Bride and Groom posing in front of their Manor house venue

Katie and Dan met through friends and were close friends throughout their teenage years before they moved away to university in separate cities. “Then, after we finished university, we both moved back to our home town,” says Katie.

Bride's wed2b A-line wedding dress

“We realised we were much more than friends and everything just clicked into place. Our friendship was the basis for the most amazing relationship. We’ve now been together for five years and are expecting our first baby.”

Bride takign a selfie with her bridesmaids on the morning of the wedding

The couple got engaged on 14th September 2019 on the iconic bridge at Priory Park in Bath. “Dan went to university in Bath and it’s a really special place for both of us,” says Katie. “He always knew he wanted to propose there.”

Bride and Bridesmaid looking out the window of the wedding venue

“On the day, I was told we were going on a trip but wasn’t told where. I was not impressed by the climb up a huge hill to get to the bridge and was quite grumpy. I was completely oblivious to what was going on and the fact the ring was in a box in his pocket!”

Bride on the morning of her wedding in her wed2b wedding dress and personalised bridal veil

"The staff helped us have the bridge to ourselves, so he could get down on one knee, just the two of us. He made a beautiful speech and some staff members got great photos. I was overwhelmed with happiness and cried so much I initially forgot to actually say yes!”

Bride posing in her wed2b wedding dress and holding her bridal bouquet

Shopping for the dress

“I had the most amazing experience with Lottie at WED2B in Bournemouth,” says Katie. “I ended up buying the fourth dress I tried on, because she listened so well to what I wanted and found the perfect dress for me. There were also lots of the accessories I loved and Lottie styled them with my dress perfectly. All of the staff on the day were so attentive. They lent me a tripod to FaceTime my nan, so she could be part of it too. There were lots of tears but it was an amazing day!”

Bride and groom posing in the grounds of their wedding venue whilst sitting on a bench

“I chose Brielle as my dress. It fitted perfectly with the country manor venue and I was really hoping for a sunny day, so we could spend lots of time in the gardens.”

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" I loved the light sparkle on the bodice and the subtle lace detail throughout. The A-line shape was perfect for my figure and had plenty of volume without feeling heavy. I also really wanted a corset back, so I could adjust it through the day to be as comfortable as possible.”

Bride emotional while reading a card from the groom on the morning of the wedding

A very happy surprise

“Unexpectedly, the dress also ended up being absolutely perfect for the fact I was 22 weeks pregnant at my wedding,” says Katie. “I didn’t need the dress altered at all, it fitted the bump in perfectly and still looked so flattering. I was so happy to have our little bump with us on our wedding day, and still felt like a princess in my dream dress.”

Bride walking down the aisle with her dad

A grand Georgian manor

The couple chose Bourton Hall in Warwickshire for their venue. “Its a new venue, which only opened after lockdown,” says Katie. “It had the exact vibe we wanted with the beautiful Georgian manor house and stunning gardens. It also had an Italian-style chapel onsite, which was the most lovely space for our ceremony.”

Bride laughing with the groom during their wedding ceremony
Bride laughing during the wedding ceremony

“When we first viewed the venue, and the manager explained we could have our first dance at the foot of the grand staircase, I was moved to tears imagining the moment. I knew this was the venue for us. We booked for 1st August 2022.”

Bride and Groom smiling and happy walking back up the aisle as husband and wife

The big day

“I got ready at the venue with my mum and two sisters,” says Katie. “The weather was beautiful all day. My best friend sang us down the aisle and also sang while we signed the register. We then walked out to our favourite ever song, ‘Dancing Queen’ by Abba.”

Bride talking to their wedding guests on the ground of their wedding venue

“Our ceremony was full of laughter, especially when Dan almost forgot to say I do! We have so many amazing pictures of us laughing together, which I love. My brother was our ring bearer and this was a really special moment with him. "

“One of our readings was ‘I Carry Your Heart With Me’ by E.E Cummings, read by my godmother. This poem is really special to me, as I actually sang a choral arrangement of it at a number of weddings a few years ago.”

Bride and grooms wedding venue with the guests mingling outside

Plenty more surprises

“I also learned an Abba dance routine with my girls on my hen do, which we performed flash mob style to surprise the guests,” says Katie. “Luckily, I could dance in my amazing dress!”

Bride and Grooms table setting for their wedding reception

“We also revealed the gender of our baby during our cake cutting. We managed to keep it secret from all of our families and friends, and our amazing cake maker Karen dyed the bottom layer pink for us. So, when the cake was cut, everyone found out we were expecting a baby girl! This was a huge highlight of the day.”

Bride and Grooms wedding favours for their wedding guests

Sunflowers and yellow bridesmaids dresses

“Our theme was sunflowers and yellow,” says Katie. “I paired my dress with a hand-embroidered veil, which included sunflowers and other blue and gold smaller flowers. We had sunflower yellow bridesmaids dresses and sunflower button holes, too.”

Beautiful Sunflowers decorating the bride and groom's table settings

“There was also lots of personalisation, such as including our two cats on our cake topper. We were married under a custom-built archway, which we then moved out into the gardens for photo opportunities for all of the guests.”

Bride and Groom posing with their bridesmaids in yellow

The best bits…

“Our guests would certainly say the gender reveal during the cake cut was something they were all so excited about,” says Katie. “I also loved our Abba flash mob dance, which was a really fun addition to the day.”

“The speeches from my husband, stepfather and brother were a huge highlight for me. They had us laughing and crying in equal measure and everyone was touched and moved by their words.”

Bride and Groom cutting their wedding cake with the guests watching

My top tips…

“My top tip is just to relax and enjoy your day,” says Katie. “Check in with yourself whenever you can to help you stay grounded. Then you won’t feel like the day is passing you by and you’re not feeling present.”

Bride and Groom on the dancefloor for their first dance

"We also had a sweetheart table with just the two of us during the meal. This was such a good decision, as it gave us time together to check in and share our experiences. I would really recommend this, so you can spend some time with your new husband away from everyone for a while.”

Bride dancing on the dance floor with her bridesmaids

Katie and Daniel’s Dream Team

Photographer: Chris Teagles Photography

Venue: Bourton Hall

Wedding dresses Bournemouth: WED2B

Florist: Anne Marie’s Florist Rugby

Cake: Cakes Fabulous Cakes

Hair and makeup: Beauty WithInn Northampton

If you would like us to feature your big day, like this wedding with yellow bridesmaids dresses, 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 more details about WED2B’s bridal shops Bournemouth