When I alighted the train at Chester on the morning of Thursday 6 June, I didn't know what would be in store for the next few days covering the Duke of Westminster and Olivia Henson's highly anticipated wedding.
But as I travel back to London, I can safely say I have left the north of England with a heart full of inspiration, not for the amount of resplendent wedding looks of the high-society it-girls but also by the Chester locals for whom the wedding was a once in a lifetime occasion.
© James WhatlingSeeing the lavish events play out before my very eyes was something I will never forget, and I can’t wait to share with you my favourite moments from my time in Cheshire.
A blushing bride
One of my favourite moments of the entire three days was seeing the then-bride-to-be Olivia, stepping out of her vintage Bentley as she arrived at Chester Cathedral.
© Benjamin WheelerDespite the overcast sky and dramatic winds - which in the end made for excellent photos - the moment couldn’t have been more perfect.
© Samir HusseinOlivia was beaming as she she pulled up and you truly felt her excited anticipation as she was met by a cheering crowd before she married the man of her dreams.
© Benjamin WheelerFollowing the ceremony, after sharing a kiss in front of eagle-eyed crowds, she quipped: "I'm going to take off!" in reference to the winds.
© Samir HusseinShe and the Duke then set off for what sounds like the most epic wedding reception at Eaton Hall, the Duke’s £32.5 million family home.
© Benjamin WheelerThe royal guest list
Having covered several royal events, the senior members of the royal family are usually leading the charge. Therefore, it was quite an experience to see the likes of Prince William and Princess Eugenie make a rather understated appearance on Friday.
© Karwai TangDespite being an usher, the Prince of Wales was exceptionally low-key, no doubt wanting to avoid overshadowing his close friend’s day, but the crowds forced his hand with their passionate cheers when they saw him arrive.
One man even shouted: “Best wishes to Kate,” as William departed the ceremony, to which he replied with a thank you" and a wave.
© Dave BenettMeanwhile, Princess Eugenie stunned in green along with her friends. Like her royal cousin, she too flew under the radar apart from a quick smile and wave to the locals who were more than delighted to see her.
© Mark CuthbertA source told us that her “down to earth” appearance wasn’t just for the cameras as over at her hotel she enjoyed a beer straight from the bottle and a pint of Guinness, whilst claiming to be her friends’ "fifth wheel" without her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
Read all about it here.
Making a difference
Having never visited Chester previously, I quickly learned of its historic charm, the cobbled streets providing a beautiful backdrop for the special occasion.
It’s clear to see why the Duke and Duchess wanted to put the city front and centre of their big day, something that didn’t go unnoticed by the local businesses who were commissioned by the Duke to give out free ice cream to members of the public.
Fabrizio, from Krum Gelato, one of the three businesses involved, told HELLO! just how much he appreciated the Duke's generous initiative to "spotlight" local businesses.
"We are very much an independent group of businesses, all self-funded, and we love the fact that the community comes out and supports us," he said.
Fabrizio even gave me an exclusive insight into the flavour of the couple's wedding cake before the big day: "To give an homage to the couple, I personally asked if the details of the wedding reception could be disclosed and we have been told that there is a lemon theme with the wedding cake.
"So, we are making a very special lemon sorbet made with special Italian lemons that will be served tomorrow."
© Cheshire FarmMeanwhile, Stephen Young from Cheshire Farm Ice Cream added: "They are such a down-to-earth, lovely family and this wedding is a lovely thing to be involved in."
DUKE OF WESTMINSTER: FACT FILE
Meet the Duke of Westminster
© Getty- Hugh Grosvenor is the 7th Duke of Westminster
- He is the third child and only son of Natalia and the late Gerald Grosvenor
- He inherited the dukedom, a huge fortune and Eaton Hall at the age of 25
- The Duke was styled as Earl Grosvenor from his birth in 1991 until his father's death in 2016
- He studied at Mostyn House School and Ellesmere College in Shropshire
- Obtained a degree in Countryside Management from Newcastle University
His staggering net worth
- Hugh topped this year's Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List, boasting a fortune of £10.1 billion
- He is Chair of both the Grosvenor Trustees and the Westminster Foundation
- Grosvenor Group owns about 300 acres of land in Mayfair and Belgravia
Other facts
- He is known as Hughie among friends
- Owns half of Mayfair
- The Duke represents Team GB at Olympic Skeet Shooting competitions
- He is also President of the national charity, the Country Trust
Spectacular outfits
A fabulous take away I have to share was the amount of killer fashion I bore witness to during my visit. I will certainly be leaving the North with a lot of high-society fashion inspiration.
Watching the couple’s it-girl gal pals taught me a lot about how to pass as an upper-class wedding guest.
© Chris JacksonFirst of all, clashing colours is a good place to start. Think hot pinks with coral reds and canary yellows with Gen-Z green.
If it clashes it’s a big yes.
© Chris Jackson
© Neil MockfordNot to mention bigger is better when it comes to puffed sleeves and stand-out headpieces.
Giant headbands and oversized fascinators were featured a lot amongst the dazzling line-up of guests.
© Peter Byrne - PA ImagesFlowers to die for
The beautiful flower arches on each side of the Cathedral truly felt like the decor of dreams up close, and it's hard to put into words how spectacular it all looked up close.
© Benjamin WheelerNot only did the white, pink and purple blooms of roses, philadelphus, campanula and orlaya grandiflora elevate the bride's already impeccable wedding ensemble, but I could smell the flora from where I was documenting the day.
© GettyFollowing the ceremony, Chester locals were lining up to have their photos taken under the glorious archways; they truly were a sight to behold, and were no mean feat as I watched teams of professionals put the resplendent archways together by hand over the course of the day before the wedding.
