When Dubai-based duo Amanda and Danny booked The Normans for their June 17 wedding, we did our very best sunshine dance. And, do you know, it worked?! Cue the hottest day of the year for one red-hot couple!
While a radiant Amanda wore a David Tutera gown from Bridal Apparel Leeds, her bridesmaids' shone in heather-hued dresses from the same boutique - each of the girls choosing a style they felt best suited them.
As for the girls' gorgeous wild posies, they're the handiwork of florist Angie Walker Beautiful Flowers.
Almost (but not quite!) usurping the girls' in the style stakes: the boys! Opting for classic tails, groom Danny's Cameron Ross ensemble also came from Bridal Apparel Leeds. (His friend and MC, meanwhile, donned a scarlet toastmaster suit, hired from Moss Bros in Harrogate.)
Back inside The Normans' lavender-strewn courtyard, guests soaked up the day's generous rays...
...while those feeling less languid made the most of traditional garden games on The Normans' lawn.
Anyone seeking respite from the day's heat found a cool retreat in Cow Stalls, where the mangers were filled with wedding-white hydrangeas.
As the sun began to dip, top wedding photographers Kate Gray Photography took the bridal party to The Normans grain shed for some smokin-hot shots...
The rest of the guests, meanwhile, took their seats inside The Normans marquee for a three-course feast, courtesy of Friends4Dinner.
Inside, mega martini glasses formed glam centrepieces, each filled with seasonal blooms, from Angie Walker Beautiful Flowers
The tables were each named after - in Amanda's words - "household banter", with one-liners from the couple's funniest incidents or classic bickering.
The wedding breakfast kicked off with sharing platters of Italian meats, cheeses, olives and sun-dried tomatoes, followed by steak and dauphinois potatoes, with a dessert trio of Eton mess, lemon cheesecake and sticky toffee pudding. (Because choosing just one can be ever so trying!)
For 'cheese fiend' Danny, caterers Friends4Dinner created a cheese cake with accompanying chutneys and crackers.
As if that wasn't enough, The Flamingo Bakery in Harrogate created this Naked Cake showstopper: comprising Madagascan Vanilla sponge (filled with cream and jam) and two layers of Indulgent Chocolate and Sicilian Lemon, filled with lemon curd.
Following a feast of a wedding breakfast, the couple treated guests to 'Cocktail Hour' with two cheekily-named tipples to represent the Yorkshire-born bride ('Northern Monkey') and her London-born beau ('Southern Fairy').
Rather thoughtfully, the couple also arranged for street food truck Market Wraps to help soak up all those cocktails. Cue pulled pork (or halloumi cheese for veggies), served in a Yorkshire pudding 'wrap' - one way to introduce their international guest list to a taste of the county!
After a truly sun-scorched day, our Dubai hotties headed for their first dance as man and wife. (Before party band The Modern Way pumped out some serious floor-filling tunes!) Our congratulations to a truly fantastic couple!
“We knew we wanted to get married in Yorkshire, but, after months of looking for a venue, and nothing grabbing us, we were pretty close to eloping - and then we chanced upon The Normans!
Planning a wedding from abroad has its difficulties but we absolutely lucked out with the dream team of Laura and Oliver. We couldn’t wait for our guests to see the venue, but even we were blown away by how incredible it looked on the day. The Normans showcased the very best of Yorkshire and the finest of Yorkshire hospitality.”
All photographs are courtesy of the ever-so excellent Kate Gray Photography To feast your eyes on more photos from Amanda and Danny's awesome day, head to our Gallery soon!
