Julie Graham, 29, NHS employee and Charlie Forster, 33, agricultural contractor/fabricator, live in Penton

HOW THEY MET: The couple were childhood friends and got together in 2011.

PROPOSAL: In January 2015 Charlie surprised Julie with the proposal when she returned home from working in Edinburgh one weekend.

VENUE: Arthuret Church, Longtown.

THEME: The couple didn’t have a set theme but included lots of personal touches. The colour theme was rose and navy with cream flowers.

BRIDE’S OUTFIT: An ivory fish-tail Suzanne Neville dress worn with a floor-length veil from Bliss Bridal Studio, Edinburgh. She also wore a decorative hair ribbon from Gemma Sargent Bespoke Bridalwear, Edinburgh.

GROOMSMEN: Groom’s friends Jimmy Armstrong, Bruce Murray, Thomas Armstrong and Jonathan Armstrong along with the bride’s brother Jonathan Graham. All wore navy slim-fit suits supplied by Suits Direct, Gretna Gateway Outlet Village.

BRIDESMAIDS: Stacy Wood, Alex Carruthers and Sarah Graham, all bride’s cousins; Amanda Irving and Laura White, bride’s friends from school, and Rosie Faulder, bride’s friend and bride’s brother’s girlfriend. They wore backless Mark Lesley dresses in rose from Eden Formalwear, Hawick.

HAIR & BEAUTY: The bridal hair was done by Emma Robb of Rowanburn, Canonbie and make-up was done by Lynsey Abbott of Beauty by Linsey at the Cross Keys, Canonbie.

FLOWERS: Bouquets, buttonholes and church flowers were supplied by Cochrane’s Nurseries of Longtown and Karen Johnston of Longtown supplied the floral arrangements for the marquee.

TRANSPORT: The bride travelled in a VW Beetle driven by Mick Brown, a relative, who was dressed as a chimney sweep for good luck. The bridesmaids travelled in a black Range Rover Vogue provided by Amanda Irving, one of the bridesmaids, who works for Lloyd Land Rover, Carlisle, and a black BMW7 series provided by Sarah Graham, another bridesmaids. The groomsmen travelled in three Fastracs. Two of these were supplied by Scott JCB who decorated them with a sun strip displaying the bride and groom’s names.

RECEPTION: A drinks and canapés reception for 130 guests was held in the Oak Hall and gardens of Netherby Hall, Longtown. The bridal party then moved to a marquee for the wedding breakfast with an additional 160 guests at the evening celebrations with a hog roast.

T ABLE SETTINGS: Cream-themed centrepiece floral arrangements were made by Karen Johnston. Placenames were standing pinecones and a vintage chest was supplied by Karen Johnston for cards and gifts.
The groom made steel table numbers that were decorated in rose-coloured glitter and also served as candle and wine holders. The bride’s aunt, Linda Graham, made bunting to decorate the marquee and one of the bridesmaids, Laura White, made the table plan.

FAVOURS: Lottery tickets for the Great North Air Ambulance lottery.

CATERING: Catering was by Billy and Ruth Kirkup of Border Hog Roast.

CAKE: A three-tier fruit cake made and decorated by Jennifer Imrie of Harelaw, Canonbie.

FIRST DANCE: Always, Bon Jovi. The couple walked out of church to Mr Blue Sky, ELO.

ENTERTAINMENT: Soul Survivors, a band from Penrith, and Garry Phillip’s Route 66 disco from Roadhead.

HONEYMOON: Budapest.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jill at Harringtons

FURTHER INFORMATION: Guests were served ice creams by the bridesmaids from a vintage ice cream trailer from Red Radish Catering Co., Wigton, provided as a gift to the couple from Sarah Graham, bridesmaid,