was so close to bonfire night.
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My favourite thing about the day was having fireworks after the first dance! It was a really great way of going out with a bang! Also – we served tea and biscuits after the ceremony – it was quirky, but people enjoyed the warm drink and everyone loves a brew.
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For our honeymoon we spent a few quiet days at Wrigglesbrook B&B in Herefordshire – they have two original Varda’s (gypsy caravans) for guests to sleep in by the river – such a charming and peaceful place with some great food on offer.
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My top tip for other Brides Up North would be to have fun with your planning – making stuff really keeps costs down and it’s the personal touches that people will really remember. It can be stressful but once the day begins, just let people get on with it and have fun.
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Congratulations Claire & Gareth! 
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2011 Chris Milner Photography
Chris Milner Photography is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier, but this is not a sponsored post
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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