Wedding proposal ‘no’ ends with a wonderful day at a romantic castle

The last thing Hugh Sneddon thought he would hear when he proposed to Laura Winter was “no”.
Laura Winter and Hugh Sneddon      Photos: Century DVD PhotographyLaura Winter and Hugh Sneddon      Photos: Century DVD Photography
Laura Winter and Hugh Sneddon Photos: Century DVD Photography

“I never expected it to happen,” says Laura, “and when Hugh asked the first thing I said was, ‘no’, as in “no it’s not happening!” then I quickly said, ‘yes!’”

Hugh proposed to Laura at their home in Walton-le-Dale, Preston, after cooking a dinner for the couple and their parents.

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“Hugh was really nervous about getting down on one knee,” adds Laura, a finance manager.

Laura Winter and Hugh Sneddon        Photos: Century DVD PhotographyLaura Winter and Hugh Sneddon        Photos: Century DVD Photography
Laura Winter and Hugh Sneddon Photos: Century DVD Photography

“Our parents were wondering when he was going to do it during the day.”

The couple, who are both originally from Preston, had known each other from school age but it was only when they met properly at Newman 
College that they got together.

Hugh, a telecommunications engineer, and Laura, were married at Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire, on May 5.

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Laura says, “We chose Peckforton Castle because we thought it would be an amazing venue to get married, with a stunning backdrop for the pictures.

“It’s somewhere a bit special where nobody we knew had previously got married.”

A string quartet played during the noon ceremony and while the newlyweds took a horse and carriage ride around the surrounding countryside, their guests 
enjoyed a drinks reception.

And to keep their friends and family entertained between the wedding breakfast and evening reception, fairground 
attractions including a rodeo bull and a bouncy castle were available on the lawn.

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“The day was amazing,” says Laura, “we had beautiful sunshine which meant we could stay out on the lawn most of the day and everyone got a laugh when Hugh and I got on the rodeo bull together.

“It was hard work just getting on it in my dress!”

The couple surprise their guests at the evening 
reception with their first dance as husband and wife.

Laura adds: “The DJ stopped the music which we were slow dancing to then we burst into a dance to ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’ which shocked everybody as nobody else knew about it.

“Hugh’s speech summed the day up saying ‘I hope every day is going to be as fantastic as this, just not as expensive!’”

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