The Cheshire wedding of Raynor Di Folco and Mark Clement

Raynor and Mark went back in time for their stylish wedding at Rowton Hall Hotel, Rowton, Chester. Here Raynor tells their wedding story…

We chose Rowton Hall as it is a Georgian manor and I wanted a manor house for my vintage theme. I tried on just two gowns in Cheshire Brides of Frodsham and chose the second, which was so beautiful with its Swarovski crystals. Cheshire Brides are remaking it into a cocktail dress so I can wear it after again. 

The morning of the wedding started early at 8.30am with the arrival of my hair stylist and make-up artist. It is so much better getting the professionals who specialise in bridal work. After five hours of styling, I started to get nervous and thought me, my bridesmaids and flowergirls, (Sandrine le Bouette, Graziela Di Folco and Francesca Clement) and my dad, Raymond Pickup, had been forgotten, but then there was a knock at the door, a voice saying “we are ready for you” and we came out to be greeted by the owner of the Rowton Hall hotel, the staff and our photographer. I felt like Madonna walking on to a stage.

The colour of the wedding was burgundy and we had colour co-ordinated petals thrown down the aisle for my arrival and a violinist playing Pachelbel’s Canon in D. We left to violin music too.

After the ceremony the next musical entertainment started with Lucy Barlow singing upbeat 1940s and jazz tunes as the guests enjoyed their Kir Royal (to match the colour theme) and canapés. We booked a 1930s’ Beauford Tourer for the photographs

The table decorations were vintage teasets with flowers, birdcages and real petals, and the favours were boxes of chocolates.

The cake was a vintage style with a china teacup on the top and there were cupcakes decorated with burgundy roses. The tables were named after 1930s’ cricket players.

Our DJ Steve Turner played during the meal and for the evening entertainment we had the amazing band Elbowroom. For our first dance Lucy sang Etta James’s At Last.

The DJ performed when the band had breaks so there was non-stop entertainment.

In the evening we had finger food – sausage and bacon sandwiches, chips, panini, wedding cake and cupcakes.

We went on a minimoon after the wedding to Lake Garda and our big honeymoon with be next year in Thailand.

Top tips for other brides

Give yourself 18 months to prepare.

Think of a theme before you visit wedding events so you visit the right places.

Take your theme to the max. I bought lots of 1930s’ Art Deco jewellery, cufflinks and a skeleton watch for my husband.

Making it all possible

Photography: Tom Barker, tombarkerphotography.co.uk

Venue: Rowton Hall Hotel, rowtonhallhotel.co.uk

Dress: Cheshire Brides, cheshirebrides.co.uk

Accessories: Les Harris, lesharrisjewellers.co.uk

Wedding rings: Les Harris, lesharrisjewellers.co.uk

Bridesmaids’ dresses: BHS, bhs.co.uk

Hair: Tina Howarth, beau-hair.co.uk

Make-up: Samantha Humphreys, samhumphreys93@googlemail.com

Groom’s outfit: Groom, Chester, groomhire.co.uk/chester/

Flowers: Emma Fawcett- Eustace, emmafawcett-eustace.com

Real petals: Shropshire Petals, shropshirepetals.com

Cake: Carolyn Garton, carolyn710@live.co.uk

Catering: Rowton Hall Hotel, rowtonhallhotel.co.uk

Venue dresser: Steve Turner, inbox@totally-events.co.uk

Vintage Beauford tourer hire, bclassycars.co.uk

Stationery: Teresa, Uberfly, uberflyinvites.co.uk

Wedding favours: Pilgrims Chocolates and Fudge, chocolatesandfudge.co.uk

Entertainment: Violinist: Daniel Axworthy, danielaxworthy.com; Vintage singer: Lucy Barlow

lucysingsweddings.com; Band: Elbowroom, elbowroom.org, elbowroom.org/rowton-hall-chester/

DJ and lighting: Steve Turner, inbox@totally-events.co.uk