See how other local couples celebrated their big day with wedding stories and ideas from Your Yorkshire Wedding Real Weddings features.
Jessica and Charlie Hogg met through friends and fell in love instantly. Jessica tells us, "We're extremely similar to one another, we're each other's best friends and soul mates." Charles popped the question in December 2019 when he took her to admire the view from one of Ilkley's famous rock formations, the cow and calf. Jessica remembers, "I turned around and he was down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a huge surprise; my mum and dad knew and had a bottle of champagne waiting for when we went to tell them."
The big day was set for 16th July, 2021 taking place at Hollins Hall Hotel & Country Club.
Caroline and George Rispin met at work in York back in 2014. Caroline tells us, "I loved George's energy and humour – he made me laugh like nobody else and I remember one afternoon we were working together and were so engrossed in conversation that we just didn't answer the phones! Everybody loves George when they meet him, he's so fun to be around and he's incredibly caring."
"We're both very ambitious and are attracted to each other's independent drive. We have such a strong bond because we share the same values – our relationship has been built upon trust, honesty, transparency, and an unwavering love and respect for one another." Just like their high expectations in life they also had the same expectations in another area as Caroline jokes! "We were also looking for a partner with height! I'm 5ft 11, so I needed a tall man and he's 6ft 5 – so I'll be forever looking up to him!"
Anna and Jack met in the summer of 2011, and fell madly in love. "I was friends with Jack's sister," Anna says. "I moved into a house in Manchester but it badly needed renovation work; the solution was to stay with their family in the Orkney Islands for a few weeks while the work took place – gatecrashing a family holiday!" Anna and Jack soon connected as friends, before it grew into something more.
Both teachers, our newlyweds met when Rio interviewed Robbie for a teaching post at the school she works in. "At first, he thought I was quite intimidating," Rio laughs. "We grew very close as work colleagues, before deciding to give our relationship a go during the summer holidays. We soon realised it was exactly what we both wanted." It was on a magical trip to New York at Christmas that Robbie popped the question in the most romantic of ways. "While walking through Central Park, I heard a guitarist playing my favourite song: Dreams by Gabrielle," Rio says. "I noticed rose petals and framed pictures of us next to where the guitarist was playing – I then realised Robbie might be about to propose. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him; it was a complete surprise and one of the most perfect moments in my life!" After clarifying that Robbie had asked her dad (he had!), Rio said "Yes!"
When Briony and Mark first met through mutual friends, sparks flew immediately. "We instantly clicked," Briony said. "I knew I'd be with him forever. It felt like we'd known each other for years and he soon became my best friend." So it was no surprise that one day Mark would be planning to pop the question. "For years we've gone on holiday to Cornwall with our beloved cocker spaniel, Charlie," Briony tells us. "2017 was no different, and we set off with our two good friends, Hayley and James." When they arrived, Mark explained that he had booked a lovely dinner at Lewennick Lodge in Newquay. After the meal, he asked Briony to join him on the balcony, which looks out across the ocean and an amazing sunset. "I refused to go out because it was too cold," Briony laughs.
Katherine and Sam shared two big things in common: their profession and their sense of humour. "We're both teachers and we met while working in the same school," Katherine tells us. "We just got on really well; I laughed at his jokes and he loved my smile." It wasn't long before Sam was thinking about popping the question. "Sam proposed while we were on holiday in Sri Lanka," Katherine says. "It was after dinner one evening when we were walking along a deserted beach, while under a clear sky with twinkling stars." Katherine admits it wasn't a total surprise. "We had talked about getting married prior to the holiday!" she says. Back in the UK, the two began planning their perfect wedding, and set the date for 19th October, 2019. We caught up with Katherine to find out more...
Timeless elegance with Abi and Tom
So many great couples start out as friends, and that was the case with Abi and Tom. "We went to school and university together before we started dating," Abi explains. "We both have the same sense of humour; we laugh a lot!"
When Minju and Barry met in Qatar, where they both live and work, everything just seemed to click into place; they soon realised that they had similar values in life. "We got on so well, and enjoyed the small things together," Barry says. "We realised how much we were developing as individuals by being together." Barry's thoughts soon turned to popping thequestion.
In 2010, Ellie found herself competing against Joe for a placement at BMW. "Thankfully we both got the job!" Ellie says. "And the rest is history." Being from opposite ends of the country, the pair spent a lot of time travelling to see family. It was on one weekend visiting Ellie's parents down south that Joe knew it was time to pop the question.
Frances and James had a marquee wedding at home, with an emphasis on having the time of their lives. Frances and James were both out in Northallerton's infamous Bongo nightclub when they met. "I just thought he wasn't bad looking," Frances laughs. It must have been more than that, as the couple's relationship blossomed and James was soon planning how to pop the question.