This week’s Behind the Bride is with Emma from Building with the Breretons.
Hi Emma, first of all, congratulations on your marriage! When was the big day?
It was Thursday 29th May 2014. We got married just before the bank holiday weekend so guests could enjoy a couple of extra days off as well as being an attempt to save a few pennies along the way.
Tell me a bit about yourself and your partner. When and where did you first meet?
Mark and I have been together for 11 years and married for just over four. We met at Edward Mellor Estate Agents in Stockport, Greater Manchester on 6th March 2007. It was my first job after university as marketing coordinator and despite being ten years my senior, Mark was a trainee surveyor there.
My desk was next to the water fountain and let’s just say Mark drank a lot of water after I started working there, making any excuse to get a cup of water during the working day.
He is the funniest person I have ever met and he was instantly under my skin.
The rest, they say, is history.
How did they propose? Or was it you who popped the question?
Mark proposed seven years after us getting together but EVERYTHING went wrong.
It was my birthday weekend and the hottest day of the year so far. He had booked a room at the Midland Hotel in Manchester and that was basically it. He left the rest to fate.
It was bank holiday so very busy in Manchester. We struggled to park which stressed Mark out and then we struggled to find anywhere for dinner. We finally found out The Alchemist in Spinningfields had tables so we booked in there and went back to the hotel to get ready.
I then decided to have a fat ugly day. Mark was about to propose and I was having a paddy because I hated the clothes I’d brought. Finally, I was ready and we went to The Alchemist for dinner.
It was packed! We were sat at a tiny table with people sat so close to our food I thought they might help themselves. We finished our food and headed to a prohibition themed bar that you needed a password to get into.
We knocked on the door to give the password and realised it had closed down!
Disappointed, we headed back to The Midland for some very over priced cocktails and went up to bed.
I said: “I’m just going to get my PJs on and take my makeup off.”
Wanting to save the evening and knowing I would want to feel nice and not in PJs, Mark said: “Are you sure you don’t want your birthday present?”
“No it’s OK I will have it tomorrow when it’s my birthday.”
“Ah go on it’s only small.”
“OK, go on then.”
He walked over to me with a ring box and asked me to marry him. I was absolutely stunned!
The best part was that the next day as we were checking out, my whole family arrived at the hotel for afternoon tea so we could celebrate together. It was beautiful.
Tell me a bit about your big day. Where did you tie the knot? Did you have a theme or a colour scheme?
Our wedding was held at The Monastery in Gorton, Manchester. Every little detail was organised by me, Mark literally just turned up and paid for most of it. It was beautiful. The building itself is quite spectacular so we didn’t go over the top with decorations but the colour theme was spring pinks lilacs, pearls and diamonds.
What was your favourite memory from your day?
It sounds bad as it’s part of the day where I wasn’t with Mark. It has to be getting ready at my dad’s. Spending the morning with my closest friends and my sister, being pampered, eating a lovely breakfast, having our hair and makeup done. It was so relaxed and it took away any nerves that could have been brewing. My dad waited on us all hand and foot, played lovely music and just doted on us all for the morning.
Was there anything that didn’t go to plan? Or that you would perhaps have done differently?
Yes! The two year old page boy destroyed the hand made table plan my dad and step mother had lovingly made. It was a dolls house size replica of a top table complete with guests and tables to show where everyone was sitting.
The best man went over by about half an hour which impacted the whole day and he was very rude and embarrassing.
Do you have any advice for future brides to be?
Be as organised as possible to stay on track of spending.
Do everything you can not to be a bridezilla, have a close friend who you’re happy to use to keep you in check. Wedding fever can take over.
Spend as much time with your husband on the day as you can, afterall it’s your day
Dance! It’s a celebration. If you and your hubby don’t dance, noone else will
Thank you for taking part Emma. If you would like to hear more from Emma, visit her blog, or find her over on social media – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook.
If you would be interested in taking part in the Behind the Bride series, please email me to discuss.
Thank you for featuring me Emma! Love your blog and really enjoy reading about all the different things you write about 🙂 x
Ah thank you, that’s lovely to hear! x