Leon and Kate Turney's Perfect Wedding & Perfect Wedding Entertainment!

The night really kicked off when The Dollars played our first dance song, and from that moment onwards I never left the dance floor. They were AWESOME, and had everyone dancing from my grandma to the 3 year old flower girls!

Where did your wedding take place, why did you choose that venue, and how big was your wedding party?

We got married at my parents’ local church, St Alban’s in Wickersley, where they were married and I was christened. Our wedding reception was held at Whirlowbrook Hall in Sheffield and we had 120 people for the entire day.

Did you have a theme for your wedding, and what sort of look and feel did you want to create?

We themed the wedding as a “Proper Yorkshire Wedding”. I am a Yorkshire lass at heart, despite living in London, and wanted to create a fun, down to earth day that really reflected who we are and the things we love. (* Check out Alive Network's blog on "How To Make Your Wedding More Fun" here)

Our save the date was a Yorkshire Tea teabag and our invitation was a tea towel.

We ran the Yorkshire theme through the day with lots of little touches like steak and Yorkshire ale pie with good old Henderson’s Relish on the side. Yorkshire “saying” table names printed onto tea pots and, of course, flat caps for the boys!

It’s great when we go round to people’s houses now and see them drying the pots with our faces!

Please tell us about the running order and format of your day, including details of any live music or entertainment

We brought a little bit of London to Yorkshire, arriving at the church on a traditional London bus. The wedding service was traditional and beautiful, ending with the church bells and tonnes of confetti!

Some of our closest family and friends then piled on the London bus with us for champagne and no-nonsense Yorkshire Crisps as we drove to the reception venue on the other side of Sheffield.

While the guests walked up the winding drive to Whirlowbrook House (which actually forms part of the Yorkshire border walk) for Yorkshire pudding, Yorki rarebit snacks and more bubbles, Leon and I took a short drive out to the Derbyshire dales for photographs on the stunning moors.

We did get a few odd looks turning up at the hikers’ car park in wedding clothes, but it was certainly worth it!

We were welcomed back to the venue by the sun coming out, our guests cheering on the terrace, and a lovely surprise of two kite archways. (All of the guests had designed a kite and my auntie and uncle had joined them together into flying arches). Absolutely perfect!

After a few lawn games and lots more bubbles we sat down to some hearty Yorkshire grub and some truly excellent speeches - including some random celebrity “telegrams” that our best men had managed to get hold of.

Once the tables were cleared, the night really kicked off with our first dance. Party band, The Dollars played “Loving You” by Paulo Nutini, and for me it was the most nerve racking part of the day, until the music started….. From that moment onwards I never left the dance floor. The Dollars provided AWESOME wedding entertainment and had everyone on the dance floor from my grandma to the 3 year old flower girls!

When the function band took their breaks we decided to bring a bit of Argentina to the wedding (Leon is half Argentinean) with carnival hour. We had crazy hats that Leon’s mum brought over from Argentina, blow up guitars and real carnival music. Everyone loved it and well and truly got into the spirit.

After a lot of dancing we finished the night with some sky lanterns and left the reception though a tunnel made by all of the guests, so that we could say goodbye to everyone as we went.

for me it was the most nerve racking part of the day, until the music started….. From that moment onwards I never left the dance floor.

It was the most amazing and wonderful day imaginable. I wouldn’t change anything and I know that our friends and family all had a great time too. I just wish I could do it all again!

How big an impact did live entertainment have on your wedding day and would you recommend it to others?

The Dollars well and truly turned the wedding into a party and we have had nothing but complements about the band from everyone.

The music they played was just fantastic and they were also the nicest guys!

They were in the spirit of things, wearing the carnival hats for their last set and letting our best man join the line up on stage (despite having no musical ability whatsoever) and playing a whole load of extra songs at the end because no-one wanted to leave! I would say you HAVE to have The Dollars at your wedding.

What were your favourite moments of the day?

It is so hard to pick a favourite moment, but I think I would have to say arriving at the top of the aisle in the church and seeing every person that is important to me there with big grins on their faces, and of course Leon at the end of the aisle!

What pearls of wisdom or words of advice would you extend to future brides/grooms who are planning their perfect wedding?

Incorporate all of your favourite things into the wedding to make it truly yours (and buy pre-tied cravats!)