For Kristin and Peter it was love at first site. “Peter and I met online through Plenty of Fish (after much convincing by our friends to join after a boozy August bank holiday weekend). We chatted briefly via text and met for lunch in Harrogate a week later. A second date the following week quickly followed in Leeds, and the rest is wedding book history!”

Kristin and Peter wanted to tie the knot as soon as possible, so only had 30 days to plan their dream day! “As we were wanting to marry as soon as possible, we based our timeline on the earliest available date at the registry office. This meant we had 30 days and needed to get planning!

“We wanted the day to be filled with our closest family and friends, and to be as relaxed as possible. We limited the wedding party to 25 guests and focused on creating an intimate and personalised day where everyone would feel included.

“We decided on a simple theme with natural elements and pops of red. Neither my husband nor I were keen on being overly decorative, so we used brown paper and personalised stickers containing our initials and wedding date on both the orders of service and gift bags. The sticker design was red and white which dictated the rest of the theme.”

“I gathered every magazine I could find, including Belle Bridal, and scoured them for ideas that resonated with our personalities and aesthetic. I then used Instagram, Pinterest and browsed online shops such as notonthehighstreet.com and etsy.com for further inspiration and to solidify our theme.

“Ultimately, we were planning a wedding in 30 days and had to be decisive, time conscious and cost effective. (In fact, most of the wedding was planned from my hotel room and over WhatsApp in Aberdeen whilst I was travelling for work!)”

“We chose our venue as we lived around the corner from the Registry Office and walked past it daily! As we knew we would be moving to America in the near future, it felt like a lovely way to remember our home. It also added a lovely old-fashioned feel to the day as my friends and I walked through the alley to the venue and met our guests in the streets along the way.

“We would certainly recommend the venue to other future brides. There are two rooms available depending on the size of the wedding, and one of the rooms has floor to ceiling windows that overlook a well-manicured garden. It is quiet, tucked away and close to the town hall, beautiful parks and beaches for additional photos. South Shields is a fantastic little location with easy transport links and close to both Newcastle and Tynemouth.”

How did you choose your photographer?
“When we were originally looking to plan a larger wedding and marry the following year in May 2017, we visited Coco Luminaire in Gosforth and fell in love with their vintage venue props and photo booths (Snaparazzi Photobooths). It was there that the owner recommended several photographers and their portfolios. When we viewed Jade’s work at GASP Photo Co, we knew we found the artist we would like to capture our day. Luckily, as we were marrying on a Friday, she had availability and even recommended Daniel at Shoot Me Now Films to video the afternoon. (Interestingly, Daniel also filmed the wedding of the owner at Coco Luminaire…small world indeed!)”

Advice for other brides and grooms when it comes to wedding planning?
“Don’t have a long engagement. Keep it simple. Don’t get lost or consumed by the details. Remember, it’s about you two and your life together.”

What was your highlight of the day?
“Both my husband and I felt the highlight of our day was the ride in our vintage car along the coast to the meal with our family and friends. It was our moment of calm, reflection and happiness in the most beautiful and dreamy of settings. It truly felt like the best day and moment of our lives.”

For more wedding inspiration, order your copy of the latest Belle Bridal Magazine, or take a look at our real weddings. For submissions email Sarah at sarah@bellebridalmagazine.com