Claire & Pete's Wedding Story
On Friday 27th September 2024 Pete asked me to marry him and I said yes!
On Saturday family suggested looking at Formby hall we we are members and we know how much we love it there. My daughter loves starting the morning at 6am in the pool… I wish I shared her passion for the fitness but it takes me longer to get in haha.
So on Sunday 29th of September we messaged your teams through your web page something along the lines of “ looking to get married ASAP hopefully before January as I am on Maternity leave and hoping for it to be before I have to start back at work.”
On Monday I had the pleasure to meet Ciara over the phone. Frankly I thought she was going to think I was mental when she said she had dates in November and January and I said “let’s go for November let me just call the registrar and I’ll get back to you. “
Four days later and it was a go!
We thought small package as we now had around 6ish weeks to see who could come we thought most immediate family and a few of our friends.
Ciara also thought it was best we actually came in and saw the venue and meet her to which we thought “ oh yes, great idea”
So on Saturday 12th October we as a family ( both sets of parents Pete and I and our daughter ( the chief bridesmaid as she liked to be known) and our 7 month son. I remember thinking Ciara will think we are crazy let alone be overwhelmed with the entourage.
With the warmest of welcomes she took us around Formby Hall. She was so kind she listened to every little detail of the last few weeks of mine and Pete’s life and how we had this little vision that we had and wanted to work towards.
BLACK! With Pumpkins….. and Skeletons.
Ciara could see some artistic difference of opinions coming from family and how the vision may be debated if everyone stayed together. She explained everything to all of us showing us both rooms and then took Pete and I away from the craziness to gather our breath and talk everything through with us.
We felt Ciara helped us run with our vision and wishes instantly and very quickly I went from she’s going to think we are crazy to this dream wedding is actually possible and going to happen. She put us at ease so quickly and made us feel less awkward and “ weird in character “ and said we didn’t have to explain the themes it was just accepted. Which not everyone does.
We thought we could get 50 at a push and wanted the bigger ambassadors suit. Ciara had a great way of managing a difficult parent as they hadn’t quite managed to capture the vision just yet. Polite but very assertive in ensuring this was what Pete and I wanted not what our parents wanted.
All paid up and we were off from then I think I sent around 35 emails “ hi Ciara … can we do this? Hi Ciara can we do that? Ciara … CAN WE HAVE PUMPKINS AND CAULDRONS??” Then our guests replied and the 50 we thought we would struggled to fill turned into more messages to Ciara daily “ can we update the guest list” and in the end I think we had 76 Adults 11 children and 4 babies and that didn’t include the evening guests.
Ciara took everything in her stride even down to days before and us finally getting confirmation our friend Monica from Mexico had sorted flights and was coming the day before and we needed to add more rooms and dietary requirements.
Ciara then introduced us to Tracey. Tracey echoed the same support and kindness as Ciara. Taking in her stride our crazy world and love for all things spooky.
Nothing was too much trouble and we ensured if anything would happen like the passed email of horror they must tell us as we wouldn’t stand for rudeness and Ciara and Tracey both put us at ease and ensured nothing would phase them.
I never felt any stress on the run up to our wedding which with a turn over of five weeks I think is remarkable and I put this down to Tracey and Ciara.
On the day I was grateful Ciara and Tracey were there.
Ciara had ensured that had a photographer after a recommendation. It felt so relaxed and full of love.
From the moment myself and the girls were treated like royalty it felt.
In the evening Tracey helped us get our chest back to the room. This is a hand crafted Bali wood chest and it took three of us to get it into the car. Tracey I think out of a health and safety concern for me would not let me help but the strength in that lady put me to shame!!
Every aspect of our wedding was so incredible, beautiful dark and spooky and it was all down to Tracey Ciara and their teams.
I sit here today a little sad as I will not be emailing them and working with them and even though they were doing their jobs and I imagine they make everyone feel the same way I do, I will always remember Ciara and Tracey and how incredible they are. I will always mention them when we talk and memories the day. You have an incredible team at Formby hall and these two ladies are wonderful.
I can’t thank them both enough for everything they did for Pete and I.
They have made me want to start planning anniversary parties for every big anniversary we have and I can’t wait to start planning with you both again.
Every guest has said how much love they felt in the room how incredible their day was and how at ease they all felt again I can’t thank you enough.
Thank you again for everything.
Love
Claire and Peter Girdler
