Editor loves and inspiration

Like most modern couples, Amy and Jake met online. “It was 2015, and I had just downloaded the famous Tinder app,” says Amy. “After many swipes, Jake and I were a perfect match. After months of talking as friends, we never thought we could make the distance work or even be able to meet until one day my mum said: 'Why don't you go on a date?' They were words I never thought my mum would say, but I decided to ask the question. We set a date and met up in Manchester. With Jake being a little bit hungover after a previous night out, he wasn't the most impressive catch, but he did something right. Many months later, Jake decided it was time to ask me to be his girlfriend while we were watching some fireworks. I agreed, hoping that one day he would ask me to be his wife."

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

We love flowers here at Your North West Wedding, but with so many gorgeous blooms to choose from it can be a bit overwhelming. To give you some inspiration, we've asked local florist, Forage to send in one of their favourite pastel creations.

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

The team at BRIDHA tells us how you can choose two wedding dresses for your big day.

"Start by looking for two different silhouettes. One could be a flowy A-line and the other a fitted mermaid, this will give you two different looks whilst still fitting your theme.

"Go for dresses in different fabrics, such as lace or crochet for one and flowy chiffon or silk for the other; this will help create a distinct look for each dress.

"Mix up the details and incorporate different elements, such as fringing or beading on one dress and embroidery on the other.

"Accessorising each dress will help set them apart. Consider adding a flower crown or a statement necklace to one and a vintage belt or a dainty hair accessory to the other."

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

Jade and Martin were introduced through mutual friends. “Martin gave me a lift to a festival,” says Jade. “Later on, when my car needed looking at, our friend put us back in contact as Martin's a mobile mechanic. We hit it off right away, and it was as though we'd known each other for years. We were practically living together after a couple of months of dating.”

Martin asked Jade the big question in November 2021. “It wasn't a fancy proposal, but it meant a lot to me as I wasn't expecting it,” shares the bride. “He sat next to me on the sofa and handed me a box with the ring in and asked if I would marry him. Of course, I said yes! He then told me that the ring had been in his wardrobe for a week, and I couldn't believe I never spotted it.”

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

Lancashire-based photographer Laura Duggleby organised this styled shoot at The Wellbeing Farm. She tells us: “I have wanted to be part of a winter wonderland shoot for a while, and as wedding season was coming to a close, I started thinking about creating a moodboard for this shoot. I loved the snow and ice theme with just a hint of baby blue to lift the other tones. The team worked together on a previous shoot and so I contacted them again, adding in Tinglz Event Decoration Hire, Bridgewater Menswear and The Wellbeing Farm. I shared the moodboard with everyone and let them use their creativity to bring it together.”

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

Steve and Rob met in 2001 when Steve's tenancy was coming to an end, and he was looking for another house to rent. “I had a house that I had just moved out of and was looking to rent out,” says Rob. “Steve's viewing lasted longer than I expected, as it turned into quite a long conversation. It just seemed to be a natural fit, as we had lots of common ground. A couple of hours after the house viewing, I messaged Steve and asked him to go for a drink. He ended up taking the house, and it wasn't long after that that I ended up moving back in.”

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

Bethan Taylor from The Little Bee Hive worked with a group of local suppliers to create this romantic monochrome-themed shoot at Base Restaurant in Ulverston, Cumbria.

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

Weddings are back in full swing (finally!) and we couldn't be happier to see so many of you getting ready to tie the knot in our wonderful region. For years we've seen couples opting for grand celebrations with all of their friends and family, but since the pandemic, we've seen a rise in the number of couples choosing to have a smaller celebration. We love the idea of creating your dream day whether you have 1,000 guests or 10, so we thought why not create a feature that shows you how you can create your dream day with a smaller guest list?

Zayna from ZAZevents tells us: "Your nuptials should be all about you, and that should be reflected in every aspect of your design, no matter the size of your wedding. Every choice should encompass your personality and style, and it's even easier to achieve this with an intimate wedding. Read my top tips for creating a space where your guests will feel comfortable and want to take photos with you in your beautifully decorated venue:

"Start with deciding on your décor budget. This will help you and your stylist choose pieces and designs that fit within your budget, no matter if it's big or small, you just need to have a number in mind when you start planning your wedding.

"To create an impression on your guests you'll need clever use of décor pieces, arrangements, styling and lighting. You want your venue to be an immersive and visually appealing space that transports your guests into your wedding world."

See more from our Intimate Wedding Inspiration feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Big Bear's BBQ, a mobile catering company, has recently invested in a second custom-built trailer allowing the team to offer a mixture of British and American barbecue foods.

“We've been building our business for the past three years,” says owners Jill and Hugh. “We started in our custom-built wood-fired pizza trailer and soon found ourselves being asked to provide catering for private events and weddings. This soon became an area we enjoyed exploring, and have since made many long-lasting customers, friends and contacts. We have built our business by trying to provide high-quality food at an affordable level by making each event we cater for bespoke and as personalised as we can. We have recently found our enquiries have come from much further afield, and as we are mobile, we have enjoyed visiting many locations all over the North West. The second trailer has always been part of our expansion plan from the very start, and after a few small test events, our feedback has only encouraged us to believe we made the right decision! We have several packages available to those who might be looking to find the right caterer for their special day, and we look forward to receiving any enquiries and working alongside those who are planning ahead; we still have dates available for this year and welcome any more for the future.”

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

Kate and Stuart met through a mutual friend who organised charity gigs. “We had both recently become single, so our friend suggested that we meet for a coffee,” says Kate. “Our first date was in August 2015 in Manchester. We had similar interests and hit it off right away. Stuart lived in Nottingham at the time and moved to Manchester six months into our relationship to live with me.”

Stuart proposed during lockdown. “We had talked about getting married at some point, but the proposal came as a total surprise,” shares the bride. “He proposed with a Haribo ring, as no jewellery shops were open because of the pandemic.”

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