Cumbrian Weddings4
Choice: The finalists of the It's in the Box competition
won either a photography package or two gowns
BY EMMA MORLEY
W
hen it comes to
choosing a theme
for your wedding
day many brides
decide on a favourite colour,
but it was her job that
inspired Sylvia Murray when
she was organising her big
day.
Sylvia set up her own painting
and decorating business Decor
Syl three years ago and thought
it would be unusual to try to
make it a feature at her
wedding.
She said: "Painting and
decorating is something I
enjoyed for years but I never
pursued it as a career.
"I used to train horses but
after an accident I decided to
look into something different
and I found there was a big
demand for female decorators.
"When I started thinking
about my wedding I thought it
would be nice to incorporate it
somehow into the plans."
Sylvia, originally from
Brampton, married Lyndon
McSherry, a senior mechanical
engineer, at Distington Church,
where Lyndon's father John is
buried, followed by a reception
at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton.
Sylvia chose a black and ivory
colour theme with a splash of
bright pink and used the
painting and decorating theme
at the reception.
Her bright pink work van was
parked outside the Greenhill
Hotel during the reception and
guests were treated to special
favours and table settings
during the wedding breakfast.
"I deal a lot with the Crown
Decorator Centre in Carlisle,"
said Sylvia, 38. "They said they
would help me and they donated
paint tester pots for the favours
with the spoons to open them. I
filled them with champagne
truffles from Saunders at
Rheged and Murray mints
because of my surname with
pink bows and name labels.
"I thought it was something
different that guests would
remember and also very
personal."
The top table was named
Topcoat while other tables had
names such as Gloss and
Emulsion.
Sylvia, who wore an ivory
taffeta gown with a mock two
piece single-boned corset and
strapless bodice from Bridal
Elegance, Penrith, was walked
down the aisle by her father
Maurice.
Bridesmaid Marjorie Murray
and matron of honour Sam
Garner wore fuschia strapless
dresses.
Michael Denwood was best
man while Lyndon's cousin Paul
McSherry and Sylvia's cousin
Robert Murray were ushers and
wore black suits with ivory
dupion waistcoats and cream
neck ties.
During the speeches it was
announced that if any of the
ladies had a key to Lyndon's
house in their favour paint pot
then they should give it back
now as he was married.
"About 12 females came
forward," said Sylvia. "It
brought an element of humour
to the reception."
The couple, who live in
Distington, met through mutual
friends in February 2007 and got
engaged in December 2007.
"I didn't know anything about
it," said Sylvia. "Lyndon took
me to New York for what he said
was a shopping trip but we
didn't do much shopping. On the
last day we went up the Empire
State Building. I was a bit
anxious because we didn't have
a lot of time before our flight.
"I was overcome when he
proposed. I had no idea and felt
bad because I had been
worrying about the flight while
he had been planning to pop the
question."
Wedding
decoration
Painting and decorating business puts
Sunflower cushion memories
BRIDAL accessory designer
Olivier Laudus has created a
beautiful special edition
wedding ring cushion for
Leukaemia Research.
Inspired by the Calendar Girls
story, Oliver created the cushion
in memory of his mother Lily
who died at the end of 2008 after
a long battle with cancer.
The cushion features a
brightly beaded sunflower
depiction against a backdrop of
pearls and can be personalised
with bride and groom's initials
and wedding date.
Olivier, who starred briefly in
the 2003 Calendar Girls film as a
gym instructor, said: "I am
delighted to be working with
The
wedding
of Sylvia
Murray
and
Lyndon
McSherry
HARRINGTONS
Leukaemia Research. Losing a
parent is very painful process to
go through, however I was able
to forget my own sadness for a
while by speaking to clients who
were getting excited about their
wedding preparations.
"Creating the sunflower
cushion also gave me a focus
and seemed the perfect way of
honouring the memory of my
mother.
"She absolutely loved flowers
and had the most stunning
sunflowers growing in her
garden in Perpignan."

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