Rustic Wedding: Inside Emma & Ben’s Special Day
June 12, 2024
The Wedding Blog
From Inception to "I Do"
Emma and Ben’s love story began at the Alwinton Show. One fateful night, Emma stepped out for some fresh air and found herself fending off the drunken advances of a persistent admirer. Ben, playing the hero, stepped in to save her from his own inebriated friend.
After a brief conversation, the clock struck midnight and Emma had to catch her coach. Ben asked for her number, and to Emma’s surprise, he texted a few days later, igniting a romance that blossomed into a beautiful marriage almost seven years later. Notably, the once-drunken friend was a groomsman at their wedding!
On Bonfire Night, Ben proposed to Emma outside Hexham Abbey in Sele Park, just after the fireworks. The magical backdrop set the tone for their enchanting woodland-themed wedding.
Emma & Ben take advantage of nearby Bolam Lake for their wedding album
Love at First Sight in Northumberland
Emma and Ben chose Shortflatt Tower for its rustic charm of the Woodland Suite and its stunning surroundings. They fell in love with the Northumberland venue at first sight, appreciating the beautifully decorated house, breathtaking cottages, and the close proximity to the stunning Bolam Lake. The grounds of Shortflatt Tower provided a picturesque backdrop for their vows and wedding breakfast, making it the perfect choice for their dream wedding.
“It was the first venue we viewed and we both fell in love with absolutely everything – the house, the grounds etc. We were adamant we had to view other venues, but nowhere came close to Shortflatt Tower in our eyes.”
Emma & Ben
A unique alternative: caterpillar cakes grace The Woodland Suite.
Groomed to perfection
Emma’s stunning wedding dress was from The Wedding Dress Company in Corbridge, featuring delicate lace details. Ben and his groomsmen wore suits from Hotspur 1364 in Alnwick, each with a unique touch that looked fantastic in photos.
Emma’s stunning bridal gown, purchased from The Wedding Dress Company in nearby Corbridge
The Dream Team: Meet Our Wedding Suppliers
Flowers: Egle Dubinkaite from Bloomhead
Hair: Katie Rouse from Keep It Pinned
Make up: Tara Shenton
Entertainment: No1 Singing Waiters and Gypsy Audio
Table decorations – The Event Dressers
Wedding Dress – Corbridge Wedding Dress Shop
Suits – Hotspur 1364
Bridesmaid dresses – Six Stories
Dress fitting – Groom & Co
Photography – 2 Tone Photography
Cakes – M&S
A Few Words from the Newly Weds
“Our wedding was truly amazing and everything we hoped it would be. Sarah was a wonderful co-ordinator during the lead up to the wedding – she assisted with all queries in a timely manner and always gave helpful advice and guidance.
The venue was perfect in every way, the grounds are maintained so beautifully all year, and the Woodland Suite was the most magical place to be married in. The day went very smoothly and all staff appeared to have everything in hand and were helpful to guests.
The food was spectacular. I have never tasted soup as delicious as our starter, and by the middle of my main course I couldn’t eat another bite. For our evening buffet, we went a little rogue and asked the chef to make bao buns – he obliged and offered both pork and beef fillings. Our guests are still talking about how tasty it was. The only issue was there didn’t seem to be enough bao buns for everyone!
We can’t thank Shortflatt Tower enough for helping us to have the most wonderful day of our lives.
If groundhog day was a thing, I would choose to live that very day over and over.”
