April and James Thursday 7 September 2023
April and James tied the knot on Thursday 7 September 2023 with a ceremony on the Jupiter terrace, followed by a beautiful reception in the Crosby Suite
Fue amor a primera vista. Although, A&J - you won't know what that means, will you? As you spent all of your time flirting in Spanish class!
Their love story started at school and from day one, they knew they were soulmates. After proposing with a special trip to Edinburgh, the planning began. Having viewed Rudding Park first, they decided they didn't need to look anywhere else (we don't blame you - though we may be a little biased!) the beauty of the outdoor spaces blew April & James away!
With a sage and gold colour scheme and lots of handmade touches, it was a perfect day celebrating the pairs love. A&J chose to opt for an intimate wedding with only 50 of their close friends and relatives and being able to spend quality time with each guest, was the icing on the cake - more on that later!
Read on to find out how they fell in love, chose their suppliers and how cutting the cake had them blushing in embarrassment...
We hope you feel inspired!
April and James captured by Matt Atherton Photography
So, how did you two meet?
We met in school. We had been in the same class since we were 11. After multiple attempts of James trying to woo April over the years, she eventually gave in at the age of 14 after having to sit with James in Spanish class. After all the flirting, it’s safe to say neither of us can speak much Spanish…
When did you know they were 'the one'/how did they pop the question?
The two of us have been through a lot together and at no point have we ever looked back. Our love blossomed over the years and from day one, I think the two of us knew we had met our soulmate. James decided to ‘pop the question’ in Edinburgh 2021. We were going away for a break and he thought it would be a wonderful place to do it. We had been to the zoo in the day then into the centre for the Christmas markets. He decided to do it at the base of the castle where she least expected anything. Best decision I ever made!
What was the biggest MUST HAVE for your wedding?
Being around our closest friends and family in an intimate setting. Which is why we chose to only have 50 guests so that we could spend quality time with every single one of them. Rudding took care of this and had multiple options to suit our style.
Other than saying 'I do', what is the most unforgettable moment from the day?
James - For me it was when I first turned around and saw April walking down the aisle. The way she looked I had never felt more happiness in my life.
April - Hearing all of the beautiful things James said in his speech about me and all of our amazing guests.
Which supplier was a real stand out for you? The unsung star who deserves a special mention.
Every single supplier we used was absolutely fantastic and provided exceptional services. However, our DJ Sean from Audio events, was incredible on the night. He listened to exactly what we wanted and pulled off the most amazing 90s club classics rave hour, where all of our guests danced the night away with giant glow sticks.
What was it in your eyes that gives Rudding Park the WOW factor?
It’s difficult to pick out just one WOW factor. The venue speaks for itself. Everything was perfect, from the interior design to the views and scenery outside. If we HAD to pick one thing it would be the terrace outside, it was the most beautiful location we could have dreamed of to have our wedding. Rudding was our first and only venue viewing, we didn’t need to look anywhere else.
How did you style your space? Did your wedding day have a theme?
Our theme was mostly centred around sage and gold which was complimented by the nature in the grounds of Rudding park. The majority of our decor was homemade by April, which gave our day a very personal touch and came out exactly how we imagined.
What is your funniest memory from the day?
When it was time to cut the cake and we had all of our guests stood there watching us. We sliced through the top tier fine only for the knife to come to a stop. Both confused we pushed harder and harder… only it dawned on us when we heard a guest shout over that there may be a separation stand in the way. Which there was. Brought a chuckle to a potentially embarrassing situation.
What's the best advice you could give to couples who are about to tie the knot at Rudding Park?
Trust the staff on the day. This isn’t their first rodeo, they know exactly what they’re doing and blend in. They exceed expectations and go beyond what their role is. They allow you to enjoy your day and take care of everything without a hitch.
And finally, we'd love to hear about your experience with Rudding Park....
From the moment we stepped foot into reception on our first venue visit we were treated like royalty. Everything about Rudding is immaculate. No one could do enough for you. Rudding is a place like no other it has everything anyone could ever need, and if you were that 0.1% that had a requirement that wasn’t already catered for, they would go out of their way to sort the issue. The added extras that come along with booking the venue make the whole experience more special. We have stayed with Rudding on at least 5 occasions in the last 2 years and that wow feeling is the same every time. We believe it’s the people that make the resort more than anything, they strive to make your stay and experience the best it could possibly be and boy do they succeed. We would like to say thank you to everyone that we have met who have assisted us and those people in the background that we have not. If you are looking for a wedding venue, look no further, you will not be disappointed.
Supplier Dream Team:
Photographer: Matt Atherton Photography
Florist: Colette
Cake: Lydia Hyde
DJ/Band: Audio Events
Makeup: Chrys Chapman
Dress: Dress The Bride
Bridesmaids Dress’: Victoria Lou Bridal