'I'd love to do it all again"

For journalist Vanessa Cornall, there was no doubt where she wanted to get married.
Peter and Vanessa SimsPeter and Vanessa Sims
Peter and Vanessa Sims

The beautiful Christ Church on Meadows Avenue in Thornton is an important church to her family - she was christened there, so was her brother, cousins and her mum and dad were married there too.The reception was a bit more tricky for Vanessa and her groom-to-be Peter Sims, a kitchen designer, until a nudge from the caterer Marco Calle-Calatayud at Kwizeen in Blackpool, suggested Singleton Village Hall.Vanessa, 32, who is news editor at the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, said: “We hunted high and low but we wanted something quite bespoke.“We went to have a look at Singleton Village Hall and it was perfect.”

The couple, who live on Bishopsgate in Blackpool, tied the knot on April 8 surrounded by their family and friends.They met 12 year’s ago when Peter, affectionately known as Geordie Pete because of his North East roots, worked at the Bull Hotel in Poulton.He was studying for an architecture degree and Vanessa was at Leeds University.Vanessa said: “I introduced my chief bridesmaid Nicole to her now husband Anthony Ballentine,and Pete was one of his friends. From there we were inseparable really.” Pete’s romantic proposal was whilst on a holiday to Lake Garda in Italy. They had gone on a day trip to Verona and as they made their way around the city to Romeo and Juliet’s Balcony, Vanessa turned back towards Pete and he was down on one knee clutching a ring.The sun shone for their wedding day and Vanessa glowed with happiness as she made her entrance into church wearing a stunning white sparkly 1940’s tea dress. Her bridesmaids wore pink chiffon dresses with jewel embroidered corsets and lace-up backs.Singleton Village Hall was beautifully decorated with hundreds of paper lanterns and fairy lights. The chairs were dressed in white covers and pink bows with a sparkly backdrop curtain and a giant Mr and Mrs sign.

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The day had an Italian theme and guests were served a sumptious meal of antipasti, Italian meats, homemade breads, Mediterranean vegetable pasta, tomato bruschetta’s, garlic mushrooms, garlic king praws and calamari. The main course was lemon and garlic chicken on a bed of ricotta cannelloni. Desserts included tiramisu, lemon tart and sweet basic ice-cream and strawberries and meringue with homemade tuti frutti ice cream.The table names were inspired by Vanessa’s work in newspapers.She said: “Trying to make relatives from both the North East and the Fylde feel at home we called the tables after newspapers in both areas - The Blackpool Gazette, Fleetwood Weekly News and the Lytham St Annes Express all had their own table. “I even enlisted a work colleague to draw me a personalised front page charting our relationship, hen and stag parties.In the evening everyone enjoyed a good boogie to The Loverats Party Band.

Peter and Vanessa SimsPeter and Vanessa Sims
Peter and Vanessa Sims

Peter, 40, said: “We had the best day ever.“Every element of the day went even better than we imagined.“We wanted something really bespoke and got that in spades.“The food and the band went down a storm and the exceptional weather made it even more of a hit.”Vanessa added: ““The day was everything we could of hoped for and much more.“It was fantastic to have all of our families and friends share the most important day of our lives with such fun and laughter.“It was lovely to see all our hard work come together on the day and see just how much everyone enjoyed themselves.“I’d love to do it all again.”

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