Real Weddings Newcastle: Grace and Anthony’s laid-back BBQ wedding

Grace and Anthony went to the same senior school but then met up via mutual friends eight years’ later. “We’ve been inseparable ever since,” says Grace. “Anthony proposed in the kitchen of our first and forever home, the day we got the keys. When we arrived, there was a bottle of champagne and a card, which I thought was from the previous owners (but was actually from Anthony). The card read, ‘Congratulations on your new home and your engagement’, so I was totally confused. I said to Anthony, ‘I think they’re mistaken’. When I looked up he was down on one knee. It was the perfect start to our life together in our new home.”

Wedding dresses Newcastle

Grace bought her Alice dress from WED2B’s Newcastle store. “I tried Alice on and loved it, although it wasn't what I had in mind all,” she says.

“None of the other dresses compared to it, including the one I thought was my dream dress."

"The girls instore were so patient too, despite me wanting to try on lots of dresses to compare. There's such a wedding boutique feeling at the store, which made the experience so special.”

The couple married on 18 October 2021 at Newton Hall in Northumberland. “It was everything we wanted and more,” says Grace. “We both knew on our first visit that we didn't need to see anywhere else. It was perfect in every way and completely suited our rustic, laid-back theme.”

The big day

“We got married at 3pm and our wedding breakfast was a BBQ,” say Grace. “We wanted our day to be laid-back and relaxed and for everyone to have a lovely time, especially after not being able to get together for so long during lockdowns. There were no restrictions, which meant we could really party!”

“My lovely and very emotional dad walked me down the aisle to Paolo Nutini’s ‘Someone Like You’, sung by a family friend,” says Grace. “Despite it being October, the sun came out just before the ceremony and our photographs were stunning.”

“I had white flowers with lots of foliage, despite it being autumn, as I wanted a slightly more spring-like feel,” say Grace. “We had gypsophila (my favourite flower) for the bridesmaids, button holes, on our three-tier buttercream cake and also on our tables, inside chrome lanterns.”

Dancing the night away

“As favours, we gave guests a scratch card and a key-shaped bottle opener, with 'All you need is love and the ability to open a bottle' written on it,” says Grace.

“We had a DJ in the evening. After spending hours thinking up a playlist, we scrapped it at the last minute and put our trust in the DJ. This was the best decision we made, as he had us up all night."

"Our first dance was to Shalamar's 'There It Is’. There wasn't a slow dance in sight, which is exactly how we wanted it!”

“After drinks, canapés and the relaxed BBQ, we danced the night away,” says Grace. “Everyone says they never get the opportunity to speak to guests on the big day and that was completely true. On our big day we never left the dance floor!” says Grace. 

My top tips…

“Enjoy every moment, it's true when people say that it goes so fast,” says Grace.

“I felt so nervous the whole of the morning, which I hugely regret. I hate speaking in front of people, but as soon as I saw my husband-to-be nothing else mattered. All the nerves melted away. There is no better feeling than the love bubble of a wedding!"

Grace’s Dream Team 

Photographer: DJM Photography
Venue: Newton Hall
Wedding dresses Newcastle: WED2B
Makeup: Savannah Miller Studio
Hair: Sophie Dailey Hair House
Cake: Vanilla Teas

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