Aaishah & George: A Vibrant Celebration at Thicket Priory

We chose Thicket Priory because it felt like home from the moment we arrived. Its timeless beauty and welcoming atmosphere spoke to the essence of what we wanted for our celebration: a space where our loved ones could gather and share in the joy of our new beginning. With family scattered across England, the venue’s many rooms allowed us to bring everyone together, surrounding ourselves with the people who’ve helped shape our journey and will continue to walk alongside us.

Thicket Priory was the first venue we saw, and it captured our hearts in a way no other place could. As we toured others, we couldn’t help but compare them to the warmth and magic of Thicket Priory. It became clear that no place could rival the sense of love and connection we felt there—this was the place where our forever would begin.

For our bridesmaids, we wanted a balance of unity and individuality. Each chose a style that suited her, in the same fabric for cohesion, and Carlyna’s expert tailoring made every gown fit beautifully.

My husband designed the groomsmen’s look with AG Plado, a local boutique. Cream suits with soft blue detailing created a timeless yet modern feel, styled down to socks, shoes, and cufflinks.

My own dress journey was unforgettable. After trying over 30 gowns, I found “the one” at Lovely Bride. With the help of my seamstress Patricia, a custom overskirt and delicate sleeves transformed it into something magical for the ceremony, while removing the overskirt for the evening revealed a sleek dress perfect for dancing. Every choice reflected us, from my handmade veil to the lace sleeves echoing the gown’s detailing.

We wanted our day to reflect love, life, and vibrant energy. Rich reds and pinks, with pops of orange, contrasted beautifully with the bridesmaids’ soft blue dresses and the groomsmen’s cream suits, creating a visually striking palette.

Small personal touches made a big impact. Our Calleo Audio Guest Book was just one of the most special touches of the day. As two people who love nothing more than chatting away with our loved ones, it meant the world to us to have those little moments of laughter, love, and warmth captured forever. The pick-and-mix sweet table, photo booth, cigar bar, and string quartet brought joy and intimacy to the celebration.

For the wedding breakfast, we chose to set the table in a long, family-style arrangement, evoking the feel of a cosy Christmas dinner or a Sunday gathering—those special times when family and friends come together. We wanted our wedding breakfast to have that same sense of togetherness and warmth. To add a personal touch, each seating place card featured a picture of us and the guest, along with a message from us to our loved one. We also created a wedding newspaper, placed in each guest’s room, with the menu, a personalised cartoon, the itinerary, fun games, and little tidbits about us as a couple.

The celebration didn’t end when the sun set; everyone gathered on day two for games in the garden!

Lover Girl brought our floral vision to life, working within our budget to deliver bold reds, romantic pinks, and playful oranges. From the bouquet to the ceremony, staircase, and tables, the arrangements were wild, romantic, and utterly unforgettable.

Apple Tree Cakery made a simple, elegant, and absolutely delicious cake. One of the tiers was gluten-free to accommodate our guests’ dietary needs, and it tasted just as beautiful as the rest—light, flavourful, and a true crowd-pleaser.

Our caterers, Nomad, were nothing short of exceptional. From the Friday evening welcome to the final breakfast on Monday morning, they elevated every moment of our wedding weekend. Guests are still raving about the food, and rightly so. Each meal was thoughtful, beautifully presented, and packed with flavour. What made it truly special was the attention to detail—they created personalised canapés inspired by our hometowns, including Hull’s iconic chip spice fish and chips, and a nod to Newcastle with pea and pie pudding croquettes in a Newcastle Brown Ale batter.

Our photographer, Gary from Team Edwards Photography, was truly amazing. From the start, he made us feel completely at ease—something that meant the world to us as a couple who are naturally quite camera-shy. He gently guided us through each moment without making anything feel forced, capturing the emotion and beauty of the day in a way that felt so natural and effortless. We had a few specific requests, like keeping the classic family photos quick and simple, and Gary delivered this perfectly—capturing everything we wanted in under 10 minutes.

We were also incredibly lucky to have Jon from Top Table Films as our videographer—a recommendation from a friend that we’ll be forever grateful for. There are moments of the day you don’t get to witness, and both Jon and Gary managed to capture the things I missed—tiny, intimate moments that I now treasure.

Jon brought a calming presence, and with his speaker playing music in the background, he created the perfect vibe for the right moments, a calm atmosphere while filming. As someone who often avoids the camera, I felt completely comfortable, even beautiful. Jon truly saw me in a way I never had before, and I’ll always be thankful for that.

The most magical moments were the simple, fleeting ones: seeing our loved ones, exchanging vows, and holding hands for the first time as a married couple. Marrying George—the moment our eyes met, walking down the aisle—was unforgettable, and all the nervousness melted away in that instant.

Our speeches were equally unforgettable. We embraced an untraditional format, and it turned into one of the most moving experiences of the day. Every word spoken was filled with laughter, love, and sincerity—memories that will stay with us forever.

Finally, of course, the wonderful and amazing Becca. Behind the scenes of every beautiful wedding is someone holding it all together—and for us, that person was Becca, our incredible wedding coordinator. From the moment we arrived at the venue, she made every detail feel seamless.

Nothing was ever too much to ask—every request, every dream, she brought to life without hesitation. More than just a coordinator, Becca was a calming presence when I was nervous and a supportive rock when George felt overwhelmed. With so many guests, moving pieces, and supplies to manage over the weekend, it could have easily felt chaotic—but thanks to her, everything flowed perfectly. She was truly the heart behind the scenes, and we will forever be grateful for her guidance, care, and kindness. Without her, our day wouldn’t have been as amazing as it was.

As a 2025 bride, my biggest piece of advice is to plan in advance. Even if you’re not a spreadsheet kind of person, having a clear vision from the beginning—whether it’s a few Pinterest images or a simple checklist in your notes app—makes all the difference. Include everything, even the tiniest details, like choosing napkin colours or remembering which documents need printing. Once you’ve laid that foundation, you can start slowly ticking things off, week by week or month by month, and each tick off the list feels like a great WIN. Spreading out the planning like this not only helped me stay organised, but it also allowed me to spread the cost over the year/years. That way, when the bigger payments hit around the six-month and two-week mark, it didn’t feel as overwhelming or panic-inducing.

As an overthinker, I found real clarity by always centring my husband and us first, then our guests. I planned a weekend around the love I have for all of them, and I genuinely believe that came through in every part of the celebration. Every choice I made—big or small—was rooted in love, including setting aside time for us to be together as the day runs away, and that made all the difference.

Another piece of advice: don’t get swept up in the pressure of trends and TikTok perfection. Social media can be a beautiful source of inspiration, but it can also create an overwhelming sense that your day has to look or feel a certain way to be considered “perfect.” I definitely felt that pressure at times—the idea that I had to be the perfect bride, create the perfect tablescape, or have every moment look Instagram-worthy. When that pressure crept in, I reminded myself to recentre—to come back to the heart of it all: me, my husband, love and our loved ones. I focused on creating a day that felt real, full of love, and genuinely “us.” The truth is, the most beautiful weddings aren’t the ones that follow every trend; they’re the ones that reflect the people at the centre of it. So, if something doesn’t feel like you, let it go. The magic is in the meaning.

Having said that, the guest list was one of the trickiest parts. We decided to invite only those we both felt completely comfortable with—if someone could sit down for a coffee with just one of us and feel right, they made the cut. It meant making some tough calls about who not to include, but in the end, it created a day that felt seamless, joyful, and full of the people who really mattered.

To anyone planning their wedding right now, my final words of wisdom are this: stay true to yourselves. Your wedding doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be yours. This is your wedding day, do what you want to do! Whether big or small, rustic or glam or whatever you want, if it’s you, trust me, it will be the best day of your life.