We were friends for years before we got together as a couple. Our good friends, Jeanette and Bill, who we met when we were learning sign language, invited us to a BBQ at their home and we hit it off. 

Nicole: “Jim always made me laugh! Whenever I see pictures of us before we got together, we’re always sat together and I’m laughing”

Jim: "My witty banter is both a blessing and a curse"

We were both living alone during the 2020 lockdown craziness and we started talking – really talking.

Jim: “I said more to Nicole over message in those first few weeks than I think I have said since”

We decided to make a go of it as a couple late one night and then isolated for two weeks before spending our first weekend together. 

Nicole: “It was December and we decided to put my tree up (keep in mind this was our first weekend together) and I produced an ornament that I had ordered online that said ‘Jim and Nicole’s first Christmas 2020’

Jim: “I knew in that moment that this wasn’t going to be a casual thing. My options were to leave then or marry her” 

Thanks to the last minute social rule changes of 2020 we spent our first Christmas together just us two - it was magic. We didn’t want to go back to being apart so we moved in together and lived happily with our beautiful greyhound George. 

Boot in the lake district is a place close to Jim’s heart and when we took George camping with us, Jim took the chance to propose as we watched the sunset. 

Jim: "I'm rarely nervous about anything but I was about this!"

Nicole: "I said YES!"

Soon after, we bought a restaurant and moved to Hebden Bridge. Starting a new life and running a business together put a pressure on us that we hadn’t expected but it brought us closer together and gave us a confidence and strength that still makes us feel excited for our life together - wherever it takes us. 

We are both big believers in symbols and totems. Jim's is the Lighthouse (a symbol he uses for his buddhist practice) and Nicole's being the Moon (a lifelong love inspired by her Mum and the classic film, Moonstruck). One of the first photos Nicole sent to Jim was of the Whitby lighthouse and the moon in one picture. Looks like fate was trying to tell us something 💕

We can’t wait to share our day with you celebrating all we are and all the people who have loved and inspired us.

R.S.V.P

We will be sending our invitations in the new year with details of how to RSVP 💌 

Your Questions Answered

We've pulled together a handy Q&A to help you get the info you need you can focus on the fun stuff 🥳 We will add to this as we get closer to the big day (and people start asking more questions).  

What time do I need to be there?

We're still finalising the full schedule but you will need to be at the venue by 1:30pm on the day and the bar will be calling last orders for midnight.

Are the wedding ceremony and the reception at the same venue? 

Yes, both the ceremony and reception will be held at the same venue.

Are children invited to the wedding?

To make sure everyone can relax and enjoy the festivities, and our bank balance isn't completely drained, we kindly request that our wedding be an adults-only affair. We appreciate your understanding and can't wait to share the day with you!

Is it one of those posh weddings?

Certainly not! The main thing we care about is you feeling confident and comfortable. Smart casual is fine, wedding attire is great, your finest flying saucer size Ascot hat is fine. If you want to try to squeeze into that Tux you bought on sale from Greenwoods in 2005... also fine.

Jim's a Buddhist isn't he? Will I have to chant stuff?

No.......but possibly! There really isn't such a thing as a Buddhist wedding but we have asked Bodhinaga, a good friend and Dharmachari from the Sheffield Buddhist Centre to officiate so there might be some more Buddhist aspects to the wedding than you are used to. On the day you can join in (or not) as you feel. Don't worry though, we won't be expecting anyone to shave their heads and wear orange robes (unless that's your vibe).

What food will there be?

We are serving a main meal in the afternoon and will have cheese, biscuits and cake later on. The food will be meat-free with a mix of both vegan and vegetarian dishes. Although we appreciate not everyone is a veggie, the venue is famous locally for being delicious. We hope everyone will get into the spirit of the occasion. Please let us know if you have any intolerances or allergies when you RSVP next year.