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.