Rachel and Marek’s Stunning NYE Wedding at Bowcliffe Hall
Rachel and Marek’s winter wedding held on New Year’s Eve was truly the stuff that dreams are made of. With a brief to create an incredible NYE Black Tie Ball, there was something about the decor of all white flowers (flown in from South America) and hallways filled with storm lanterns and flickering tealights. The Hall felt like it had been born to hold such lavish affairs. Top that off with Rachel’s dress – which looked like it had come straight from the movies – dancing until the early morning in The Wing, and a stunning fireworks display at the stroke of midnight, it was as close to perfection as we’ve seen.
All photos are © Joel Skingle Photography
THE BEGINNING
Marek visited Bowcliffe for an event the September before we got engaged and it instantly impressed. Once we got engaged it was immediately on our shortlist! After meeting a few members of staff including owner Jonathan, everyone’s enthusiasm and interest in us as a couple meant Bowcliffe was the place for us. Marek is a big car man and the theme of the Drivers’ Club just added to the appeal.
THE BRIDE
Marek and I immediately hit it off; I still wonder how we had never met living so close to one another for so long! Having had three happy years of travelling, food and enjoying each other’s company I’d mentioned my idea of a New Year’s Eve wedding before the engagement, it just seemed the perfect time for a Big Day! I had no idea Marek was going to propose and he really made me feel like a princess. I did nothing but cry for the next hour, and we had to leave the ball and call my parents!
Bowcliffe was the first venue we visited and immediately set the standard. It didn’t take long for us to make our final decision! I wanted a dress that accentuated my curves, had an open back with intricate lace detail. Demi and the team at the White Gallery in Ramsbottom found the one that was perfect for me, an haute couture dress by Riki Dalal.
The big day at Bowcliffe made all my dreams come true. Marek and our families did everything in their power to make it perfect and Laura and the staff made it run like clockwork.
THE GROOM
Rachel and Marek’s Wedding at Bowcliffe Hall Image © Joel Skingle Photography
Rachel and I met in a local pub one night; somewhere we both went regularly. Despite this, we had never met until that night where we instantly connected. Within the week we had been out together three or four times and we quickly became each other’s best friends! For New Year’s Eve 2016 we went to Edinburgh for a Hogmanay Black Tie Ball at The Balmoral. I’d already bought the ring, and knew it’d be the perfect start to the New Year. On the stroke of midnight, I proposed under the fireworks!
I’m a pretty relaxed person and I think my laid-back approach frustrated Rachel. When the day finally arrived, it wasn’t really nerves, more of a ‘let’s do this’. The morning of the wedding was a really good laugh, from the last minute learning how to fold a pocket square using YouTube videos, to the journey from our house to Bowcliffe; it cemented friendships and created memories.
ARRIVAL
The bride, bride’s family and friends all stopped over at The Grand Hotel in York the night before where they had a family meal. Rachel arrived by private car on the wedding day with her parents, the groom arrived with the best man and ushers in a Bentley Mulsanne provided by JCT600 an hour before the ceremony began, in readiness to welcome in the other guests arriving.
THE VENUE
We went into the decision-making process pretty open-minded, other than the date and style of the occasion: New Year’s Eve 2017 and Black Tie Ball. Having visited Bowcliffe in the past, we knew what was available and this set a standard for others to match.
Nowhere we visited offered the quality and sophistication that Bowcliffe did. It was the only venue we visited twice! Other places felt like ‘just another wedding venue’ whereas Bowcliffe didn’t; to us, it felt special and that this was our day.
THE DÉCOR/THEME
The idea was an elegant black tie event with an art-deco touch and Bowcliffe fit this bill. The flowers from Red Floral and other little touches like the mirror showing the day’s events in the foyer, the storm lanterns and the use of the lighting in the Ballroom and Blackburn wing were all that was needed to make it just right.
THE FLOWERS
Rachel chose Red Floral for the flowers & decoration. A meeting with Matt from Red Floral confirmed everything we believed and we knew we could trust him implicitly. The main brief for the décor was elegant and the flowers had to be hydrangeas (one of Rachel’s favourite!).
Matt visited Bowcliffe and agreed it was fantastic and confirmed that due to the sophistication and taste of Bowcliffe, not a lot was needed to meet the brief. The flowers arrived from South America three days before the wedding and Matt and his team did a wonderful job, incorporating the flowers with the décor of Bowcliffe and storm lanterns/tea lights.
THE BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN
Rachel had four bridesmaids and three flower girls; all dressed in Champagne coloured dresses from Goddiva to fit in with the theme. They all looked stunning!
Marek had four groomsmen and one pageboy, with the best man returning the favour from 2012! They were all dressed in matching tuxedos from Next.
THE CEREMONY
The room looked stunning and the flower girls walked down the aisle first, spreading rose petals, followed by the bridesmaids. The rings were tied to a pillow held by the pageboy.
In Rachel’s words “It’s all a blur. I just wanted to get to him [Marek]” It was an emotional occasion for all the right reasons: the atmosphere, the guests, the readings and the ceremony. A day nobody will forget.”
THE FOOD AND DRINK
Chef Andy Lawson did an absolutely fantastic job of the Wedding Breakfast! Everyone commended the quality. We attended a tasting evening to decide on the final menu. We settled on a starter of Yorkshire Pork Terrine with apple and rhubarb chutney and salt and vinegar crackling; main was Fillet of Dales Beef with root vegetable dauphinoise and oxtail bon-bon. All finished with our own choice trio of desserts! The father of the bride said it was the best beef ‘he ever did taste’!
The wine selection was brilliant and certainly a wine lovers dream! In the end, we settled on a good trio of white, rose and red with Nyetimber (From West Sussex) as the bubbles for the toast.
In the evening Bowcliffe sourced a hog roast for us, the perfect party food.
THE CAKE
Suzanne at The Frostery provided the cake. Her design and cake making skills were the best we saw and tasted. The cake was art deco style to fit in with the theme but with a modern, asymmetric design with a pocket watch made of icing on the top. Flavours were red velvet, Vanilla with raspberry and champagne, lemon drizzle with limoncello and lime and coconut.
THE ENTERTAINMENT
Early in our relationship, we attended a summer BBQ where a Ska/Jazz/Blues band called Louis Louis Louis were playing. Their final song was a cover of The Jungle book in a Jazz style. When it came to planning the big day It seemed natural to have them. They arrived for before the drinks reception and played live jazz in the Drivers Club into the afternoon.
As the evening progressed, they quickly transferred down to The Blackburn Wing where they played our first dance, which they had learned, for us: The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.
Darren from The Hi-Life took over to take the party into the early hours and into the New Year, playing a mix of hits from the 60’s through to present day.
On the stroke of midnight, Laura at Bowcliffe had arranged fireworks for us and they were just awesome! The perfect way to end the day and start the New Year as Husband and Wife.
FINAL THOUGHTS…
Bowcliffe provided everything we wanted and more. Laura and the team were superb on the day and put everything we’d discussed on the numerous visits before into practice. We can’t thank them enough. To all our family and friends who helped make the day special, thank you to all you too. Overall, it was the best day of our lives and it was at Bowcliffe Hall!
THE END
The last thing that anyone did was witness the dance-off between Rachel’s brother and Marek’s friend Josh. It looked planned but we can ensure anyone who saw that it wasn’t!
THE PHOTOGRAPHY
Joel Skingle from Richmond in North Yorkshire was our wedding photographer. He was excellent. His work demonstrates a modern theme that is refreshing from the norm and he captured as many natural shots as possible. He recommended his friend Mark Lenik as a videographer and they really bounced off each other, with Mark working tirelessly throughout the day and night. We’d really recommend both of them to capture the big day.
Photos: Joel Skingle
Video: Mark Lenik
Brides dress: Riki Dalal provided by The White Gallery in Ramsbottom
Wedding Lingerie: Bride Sew Beautiful, Ramsbottom
Perfume: Fu*king Fabulous, Tom Ford, Sloane Street
Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss
Florist:Red FloralCake:The Frostery, Oldham
Band:Louis, Louis, Louis
DJ:The Hi-Life
Transport:JCT600 Bentley, Leeds
Wedding Stationery:East View Designs
Hair:Soul Bawtry
Make-up:Bethan Victoria Makeup Artist