Cumbrian8
Harpist and cartoonist to
show off wares at fayre
A WEDDING fayre takes place at
the Lodore Falls Hotel, Borrowdale
on Sunday from noon until 4pm.
Head chef Mike Ward will be
creating delicious food from the
hotel's selection of menus for guests
to sample as well as offering advice
and suggestions.
There will also be cocktails and
canapes for guests as they arrive
and they will be able to view the
hotel's facilities and honeymoon
suite during the event.
More than 40 exhibitors covering
all the essentials for your wedding
day, including a harpist and
cartoonist, will be on hand
throughout the day for discussions
and advice. Entertainment from a
disco to a ceilidh can also be found
out about.
The hotel will also offer
information on its own wedding
packages which include wedding
breakfasts, landscaped gardens as a
backdrop to photographs, a red
carpet laid out and even a silver-
plated cake knife to cut the cake
and keep as a memento.
A fashion show organised by
Dresses and Dreams of Workington
will take place at 2.30pm
showcasing bridalwear and mother-
of-the-bride outfits.
Viva Las
Vegas!
BY EMMA MORLEY
T
he glitter and
glamour of Las Vegas
and its countless
wedding chapels,
casinos and luxurious
hotels attracts many brides
and grooms every year.
And while it was an impulsive
decision to choose this as the
location for their big day, Nichola
Taylor and Christopher Baird
discovered it was the perfect
place to tie the knot.
Nichola and Christopher had
always intended to get married
abroad but couldn't decide on a
location.
The expense of getting married
in this country compared to the
price of the excitement and wow
factor of somewhere like Las
Vegas � coupled with the warm
weather and being able to
incorporate their honeymoon
into the package � meant it was
the ideal location.
Nichola, originally from
Workington, said: "We woke up
one morning and said that we
should get married in Las Vegas.
"It just seemed perfect.
"If you are going to get married
anywhere abroad then it is the
city to go to."
The couple, who live in
Easington, County Durham and
both work at Cumbria Seafoods
in Seaham, booked the holiday to
Las Vegas and then on to Hawaii
for their honeymoon through
Cockermouth Travel.
They then booked the wedding
package through Always and
Forever, a company they found on
the internet, choosing a package
that included the venue and the
ceremony.
Nichola, 24, had to contact
their hotel, the Mandalay Bay
Hotel, directly to arrange an
appointment with their hair and
beauty salon.
When they arrived two days
before their wedding day they
had to go to the wedding licence
office to register their birth
certificates and a simple form
which they had been able to
access on the internet
beforehand.
"We didn't know where the
office was so we jumped in a
taxi," said Nichola. "It was all
very surreal because when we
arrived there was a queue of
brides and grooms-to-be waiting
to get their licences as well."
Six family and friends travelled
to Las Vegas for the wedding.
Nichola, who had bought her
ivory duchess satin strapless
gown from Champagne Brides in
Workington before they decided
on the Las Vegas location, took
her wedding dress on the plane as
hand luggage and the crew hung
it up in first class.
On the big day the bride and
her wedding party travelled in a
white limousine to the ceremony
while Christopher, 37, and best
man Phillip Perry travelled in a
separate limousine.
They walked down the aisle by
the lake at the Always and
Forever Wedding Chapel to
Wonderwall by Oasis.
The bride and her bridesmaid
Amanda Perry carried ivory and
Mulberry feathers, beads and
crystals.
Nichola said: "We hadn't seen
the venue until the wedding day
and it was perfect for what we
wanted.
"The chapel is by a lake which
was good because I wanted a
traditional wedding but Chris
wanted a Vegas theme as well
and it suited both."
After the ceremony they
returned to their hotel for drinks
before Nichola got changed out of
her wedding dress and they went
to the Hard Rock Cafe for a meal.
Nichola said: "It was full of
other newlyweds and when they
found out that we had just got
married we had to stand up and
people clapped and cheered.
"While we were in Las Vegas
we saw lots of couples in wedding
outfits."
After a week in Las Vegas
Nichola and Christopher flew to
Waikiki, Hawaii for their six day
honeymoon.
"I had always wanted to go as a
child," said Nichola. "We
wouldn't have gone to Hawaii if
we hadn't got married in Las
Vegas. It was a time for us to
relax and the honeymoon was an
important part of our planning."
The Las Vegas theme didn't
end once they returned home.
They held a reception at
Hunday Manor near Workington
for 150 guests and wanted to
recreate the Las Vegas
experience for their guests.
Nichola said: "I am very close
to my nana and she couldn't
make the flight to Las Vegas so it
was important to have a
celebration when we came back.
"I thought having the Las
Vegas theme would make guests
feel they hadn't missed out."
Nichola had bought a life-size
cardboard cut-out of Elvis and
the famous Las Vegas sign to
greet guests as they arrived.
She also created casino themed
centre pieces with red and black
accessories and cards and
chocolate money chips were
scattered across the tables.
Bridesmaid Amanda Perry and
best man Phillip Perry had
organised a surprise for the
newlyweds, dressing up and
performing as Elvis and Marilyn
Monroe.
"It was a complete surprise,"
said Nichola. "Amanda sang
Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
and Phillip sang Suspicious
Minds. They were brilliant."
Nichola Taylor and Christopher Baird got
married in the casino capital � then held a
Vegas theme party back home in Cumbria
so everyone could join in the fun
WWeeddddiinnggss aabbrrooaadd
aanndd HHoonneeyymmoooonnss
Bridal House,
100 Senhouse St,
Maryport
T: 01900 819933
www.bridalhouse
maryport.co.uk
For more information on up-coming features please contact:
Vanessa Douglas on 01228 612317 or e-mail vanessa.douglas@cngroup.co.uk
Dresses & Dreams
24 Jane Street, Workington
T: 01900 63049
www.dressesanddreamsbridal.co.uk
NEW FOR 2009
TIA BY BENJAMIN ROBERTS

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