Emma Beaumont Sparkle and a Feather Trimmed Veil For a New Year’s Eve Wedding at Salford Quays

What an absolute stunner of a wedding I have the great pleasure of sharing with you today – stylish and full of sparkle and shine. Our couple took the festive date of their wedding (New Year’s Eve) and ran with it, choosing a colour palette of white, navy blue and silver glitter, and transformed their already beautiful venue space into a winter wonderland.

Jo, a lawyer and Neil, who is the director of his own business, celebrated their marriage on the 31 December 2017 at Social 7 at the Landing, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays in a day full of cosy glamour and joy.

“We knew we wanted a New Year’s Eve wedding and we felt the venue was just perfect for this. We loved the fact we had the whole venue to ourselves and the atmosphere and décor just suited the day we envisaged.”

Images by Sally T Photography

We’ve featured the lovely, thoughtful work of Sally T Photography here before on Love My Dress, and it’s wonderful to be able to share her magical images from Jo and Neil’s day.

“Sally was just great, you didn’t know she was there. Unfortunately the weather did not go in our favour, however Sally was able to create wonderful photos for us inside the venue. We loved Sally’s work due to it being natural, and the fact she captures the moments. We wanted to avoid having a lot of staged and posed photographs. We were thrilled with Sally’s work as every special moment was captured in a natural way, just as we hoped that it would be.”

Jo’s friend (no details supplied) styled her hair into an elegantly knotted chignon with a pretty pearl effect hair vine from ASOS, and she also wore the most remarkable veil made by Emma Beaumont, beaded and edged with fluttering feathers, bringing a graceful, balletic feel to Jo’s look – just perfect for the season.

Jo’s make-up was sparkly perfection, with a subtle copper shimmer on her eyelids and a bright pop of coral pink on her lips, courtesy of make-up artist Louise Maddison. To finish off her outfit, Jo wore a diamond solitaire necklace borrowed from Neil’s mum, and her grandmother’s stunning Art Deco engagement ring, as well as glittery drop earrings from Glitzy Secrets. Her wedding day perfume was chosen from Jo Malone – Peony and Blush Suede mixed with Pomegranate Noir.

After staying at the King Street Townhouse on the eve of the wedding, Jo and her mum and bridesmaids made their way from the Manchester city centre hotel to Salford Quays in two silver hackney cabs (no details supplied) decorated with white ribbons.

“I was lucky to have the time in the morning with my mum and closest friends getting ready, it was very special.”

“I wore ‘Romy’ pumps by Jimmy Choo in the navy and silver coarse glitter degrade… I knew I didn’t want white or bridal shoes and I loved the fact they matched the colour theme perfectly.”

The bouquets by The Events Hub were a lovely mix of winter whites, including snowy hydrangeas and roses along with silver sprayed berries and gypsophila.

“I knew I wanted white flowers with a hint of green and silver. Jenny was great to work with and created the most beautiful flowers – the bouquets were so beautiful.”

Jo wore a stunning two piece outfit, a bespoke creation by Knutsford based Emma Beaumont. I love the contrast between the delicate knitted shrug top embellished with white sequins, and the clean lines of the full high-low hem skirt.

“I couldn’t find the right dress in the shops, and after trying on many I decided that a dress perhaps wasn’t right for me and I’d rather wear a skirt and a top. I found Emma by searching for dressmakers near where we lived – Emma has a studio in Knutsford. I absolutely loved working with Emma to create the perfect two piece, I was lucky enough to pick the materials and design.”

The bridesmaids wore navy blue satin skirts from Debenhams paired with wonderfully sparkly silver tops from Coast and silver peep toe shoes from ASOS.

“I got each of the girls a Monica Vinader oval tag necklace with a personalised thank you message, which they wore on the day.”

 

Social 7 is a truly striking venue, with black and white checker board floors, lovely exposed brick and the most amazing silver ceiling that reflects the light in incredible ways. Jo and her dad made their way down the aisle together, serenaded by saxophonist Rob, of Visual Sax playing Stand By Me.

Groom Neil wore a handsome three-piece suit in navy blue, with a polka dot bow tie and pocket square, while the groomsmen wore matching bow ties with grey waistcoats and navy blue trousers (no details provided).

“We met through Neil’s best friend (and Best Man) Dave. Myself and Dave worked together in a law firm and Neil and Dave had been friends since school. Dave introduced us after telling Neil ‘I’ve met the girl for you’. We got engaged in January 2016 so 23 months before the wedding.”

Jo and Neil said their vows against a twinkling wall of festive fairy lights and exchanged rings. Jo chose a ring from Mappin & Webb, while Neil chose a matte finish metal ring made by an Etsy based seller (no details supplied). There were also two sweet readings during the ceremony; Neil’s niece read an extract from Winnie The Pooh, and Jo’s nephew read an extract from Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go.

“I went on a leadership course and was introduced to ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go’. I loved the book instantly and bought a copy for my nephew, and he also loved it! When we were thinking of what wedding readings to have this just seemed perfect as it was personal to Leo but also the words were just right for me and Neil.”

I adore the moody and magical effect of the variety of candles and tealights scattered around the venue, set against the warm red brick and silver ceiling. Dining tables were decorated with amazing high and low arrangements of gypsophila by The Events Hub, from which glass baubles filled with tealights hung.

“We had silver sequin runners on every other table and the top table…I absolutely loved the room and how it was set up for the meal, it was everything that I had hoped that it would be. I’d had an idea in my head and I can’t believe I managed to create it by myself without an event planner.”

After a delicious meal of scallops or game terrine, beef with cherry tomatoes or herb crusted salmon, and sticky gingerbread pudding or coconut milk and raspberry creme brûlée (all supplied by the team at Social 7), Jo and Neil laid on an extra special treat for their guests.

“We both love gin, so with the help of Eclectic Hotels we put on a Gin Parlour and invited guests to go and have a gin experience on us after the meal – it was a great success.”

Jo’s mum knitted the couple’s favours – love hearts with ribbon bearing Jo and Neil’s names and their wedding date, and the elegant on the day stationery was a digital design from Etsy (no details provided). Jo’s mum also hand wrote the seating plan on a light-up mirror.

“The Lemon Tree Bakery in Southport created us the most beautiful three-tier cake; the top-tier was white icing with silver foil decoration, the middle tier was silver beading effect and the bottom tier was marble effect. The top layer was gluten-free chocolate… and the middle tier carrot and the bottom tier lemon drizzle cake. Nikkee at the Lemon Tree Bakery was just great, really professional and very talented.”

Later in the evening there was live entertainment from usher Tom’s band Rook and The Ravens, and Jo and Neil enjoyed their first dance together as a married couple to The Sun is Shining Down by JJ Grey. I love how Jo transformed her evening from day to night by removing her shrug top in favour of the sparkling bodice underneath, paired with a glittering belt (all by Emma Beaumont).

At midnight, there was much to celebrate, and Jo, Neil and their guests saw in the New Year with fizz and much joy and laughter.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“I wouldn’t be put off by thinking you can’t create the day that you want due to budget, I was surprised at how much you can do yourself if you shop around and put the time aside to create the look and feel you are after.”

“I would also recommend shopping around for suppliers… I think it’s important not to get carried away ( which it is easy to do ) and remain focused on what the day is about – you getting married, having fun and celebrating your love for each other with your friends and family.”

“Think about what is important to you both and focus your time and attention on those elements of the day. Everyone said to me to try and take a moment on the day and take it all in, and I did consciously do this but I’m not sure it was enough! The day flashes by before your eyes & it’s so precious, so definitely try and take that moment alone just the two of you.”

Massive thanks Jo and Neil for giving us this lovely peek into your absolutely beautiful day full of festive fun and enchantment. How wonderful to be able to see in the New Year as a way of rounding off your wedding day! Thanks also go to Sally T Photography for these brilliant images. You can view more amazing New Year’s Eve weddings gracing the pages of Love My Dress right here.

With love,

Laura