A beautiful waterside venue was just the setting for this August wedding. Our WED2B Real Weddings feature reveals more…

Carly and Robert moments from a kiss holding yellow umbrellas. Carly and Rober standing on a bridge with their yellow umbrellas

Carly and Robert first met on Facebook. “He commented on one of my pictures, as we had a mutual friend,” says Carly. “We got chatting and then met up the day I passed my driving test."

"I didn't like him at first, as I thought he was too short, but the rest is history!”

Carly in her campervan wedding transport with her 3 bridesmaids and 2 flowergirls

A helping paw… 

Robert proposed after the couple had been together for 10 years. “I had just woken up and heard our dog, Pippa, jingling her collar with a tag on it,” says Carly. “She never normally wore her collar in the house. I could hear Robert shouting to her, 'Show Mum what you’re wearing’ but she was too interested in the custard cream he was bribing her with! Well, eventually she showed me what her tag said and it had the words, ‘Will you marry my dad?’ on it. I was in complete shock, as he had told me he didn't need to get married and have a piece of paper to show he loved me.”

Carly posing next to her campervan wedding car with her bridesmaids standing next to her and two flowergirls standing infront

Shopping for the dress

“I’d heard a lot about WED2B and was on a budget, so I knew I would find something,” says Carly.

“The whole experience at the Wednesbury store was amazing from start to finish, even through Covid restrictions."

The advisor was amazing and she actually found my dream dress.”

Carly and Robet holding hands during their wedding ceremony

Carly chose Logan, a crepe sheath with a keyhole back. “It was a style I never thought I would wear, as it was tight fitting and just not what I’d imagined,” says Carly.

“When I tried it on I felt like a princess and that sold it for me.”

(For similar styles try Gaia, Kamille or Faythe)

An August wedding by the water

The couple had their August wedding at The Crows Nest at Barton Marina. “We found it because my mother-in-law used to clean there,” says Carly. “The views were beautiful and we could also hold everything in one place. When I saw it I got butterflies and this was the first venue that gave me butterflies. It wasn’t actually what I thought I wanted, as I'd always dreamed of getting married in a barn, but I fell in love with it. We got married on 29th August 2021.”

Robert holding Carly's hand and placing her wedding ring onto her finger. Carly with her arms around Robert during a dance on the dancefloor

The big day

“I got ready with my three bridesmaids at home,” says Carly. “The weather was perfect, not too hot and not too cold. My best friend walked me down the aisle to ‘I Just Want to Love You’ by The Shires. I loved every minute of the ceremony, even though I was a complete nervous wreck.”

Drinks on the terrace

“After the ceremony we had drinks on the terrace and greeted all of our guests,” says Carly. “The drinks had to be Pimms, of course. Our first dance song was ‘Speechless’ by Dan and Shay. The lyrics are beautiful and my husband found the song, which made it even more special.”

Carly and Robert holding hands and walking back up the aisle as husband and wife

A navy and yellow theme

“Our theme was rustic with navy and yellow colours,” says Carly. “So, we had navy bridesmaids’ dresses and suits and navy and yellow flowers. We also had yellow umbrellas, as my husband’s favourite TV show is How I Met Your Mother and a yellow umbrella played a big part in the show. They made our photos look great.”

Close up image of Carly and Roberts hands with their wedding rings on. Close up image of the table number and flowers on the wedding tables

“We hired a camper van to take my bridesmaids and I to the wedding and a big red vintage bus for our guests, too,” says Carly. 

“Dinner was a three-course, sit-down meal, which was beautiful,” says Carly. “Our cake was a three-tier, naked cake covered in sunflowers with vanilla chocolate and chocolate orange flavours and then individual chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with flowers. Later, there was a DJ for the evening party.”

The best bits…

“I can't pick just one memorable moment, everything was beautiful,” says Carly.

“One memory I have was of a very emotional moment when we celebrated all the family members we had lost. Unfortunately my mom and Robert’s dad could only be with us in spirit, but they played a part in our big day.”

Carly and Robert posing in a field with their groomsmen and bridal party all holding a yellow umbrella.

My top tips…

“Just enjoy every single moment, because it goes so fast,” says Carly. “All the stresses are not important, as long as you marry the man you love.”

Carly and Robert’s Dream Team 

Photographer: Emilia Moisio

Wedding dresses Wednesbury: WED2B

Venue: The Crows Nest at Barton Marina 

Florist: Perfect Day Wedding Flowers 

Makeup artist: PJH Makeup 

Hair stylist: Shine Hair 

Cake: Emma's Cake Cupboard 

Transport: The Big Red Bus

If you would like us to feature your big day, like this August wedding, then please click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch. Your nearest WED2B is closer than you think, click here for your nearest store and here for what to expect when you visit.