Bride and Groom walking through confetti thrown by their wedding guests

Sarah and Josh met in November 2019. “We had matched on Hinge, but never should have done!” says Sarah. “We had both set a 10 mile radius but I was in Manchester and he was in Nottingham. Somehow we matched and it was meant to be.”

Bride staring out the window in her off the shoulder wedding dress

“Our first date was in Nottingham, we had lovely food and mulled cider at the Christmas markets. It felt perfect, like we’d known each other forever. We ended up locking down together in Manchester just three and a half months into our relationship and Josh never moved back to Nottingham.”

Bride and Groom walking along smiling after their ceremony

A surprise proposal

The couple got engaged on 30th November 2021, on their two year anniversary. “It was a Tuesday night and I really wasn’t expecting it,” says Sarah. “I got home from work and Josh was waiting for me. He said he was taking me to 20 Stories (a gorgeous Manchester restaurant), but before I went and chose an outfit he had something to go with it. Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! We both cried. It was the best feeling ever. Nothing had felt so right before.”

Bride and Groom smiling in the streets on Manchester

Shopping for the dress

Sarah visited WED2B’s Bolton store to find her dream dress. “Several of my friends bought their dresses at WED2B and recommended it,” says Sarah.

“It was such a lovely experience and I think the real benefit is being able to try on dresses that were my size, rather than being pinned into dresses that are too big or squeezing into ones that are so small. I had the best time with my mum, sister and mother-in-law. The third dress that I tried on was ‘The One’. Zowie assisted us and she was also just wonderful.”

Bride and groom kissing while a bus rushes past

Sarah chose Freda. “It was perfect,” she says. “I loved the little princess sleeves, the beaded detail, but also how plain and classy it was. The buttons down the back are stunning too. It was my dream dress.”

(For similar styles why not try: Calo, Nataliya or Aamira)

Bride and Groom posing in the city centre of Manchester

A Manchester townhouse wedding

“I always wanted to get married in Manchester City centre,” says Sarah. “It’s where I feel at home. Josh is an architect and loves all the buildings, so we were both keen to get city centre photos. We chose King Street Townhouse. It just blew us away with how luxury it felt. It’s a gorgeous hotel right in the centre. It was also quite a small venue and we wanted an intimate townhouse wedding. It was perfect!”

Bride and Groom holding hands walking through Manchester's city centre

The big day

“I stayed at King Street Townhouse the night before and when I woke up I went up to its infinity pool with a couple of my friends,” says Sarah. “Then I had breakfast with my family before going to my room to get ready with my bridesmaids; my sister Zoë and my best friend Abi. We did our own hair and makeup. It was chilled and so much fun.”

Bride and Groom posing with their wedding party

“My dad walked me down the aisle to London Grammar’s ‘Baby It’s You’. My friend Daisy sang Harvest Moon while we signed the register, and my brother-in-law gave a reading from Pocahontas. We walked out to Bloc Party’s ‘The Love Within’. The most special part was seeing Josh’s face as I walked down the aisle. Neither of us could believe how lucky we were that we were getting married!”

Bride and Groom holding hands while walking along a road in Manchester

Rooms with a view

“After the ceremony, we threw confetti and then guests went up to the terrace with views across Manchester to have drinks and canapés,” says Sarah. “Meanwhile, Josh and I went round the city getting pictures. We then had a three-course meal before our evening guests arrived. Our first dance was Bright Eyes’s ‘First Day of My Life’ because it’s was the first song Josh played to me on guitar. Then we had a big party with an amazing DJ on the terrace overlooking the city and danced all night!”

Bride and groom on the terrace with their bridesmaids and groomsmen

A Manchester theme

“We ran with the fact we were in Manchester City centre,” says Sarah. “The favours were honey pots with the Manchester bee on them and the colour scheme was green and white. My bridesmaids were in olive green.

Bride and Groom on the terrace with Manchester's city centre buildings in the background

“Guests had a choice of food for the meal, and then there was a barbecue cooked on the terrace in the evening, which was really special. I also made my own wedding cake, along with 200 blondies and brownies for the guests to eat and take home.”

Bride and Groom embracing the city centre on their wedding day

The best bits…

“The ceremony was really special, and just getting to celebrate with all our friends and family,” says Sarah. “It was so wonderful.”

Bride and groom kissing during their townhouse wedding ceremony

My top tips…

“Go to WED2B for a wedding dress,” says Sarah. “You don’t need to spend a fortune on one! City centre weddings are amazing. If you want to cut costs, have a small day and a bigger evening. And do your own hair and makeup if you can."

Sarah and Josh’s Dream Team

Photographer: Alex Lester at Studio Lester

Venue and catering: King Street Townhouse

Wedding dresses: WED2B

Florist: Flower Lounge, Didsbury

If you would like us to feature your big day, like this Manchester townhouse 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 more details about WED2B’s bridal shops.