- Weddings
- 1st Oct 2025
- 0
- 0 minute
“We planned our dream wedding in just six months”- this real bride reveals all
- Advertisement Feature
Planning a wedding in six months might sound like a stress-filled whirlwind – but for this North East bride, it was an enjoyable, exciting process that turned out exactly as she’d dreamed.
Here’s how she did it with the help of Northumberland Registrars.
“IT FELT MEANT TO BE”
“We’d only been engaged two months when we went along to an open day at Horton Grange,’ she tells us.
‘The moment we saw it, we just knew. And would you believe it – a Saturday in May was available. Honestly, it felt like fate.”
FIRST THINGS FIRST
So, what was the very first thing she ticked off the list?
“The registrar – without a doubt,’ she says. ‘Honestly, my top tip to any bride is to ring Northumberland Registrars straight away. I called them first thing Monday morning after we’d chosen Horton Grange. The lady I spoke to was so kind – she congratulated us, talked me through everything and instantly put me at ease. It felt like such a special moment.”
BOOKING MADE SIMPLE
Far from the complicated process you might imagine, booking the registrar was the straightforward part.
“They gave us a choice of times, were so flexible, and even let me pay the deposit over the phone. I could have paid later if I’d needed to. Within minutes, it was sorted – and I can’t tell you the relief of knowing the most important part of the day was confirmed. They sent over the ceremony pack straight away with all the personal touches we could add, which I loved.”
MAKING IT PERSONAL
Not every bride wants all eyes on her and she admits she’s one of them.
“The registrars were brilliant – they offered us the chance to write our own promises and we kept them short and simple, so Chris felt comfortable too. They even rang us afterwards to check everything over, which was such a reassurance.”
Other special touches? An unplugged ceremony (so no phones or cameras in the way), and asking their nephews to be ring bearers. “It melted everyone’s hearts,” she says.
“The whole thing was short, sweet and heartfelt – our guests said it struck the perfect balance. No one was clock-watching, but it didn’t drag either. It was exactly how we wanted it.”
Want more ideas on how to make your ceremony personal? Read our full feature.
MOMENTS SHE’LL NEVER FORGET
Getting ready with her bridesmaids in Horton Grange’s little house was a highlight. So too was a first look with her dad – “something I’ll cherish forever”. But one moment stands above the rest…
“My mam passed away last year, and the registrars made sure she was part of the ceremony. They included her name, so she was with us on the day. It meant the world to me. They really went above and beyond – even giving me a cuddle when I got emotional. That kind of care is something I’ll never forget.”
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
You’d think pulling a wedding together in six months would be chaos – but not for this bride.
“My dress was the fourth one I tried on at Wed2B – I just knew it was the one. Chris and the groomsmen went to Slater Menswear, which was really easy. We used so many brilliant North East suppliers: flowers from Flori & Fern in Corbridge, rings from Osborne’s Jewellers, stationery from Loom Weddings and The Crafty Lab, and décor by The Event Dressers in Cramlington. Hair was by Sophie at Hair Heaven, make-up by Jasmine Davies MUA and our DJ was DJ Alpha.”
“And the most personal touch of all – my maid of honour Jess baked our wedding cake herself. That made it so special.’
CAPTURING THE DAY
“Our photographer was Lee, who had photographed my cousin Kate’s wedding back in 2021. I loved the candid style of his photos, so when he offered me a discount as a recommendation, it felt right. He was amazing on the day and I’ll treasure those pictures forever.”
THE HIGHLIGHT
When we asked what the best part of the day was, she didn’t have to think about her answer at all.
“The ceremony. It was intimate, personal and exactly the right length. Standing there with Chris, surrounded by our closest family and friends – it just felt perfect. Then it was straight into celebrating, which is exactly what we wanted.”
ADVICE FOR OTHER BRIDES
Planning a wedding in six months is no small task, but this bride insists it can be done – and even enjoyed.
“Book your registrar as soon as possible – it takes away so much stress. From there, just go with what feels right for you as a couple. Don’t overthink it. Focus on the little touches that are meaningful to you, because they’re the things that make your day truly unforgettable.”
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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