Katie and John met at work 14 years ago and Katie was taken with John’s cheeky charm instantly. From dinner dates in the work canteen to a city chic wedding at Liverpool Town Hall and a reception at the Shankley. After postponing their wedding not once but twice, we’re delighted to share their wedding day story with you.
When and how did you get engaged?
I got engaged on my 29th birthday - I was planning on going for a meal with my family and friends but my partner John said why don’t we go to your grandma and granddads instead (he was secretly planning all my close friends & family to be there and didn’t want to propose to me in an Indian!). He also knew how close I am to my grandma and granddad and how many memories I have in their house. I arrived there and tbh there were so many people there and all of Johns's family and I was thinking what’s going on here!!
John then brought the cake out, a three-tier cake (made by my cake maker Cousine Molly Robins) he then made a speech that he had written and memorised and then got down on one knee, opened a secret door on the top tier of the cake, and pulled the ring out! It was so perfect and thoughtful and I was so happy to have my close family and friends there too! They were just as happy as I was!
How long did it take you to plan your wedding?
We booked with 6 weeks to the big day (planned for October 2020 originally) but it was then postponed for another month due to the lockdown.
What was your budget?
We didn’t have a budget and we spent about £10k - but we splashed out on wedding rings which we absolutely love!!
What made you decide to go ahead with a micro wedding?
We had cancelled a wedding 3 years earlier due to falling pregnant and then we were planning on getting married in May 2021 and after being together for 14 years and two kids later we just thought, we aren’t cancelling AGAIN! So we just went for it and I’m so glad that we did!
Tell us about your wedding dress?
I went for a sweetheart, shin-length city wedding dress. As it wasn’t a big wedding I decided not to have a big dress. Although last minute I decided to add a drape. But it was lovely, a Liverpool designer who I have followed for 20 years made it for me, Kirsty Doyle. Although I think I loved my daughter’s dress more (pictured above), Kirsty also made it - it was perfect and the dress I would pick for phoebe if we were to have a big wedding.
And what accessories to do you choose to complete your wedding outfit?
I got earrings from my best friend Hannah diamond solitaires. I had a beautiful headpiece designed for me by Katie Mangan Millinery - I sent her pics of my shoes and dress and the piece she made was perfect. My shoes were Christian Louboutin and felt like real-life Cinderella shoes! My handbag was from an online boutique. Then on the wedding morning my husband to be surprised me with a beautiful white gold diamond bangle that went perfectly.
How about your Hair and Make up?
My amazing hairdresser Tony Anthony done my hair, it was absolutely perfect and he has also done my wedding party all on the same morning. My makeup was done by Thomas McHugh and I had a couple of trials and it couldn’t have been more spot on. I wanted to look as natural as possible and how I would normally look when I do my hair and makeup (just a bit more polished) and it was great!
What did the groom wear?
The groom’s suit was from TM Lewin and John wore Hugo Boss shoes.
How big was your Wedding Party?
We had 13 guests plus bride and groom as the restrictions in December 2020 were limited to up to 15 guests.
Who was in your wedding party?
Immediate family - mum and dad, brothers and sisters but no partners of brothers and sisters.
What theme did you choose?
I didn’t have a theme, just a get married quickly theme. 😂
Tell us about the food you had?
The Shankly hotel provided the food, we went for a Christmas dinner as it turned out to be a Christmas wedding! (Due to it being postponed).
What entertainment did you have?
Liverpool Town Hall has a piano so we decided to book Liz from The Live Piano Experience for the ceremony. We couldn’t have any music at the reception! But the hotel played background music through the PA system for us.
Tell us about the suppliers you used?
The venue dressers we had for the first wedding date in November could not accommodate our December date so I ended up saucing venue decor separately. I ordered fabulous chairs direct from Wirral Hire. I used drapes and stands and a beautiful candlelit walkway from Sweet Pea and Ivory and then used some fabulous realistic looking fake flowers from Wow Flowers in Liscard - they helped me out super last minute (like less than a week before!) Our photographers were Maddison Pictures and they were fabulous.
How did you choose your wedding venue?
I’ve always loved the city and the Liverpool Town Hall is so beautiful, it’s like a hidden treasure. So that was the first thing I booked when we decided then booked a venue nearby.
How where suppliers about your date change?
Great, everyone was so understanding plus not very busy due to the circumstances!
What covid restrictions did you have to take into account?
A low number of guests, keeping everyone separate as much as possible and everyone kept there and clean. My cousin’s girlfriend Lucy even made everyone face masks so we all matched. Mine was made from material from my wedding dress and we left all the masks as favours on the chairs for the ceremony.
Why did you choose a micro wedding?
We didn’t want the stress of cancelling a huge wedding. We’ve been wanting to get married for a while and I guess one drunk night during lockdown madness we thought, hey let’s just do it! I also wanted the same surname as my two children Phoebe and AJ (pictured below). Plus we are going to hold a big party once we are able to do so to celebrate with everyone.
Anything you would of done differently?
Maybe just gone for it and got a big dress! Although I can do that at the second wedding party we will have when we can have everyone there!
What was the best thing about having a micro wedding?
The fact I get to celebrate all over again and now John and I are FINALLY happily married. There wasn’t much stress at all organising it either!
The best things about planning your wedding?
The best thing about planning it was not having to plan a big wedding!
What was the hardest thing about having a micro wedding?
Not having all my close friends and family there. Some did wait outside the town hall to throw confetti to see us after we got married which meant so much to us!
The hardest part of planning a wedding in general?
Organising every little bit in such detail!
What advice would you give any couples thinking about having a micro wedding?
Think about how you are going to tell your closest friends and family that can’t attend - do it to them gently and be prepared for some upset but on the whole, they will all be happy for you.
Would you do anything differently?
Maybe worn a full-on ball gown like Princess Diana 😂
What about your honeymoon?
As we have two kids (1&3) the honeymoon was more going to be a family moon! I got made redundant not long before the wedding and my partner has his own business so we decided to go to Dubai for 5 weeks just after Christmas and see what work would be like out there and also have a little family moon in the meantime! We are still here!
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