Valentine’s Day may have been and gone, and the bluster of Storm Dennis has dissipated, but romance is still very much in the air at The Normans. Most people don’t always associate the chillier months with love and marriage, but Charlotte and James’s December wedding day couldn’t have been any more romantic.
“Having a Christmas wedding takes the pressure off picking a theme,” says bride Charlotte. “The theme was just ‘Christmas’ - which all the twinkly lights at the Normans lend themselves to perfectly!”
Outside it was a typically chilly December day, but inside The Normans Cottage Charlotte and her bridesmaids - not to mention one seriously cute flower girl, the couple’s baby, Edie - were warm as toast as they readied themselves for the day...
The brunette beauties had the works on the wedding morning: “My bridesmaids, mum, and I had our hair done by Megan Boyne and our make up was by Elizabeth Amy ,” tells Charlotte. “They were both recommended by friends who had recently got married and were lovely.”
As for the dress? A Caroline Castigliano design from The Bridal Collection in Harrogate, with a few bespoke touches. “It initially had really delicate spaghetti straps but - in my grandma’s words - they felt too ‘bare’ for a winter wedding,” says Charlotte, “so the wonderful in-house seamstress Jo added lace cap sleeves.”
“My favourite part about my dress (other than the fact it had pockets) was that the boutique’s seamstress, Jo, also altered it so I could breastfeed my baby daughter. This made such a difference and I felt so happy and relaxed on the day as a result.”
All of the bridesmaids’ dresses came from high-street favourite Monsoon. “They were exactly what I envisioned,” says Charlotte. “Luckily the girls loved them too and wouldn’t stop spinning around when they tried them on (we had had a few wines!)”
But let us not forget the man of the moment - groom James! Along with his groomsmen, James cut a dash in a kilt from A1 Kilt Hire. “They came with everything even down to the shoes,” tells Charlotte.
Twinkling lights, warm candlelight, seasonal blooms and personal readings all set the scene for the couple’s ceremony - not to mention the memorable moment they said ‘I do’ with baby Edie watching on.
Once Charlotte and James were married, guests were happy to wrap up and make merry in The Courtyard - outdoor heaters at the ready - while others retreated to the warm glow of our cosy Cow Stalls, where they quaffed champagne until dinner was served.
Charlotte’s seasonal colour scheme took shape across the venue in the form of fresh flowers. “I knew straight away that I wanted white, silver and green,” says Charlotte. “People kept trying to sneak red in when they heard it was a Christmas wedding, but I was really strict with my chosen colours!”
Guests were seated inside The Grain Shed, where there were festive details abound: Christmas trees punctuated every corner, crackers lined table tops and guests were able to take a little piece of Christmas home … “I loved giving individual tree decorations as favours,” says Charlotte.
“I was very proud of my table plan in their assorted silver frames surrounded by fairy lights,” explains Charlotte. “Mainly because I saw the idea on Pinterest and managed to copy it myself. Well, with a lot of help from one of my bridesmaids, actually!”
While fine food and wine was devoured and speeches unfolded, a cute kiddies section kept little ones occupied (and, we daresay, parents sane).
But all eyes were on brave bridesmaid Annie, who wrote and performed a song about the newlyweds.
“It was wonderful, funny and emotional all in one!” recalls Charlotte. “We had no idea what she was going to sing but everyone was singing along by the end - and even crying long after she’d finished!”
Come the end of the meal (which included sociable sharing platters and tiers of cheese for their wedding cake), we were feeling some serious love in the air. Cue the first dance…
But it was a ceilidh (think: a jolly Gaelic jig and you’re on the right track), orchestrated by The Aluinn Ceilidh Band. “They were so good at getting everyone up and dancing - the dance floor was full all night!”
“The Norman’s provided us with the best wedding day we could have ever imagined. The lovely team are on hand during the planning and all day on the day ensuring everything runs smoothly - nothing is too much and no question is too silly for them - we are very very grateful!”
