Sophia Webster Shoes and Galia Lahav Glamour for A Sensational Flower Filled Durham Cathedral Wedding

Good morning ladies and gentleman, my name is Emily Deaman, or ‘Em’ – the second Emily (here is the first) to have joined team Love My Dress this week – hello! I hope you’ve got some wonderful plans lined up for the Easter break? They say Thursday is the new Friday and today it couldn’t be more true. I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing you this dream of a wedding (and my very first feature as part of Team Love My Dress *dances with excitement*) to start your four-day weekend.

Danielle and David, both directors of flower wholesale company Bon-bloemen Ltd, wed on 29th August 2015 and filled their day with beautiful scented blooms supplied and arranged by no fewer than nine florists! The forward thinking bride started dreaming up her wedding as a schoolgirl in Durham from a pew in the iconic Durham Cathedral. These dreamy images were taken by our Little Book For Brides wedding directory member, Katy Melling.

“From the age of 13 I knew that this day would happen. When I started school in Durham I became obsessed with the Cathedral building. I would visit most Saturdays and take up a pew by myself and sit there dreaming of that day. I would picture the candles, the plush white carpet, the rose petals, the scent of the flowers (everything had to be scented) the massive floral displays, all whites and creams, pure and fresh.”

Photography by Katy Melling Photography
Find Katy Melling in Little Book For Brides
Follow Katy Melling on Instagram

Danielle paired her gown with the most amazing blue Sophia Webster shoes reminiscent of Hermes, the Olympian god of transitions; how fitting that this be her footwear of choice as she entered the cathedral a fiancée and left a wife.

“I searched for two years for my dress. As soon as I saw Galia Lahav dresses I just knew this would be my designer. I was torn between two styles so I went to a trunk show to make a decision. As I arrived for my appointment they were putting a new dress on display and as soon as I saw the sleeves I knew it was my dress. Completely different to the two I went to try on.”

Oh how I know that feeling – I’ve bought my own wedding dress for our Tuscan nuptials and its nothing like what I thought I wanted.

The bride wore Tom Ford Jasmine Rouge perfume to accentuate the jasmine in her bouquet, a scent which will forever evoke memories of her wedding day, earrings from Bentley & Skinner and a sweet blue bead bracelet made by her son. Her make-up artist for the day was Amanda Bell.

Danielle and David have a sweet story in more ways than one; flowers brought them together and continue to bind them as a couple. I’m feeling wistful just thinking about it, a romance set to a backdrop of sweetly scented petals…

“David and I met because of flowers. We have developed our business around flowers. At the time I had a florist business and David was a wholesale flower supplier. I would go to his warehouse and not dare lift my head I was so shy. I don’t think I even saw his face for six weeks. My mother would say ‘oh isn’t he handsome’ and I would answer with, ‘no way he’s old, he has a beard’. But there was just something.”

“It was electric, it was as if my blood turned into a current. I think it was my soul waking up. But that’s how they say souls recognise each other, through vibrations. We were engaged for three years.”

The dapper groom also wore a Tom Ford suit and accessorised with a dress cane from Jeffery West engraved with ‘You have my heart in your hands’ and Alexander McQueen cufflinks, both gifts from his lovely bride.

On hand to capture the abundant elegance of the day was North East photographer, Katy Melling Photography.

“We hired the best photographer. Katy was absolutely amazing. We would of struggled to find someone who could beat her creative excellence.”

What a joy to see so many local suppliers used to orchestrate the day  – as Danielle says, “It just goes to show what can be accomplished when everyone works together.” I adore the way Katy has captured the magnificent grandeur of the Cathedral and combined it with candidly caught tender moments between husband and wife, mother and son. The couple also had their day documented on film by Bloombury Films and I’m sure are giddily awaiting the chance to relive every moment.

Danielle’s bridesmaids wore ethereal floor-length Dessy dresses in soft pastel shades to match the beautiful blooms and pearl earrings from Ernest Jones and David’s groomsmen were dressed to the nines in Jules B suits. My personal favourite, however, are the wedding outfits of the flower girl and page boys, all from Next – I’ve never seen such dapper young men and I’m coveting the flower girls choice of accessory; fluffy feathered wings (25 isn’t too old for fancy dress, right?)

Danielle arrived at the Cathedral to meet her prince charming in truly regal style in a carriage pulled by four black horses hired from North East Carriage Company, which was a surreal and incredible experience:

“When my father and I pulled onto the cobbled road in the carriage which would lead us to the Cathedral we were surrounded by people. It was so overwhelming. People came out from the shops to the side of the road to wave me on…I did feel like a princess but I’m just little old me from a small village on the outskirts of Durham.”

The bride’s father gave her away and it was one of her very favourite moments of the day; “My dad is my rock. Walking down the aisle with my father was very memorable for me, the anticipation was indescribable.”

 

Danielle and David chose two readings for their ceremony; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 read by the sister of the bride and Song of Solomon 8:6-7, which was read by one of their florists, Helena Johnson. Danielle cites Helena as, “the catalyst in making the whole day happen” and chose this reading because of the significance flowers and plants play in their lives;

“My beloved speaks and says to me: ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.  The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.  Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.  If one offered for love all the wealth of one’s house, it would be utterly scorned.”

For our bride, the vows were the pinnacle point of the day; “Our vows were the most important part of our day. I know in my heart that they will be the only vows I ever make.” I love love love that they combined the ages old, traditional Corinthians passage with the poignant Song of Solomon reading, which is so personal to them as a couple who have their very roots in the world of flowers. The lovely couple sealed the deal with rings from Rennie & Co, for the bride and Solitaire for the groom.

The crafty bride painstakingly created gift boxes for each guest containing an embroidered handkerchief sourced from Spence Bryson Ltd, a scratch card and a vial containing wish fairies assembled with help from her son and sister-in-law. This was all tied together with tags from Creative Calligraphy with the message, ‘Never stop making wishes.’

The reception took place at the beautiful coastal venue Seaham Hall and guests were greeted by the sight of this magnificent flower covered wedding cake by Dreamworld Cakes.

Now to those spectacular flowers – over 2500 rose heads, 60 metres of cream carpet and 50 coach lanterns were used to decorate the aisle in the Cathedral in addition to over 1000 vases and 1500 candles during the day! I can almost smell the sweet floral scent in the air…

“The flowers had been a week long project. The Cathedral had so many visitors that week, everyone was curious about what was going on. I think everyone who visited that week returned for the wedding on Saturday.”

 

I am particularly obsessed with the stunning floral staircase at Seaham Hall created by Bels Flowers, what a way to make an entrance! And the beautiful table decorations crafted by Wild and Wonderful Flowers.

Danielle and David swayed to River Flows In You by Yiruma for their first dance, played by Mark from Music Newcastle.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“My advice would be to enjoy the planning. Try and choose vendors you connect emotionally with. That way they will connect with you and will understand your visions so much more. Our emotions make us much more creative and if you can get this flow going the results will always be amazing.”

I can’t tell you how true that is! A huge congratulations to you Danielle and David, if you aren’t proof that dreams really do come true, I don’t know what is. And as always, a very heartfelt thanks to Katy Melling Photography for sharing these beautiful images. You can see more weddings shot by Katy on the blog here.

Well ladies, I’m off put on my comfiest trousers (you know the kind, with the concealed elastic waist at the back) in preparation for the inevitable deluge of Mini Eggs. Have a lovely lovely Easter!

Emily x

Photographer – Katy Melling Photography
Film – Bloombury Films
Venue – Durham Cathedral + Seaham Hall
Wedding Dress – Galia Lahav via Browns Bride
Veil – Peter Langner via Browns Bride
Shoes – Sophia Webster
Accessories – Bentley Skinner earrings
Perfume – Tom Ford’s Jasmine Rouge
Groom – Tom Ford + Alexander McQueen cufflinks + Jeffrey West cane
Bridesmaids – Dessy
Flowergirls + pageboys – Next
Florists – Wild and Wonderful Flowers + Bels Flowers + Wildflower + Flowers Unlimited
Cake – Dreamworld Cakes
Transport – North East Carriage Company + Cars For Stars
Entertainment – Red Wings + Music Newcastle (pianist) + Tyneside Piano Company (piano) + Edd’s Heads (caricatures) + Premier Evenings Ltd (casino) + Paul Lytton (magician) + Goofbooth (photobooth) + Construction Kids – (Lego party for children) + Party Time Inflatables (bouncy castle) + Reaction Fireworks
Rings – Rennie & Co + Solitaire
Catering – Seaham Hall
Stationery – Artcadia
Make-up Artist – Amanda Bell
Calligraphy – Creative Calligraphy
Post Box – Epernay Bridal
Embroidered Handkerchiefs – Spence Bryson Ltd