Real Wedding of Emma and Tom

Emma and Tom married only a few short weeks ago (six to be precise), on a cosy winters day. They say themselves that it wouldn’t have been possible had they not stumbled across our late availability package – and boy are we glad they did!

There is so much to love about their day and so you really must keep scrolling for musings from the couple and beautiful photographs from one of our favourites (Si, you’ve outdone yourself this time!).

What are you waiting for…

Notes from the Couple

Rowton just felt right for us. We had considered getting married abroad as it was something that our budget allowed and worked with plans for something intimate, but after a stressful day of weighing up the options, we searched “cheap UK weddings” and by some miracle Rowton Castle came up first. We later realised that our search had picked up on the late availability package that is offered for short notice dates. From the instant we opened the website, we were hooked. We couldn’t believe a place like Rowton existed, let alone came in within budget. We visited, met Karen, who was beyond amazing (she was friendly, informative and didn’t make us feel inadequate) and we booked, there and then.

Emma & Tom

Emma. I proposed to Tom. It was always the plan, although I had intended to wait until our four year anniversary and do it at the top of Scafell Pike, but I got too excited (and giddy), and so ended up blurting it out in bed one day and giving him the ring.

Tom. Em had joked a few times about proposing to me, going as far as actually proposing with me always laughing it off as one of her jokes. But this time felt different, and so I said “go on then”.

Emma. In the run up to the wedding I was so excited, yet nervous. I tend to turn to jelly when all the attention is on me. Tom on the other hand was quite relaxed.

Tom. Until I had to wait for Emma to walk down the aisle that is. She was 10 minutes late. and that didn’t help.

Emma. I was also panicked about the small things on the day, especially when it came to the ceremony. I wasn’t sure where to stand, how the music would work so that I could walk down the aisle. But when Ralph explained everything to me, I knew that I couldn’t be in better hands.

Tom. My only concern was the flowers. I had been left with the all important job of transporting the arrangements that my mum had spent all weekend putting together for us, it was a stressful start to the day. Mum is an avid gardener and so made wild bouquets, buttonholes and the table decorations.

Emma. Tom’s mum chose winter flowers for us, with burgundy, ivy and creams and even without seeing them before the big reveal, I knew that she would do an amazing job. As the wedding was in January (and Christmas decorations were still up) we didn’t really have to decorate the castle. We chose navy bows for the chairs and napkin ties, rustic and wooden accessories for the tables, and a polaroid and fingerprint tree guestbook. We wanted the day to be super relaxed and so there wasn’t a theme or colour scheme as such.

Emma. I had a high neck, low back ivory dress with sequinned shoulders and a back drape. My shoes were ivory with sequins that I had stuck to the heel myself. I had to do the nerd thing and pop a Harry Potter quote on the soles of the shoes, too! My hair was done by my beautiful friend Zoe, who doesn’t do that sort of thing for work (but really should – she was amazing and the morning was so much more special with her being there), and makeup by Nichola Whitcombe-Tant – an artist recommended by Rowton. I showed Nichola a picture from pinterest of what I wanted and she recreated this perfectly, altering elements only to suit my skin tone, hair and eye colour.

Tom. I did’t want to wear a run of the mill tweed suit and match everyone else getting married right now (thank you Peaky Blinders), so me and my best man decided to wear party jackets instead. They were a bit dapper (even if I do say so myself), my best man wore burgundy and I wore gold.

Emma. When it came to food, we sat down to a traditional three course wedding breakfast, and enjoyed steak sandwiches and hotdogs from the terrace grill later in the evening. Both were included in the late availability package. Our cake however, was designed and made by my amazing sister-in-law, and not traditional in the slightest – we chose the things we loved from her previous designs instead! It was navy, purple and gold and highly textured – it tasted amazing. Fondant figures were made of us and our rescue dog, Jessie. The fondant figures and flowers we have kept, in a glass cloche as something to treasure forever – lasting longer than the cake itself!

Tom. In the evening we had a DJ and basically ran off our requests all night.

Emma. Our first dance song was Something Beautiful by Jacob Banks – his voice is just divine.

Photography

Emma. We chose Si Medlicott photography – he was part of the late availability package – but would have been the kind of photographer that we’d have looked for anyway. As soon as we saw his style, we knew that he was the perfect match for us. From the initial call to the day itself, words fail me when trying to describe how amazing he was. He is so passionate about his craft, and made a terrified bride feel so comfortable.

Tom. We couldn’t have asked for a better guy. Si is a legend. We can’t recommend him enough.

Best part of the day

Emma. The whole day was absolutely prefect and I, hand on heart, wouldn’t change a thing. THE stand out moment for me though was when my entrance song began to play (Hoppipolla, Sigur Ros – Tom had no idea) and I got to walk down the aisle to my future husband. My wedding day was the happiest day of my life, as cliche as that is.

Tom. I have to agree with Emma on this one. As soon as I saw her walking toward me, and to that song, the happiness was overwhelming. It is a moment I will always remember.

Advice for future Brides and Grooms

Emma. Do the day for you. Don’t worry about what you are “supposed to do”. Invite who you want, eat what you want and have the day that you both want. Don’t get caught up in the things that won’t matter when looking back.

Tom. It doesn’t matter how many people attend, how much you spend, or the clothes you wear. The memories with those that have joined you are what truly matters.