Castle Leslie Real Wedding.indd
Transcription
Castle Leslie Real Wedding.indd
146 I IWD Feature I Real Wedding & Nicola Gilmour Paul Henson At Castle Leslie Estate “Our friends and family are still talking about our incredible Castle Leslie Estate wedding and how it was a truly special experience that will never be forgotten” Real Wedding I IWD Feature I 147 W hen I look back to how Paul and I first visit, we were both just staggered by how at first sight. I am so grateful to Claire at The met it’s hard not to have a sense charming and beautiful the house and grounds Wedding Club in Birmingham for making every that events conspired to bring were, and that teamed with the warmth and part of the experience so fabulous. us together - to put us in the same space at efficiency of the Castle’s staff made it the exactly the time that we were ready to meet easiest wedding decision we made. were both working at Next albeit on different teams and on separate work trips. A night or two into the trip, we attended a dinner and Paul and I were placed next to each other. As cliché as it sounds there was a real electricity between us and I knew there and then that this could be the start of something incredibly special. Fast There was a real electricity between us and I knew there and then that this could be the start of something incredibly special Jim Helm lace trimmed dresses that are said to have been based on Pippa Middleton’s dress at her sister’s wedding. As we had a Winter wedding, the girls wore little feather cover ups. We also had two totally gorgeous flower girls, Isla and Lucia who are just three and wore little tutus, fluffy cardis, gold glitter shoes and tiny feather wings - they looked absolutely forward nine years later we were engaged and getting married. My two beautiful sisters and two of my best friends were bridesmaids and wore stunning and be together. We met in Hong Kong as we My dress, where to start. I’m sure most brides beautiful. will admit their dress is one of the first things Both Paul and I had lived together in his they focus on after the engagement, well, Paul was quite relaxed about finding his suit hometown of Leicester, but being an Irish girl it certainly was the case for me. I had more and so with barely a month to go, we set off and Paul having Irish roots, there was never Pinterest boards than I could count with every to London to Selfridges where he found a any doubt that we would marry ‘back home’. I’ll shape and size of dress you could imagine. I beautiful navy Dries Van Noten suit. We had be honest, Castle Leslie Estate was where I’d choose an incredible hand embellished lace already bought our Dads’, best man and ushers’ always dreamed of getting married, and on our gown by Berta Bridal which for me was love suits from Next. 148 I IWD Feature I Real Wedding I’m a natural planner and self-professed Saint Salvator’s Church in the Castle grounds a mass of pretty drapes and twinkly lights in perfectionist so gladly assumed the role of for the wedding ceremony and an hour later the beautiful Castle Leslie Pavilion. Honestly, Wedding planner. I’d say it was smooth sailing, we emerged as Mr & Mrs Henson. Since our the day was perfect from start to finish, ending drama and stress free but maybe Paul and my family and friends had travelled a long distance rather late in the Long Bar with friends and a family would say differently. We spent the week to the venue, it was ideal to be able to have Polaroid camera capturing the end of THE BEST prior to the wedding at Mum and Dad’s putting the ceremony and reception all on the Estate, DAY EVER. the finishing touches to table decorations, it also meant we didn’t waste any of our day having the craic with visitors and drinking travelling. Following the ceremony, we made We had a fantastic mini-moon following the gallons of tea. Mum and Dad were on hand our way down to the lake and boat house for wedding where we stayed at Le Manoir aux to help with whatever was needed and were photographs which was a nice chance to be Quat’Saisons in the Cotswolds and we are generally amazing, happy, proud parents. It alone and reflect for a moment. Meanwhile planning a honeymoon for later in the summer was so lovely being at home with the wedding drinks and canapés were served to our guests to the Amalfi coast. buzz building. back at the house and the celebrations were well and truly underway. We had decided on a Our friends and family are still talking about our Many of our family and friends arrived to the guest list of around 150 and therefore chose to incredible Castle Leslie Estate wedding and how Castle on the Thursday and so after a lovely have the reception in the Pavilion - a stunning it was a truly special experience that will never family meal in the Lodge we all had a big pre- room overlooking the lake. It was so lovely be forgotten. Our special thanks to Deneise for wedding party which was such a lovely way to having exclusive use of the main house for the making us feel like nothing was ever too much begin the celebrations. On the morning of the day which looked incredible with roaring fires trouble and to John for always being in the right wedding I woke up around 5am and opened and Christmas trees in each room. place at the right time, a constant source of calm, for always being one step ahead, and for the shutters to a beautiful crisp late November morning and looked out across the lake, Following the speeches a delicious dinner was doing all he could to ensure we had a day we imagining the incredible day that lay ahead served and we were delighted to have had Sir could only have wished for. wondering if Paul was awake yet. Jack come in to congratulate us. The partition was later drawn back to reveal a dance floor Castle Leslie Estate will forever have a special The girls and I had a fantastic morning getting with twinkly lights, photo booth, cake table, place in our hearts, be somewhere we return ready in the Blue Room, drinking champagne band and DJs. Perfect for our first dance, as to and continue to be packed with beautiful and at around 1.30pm we made our way to we danced to All of me by John Legend under memories for countless other couples.