Helen and Carl’s Harry Potter themed wedding

This happy couple had an enchanting Harry Potter themed wedding, complete with wands, magicians and a truly spellbinding cake. Our WED2B Real Weddings feature reveals more…

Helen and Carl met in 2011 at the University of Cumbria. “We met during Freshers’ Week,” says Helen. “We were dancing on a bar and that was it, I knew he was ‘The One’. Carl officially asked me out in January 2012. Our first date was watching War Horse at the cinema. I wore mascara, cried through the whole film and left the cinema looking like a panda, but he still didn't leave me!”

Discovering the perfect ‘rock’

Carl proposed in May 2017, after the couple had been together five years. “He booked a surprise holiday to Sicily (I didn't find out where we were going until we were at the airport),” says Helen. “A few days into the holiday we took a trip up the active volcano, Mount Etna."

"They sold rocks at the bottom in gift shops but I said, 'That seems silly, I could just pick one up and take it down with me’. So, we were looking for the ideal rock to take back with us. Then he said, ‘What about this one?’. I turned around and there he was on one knee with the most stunning ring. I actually turned back around, as I couldn't believe it, then back at him and just cried. It was incredible!”

Shopping for the dream dress… three years early

“Other brides in my family told me about WED2B,” says Helen. “Choosing the dress was amazing. I took our two mums and my maid of honour. The store lady was very helpful. I didn't really know what I wanted, so a selection was chosen. The third dress I tried, Georgette by Anna Sorrano, was ‘The One’.”

“I bought it in 2019, as my wedding was supposed to be in 2020,” says Helen. “Then it got moved to 2022 because of Covid. So, I had to stay the same size I was in 2019, which was hard! It sat in the box until April 2022. When I eventually tried it on, ready for fittings, I still loved it as much. All the delicate lace detailing was just stunning. I wore it with a jacket and personalised Converse trainers. My bridesmaids were in Converse as well.” (For similar styles try Martisse, Maud or Vanessa)

A country house wedding venue

The wedding venue was Sandon Hall near Stafford. “We went to a Christmas fair there in 2017, and when I walked through the doors I cried and knew it was the place,” says Helen. “We booked it in Jan 2018 for our 2020 wedding. This was then cancelled and we eventually got married in 2022, after being together for 10 years.”

A Harry Potter themed wedding day

“On the day, we had a brew and caught up on Coronation Street, before heading to the venue at 7:30am” says Helen. “I got ready with my three bridesmaids and Ang, my mother-in-law. The lady who did my makeup was my friend from school, so that was really special.”

“The weather was lovely, nice and sunny with patchy cloud. As the wedding was originally planned for October, the groomsmen had tweed suits and I had a large heavy dress, so we were happy it was sunny but not too warm.”

“My Dad walked me down the aisle, which was so special,” says Helen. “The music walking down the aisle was Jake Owen (we travelled America together and heard him). Then, signing the register and walking out it was music from Harry Potter. The two readings were by a friend we lived with at uni and my sister-in-law and the poems were also adapted to include Harry Potter quotes. A special moment was when our cockapoo Monty delivered the rings. We were worried he would run off or wee on someone, but he was perfect and came straight down the aisle!”

A magical afternoon

“After the ceremony we had magicians walking around doing tricks,” says Helen. “Our first dance was to Jake Owen’s ‘Anywhere With You’. This song was played in our minivan as we travelled with a group around America in 2013. From the moment we heard it, we said that was our song.”

“It was a Harry Potter themed wedding, as we both love it,” says Helen. “Carl more than me, so he was really involved in the planning, which was lovely. We had everything from creatures and invisibility cloaks to wands as favours. The cake was themed with flags, a map, candles, potion bottles and quills. We also had paper flowers, made from the Harry Potter books”

Fab food and a spellbinding cake

“Food was pate and a fishcake for starter, shin of beef, creamy mushroom pie (with a lightening bolt on top) and veg for main, followed by a salted caramel torte for dessert,” says Helen. “The wedding cake was the main topic of conversation and still is. It was incredible with its four tiers of  lemon drizzle, raspberry ripple, mint choc chip and toffee. When we cut the cake everyone put their wands in the air and confetti cannons went off. Later we had a DJ and photographs with sparklers as we entered the reception.”

My favourite moments…

"Just everything!” says Helen. “It was so perfect and more than we could ever wish for.”

Top tips…

“Enjoy every moment and take some moments just for the two of you.”

Helen and Carl’s Dream Team

Photographers: Joanna Briggs Photography and Iris and Ivy Photography 

Venue: Sandon Hall 

Wedding dresses: WED2B

Caterer: Vanilla in all Seasons

Videographer: You and Yours Films

Florist: Paper Bouquets

Cake: That Little Cake Place

DJ & Bar: The Estate Boys

Magician: Adam Cooper Magic

Makeup: Makeup by Anna Lisa

Hair stylist: KH Hairdresser

Dog chaperones: Precious Pets Wedding

If you would like your big day to be one of our real weddings like this Harry Potter themed wedding, please click here to share your story and photos with us and we’ll be in touch. Or click here for more details about WED2B’s bridal shops.