New beginnings

Posted by Claire Ridley on 25 November 2022

Michelle and Chris met through mutual friends in June 2006. "We attended a group meal at Pizza Express in Salisbury where we couldn't stop looking at each other," Michelle tells us.

"Chris proposed in August 2011 over dinner in Pizza Hut. He wanted to ask me in the same pizza restaurant where we had met but it was fully booked so he had to improvise! It was a complete surprise and I cried happy tears," Michelle says.

Bride & Groom The couple chose Bowood hotel, spa and golf resort in Calne, Wiltshire, as their wedding venue. "I started researching venues online and the first one I came across was Bowood and it was love at first sight," Michelle explains.

"When we visited, the gardens, lake and grounds are what attracted us and we decided it was worth waiting the couple of months it took for the outdoor ceremony area to be licenced because we wanted an al fresco wedding."

The couple chose a pretty-in-pink and soft-blue colour theme to style their day.

Their bouquets and table arrangement created for their sweetheart top table contained fresh flowers that set the theme.

"We had a welcome message, table plan and an order of the day board all presented on wooden easel stands," Michelle tells us. "The entrance to the reception room featured ceiling draping and star lights which look so romantic and our table centrepieces were decorative bird cages and vases brimming with faux flowers presented on log slices surrounded by tea lights. Our place name cards finished the look printed with a fabulous floral design."

Michelle and Chris chose a five-tier cupcake featuring different flavours. "The top tier was a small semi-naked cake that we kept for ourselves," Michelle explains. "It held a custom-made 'Mr & Mrs Mitchener' cake topper."

The catering options included canapés served with drinks after the ceremony. "A delicious three-course wedding breakfast was enjoyed by all followed by a pizza station and pasta and salad stand during the evening," Michelle says. "The sweetie cart went down a treat and almost all of the food went."

Dress & Suits Michelle chose an ivory and sand-coloured dress (style MB4037) by the designer Marys Bridal at Belle of the Ball Bridals in Melksham. "I had tried on a few different dresses of what I thought I wanted but this was the complete opposite!" Michelle says. "As soon as I put it on, I walked towards the mirror and burst into tears! I teamed it with a matching lace finger-tip veil."

Chris wore a navy Ted Baker suit with an ivory silk patterned waistcoat, white shirt, dusky pink cravat, brown shoes and odd socks! "One sock was printed with a picture of my face," Michelle tells us. "Our groomsmen all wore matching navy suits teamed with blue waistcoats and dusky pink cravats. They looked great alongside our beautiful bridesmaids in their blush-pink dresses."

Michelle and Chris hired Wiltshire-based harpist Katie Salomon to perform during the ceremony and drinks reception. "The background music played while we said our vows and our first dance song was played by my late stepdad who had recorded a few albums over the years," Michelle tells us.

"We had the magician Stephen Charrett entertaining our guests during our wedding breakfast who was a big hit with both the adults and children with his incredible sense of humour and the little ones also enjoyed the bouncy castle and inflatables.

Fireworks During our evening reception, we had a DJ, a sparkler isle, a photo booth by Jay at Eventimate which was busy all night and a seven-minute fireworks display as the grand finale which was the most talked-about entertainment!

After our guests had all gone, our DJ played one last song and we enjoyed a private last dance to end our perfect day."