Ellie has never forgotten what her close friend Caitlin once told her: “I know the perfect guy for you, so tell me when you’re ready to start dating.” A year passed and her friend sneakily planned for the pair to casually meet one evening, arranging with Ellie to go out for dinner, while asking Drew to come along and discuss a job opportunity at her new company.

Ellie said: “When I arrived, Caitlin was sitting there with this very handsome guy and it was genuinely love at first sight. We spent the next couple of hours chatting away like we’d known each other forever.” The next day Drew asked Ellie out on a date and the rest, as they say, was history!

Fast-forward to June 2018 and the pair married at Brinkburn Priory, with Ellie keen to show off the beautiful Northumberland countryside to Drew’s friends and family, who hail from the South. The North / South divide became a bit of a running joke on the day, with the speeches referring to ‘the Geordies v’s the Posh People’ and the Northern MC nicknaming Drew’s two best men Hugh Grant and Baldy Napper.

Their special day was exactly as they planned it – enriched with love and laughter, filled with delicious food and good music, and enjoyed by all their favourite people.

Choosing the Venue:

One of Northumberland’s most magical wedding venues, Brinkburn Priory lies in a secluded wooded ravine on the banks of the river Coquet. Ellie knew she wanted to celebrate her wedding day at the 12th Century manor house even before Drew proposed, so he booked the venue two weeks prior to popping the big question. “It made the proposal even more special when he told me Brinkburn was booked and we already had a wedding date,” said Ellie. “The team there is fantastic and the venue itself is simply stunning; I think a lot of people fell in love with Northumberland that weekend.”

Wedding Planning:

Ellie embraced the whole wedding planning experience, choosing to garner ideas from Pintrest and the internet, rather than visit wedding fairs. She said: “I loved all the planning and research, especially finding those little extras that add the finishing touches and make the day personal. We are lucky we have so many fantastic suppliers to choose from in the region, meaning I could start booking my flowers and photographer straight away.”

Choosing the Photographer:

It was important to Drew and Ellie to choose a photographer with experience of Brinkburn Priory , and Helen Russell’s portfolio of work inspired them. “We looked through some of Helen’s albums and there was so much personality in them, which is exactly what we wanted to see,” said Ellie. “On the day she was really great and managed to get the best out of everyone; the results were stunning. The groomsmen jumping in the air made everyone laugh – I love that shot.”

Ellie’s Advice:

“Don’t stress yourself out by comparing your day to anyone else’s day. Instead, remember that it is simply about the two of you sharing something incredible with the people you love.”

Highlight of the Day:

“I loved so many parts of our wedding day, from getting ready with my girls in the morning to walking down the aisle and seeing Drew’s face. It was lovely to have everyone together; to look around and see all our friends and family on tables laughing together. We could feel the love and that’s all we wanted.”

For further wedding inspiration check out other real weddings or see the latest edition of Belle Bridal Magazine.

words by Kate Stanley