Well matched

Nicole Lawrence’s glittering wedding to professional footballer Martin Paterson was a winning day of high emotion and great entertainment

Martin Paterson and Nicole Lawrence

Where: Ceremony at St John’s Church, Keele, Staffordshire followed by reception at Crew Hall, Crewe, Cheshire

Photography: Lesley Meredith

I always thought I’d get married abroad. I’m not one for fuss, so a big wedding never crossed my mind, unlike Martin who plays professional football and is used to a big crowd. When we decided to have the wedding in England there was only one place we wanted the reception and that was Crewe Hall.

I tried on nearly 200 dresses before I found ‘the one’. It was a Justin Alexander design and it was perfect. My mum’s words were “that’s the dress I always imagined my daughter would walk down the aisle in” and she was right.

On the day I woke up really nervous but before I knew it my bridesmaids had arrived and so had Nina Wren to do our hair and make-up. It was hectic, but I couldn’t wait to get into my dress and put on my amazing shoes, covered in hand-placed Swarovski crystals. Arriving at the church with my dad in a Rolls-Royce Phantom was unreal and that time alone together was so special. As we walked out of the church, I almost lost it – I couldn’t believe I’d finally married my best friend

At Crewe Hall our guests enjoyed canapés and cocktails as our fabulous photographers Lesley and Shaun Meredith, worked their magic. Our colour scheme was white with sparkles, with only the ushers and bridesmaids adding a splash of colour, dressed beautifully in teal.

Walking into the room for the wedding breakfast I couldn’t believe my eyes – it was magical. White roses and candles surrounded us. We chose places we’d been to together and places we still hope to see for our table names, boxed cupcakes and sweetie bags for our favours and designed a five-tiered cake with a different flavour for each tier which sat on two tiers of cupcakes which were mixed with our favourite alcohol – it was exactly what we imagined. The food and the speeches were lovely, my dad was so nervous that he was still practising his speech right up until we were ready to start but he was great.

For the evening I changed into a lace fishtail dress and the room was set up beautifully glowing purple with a white, twinkling dance floor and backdrop.

As we danced our first dance, confetti burst out all around us and the children absolutely loved it.

WHO DID WHAT

Photography: Lesley and Shaun Meredith, 07979 890172, www.lesleymeredith.co.uk

Venue: Crewe Hall, Crewe, 01270 259304, www.qhotels.co.uk

Dress: Justin Alexander, www.justinalexanderbridal.com

Accessories, hair & make-up: Nina Wren, Anglesey, 07971 512813, www.bridalhairandtiaras.com

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Elle Louise, Newcastle-under-Lyme, 01782 630300, www.ellelouisebridal.co.uk

Stationery: Ivy Cottage Cards, Horwich, Bolton, 07816 871125, www.ivycottagecards.net

Flowers & Venue Dressing: Red Floral Architecture, Hyde, 07739 709400,

www.redfloral.co.uk

Cake: Bloomsbury Wedding Cakes, Knutsford, 07973 339021, www.bloomsburyweddingcakes.co.uk

Transport: Cupid Carriage Wedding Cars, Sheffield, 0800 316 7588,

www.cupidcarriages.co.uk

Entertainment: Matrix Club Matrix, Stafford, 07865 023268, www.matrixclubmatrix.co.uk; photobooth, Luxurybooth, 07794 039579, www.luxurybooth.com; fireworks, Blitz Fireworks, Crewe, 01270 211129, www.blitzfireworks.com

Lighting: Absolute Lighting and Events, Liverpool, 0151 706 0200,

www.absolutelightingandevents.co.uk