We love everything about this wedding! From the story of how Sian and Mike met to the classic elegant vibe of the day. This gorgeous couple chose Rowton Castle as their wedding venue, and an outdoor ceremony on a glorious summer’s day, no less. With beautiful flowers by our favourite Wendy Shaw and stunning imagery by Brett Symes Photography, you must take a look. Keep scrolling!
Notes from the Couple
We fell in love with the castle from the moment that we arrived in the grounds, and we knew instantly that it was the wedding venue for us. The castle itself and the grounds are so well looked after, and the team were enthusiastic and inviting. We LOVED the outdoor ceremony location and the atmosphere, and had this feeling that it was the right choice.
Sian Says…
Mike and I were set up by our friends. I had come out of a turbulent relationship and had been single for nearly two years when my best friend decided it was time that I met a nice guy. That nice guy being Mike. We were each shown a picture of one another and Mike was given my number – it was all on him to make the call – and he did make that call (or should I say he sent a text) about two weeks after. We chatted for weeks until we arranged a date. We both knew instantly that this was going to go somewhere and 8 years and 3 children later we are still as happy as ever.
The proposal was unexpected and happened whilst away for our anniversary in Gibraltar. We had been on a boat trip in the day, watching dolphins and visiting the caves, and on our return to the hotel ordered room service so that we could sit on the balcony and enjoy the last of the sunshine. We were discussing our future, and after a few glasses of champagne Mike got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was honestly the best moment of my life.
My dress was a surprising choice, so far away from the idea I had in mind. Upon trying it on I fell in love with a voluminous princess style dress. I felt beautiful and knew that it was the one. I accessorised with sparkly Carvela shoes which were as comfortable as they were a perfect match for the dress. My bridesmaids wore navy dresses in two different styles and the flower girls (our daughters) wore floral coloured Ted Baker dresses with real flower crowns to match.
The Groomsmen coordinated in navy. They wore Ted Baker suits and tan brogues and all looked incredible.
The morning of the wedding could have been a logistical nightmare! I stayed at a local guest house with my bridesmaids, whilst Mike and the groomsmen made use of the Tower House (Rowton Castle’s bridal party house!). A carefully timed swap meant that my bridal party and I could get ready in the beautiful salon, and that Mike was located within the castle and didn’t see me before the ceremony.
Flowers for the day were by Wendy Shaw (one of Rowton’s wonderful recommended suppliers). To match the print on the flower girl’s dresses, we chose brightly coloured peonies and roses and mixed with delicate eucalyptus and gypsophila. The wedding stationery (which I made myself) featured hand painted watercolour flowers, and the tables for dinner were dressed with the same bright florals and a scattering of candles. The cake (made by sister), was beautiful three tier creation and featured elegant ruffles and open peonies, and a Mr & Mrs Smith sign on top.
We chose Brett Symes to capture our day after seeing his previous work at Rowton Castle. We loved his relaxed style and hoped that he would captured the mood of the day, he did just that.
Best part of the day
The stand out moment for us was becoming a proper family unit as this was an important aspect to our day. My children were very excited for Mike to become their stepfather and this was confirmed by the lovely messages in the guest book. The best men’s speech was hilarious and dancing with my husband for the first time (he absolutely hates dancing!) was a lovely moment.
Advice for future Brides and Grooms
Enjoy every minute of the day. It’s easy to get caught up in the small details because you want it to be absolutely perfect, but you’ve already done all the hard work and planning so just relax and stay in the moment.
Credits
Venue Rowton Castle
Photography Brett Symes Photography
Groom’s Attire Ted Baker
Flowers Wendy Shaw
