Inspiration

It was really important for us to shape our day as much as possible, but don't overestimate how much you can do yourselves. For us, the help of staff at Pendle Heritage Centre was invaluable. They provided catering, a staffed bar and changed the rooms over for our ceilidh and disco, which allowed us to spend more time enjoying the day itself. We had lots of DIY elements: the disco playlist, seating plans, chair covers, table runners and place names, which can add up so make sure you don't leave them to the week before!

On the day before our wedding, we had lined up lots of family and friends to help with the set-up, to the point that we were beginning to turn offers of help down. When the day arrived, our helpers experienced delays or had to pull out, and we were left on our own. In the afternoon, Margaret, one of the volunteers from Clem's Garden arrived with the flowers to find me and Benja at the end of our tether. Without being asked, Margaret set about dressing the rooms and steaming our chair covers. She saved the day!