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Carolyn & James

I’m very happy to be writing this! For the first time in what feels like forever, I’m writing about a REAL wedding. After many changes, lovely #ERBride, Carolyn and her husband James finally tied the knot.

A marquee wedding with an inviting colour palette and cosy areas for well overdue catch ups with loved ones. Whilst adhering to restrictions, it was an intimate wedding, flooded with love and excitement with 30 of their friends and family.

Meet Real Bride Carolyn Daniel

Wedding Date: 28th May 2021

The Suppliers

Dress – Maddison by Lillian West at Elaine Rawlings Bridal Boutique
Accessories and Dress Alterations: Kyla and Roamer Rose
Grooms and Groomsmen – Colin’s Bridal (rented from)
Hair: Harriet Searle Hair
Make-up: Sally Orchard Make up and Beauty
Flowers: Wedding Flowers in Cornwall
Photographer: Mark Shaw
Marquee – Hatch Marquee Hire
Dance: Choreographed by Sophie Walker

How did you meet?

We met each other through a mutual friend, James’ bestman – also called James! Our first date was on a Monday night near where I live, as James was presenting at a meeting in the area. We met for a drink and every year since we have continued to have a date night at the same place on the same date every year (apart from last year due to Covid!). We share a similar perspective, drive and enthusiam for life and booked a road trip through America within a month after we met! It was quite an adventure and the rest is history as they say!

The Proposal – How did it happen?

It was a sunny day in May when James was fencing part of my parents garden, when he surprised me by getting down on one knee overlooking St Micheal’s Mount. It was just before my 30th birthday so we actually decided to keep it a secret until then!

Which wedding venue did you choose and why?

We got married at Ludgvan Church which was very special as we have strong family connections and a wonderful reverend. As the wedding party was much smaller than we originally planned, we had a marquee in my parents garden which proved an intimate setting. We had a stunning backdrop of St Michael’s Mount and the perfect size marquee.

What was your favourite moment of your wedding day?

All of it! It’s too hard to define one part, probably the fact we were able to share the day with family and a few close friends.

How did the restrictions affect your day?

Our day- not as originally planned, nevertheless perfect!

Our day was nothing as we’d planned, we got engaged on my 30th birthday in June 2020 and had planned to marry on the 28th May 2021. During the global pandemic we planned a wedding for the following year, we were optimistic the pandemic would have subsided by then. As we approached Winter and things seemed to get worse rather than better and started the new year in yet another lockdown, at this point we’d decided we would get married (providing government would let us) with whatever numbers we could. With 30 allowed, our wedding party was predominantly bridesmaids, ushers and the rest family. It was an intimate day, flooded with love and excitement. When I arrived at the church, I was overwhelmed at the number of friends and family that had come and all stood outside to see us. The fewer numbers gave us more time with the guests, more thoughtful personalised parts to the day, we even learnt and performed a first dance!

All I can say is choose what you can, trust the process and it will all come together on the day- we feel unbelievably lucky to have had the most amazing day we did.

What wedding tips would you pass onto other brides planning their wedding with possible restrictions?

Just enjoy it, it will all come together on the day. Ultimately you’ll marry the one you love and if you’re fortunate to be surrounded by your loved ones , the rest is just detail. It’s more memorable at this time as so few occasions have been allowed to happen.