A bride arrived to her wedding in style with her dad before marrying the love of her life.
Dental Nurse at Hexham Dental Clinic Lucy Barton arrived at Hexham Abbey in a horse-drawn carriage to walk down the aisle to marry her married her partner of 11 years, Shaun Baty in front of family and friends on March 25 2023.
The pair, who met at an exercise boot camp in 2012, got together after Shaun built up the courage to ask Lucy out on a night out.
Nine years later and the pair would take the next step in their relationship.
"Shaun surprised me on my birthday in December 2021 to a night away at the Malmaison Hotel in Newcastle," Lucy,38, recalls.
"He proposed to me on the Millenium Bridge at night when it was all lit up.
"It was so special, but I remember this one person on a bike who stopped and took a photo of us and then rode off. We have no idea where that photo went."
Shaun, 36 and manager of Karpet Mills had his stag do in Liverpool with 11 of his friends and family members, where they did various activities and nights out in fancy dress.
Whereas Lucy’s hen do was in West Yorkshire in a big country house with 12 of her closest friends and family. They went to an outdoor activity centre, followed by cocktail making and a surprise butler in the buff.
Reflecting on her wedding day, Lucy said: "I came in a horse and carriage which has always been my dream.
"I’ve had horses since I was little and my family own horses too so it was special to include that on our big day.
"I wore a beautiful fitted mermaid tail lace dress with a cathedral-length veil and met Shaun and his groomsmen at the altar.
"My maid of honour was my sister, Claire, my bridesmaid was my niece Katie and my flower girls were our daughters Ava and Zara and niece Amelie.
"Shaun’s best man was Lea who is his best friend and other friends included, Steve and Adam and then his son Oscar."
The pair had their reception at Beaumont Hotel in Hexham, where we had 64 guests during the day and a further 60 in the evening.
"We had a 3-course meal, followed by a champagne toast and speeches. In the evening we had pulled pork rolls and served our wedding cake.
"My talented friend Eleanor Waugh made our amazing wedding cake, which was Raspberry and white chocolate on the bottom and chocolate on the top. She decorated it with the remaining wedding flowers we had left over."
"Our first dance was to Coldplay’s ‘Sky Full of Stars’ and when the music kicked in we got all of our children to run in and join in with us."
The pair flew off to Mauritius for their honeymoon while their children stayed with their grandparents.
Speaking about their favourite moments of their day, Shaun said: "My favourite moment was I turned around to see Lucy walking down the aisle. I was speechless, but I couldn’t wait to marry my best friend."
Lucy adds: "Mine was the horse and carriage ride with my dad Keith Barton. It was such a special moment with my dad just us two.
"After the ceremony Lucy, Shaun, Ava, Zara and Oscar went for a ride on the horse and carriage around Hexham.
"We felt like royalty. It was lovely spending our first moments together as husband and wife with our three children.
"We wish we could do it all over again."
Who helped on the day?
Photographer - Penny Rose Photography
Videographer - Kristian Barton (Bride's brother)
A live band called - ‘The Black Marc’s’
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