Ten-year love marked at Clare and David's romantic wedding

A decade as boyfriend and girlfriend was worth the wait for a “perfect fairy tale wedding,” says bride Clare Doherty.

Clare married her high-school sweetheart, David Preskey, on July 4, 2015 with a classic romantic wedding day. The couple, both aged 27, met when they were just 17. They endured a long-distance relationship over four years and were engaged in 2013 during a trip to Lake Windemere. “I can’t say anyone was surprised, it was about time,” laughs Clare.

The Sheffield local had been dreaming about her wedding for a long time. “Having grown up on the edge of the peak district, I always knew I wanted a Derbyshire wedding set against the backdrop of rolling hills,” she says. Consequently they chose St Peter’s Church in Edensor for their ceremony and Hassop Hall’s grand ballroom for their reception. “With beautiful rose gardens, stunning chandeliers, grand pianos and an alluring stone staircase … I knew it was ‘the one’ as soon as I saw it,” describes Clare.

The pair carefully planned their wedding over two years making sure every detail was just right. “Beautiful as the venue was, I still wanted to put our own stamp on the day and focus our efforts on ensuring everything was handmade with lots of pretty details,” says Clare. Each table at the reception for their 110 guests was themed with a different year of their decade-long relationship.

Photos courtesy of Photography for Life.

“All the wedding stationery and decorations had a personal touch, from the invites to the confetti cones, bunting and sweetie table,” says the bride.

“As the day approached we kept our fingers crossed for the perfect summer wedding – fortunately glorious sunshine came out for us!” recalls Clare.

Says Clare, “We were really fortunate to have all our old school friends whom we have known for a long time, and have been there to watch our love blossom from the start.”