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Love Story: Leanne and Howard

An elegant marquee wedding complete with Welsh male voice choir and Ebay bargains

This is a love story that spans two decades: bride Leanne and groom Howard (aka Howie) met in a McDonalds’ car park as teenagers and somehow ended up at the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, with Howie popping the question.

Leanne knew from the start that she wanted a timeless and elegant that wasn’t too over the top. Her wedding dress needed to reflect this, and so she chose a beautiful Mori Lee 1903 in light gold, purchased from Cariad Bride in Abergele, Wales.

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The 126” 2-tier cathedral veil had to be made to order by Richard Designs via Diane Harbridge of Chester as it was a combination of two designs (props to Lindsey Carroll from Diane Harbridge). The look was finished with the mother of the bride’s pearl earrings and a platinum Clogau bangle – a present from the groom on the morning of the wedding.

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The bridesmaids wore midnight blue dresses from ASOS (which were a total bargain at £45 each) while Leanne’s three-year-old daughter, Ebony, wore an ivory puff dress with a big navy bow on the back, made by local dressmaker Helen Howell.

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All the men, including Howie’s three-year-old Son, Ellis,  wore midnight blue trousers and tails, also hired from Cariad Bride, with brown brogues.

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A Rolls Royce Phantom (another surprise from Howie) arrived to collect the bridal party and escort them to St Ffraid’s Church, Glan Conwy.

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Much to everyone’s amusement, Ellis walked down the aisle carried a sign saying ‘last chance to run Daddy’ and handed it to Howie as the couple were about to exchange their vows.

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Côr Meibion Colwyn, a male voice choir, performed at the church prior to Leanne’s arrival and during the signing of the register, giving what Leanne describes as a true “goose-bump moment”. Guests were handed handmade mini boxes of confetti to shower the couple as they left the church.

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The marquee reception was held at Bryn Eisteddfod, Glan Conwy – chosen because of its stunning views.

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It was decorated simply in gold and peach, with lanterns hanging down the centre providing the lighting for the evening, and cream and peach pompoms from Ebay to break up the sparseness of the large marquee. The couple hired gold sequinned tablecloths and runners from Pudding Bridge for the tables, and found a gentleman via Ebay who made gold-painted wooden place names that doubled up as favours for each guest. Many of the guests and have since kept them on display in their homes! There were also light-up letters ‘L’ and ‘H’ by The Word is Love to decorate the dancefloor.

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Scent with Love in Craig y Don did a fabulous job with the wedding flowers. They did all the bouquets and a wand for Ebony, a gypsophila headband for Ebony (which she refused to wear!), the buttonholes and all the table centrepieces which were wrapped around gold candelabras.

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Food was a three course sit-down meal comprising canapés, Thai fish cakes with sweet chili sauce, roasted Welsh lamb rump served with a trio of peas and dauphinois potato, and chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, all by Outside Food, Llandudno.  There was a hog roast in the evening provided by Steve Roberts (a friend of Howie’s) who also ran the bar. The cake was handmade by a very talented friend, Rhian.

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A local singing and pianist duo, Carly & Russ, performed while guests were having canapés and drinks. In the evening there were performances from another local singer, Christian Parry (given as a wedding gift from the best man and one of the bridesmaids), together with a DJ and photobooth provided by the Event Lounge. Guests were provided with 100 pairs of ‘Hotel’ slippers which were put in a basket next to the dancefloor – and all disappeared by the end of the night, with the female guests labelleing them ‘lifesavers’!

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Photos were captured by Tony Fanning, who’d photographed Leanne when she was pregnant with Ebony. Leanne describes him as if he was just another guest at the wedding (but a guest who took amazing pictures).

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Leanne’s advice for other brides? DO worry about the detail. “I read so many magazines in the run up to the wedding and most couples would say not to stress about the little details. I’d say the opposite – detail is everything! It might stress you out in the lead up to the wedding but it is SO worth all the little touches. They are what make your day unique and your guests will remember them. Take time out together at some point during the day to just sit together and watch what’s going on. We went and sat in the field looking at the marquee with a bottle of champagne and just took it all in. It was an amazing feeling watching all our loved ones enjoying themselves and realising they were all there for us, to celebrate our marriage!”

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1 Comment

  1. Leanne Vaughan says:

    Thank you so much for featuring our wedding xxx

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