Wow. What a way to finish the year. A stunning, intimate Christmas wedding at the beautiful Merrydale Manor. Bex & Andy had already had to move their wedding from the summer and when they messaged me a couple of months ago to say that they had decided to go ahead with their wedding, even with the restrictions limiting them to 15 people in total attendance, I was absolutely delighted. It’s been a shit old year and I felt so lucky that mine was going to end with a huge amount of positivity in the shape of their big day and at one of my absolute favourite venues too 🙂
I started off meeting Bex and the girls in the morning at one of my favourite places to do preparations – The Dog in Peover. A wonderful country pub with rooms that serves the most amazing food and drinks. Get yourself along there for a Sunday lunch when we’re allowed to do that sort of thing again – you won’t regret it!
From there we headed over to Merrydale Manor for Bex to finish getting ready and to wait for Andy and the guests to arrive…!!!
What followed was the most special day for this wonderful couple. Yes, they had had to make the very difficult decision to cut their guest list down, but what an amazing atmosphere there was with just their immediate families in attendance – it was truly an honour and hugely emotional to be a part of – especially when Andy very kindly thanked me in his speech, referring to me as their 16th guest ?
The most brilliant surprise in the form of a compilation of video messages from friends and family who weren’t able to attend, organised by Bex’s sister, Sarah, was played after the speeches and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!
I don’t mind admitting that when I said my goodbye’s in the evening, I was emotional. To be given the opportunity to be involved in such positivity after the year we’ve all had was genuinely overwhelming and I will be eternally grateful to Bex and Andy for making that happen and me getting to shoot their Christmas wedding at Merrydale Manor ?
So, before I sign off for Christmas, here’s to a better 2021 for everyone, have a wonderful, positive Christmas and New Year and I’ll see you on the other side 🙂
Congratulations Bex & Andy, you truly deserve every happiness and a massive thank you to your lovely families for making me feel so welcome xxx
Finally, a big shout out to my friends at Merrydale Manor for looking after me (big up Hattie!) the wonderful teams at Barrett’s Event Caterers and Your Ceremony and lovely to work with Flowers at the dutch barn for the first time too!
Signing off for 2020,
JD xxx