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Happy Friday Brides Up North! Loving how it’s the weekend already (thanks HRH!). Let’s wind down to another one with a love story from the North West, sent to me by Brides Up North Featured Supplier G & S Photography and reader Becky.
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Over to Becky: I had been secretly working my butt off to organise Simon a surprise 30th birthday party in June 2011. As we are both very theatrical and love to perform so I planned the theme “From Stage and Screen”. Everybody came dressed as a famous person or character and the room was decorated with Hollywood icons. We had a red carpet as guests arrived and Simon’s dad played the part of the paparazzi! I’d managed to keep everything under wraps and even convinced him to dress as The Mad Hatter (and me Alice in Wonderland!) Everyone was having a brilliant time when Simon asked me to get up and sing with him on the karaoke. I was just about to announce the winner of the quiz and at the time was more concerned about that! But then Simon started to talk on the microphone, telling me how much he loved me and started to reach for his pocket and go down on one knee. I just thought “Oh my god, this is it!” He produced the most beautiful, unique, sparkling ring and obviously I said yes! It was a very emotional moment; I hid behind the quiz sheets to compose myself! He’d apparently had the ring hiding in a drawer for months but was waiting for the right moment. He’d sent his mum to our house to pick it up! For us, it was the perfect proposal. On stage, dressed up, everyone watching and the best bit: it was caught on camera! Not many people are lucky enough to have a photograph of their proposal, but we do.
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We are getting married in October this year at the Grosvenor, Pulford. As soon as Simon popped the question it was all systems go! Operation Wedding was on! We looked at a number of venues but I was very fussy; if I didn’t like the carpet or the curtains or a picture on the wall, it was a no-no! Then we found the Grosvenor and fell in love. It has the best of both worlds: a country house feel on the outside but really modern on the inside. If I’m completely honest, it was the fairy light walls that sold it to me! Choosing the venue also set our colour scheme: purple. I have a bit of OCD so the colour scheme had to compliment the décor. Nobody else will probably notice but I will feel content on the day knowing that everything matches!
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It was the summer of 2009 when I first clapped eyes on Simon, he was performing in a play with two mutual friends. My first thought was “Who on earth is Simon and why don’t I know him!?” I was a bit of a socialite back then and knew everybody! Then my second thought was “Wow, he is a very talented actor!” And my final thought as he stripped down to a pair of pristine boxers was “Hmm I quite like him!!” though it wasn’t until we were at a friend’s house watching the Champion’s League final that we actually met for the first time.
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I believe it was love at first sight though our friendship blossomed first. We had so much in common and really enjoyed being in one another’s company. I don’t really remember a ‘first date’ as such. We just used to get in the car and drive to an unknown destination; spontaneity is something we both share! We discovered some lovely little pubs and restaurants on our travels.
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I knew that he was “the One” quite quickly. I’d never met anyone that was so similar to me. Some people think it doesn’t work if you are too much of the same thing but for Simon and I it definitely does. I am marrying my soul mate. We share the same interests and hobbies and love spending time together. There have been many a late night/early morning where we have stayed up singing on the Xbox! People say “What? Just the two of you?” He’s my best friend.
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I am looking forward to expanding our little family. Simon has two children from a previous relationship, Megan and Josh. I love them to bits and can’t wait to see them in their wedding attire! Josh is going to be our ring bearer in a matching suit to Simon’s and Megan is going to be a flower girl. I can’t wait to add to our family with a little brother or sister.
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I’d looked at lots of different photographers but struggled to find one in our price range. Then I stumbled over G & S Photography on Facebook. Sharron and Geoff came round to our house and showed us some of their work. It was exactly what we wanted and the prices were unbelievable. It was a no-brainer! The engagement shoot was included which I think is a fab idea.
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We absolutely loved the shoot! Sharron and Geoff make a brilliant team; they are a comedy duo but I don’t think they realise it! The shoot has made reality strike that little bit more and so the excitement is really beginning to set in. It also made us more relaxed. We chose a retro themed picnic which Sharron and Geoff had wanted to do for some time and when us thespians came along we were the perfect candidates!
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I think on the wedding day this will really help as there will already be so much emotion flying around, already knowing our photographers and having built up a relationship with them will definitely be one less thing to be anxious about! I am going to use the engagement photos as part of the décor on our wedding day, but I am not telling you too much about that – you’ll have to wait and see!
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I love looking at Real Weddings and pinching ideas from Brides Up North! I also think the Directory is fab! Everything you need in one place. We’ll be back to share our wedding photographs without a doubt!
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Congratulations Becky & Simon! 
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2012 G & S Photography
G & S 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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