This vintage-loving couple chose a railway venue as the perfect setting for their wedding. WED2B Real Weddings reveals more…
Hannah and Karl met initially as good friends at work. Hannah says that they gradually got closer. We never had a real first date, except for a lunchtime trip to Harvester!
PIES and a PROPOSAL
Karl proposed after the couple had been dating for two years. Hannah says, “He took to me a local pub named the Windmill Inn 10th September 2020.”
“We both had pies as our meal, and there was a guitarist playing a tune near the door. I was watching him play when I turned around and saw Karl on one knee. It was totally unexpected. “He had given me the most stunning opal-and-diamond engagement ring, which I still love today.”
TRAVELING TO SHOP FOR A DRESS
Hannah says, “I went to the WED2B shop in Hinckley where my parents reside.” I had tried other local stores but was not successful in my search for a tea-length wedding dress. The variety of dresses in my size was impressive at WED2B. The shop assistant helped me a lot, too. She showed me how to put on the dresses and did them for me. The accessories were also beautiful. “I also purchased a dress, a dress box, a dressing gown and sash, along with my dress.”
Hannah selected the Ida gown.
She says, “it was a vintage look that i love.” It’s also practical as we were married in a heritage train station. I didn’t want to drag around a long gown on the dusty floor. It fit perfectly and was the perfect length for an extremely hot day in September. I got (and continue to get) many compliments on my dress.
You can find similar styles in Sofia Jolene or Yvette.
A RAILWAY WEDDING VENUE
Hannah says, “Our railway venue was Great Central Railway Loughborough.” Our ceremony was held at Loughborough Station, and the evening reception occurred at Quorn & Woodhouse Station. “We’ve been to many heritage railways and thought that it would be great to get married there.”
Great Central was our perfect venue as we live in NW Leicestershire. The railway told us that they were in the process of getting their wedding license.
It was like fate! We were the first couple to marry at the railway venue on 18th September 2021. “Everyone was amazed at how wonderful it was. The staff were brilliant during the entire process.”
The Big Day
Hannah says, “We started the day very early.” “I prepared myself at home with my mum, bridesmaids and niece (sister-in law). My dad came later to join us for the ceremony. Karl prepared at his parents’ home.”
Hannah says that two Volkswagen vans picked us up. I traveled with my father in one, and the bridesmaids, my mother, and myself traveled in the other. The bridegroom drove his two sons and himself to the venue on his Volkswagen T4. The wedding party traveled by train from Quorn to Woodhouse.
Hannah says, “We were married at 12pm on a Saturday in The Gallery opposite the booking desk.” “I walked with my father down the aisle to Elvis’ ‘Can’t Help But Fall In Love’. We are not religious, so the ceremony was short. We signed the register while listening to the Arctic Monkeys, one of our favorite bands. Then we left with Morecambe and Wise singing “Bring Me Sunshine” because who wouldn’t want to smile when they hear that song?”
“My favorite part of our ceremony was when we walked down to the platform, and everyone threw us confetti in our wedding colors of yellow and green. (I made this myself using tissue paper and a heart-shaped cutter).
All Aboard!
Hannah says, “Right after the ceremony Karl & I took photos with the wedding cars. The wedding party then headed to Bucks Fizz and boarded the train.”
We were on the dining service at 1pm, which goes from Loughborough North to Leicester North and back, with a short stopover at the reservoir. This was a great opportunity to take photos. We had a four-course meal on the train, and we were able to use the Veranda carriage all by ourselves. The engine had a headboard that said ‘Wedding Belle.’ I had it replicated for my husband as an anniversary present.”
A SURPRISE TO GUESTS…
Hannah says, “We had group photos taken in Loughborough and then took another train to Quorn where the evening reception was held. We waited for the train to leave the platform before crossing the tracks to our evening venue.
As the train pulled away, our wedding party saw the steam carousel that we had hired for the first time (it was covered and out of sight until this point). As we approached the carousel, it began to play ‘congratulations.’ “Everyone was amazed at the carousel, and everyone had several rides on the beautiful horses.”
LET’S PARTY!
Hannah says, “The evening reception started at 6pm. We had a Pie and Mash van that served a variety delicious pies and desserts.” Our first dance song was Everlong by the Foo Fighters. The acoustic was first played, but then the normal version came on because we aren’t really slow dance people!
We then cut the cake. It was a two-tier lemon and Victoria sponge with ivory icing and green pearls in keeping with the theme. The cake topper consisted of a Polaroid photo and wire bent in both our names.
A Vintage Railway Theme
Hannah says, “Our theme is vintage, and of course railways!” We chose two of our favorite colors, green and yellow, and went with them. The tables at our evening venue were named after London Underground stations, and scattered on the table tops were small wooden campervans that had our names and wedding dates.
