Joel & Sophie

Welcome to our wedding website! We can't wait to share our special day with you.

Saturday July 31, 2021

Heswall, Wirral, UK

1442 days 5 hrs 35 mins ago

Story

The first time we met was after a Sunday morning church service while slurping down our post-service tea and coffee. We chatted until we were practically the last people there and they had to chuck us out!

It wasn’t long before we discovered that we both have a love of board games and our mutual friends were inviting us to their house for a games night. Unknown to both of us, we were being set up...

Not put off by Sophie’s competitiveness, Joel then invited Sophie to the Africa Oye festival in Sefton Park. She arrived pretty late in the day after a marking marathon, but that didn't stop them having a great time! At the end of the day Joel confessed that he liked Sophie... And the rest is history!

Tidbits

How did you first meet?

We met at an OpenWell church service on a Sunday morning in May 2019.

What was your most memorable date?

Probably our first date! We went to Tiny Rick's board game cafe in Liverpool and spent almost the entire day in there, playing games and drinking copious amounts of tea. I think this is where we figured out we both had a real love for board games!

What's your favorite activity together?

The easy answer would be board games again, but there are many things that we enjoy doing together! We really enjoy long walks and reading; we also both love to travel and cook. Making cocktails together is one of our favourite weekend activities!

Where are you going for your honeymoon?

Right after we got engaged we decided to book a UK honeymoon, what with all the travel uncertainty due to Covid. We are now so glad we did! We're heading first down to Shropshire for a week, and then on to Cornwall for another 7 days. Not exactly Sophie’s Caribbean dream, but Joel has promised a trip in the future! ;)

What's the best meal you have eaten together?

Our best meal together was probably at Barton Rouge in Heswall - it was just between the 2nd and 3rd lockdown, and we were ecstatic just to even be in a restaurant! We both love a good curry, and oh boy... It did not disappoint.

What's the most memorable trip you have taken together?

We went to Scotland with Sophie's family in the summer of 2020 - the house where we were staying had the most incredible gardens (it was in the grounds of a large manor house), and we had them all to ourselves due to Covid. Sophie's family were convinced that that was when Joel was going to propose! Alas, the ring wasn't ready yet...

We’re on the same page about

What's most important to us is that we both love Jesus! Our faith is at the centre of everything we do.

Schedule

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Ceremony

2:00 PM to 3:15 PM

A celebration of our love and commitment, set in Sophie's beautiful local parish church in Heswall. Come and watch us tie the knot!

Reception

3:45 PM to 11:00 PM

Dinner, dancing and speeches! What's not to love?! Boogie on down to the reception and party like it's going out of style!

The reception is located in a marquee on the field adjacent to Oldfield Farm. Just follow the signs and you won't miss it!

Here is some more details of what is excatly happening
3:45 > Drinks, Canapes and Group photo
5:30 > Dinner
7:30 > Speeches
8:15 > Cake Cutting
8:30 > First Dance and Party Time!
9:30 > Pizza
10:30 > Bride and Groom leave
11:00 > Last Orders!

Registry

Your presence is enough of a present to us! However, if you would like to buy a wedding gift for us, we have put together a registry at John Lewis and you can find the link on this page. Alternatively, we have also added our PayPal details if you would rather send us money. Thank you!

Please send your gifts to the following address:
22 Woburn Hill, Stoneycroft, Liverpool, L13 6RL

Travel

Hotel Product

Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa, Neston Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral, UK

A more luxurious alternative to the Premier Inn! A 7-minute drive from the ceremony venue, Thornton Hall has its own gym and spa, featuring an indoor pool, sauna and several jacuzzis - it is also a great choice for day visitors who fancy stopping by for a spa treatment or a spot of afternoon tea (side note: Thornton Hall is one of our favourite date locations!). Round off your trip with a meal in the restaurant overlooking the gardens, or head over to the nearby Red Fox, and you have the recipe for the perfect day!

Phone
0151-336-3938
Hotel Product

Hillbark Hotel & Spa, Wirral, UK

Hillbark is the UK's smallest 5-star hotel and is another excellent choice for a luxurious stay. Just over a 10-minute drive from our ceremony venue, the hotel is set in beautiful surroundings and also has its own spa - perfect for those who fancy some pampering!

Phone
0151-625-2400
Note

Parking

There will be parking available for the ceremony in St. Peter's Primary School, which is a few minutes' walk from the church.

For the reception, on-street parking will be available on Oldfield Road. From there it is a short walk to the field.

Hotel Product

Premier Inn Wirral (Heswall) hotel, Chester Road, Heswall, Wirral, UK

This the closest hotel, located in the centre of Heswall, and is about a 5-minute drive from the ceremony venue.

Link
premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/merseyside/wirral/wirral-heswall.html
Phone
0333-321-9185
Train

Heswall, Wirral, UK

There is a small train station in Heswall! If you are getting the train from Liverpool you will need to switch at Bidston.

Link
thetrainline.com/stations/heswall
Phone
0333-321-1202
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Liverpool

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If you have time before or after the wedding day, Liverpool should be number 1 on your list of places to explore!

Liverpool is a lively and cosmopolitan city with a whole host of landmarks, museums and attractions for you to experience. From the Beatles Story museum to Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium, and from the Tate Modern art gallery to the vibrant Royal Albert Dock and Baltic Triangle districts, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

If you are still stuck for inspiration, our own personal recommendation is to check out the Liverpool Anglican cathedral, which offers amazing views of the city to those who climb to the top!

There are an incredible amount of things do in
and around Liverpool - so go and have fun!

Click here for some more inspiration: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g186337-Liverpool_Merseyside_England-Vacations.html

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Chester

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If you are at all interested in history, then Chester is a city that you should definitely consider exploring! With its Roman amphitheatre ruins and famous city walls, you won't be disappointed.

Theatre lovers should also be sure to check out the Storyhouse website () for details of their latest shows, including their fabulous Grosvenor Park open-air theatre performances, which we can recommend from personal experience! Tickets tend to sell fast, so better to book sooner rather than later if you are interested.

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Parkgate

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A visit to the Wirral would be amiss without a stop for ice cream at the legendary Nicholl's of Parkgate! If you have some time on the morning of the wedding, why not head on over? (Fun fact: Parkgate was one of our first dates!)

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West Kirby

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If you fancy a walk with a view, then West Kirby is the place to go. For a short and scenic stroll, we recommend a trip around the Marine Lake, which boasts stunning views over the Dee Estuary and West Kirby Beach. If you have some more time on your hands and fancy an adventure, why not walk across the sands to Hilbre Island and its smaller neighbours? Home to plenty of rare and endangered animals, and full of coves and rock pools for kids to explore, these islands are sure to be a hit with the whole family! Just make sure to plan the timing of your trip, as the island is cut off by the tide for up to 6 hours twice a day - for information about tide times and safe routes for crossing, visit the following websites:


West Kirby is also full of lots of cute and quirky independent cafés, so be sure to drop by for a pit stop while you're there!

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Thurstaston

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A climb to the top of Thurstaston Hill will reward you with gorgeous panoramas over the Wirral peninsula and the water beyond, with views across to Wales and Liverpool on either side. With just a short walk from the car park to the top of the hill, this promises a nice afternoon out for relatively little effort!

Q & A

For all our friends and family who have lots of questions, please check out our Q & A first!

When is the RSVP deadline?

Please RSVP by June 30th so that we can start to give our suppliers an accurate head count!

Can I bring a date?

Please check your invite for your +1.

Where should I park?

Please check the travel section - information about this is listed there.

What should I wear?

Anything you like - there is no specific dress code!

Is the wedding indoors or outdoors?

Our wedding ceremony is indoors, and the reception will be held in a marquee in a field. While we will be eating inside the marquee, we are hoping that the weather will be nice enough to also spend plenty of time outdoors enjoying the beautiful views over the River Dee!

What kind of shoes should/shouldn't I wear?

Calling all ladies! We recommend that you avoid wearing stiletto heels, as there are a bunch of grassy areas that you might have to walk in. Instead we advise that you wear chunky heels or sandals! Bear in mind too that there may be muddy patches if it has rained a lot in the days and weeks leading up to the wedding. Can't have any of you ruining nice shoes or breaking any ankles!

Is it okay to take pictures with our phones and cameras during the wedding?

We are asking people not to take any pictures during the wedding ceremony itself as we would love for you to be fully present in this moment with us. Don't worry - we already have two photographers and two videographers, and they will be taking plenty of footage! We will share their photos/videos with you all on social media once we have received them after the wedding.

Feel free to take as many photos as you like at the reception! :)

Whom should I call with questions?

If you have any questions concerning the wedding details please contact Joel Greaves on 07972023762.

Will the ceremony and reception be socially distanced?

As Covid restrictions will have ended by the time of the wedding there will be no soical distancing, nor will there be any requirement for you to wear a mask at any point in the day!

Will you live stream your ceremony?

We are hoping to live stream our ceremony for any guests who are unable to make it. Watch this space for further details!

Are there separate afternoon and evening receptions? How do I know which parts of the wedding I have been invited to?

There are two parts to our wedding: the ceremony and the afternoon/evening reception. Everyone who has received an invitation is invited to both parts!

Help, I made a mistake on my RSVP! How can I change my answer?

Please contact Joel Greaves on 07972023762 if there is anything from your RSVP that you need to change!

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