Worth the wait: Lannie and John’s Downton Abbey wedding

The glamour and elegance of Downton Abbey was the inspiration behind Yolander ‘Lannie’ Carney and John Tomlin’s big day.

As the Tuxford, Newark couple explains, their road to love almost had as much drama and intrigue as the TV show.

“John and I lived in the same village and were friends for many years, around 17 years ago we did have a brief romance but we both went in different directions,” Lannie, 37, explains.

This didn’t stop John from asking Lannie out at every opportunity and, eventually, his perseverance paid off.

“We’d both met new partners but it didn’t last, then one Christmas John was in the first pub I walked into and I knew that this was it, he was the love of my life, he asked me out, I said ‘yes’ this time and we never looked back!”

The couple now have a daughter together and, after John, 47, proposed on their favourite beach, they decided to celebrate their love in traditional style.

Their Downton Abbey wedding was held on July 18, 2015. Ninety guests attended the couple’s local church – St Nicholas – for the ceremony, with 120 friends and family celebrating the reception at the grand Thoresby Hall Estate.

“Our wedding day was all about tradition, love, family and friends, the location was beautiful, the weather was warm and sunny,” Lannie says.

“But the best bit of all was when we finally, after all these years, became husband and wife. We are most definitely soul mates!”

Photos courtesy of Photography for Life.

Lannie was every inch the vintage bride in an elegant lace gown, veil and headband. She paired the look with a pair of Jimmy Choo heels.

Lannie says the best thing she and John did on the big day was take time out with each other to take it all in – and share some laughs.

WiseGuys Formalwear had the pageboy looking sharp, with the groom and 12 groomsmen in navy morning suits from Moss Bros.

The elegant country house venue was the perfect choice for the couple’s Downton Abbey-inspired wedding.