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On 1st April 2016, Grace and Gareth Watson married in a beautiful ceremony in Great Ayton, with a sparkling and Disney inspired reception at Grinkle Park Hotel in North Yorkshire surrounded by family and friends.
Grace, from Great Ayton, met Gareth, who is originally from Derbyshire, during their second year at York St John University in 2010 through their housemates. Gareth was studying primary education and Grace was studying Occupational Therapy. “After university, we moved to Great Ayton and lived with Grace’s parents for a year before renting a flat in the village and eventually bought our first house on Marton in 2014.”
The couple became engaged in 2015 during a family holiday to Florida’s Disneyworld. “It was magical! I am a huge Disney fan,” says Grace. “We had a big family holiday to Florida and on our first day, we went to Magic Kingdom. As we were approaching Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant for our breakfast reservation Gareth got down on one knee and proposed just outside the castle. We celebrated with all my family and all the princesses, it was fabulous and a morning I will never ever forget. We wore ‘just engaged’ badges with pride for the remainder of the holiday! And my Dad was pleased to be relieved of the responsibility of carrying the ring through customs!”
Grace and Gareth married in Christ Church in Great Ayton, followed by their reception held at Grinkle Park Hotel. “We wanted somewhere that was comfortable and relaxed, yet special. When we looked round Grinkle Park and met Richard [Grinkle Park’s General Manager], we knew it was going to be all these things. All the staff were so friendly and flexible with our wishes for the day and it was amazing to have exclusive use of the whole hotel for the weekend. We have been back many times this year and it will hold a special place in our hearts forever. “
“We wanted the main focus of our day to be about the people there. We wanted it to be personal and a relaxed day for everyone. We are very close to family and the wedding party was made up of Grace’s sister, sister in law and cousin as bridesmaids and Gareth’s two brothers in law as his best men. Our beautiful god daughter was our flower girl.” Grace wore a stunning strapless Stella York lace ball gown with a semi-sweetheart neckline, chapel train and diamante encrusted waistline, with ivory lace over the champagne gown. The bridesmaids wore Dessy full-length marquis lace dresses with an open back in blush pink, complete with the ‘Grace’ diamante belt from Joanne Kay Bridal. Gareth and his groomsmen wore dapper black tuxedos from Next.
Discussing the theme of the day, the couple chose pink, gold and everything sparkly. “We made as much as we could for the wedding, including our invitations, name places, table numbers, seating plan and favours. As it was a spring wedding, we made little gift bags filled with mini eggs for our guests.”
“Following on from our Disney engagement, we wanted a subtle Disney theme running through. This included hidden Mickey’s on the invitations, in the bouquet and on the men’s cufflinks. We also had rose bell jars as our centrepieces, in our wedding colours pink and gold. Grace’s aunt made the most amazing wedding cake, with a silhouette cake topper of Cinderella’s castle, representing our engagement spot.”
“Gareth’s love of music needed to be a part of our day! We made song request slips to look like vinyl records which went in with the invitations and we hired a jukebox from Betterdaze for the reception which everyone loved. This was followed by The Fallen on the night which was amazing and really got the party going! We also hired a photo booth which gave us a good laugh the following morning! A special part of our day was a song that was played while we signed the register in the church and was also our first dance. It was written especially for our wedding day from our good friend Graeme and was called ‘Start Our Fairytale’.”
So, how did the couple feel during the day? “Like a princess!” says Grace. “I was really chilled out on the morning which allowed me to enjoy every minute of getting ready with the girls. I was so excited to walk down the aisle with my Dad and remember walking really slow and taking it all in then seeing Gareth at the end of the aisle. It was an amazing feeling having everyone we loved there at the same time.” “I felt amazing, the whole day just felt ‘right’. All the effort we put in paid off and we were able to really enjoy ourselves.” says Gareth.
“I also loved the drive between the church and Grinkle when Gareth and I got to chat and had a surreal ‘we’ve just got married’ moment!” said Grace, with Gareth adding “Having everyone that we love in the same room; I remember taking a moment when we were all having our meal thinking how special and rare it was.”
One moment that made the couple laugh was when they realised that everyone else’s suitcase had made it to the hotel apart from Grace’s. Luckily, their friends and best men saved the day by collecting the suitcase, so Grace didn’t have to go down to breakfast in her wedding dress.
“Joanne Kay Bridal in Stokesley were amazing! It was the first shop I looked around and ended up going back and purchasing one of the first dresses I tried on. We got the bridesmaid dresses from them also. The shop runs on an appointment only basis which makes you feel so special and they were so helpful in giving their honest opinions on dresses. I was really pleased I found ‘the one’ there. I would definitely recommend!”
Grace also runs her own stunning business called The Belle Jar Company, an idea sprung from the couple’s happy day. “As we got engaged in Disney, we wanted a subtle Disney theme running through the wedding. I had the idea of having roses in bell jars for our centrepieces but couldn’t find anything like what I had in mind, so we ended up making them. We decorated the base of the jars in gold sparkle and had one real pink rose in each, supplied by Leven Flowers in Great Ayton. After the wedding, I didn’t want to stop making them so decided to set up The Belle Jar Company! I now make bespoke bell jars in a range of colours, sizes and styles for weddings, occasions, home decor and gifts. They make great keepsakes for after weddings and can be personalised in a variety of ways. I love it and it keeps me living the wedding dream!”
Find out more and see the incredible Belle Jars Grace has created over on her Etsy shop here.
Credits
Photography – Steven McDonald Photography
Ceremony Venue – Christ Church, Great Ayton
Reception Venue – Grinkle Park Hotel, North Yorkshire
Dresses – Joanne Kay Bridal
Groomswear – Next
Makeup Artist – Lisa Devanny
Band – The Fallen
Flowers – Leven Flowers
Belle Jar Images – The Belle Jar Company Facebook
Jukebox – Betterdaze