Isla Gladstone Magazine Wedding Feature 2022 - Winter Wedding

To celebrate the occasion they planned a weekend away and Thom suggested they go for a walk on Crosby Beach, as this was where they shared their first date. It was there, much to Annie’s surprise, that Thom popped the question.

The couple took their time choosing a wedding venue, a process which included two trips to Barbados just to rule it out! But one thing that was clear was the date, 12th February, as this was when they met and got engaged. The downside to this was that their original 2021 plans all had to be moved by a full year due to Covid. They wanted to say “I do” at Thom’s family church, St Peter’s, and fell in love with their reception venue Thornton Manor on the first viewing. “With its history and cosy feel we felt it was the perfect winter-wedding venue,” Annie says.

A wedding disaster

However, disaster loomed around the corner as a fire broke out at Thornton Manor the weekend before the big day. “It was a surreal day, finding out the wedding we’d been planning for more than three years wasn’t going to happen. Plus, it was such a sad sight seeing a building that meant so much to us be destroyed, but

we both agreed that whatever was to come, we’d be walking down the aisle that Saturday,” Annie remembers. So, they gathered their options together and made a plan. On Monday morning Annie called 75 wedding venues to see if there was any way they could host the wedding, which was just one week away. By 11am, they had a few options with viewings set up and a self-imposed 4pm deadline to make a decision and let suppliers and guests know. Not least because they had guests who were already on their way over from the U.S!

Then, they met their wedding’s saviour, Rachael from the Isla Gladstone Conservatory. Annie tells us what happened next, “She agreed to let us have a viewing within the hour and as soon as we walked in we knew it was right. Although very different, it still felt historical and even on that dull February day the light and airiness of the space was amazing.

So, Rachael got straight to work and we achieved together in two days what most people do in 12 months. Nothing was too much trouble and she worked with our existing suppliers, even allowing our caterer to work in their kitchens. We really do owe saving our wedding to her. She went above and beyond to make a miracle happen.”

So, after enough re-planning and stress to last anyone a lifetime the big day went ahead on the all-important date at the beautiful Isla Gladstone Conservatory. Read on as the bride shares more happy memories of the occasion with us…

The wedding morning

“I spent the morning waiting to feel nervous but it never happened! With the chaos of the week before I was just relieved and excited that we were finally getting married. The whole day exceeded my expectations from start to finish – it really was the best day of my life.” The most talked about aspect of the day was the wicker basket full of slippers meant for the girls to be able to take their heels off in the evening and carry on dancing. By 8pm the box was empty and everyone, including some of the men, was wearing them!

The Wedding Car

“We left the church in a vintage Rolls Royce. It was so nice for us both to have that time alone together. Thom asked our chauffeur to drive past Goodison Park for the 3pm match kick-off, which lead to fans shouting their congratulations to us and banging on the windows. It was definitely a memorable part of the day.”

Wedding Dressing

“Kim from Qube Events went above and beyond with our venue décor, adapting what we’d already booked to suit the new venue. We went with blossom tree centrepieces, with gypsophila and eucalyptus and floating candles.”

The Tall Wedding Toastmaster

“Stefan, our toastmaster, made sure our day ran smoothly despite all the last-minute changes. He really was worth every penny and nothing was too much trouble, even when I decided I wanted to reposition the poser tables, he made it happen.”

Wedding Cake

“Our incredible wedding cake featured five tiers and exquisitely hand-crafted sugar flowers to match the bouquets and décor. It tasted even better than it looked.”

Wedding Dress

“I wore a simple satin Stella York gown. I always wanted something classic and timeless and fell in love with it as soon as I tried it on. I accessorised with a borrowed and blue sapphire and diamond necklace, as well as diamond stud earrings Thom bought me as a wedding gift.”

The Suits

“Thom wore a bespoke navy velvet Scabal dinner jacket with black trousers and an oversized bow tie. His groomsmen meanwhile, wore black tuxedos with bow ties and horseshoe waistcoats.”

The Band

“We chose Gatsby as they could perform during the wedding breakfast as well as further sets in the evening. My highlight was their performance during the main course, which included slower, acoustic numbers showcasing their stunning vocals, providing the perfect transition from day to evening. They also played our first dance song, Perfect by Ed Sheeran.”

“String quartet Dahlia Music played classical music in the church before joining us at the drinks reception where they performed their modern repertoire. They were fantastic.”

Trust in the suppliers you book. They’re experts in their field and ours really did make our day amazing in so many ways. Without the incredible suppliers we had, we never would have been able to pull off the venue change in less than a week.

The honeymoon

“Our honeymoon was a 12-night road trip around the UK. Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons has the most incredible restaurant and grounds, it was the perfect start to our married life. Cliveden is an amazing spa hotel and the highlight was going to the Waterside Inn in Bray for dinner. We also stayed at The Corinthia in London and did lots of shopping and sightseeing, and went to see Hamilton.”