Editor loves and inspiration

Palé Hall is a luxury five-star country retreat set in the heart of North Wales in the tranquil Dee Valley, with the spectacular Snowdonia National Park on its doorstep. This grand historical, Victorian mansion was to be our editor's home from home for two nights, where she was able to experience the ultimate in hospitality and the acclaimed AA three-rosette and Michelin Green Star fi ne dining restaurant. North Wales' finest can also be yours for your big day, and here Kelly explains why it's well worth considering.

Read my full review in the current issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding, free to download at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

Sefton Park Palm House is owned by Liverpool City council and managed by Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust, a registered charity that benefi ts the venue for the benefi t of the local community. Once derelict, the structure was lovingly restored to its former glory by the people of Liverpool and is now a breathtaking venue offering a memorable setting to celebrate an authentic botanical-style wedding. Stunning photographs are a guarantee!

Find out more about Sefton Park Palm House and discover more city-based venues in the current issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding. Download it for free at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

At Delamere Manor enchantment and elegance blend seamlessly to create an idyllic backdrop for any wedding. Nestled amid picturesque landscapes in the heart of Cheshire, this venue offers a captivating experience. In addition to its incredible ceremony and reception spaces, Delamere Manor offers an array of amenities from beautifully appointed bedrooms, a beauty parlour, to top-notch catering services with customisable menu options.

Ceremonies take place in any one of a number of locations across the venue. The Courtyard is an enchanting inside/outside space that can host up to 140 seated guests. On sunny days, the roof is fully retractable for
a fl exible dining experience and when day turns to dusk, thousands of twinkling lights give the space a magical feel.

The Drawing Room offers a more intimate space for gathering 50 nearest and dearest. With sweeping views of the estate, this sunny room looks sublime set up for a ceremony or a romantic wedding breakfast.

What’s more, there are a wealth of opportunities for al fresco ceremonies here with a choice of the Garden Folly, the picture-perfect Jetty for lakeside vows and the Summer House. Meanwhile, the southfacing Terrace offers 100 acres of countryside, a serene lake and ancient woodlands as your backdrop.

The Lounge Bar in the heart of the Manor offers a delightful haven for various points throughout your day. Whether it’s pre-drinks for the groomsmen, a night-before gathering or a post-ceremony treat when the weather’s not cooperating. It’s the epitome of style and relaxation.

With its elegant décor, sophisticated lighting and spacious layout, the evening reception area here sets the stage for a night fi lled with unforgettable moments. Whether you dream of a glamorous affair or a contemporary chic setting, this versatile space can be transformed to refl ect your style and vision.

The cherry on the cake though is one of the most distinctive features at Delamere Manor: an exclusive nightclub experience. Formerly known as a renowned recording studio, this exceptional space has undergone a magnificent transformation into a state-of-the-art entertainment space, complete with mesmerising lighting, a cutting-edge sound system and a bar area.

For more West Cheshire venues, download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside free at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

The enchanting Ruthin Castle Hotel offers a truly memorable setting in one of the most secluded and romantic areas of North Wales. Whether your dreams are of an extravagant day, an intimate occasion or a wonderful
gathering of family and friends, your Ruthin Castle wedding will be tailormade especially for you. What’s more, with a romantic, indulgent history located within acres of picturesque scenery, your photographer will be living their best life capturing those all-important photos!

You’ll discover spaces here that cater for the small to the grand. The Cornwallis Suite is an intimate room with high ceilings and beautiful views of the Castle grounds and offers opportunities to have an outdoor ceremony. It can host 60 for for the “I dos” and 30 for the wedding breakfast. There’s also the Library Bar, a private area open to you and your guests offering views over the Library terrace.

Meanwhile, the Grand Salon, the premier wedding suite can play host to 100 for the ceremony and wedding breakfast, and 120 for the evening. Located in the heart of the Castle, it’s classically themed featuring high
ceilings, huge windows and boasts its own private terrace and gardens.

Berties Ballroom is the Castle’s banqueting hall steeped in history and atmosphere. It can accommodate 60 for the ceremony and wedding breakfast, and 80 for the evening do.

Boasting its own terrace with views across the historical battlements, the Peacock Suite is another spot ideal for intimate “I dos.” Huge windows create a light and airy space with its own terrace and gardens to enjoy. It too can play host to 60 nearest and dearest for the ceremony, and 40 for the wedding breakfast.

For more local venues sporting glorious gardens download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding free at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

For those of you who haven't received the news a million times already (yes, we're obsessed), Peach Fuzz is 2024's Pantone colour of the year. And the reason we, along with the rest of the wedding industry, has gone cock-a-hoop for it is that it's the perfect hue for stylish nuptials. We like to think we led the way on this, of course, since well before this announcement rusts, corals and peaches had been trending in the wedding world and Peach Fuzz is the dream addition to this palette. Nowhere is this more beautifully demonstrated than in the breathtaking images of this local shoot.

The team got together with the aim of creating a current photo shoot using the oh-so hot palette of peach, tangerine and blush, showing off elegant fl orals with an edgy vibe thanks to modern dresses and fun colour pops. Florist and shoot coordinator Susan Simcock from Florist By Nature tells us, “We loved the idea of combining vibrancy with soft palettes.”

Download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding for more - www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

Lizzy and Matt met when working in ASDA during their student days. “We bonded over our love of indie classics and Leeds festival,” Lizzy says. However, the timing wasn’t right then and they decided to remain friends instead of pursuing a relationship. It wasn’t until a few years later that they decided to give it a go and the rest is history! “We had the most incredible first date at the beach and we quickly fell in love,” Lizzy remembers.

Matt proposed in St Ives having taken Lizzy for a picnic and finding a gorgeous spot where they could watch the sun set. Just as the sky was changing colour, he got down on one knee and asked the big question.

Lizzy had seen Scale on Instagram a few years previous and had always admired its aesthetic. She remembered it when they came to look for a wedding venue, thinking what a great blank canvas it would be for creating their own magic. “It was perfect for a winter wedding with lots of lights and candles,” she explains. “It had a cosy vibe even though the room was pretty big.” They were also shown sister venue, Fabric, which was still a building site at the time, it being early days. “We immediately loved the Cove and the thought of what we could turn that into on our wedding day,” Lizzy remembers.

So, the date was set for 5th January 2024. To find out more, download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding where Lizzy gives us the lowdown on the big day - www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

When Hannah and Chris met online they felt an instant connection. Two years later, now a couple, they travelled to Dublin for the day and Chris popped the question at the castle after fi nding the perfect spot beneath and archway full of flowers in the gardens. “It was such a surprise, my fi rst response was to swear rather than say ‘yes,’” Hannah remembers.

As the Titanic was linked to Cunard, the company Hannah’s grandfather used to work for, tying the knot at the Titanic Hotel meant a lot to the bride. “We felt like he was there almost,” Hannah says. The couple loved the atmosphere of the function room with its exposed brickwork and chic lighting. Once they saw it, they couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else.

The date was set for 4th April 2024. Download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding to find out more - www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

Jo and Jon started out as friends. They were both going through a tough time when they met and became a support system to each other. The two are DJs and instantly had this major part of their lives in common, as well as sharing the same sense of humour. The time was right eventually though, and love grew between them.

Jon had intended to propose New Year’s Eve of 2021, but unfortunately Covid stepped in and forced him to change his plans. Well again, he took Jo on a weekend spa break to Crabwell Manor in the January. Getting ready to go for a meal one evening, he turned to Jo and said: “I have something for you that you can wear tonight,” then got down on one knee. “It was just us in our suite, so it was a really personal and lovely moment,” Jo remembers.

The date for the big day was set for 27th April 2024. Download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding to find out more - www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

HELP! WE'RE NOT VERY PHOTOGENIC AND HATE HAVING OUR PICTURE TAKEN! This is the wedding worry Andrew Abrahamson from Andrew AB Photography (www.andrewab.wedding) regualarly finds himself tackling. In Hot Topic though, he as the answers:

I totally understand this, there is a reason I'm usually found on the other side of the camera after all! Generally though, the reason behind this is the worry that I'll be asking you to look at the camera and hold a forced smile while holding your arms in impossible angles. Fear not, this is definitely not what I do!

I found the best way to combat this worry and remove any anxiety over having your photo taken on the actual day is to have a pre-shoot. This normally entails heading to a lovely location like a park, the beach, a wood, somewhere that means something to you and spending an hour or so walking around, finding pretty spots for photos. It's mostly an opportunity for the three of you to get to know each other, for your photographer to see how you are as a couple and for you to see how your photographer works.

With me, it's rarely a big serious pose, although this can be fun, but more just asking you to walk over to a particular place and talk, mess around, kiss, make each other laugh; and I capture that. Come the day, there are no surprises, you've seen how wonderful the photos of you look and not a forced smile in sight!

For more common weddings and how to overcome them, download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding free at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download

So, you've booked your venue, the next thing to think about is how to turn this blank space into the wedding you dream of. With a professional venue stylist on hand this is a piece of cake! From props to palettes, tablescapes to backdrops these folks have a world of wonder at their fi ngertips to help them make your day uniquely you. We caught up with some of the region's experts to find out what's at the top of their hotlists for 2024 and beyond when it comes to palettes, themes, and props.

“I believe couples are becoming braver with their choice of colours and going against what's been deemed traditional in the past. Bright, happy colours are popping up everywhere, especially pinks, oranges, greens and purples.” – Hannah Newman, Spark Alice (www.sparkalice.com)

For more venue styling inspiration download the Jul/Aug24 issue of Your Cheshire & Merseyside Wedding free at www.yourcheshiremerseyside.wedding/free-download