Your East Midlands Wedding - Jun/Jul 2019 (Issue 32)

REAL WEDDINGS 31  I t was during a night out to celebrate her birthday that Natasha first met Rob. “I’d arranged a girl’s night and Rob was also out. We had mutual friends in common and they began to mix together part way through the evening,” says Natasha. “We caught each other’s eye and started talking. What attracted me to him was the fragrance he was wearing and his smile.” They continued to talk over social media and arranged to meet up for a casual drink. “I was very nervous that evening, however, we chatted over a glass of red wine and it went great,” she says. They dated a few more times and haven’t been apart since. SWEET SURPRISE A few years later, Natasha was enjoying a day out in Harrogate with one of her best friends when she got the surprise of her life. “We went to Bettys Tea Rooms and I was shocked to see Rob in the queue. He said he’d come to treat us to lunch and had a table waiting for us,” Natasha explains. “Just before the bill arrived, the waitress came over carrying a small plate that had three chocolates on it and a square box in the middle. I have a huge sweet tooth so I actually noticed the chocolates before anything else! Rob then took the box off the plate, got down on one knee and proposed in front of everyone,” she says. “I got very emotional. Finally I said 'yes' and the waitress brought us a few glasses of pink champagne to celebrate. It was just perfect.” SETTING THE SCENE Natasha got straight on with the planning and loved every moment. “I had a wedding notebook where I was writing down all my ideas and possible options. My friends often giggled that it was attached to me as I take inspiration from what I see. If I’d lost this, I don’t think the wedding would have gone ahead at all,” she says. They wanted a traditional day so opted for a church ceremony. “I loved the look of the church and the location and surroundings are perfect. It’s also in the area that Rob grew up in,” says Natasha. When it came to the reception venue, Shottle Hall set the scene. “We opted for the stunning marquee. I’d already visited a few times when doing bridal make-up and so I knew how lovely the setting is – stunning views.” STUNNING STYLE Natasha’s Essense of Australia dress, was a delicate slim-fit gown with a long lace train and illusion back. “I had a vision in my mind of what style I wanted and I loved it,” she says. She accessorised with a pair of solitaire diamond earrings, Balenciaga nude pointy heels with a gold studded band around the ankle and a cathedral-length veil. “My veil was an extra special piece of my outfit as it was the last item my nan Betty bought for me, who sadly passed away four months before the wedding.” Rob wore a three-piece light-grey suit. “He was very particular when it came to choosing his outfit and wanted to stand out from the rest of the groomsmen who wore navy suits,” says Natasha. Their bridesmaids looked stylish in floor-length pleated dresses. “The button detailing complemented my gown with its illusion back,” she says. WILD BLOOMS The flowers matched the colour-scheme perfectly, consisting of foliage, dried lavender, neutral thistle, white ranunculus, asstranti, astilbe, lizzy, scabious seed, wax flowers and French ruscus. “My bouquet was bound in vintage lace as I wanted the look to be rustic and hand-tied. The flowergirls carried small baskets filled with wild flowers and the bridal