Editor loves and inspiration

Paper Swan is a bespoke wedding studio offering luxury stationery in Manchester, Cheshire, and across the UK. Owner Lucy Williams tells us: “After leaving school, I decided to follow my heart and enrol in a graphic design course. I graduated and have spent more than 15 years bringing creative ideas to life. My experiences working across different mediums have led me to become obsessed with beautiful textured papers, creative design, and wedding stationery. It made sense to combine my passions, and so Paper Swan was born."

Exclusively for Your North West Wedding, Lucy is offering our readers a 10 per cent discount on her services when you book and mention the magazine. What’s more, you’ll also receive access to a wedding stationery planner, which will help make the whole process more seamless.

To claim this fabulous discount, drop Lucy an email at lucy@paperswanstationery.co.uk

See more offers in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

The team at Erica Stacey Bridalwear tell us about the latest wedding dress trends.

"Here at Erica Stacey Bridalwear, we believe that you don’t have to follow current trends and craft our gowns for each individual bride. We understand that every bride is different and we can make any style, design, or dress size in any colour for your big day. If you would like something different, why not consider the below to create a bespoke wedding dress?

"Customise your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dress: Using a family heirloom and adding your own ideas to it can be a special way to design your own dress. It can be based on the original design or completely remodelled like our real bride, Hollie (pictured). She brought her mum’s 1981 wedding dress, and we used the main fabric as her dress lining, so it was inside, and only she knew it was there. We created a beautiful champagne strapless gown with a soft chiffon balloon sleeve overdress, embellished with trailing floral embroidery and motifs. The overlayer could be shortened and worn at other special events, and maybe at a future family wedding!"

Meet more local companies in our Looking Your Best feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Andrew Cooper from ACMAGIC has won ‘Best Magician in the North West’ at The Wedding Industry Awards 2024 – congratulations! Andrew has been entertaining audiences for more than 10 years and has an impressive 25 years of experience in magic.

“The awards were voted for exclusively by my happy wedding clients, and I would like to dedicate this award to each and every one of them, as if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” says Andrew. “I’d also like to give a shout out to all my amazing followers for supporting me on this amazing journey. When I started doing magic as my full-time job, I could only dream of being recognised as the best in the North West. A special mention must go to my dad, David Cooper, who has been an integral part of my business, and without his love and support, I would never have come this far.”

ACMAGIC is now a national finalist, with the results being announced on the 24th January 2024 in an awards ceremony in London.

Read more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Heather and Joe met while studying at university. “Although we were on different courses, we lived together in the same accommodation during our first year,” says Heather. “We were friends for a year and got together the following summer. I always found Joe attractive, particularly because of his bright blue eyes. He was always the funny one in the group, and we would spend a lot of time together as friends.”

Joe proposed on Christmas Eve in 2021. “We had been together for over six years, but it was still a surprise,” shares the bride. “We were out on our annual Christmas Eve dog walk, and as we cut through some woodland, Joe ran off ahead to make sure we could get through a small field at the end. He then came back and said it was all fine, so we carried on walking. Up ahead in the field, there was a tree, and Joe told me there was a surprise waiting for me. As I approached, I could see there was something hanging off one of the branches. Once I got closer, I could see it was a Christmas bauble with the words, ‘Will you marry me?’ on it. When I turned around, Joe was down on one knee with a ring! Joe had handmade the bauble himself, which really showed how much effort he had put into the proposal. He had thought about making sure it was somewhere private but also somewhere we could visit often, as it was not far from our home. Every year, both sets of parents come and stay with us for Christmas, so it was even more special that we were able to celebrate with everyone together that night.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Lauren Young designs bespoke wedding stationery using watercolour paintings. “Each set is unique to the client,” says Lauren. “I bring together my love of painting to create special stationery, and I thrive on bringing wedding themes and personal lives into my work; this may be a pet, a favourite place, or a venue. I can beautifully capture your wedding venue using delicate brush strokes to create your own bespoke venue portrait.”

Lauren will set up at the location of your choice within the wedding venue. Depending on your package and how you would like to run your day, she can either work from a list of guests or groups provided by you, or your guests can choose to visit her throughout the wedding day. She can paint individuals, couples, or groups of up to five guests in one illustration. Each illustration can take between five and 20 minutes, depending on how many people are featured. At the end of the day, she will take all the illustrations home so she can add any finishing touches. She will then post these back out to you so you can send them out to your guests as wedding favours.

Meet more local companies in our Handmade in the North West feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Rachael Dutton tells us how to create the perfect wedding look without overdoing it.

"I get asked this question quite often from brides who want to look glamorous and flawless for their wedding day but still want to feel like themselves and not a completely different person. The way to create a perfect look without totally changing your face is by focusing mainly on your eyes. Opt for a light shimmer and smoky look by using soft browns rather than black. It’s best to use a Kohl pencil to create the eyeliner look, as opposed to a gel liner, and smoke the pencil out with eyeshadow to soften the look.

"Lashes look amazing and can still be natural. A popular look that most natural brides like is half-wispy lashes instead of a full-glam look. Something more subtle yet not too full-on."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Evie and Alex met through mutual friends. “We went for a meal in Windermere for our first date,” says Evie. “For our second date, we went on a boat trip across Lake Windermere to an aquarium. It snowed heavily the whole time we were there, and it was beautiful.”

Alex popped the question during Evie’s favourite holiday. “He knows I don’t like a fuss and how much I love Christmas, so he proposed at home on Christmas Day,” shares the bride. “It was perfect, and we were both over the moon.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

The concept for this shoot came from the supplier's love for the 1950s, vintage crockery, and gorgeous colour palettes. Featuring pinks, blush, lilacs, and white florals with a light and airy feel, captured by Ailsa Reeve Photography, the shoot was planned and curated by Sally Jean Wedding Cakes and Sarah Borrows Weddings with romantic, detail-focused styling at The Casterton Grange Estate. A stone's throw from the pretty villages of Casterton and Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria, this estate combines classic style with modern luxury.

The tablescape featured specially selected pink floral vintage China layered with white and gold accents, champagne coupes and embroidered napkins provided by Sarah at The Vintage Tea Service, and modern gold cutlery from Whitehouse Event Crockery. Finishing touches were added to the table with blush-tapered candles in white porcelain candle holders by Narrative Event Hire.

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Leanne and Jonathan met through friends on a night out. “We didn't have mobile phones at the time, so we had to message each other through MSN at first,” laughs Leanne. “After 14 years together, Jonathan proposed on holiday in San Diego on a gondola at sunset. It was a surprise, as after so many years together, I didn't think it was actually going to happen.”

"We love visiting the spa at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, as we feel at home when we are there," adds Leanne. "The aisle in the ceremony room was beautiful, and the venue was also the perfect location for our boat cruise, which all of our guests really enjoyed."

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Fallbarrow Hall, one of the largest exclusive hire mansions in the Lake District, is now fully licensed for civil ceremonies. Situated within Fallbarrow Holiday Park in Bowness-on-Windermere, the luxurious venue has also just celebrated its first anniversary since being managed solely by Parkdean Resorts.

Suitable for intimate weddings of up to 50 guests, with accommodation for 36, the Grade II-listed Victorian mansion boasts stunning views overlooking Lake Windermere. Couples are offered exclusive use of the hall, the period Dining Room or the spacious lawn. With full jetty access, there's also the option to hold an unforgettable drinks reception on a boat out on the lake.

Shauna Foy, the general manager at Fallbarrow Hall, said: “Offering couples the chance to get married in this stunning location is really exciting for us at Fallbarrow Hall, and it's a privilege to help create so many special memories. We have fantastic facilities and offer real flexibility in terms of how much help and guidance couples want, so each wedding is tailored to their exact needs. We're extremely excited to now be fully licensed for civil ceremonies and can't wait to welcome more guests to our extraordinary venue.”

Read more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download