Sublime autumn styling for Kyla and Joe’s Falcon Manor wedding in Settle, with Mark Battista Photography
Autumn weddings don’t get any more beautiful than this, ever. Kyla and Joe’s Yorkshire wedding is fabulous – the pair are amazing inside and out. With incredible supplier reviews for Mark Battista Photography and Settle’s Falcon Manor venue, this is an epic wedding I’ve been so excited to share! Take your time scrolling through all of the beautiful images, fall in love with the details and styling, the location and the warm, autumnal decor. Most of all, enjoy the glowing recommendations and heartfelt supplier reviews from this wonderful couple – it’s exactly why English Wedding exists and I’m thrilled to be sharing this wedding with you today.
Wedding photography
Photographer’s website
We chose Cumbria and North West wedding photographer Mark Battista to capture our wedding day.
Wedding photographer review
We first met Mark in the Lake District shortly after becoming engaged. We knew we wanted our engagement and wedding photos to feature the stunning scenery of places that we hold so near our hearts. From our first conversation, I knew I wanted him to be our wedding photographer. Our resulting engagement photos only helped solidify that decision.
Mark has a light hearted and calming presence that truly puts you at ease and allows you to feel like your best self. With his gentle guidance and expert approach, he helped capture some of the most beautiful moments of our life together. He walks with you through these emotional events with such care and genuinely invests in helping you turn these invaluable memories into photographs that you will treasure forever and a day.
On our wedding day, Storm Amy rolled into town. This meant that all of the stunning portraits we had envisioned would no longer be possible. However, this didn’t stop Mark from creating possibilities where it seemed there weren’t any. He supported us as we came to terms with the weather and got creative with the venue spaces that we were actually able to utilise.
Towards the end of the night, Mark convinced us to walk out into the storm and brave the weather together. In doing so, he captured one of our favourite wedding photos and also helped create such a magical memory that we cherish dearly.
At the end of the day, we got every photo that really mattered to us. That is all thanks to Mark, his brilliant assisting photographer, and their relentless efforts to ensure our day was everything we had ever dreamed of.
Wedding Story
Best wedding moment or memory
As mundane as it may sound, our favourite memory of our wedding was when we were able to just take a moment for ourselves, away from all the hustle and bustle, with our photographer Mark.
The whole day had been a whirlwind of hugs, congratulations, speeches and making sure everyone was where they needed to be, so when Mark suggested we slip away for a little while, it felt like the first time we’d properly caught our breath all day.
He captured some loving moments of just us, now happily married! We’re smiling, laughing and joking, naturally being just us without the noise. There were no poses to hold or people to chat to, just the two of us taking it all in and realising that we’d actually done it. Mark had a real knack for making us feel completely at ease, so much so that we almost forgot he was there, and that’s exactly why those photos feel so genuine. Every time we look at them, we’re taken straight back to that feeling. It was only a brief moment in what was a wonderfully busy day, but it meant the world to us!
If there’s one piece of advice we’d give to any couple, it’s to make time for those quiet few minutes together. You’ll be so glad you did.
Tell us anything you did differently – any NEW traditions (or if you had none at all!)
It felt important to us to incorporate fun and entertainment wherever we could. We wanted our guests mingling, laughing and enjoying themselves throughout the evening!
For our reception, Joe’s crafty brother John built us a brilliant 6 foot tall donut wall that could hold over 50 donuts at one time! It was a massive hit with all our guests. In addition to the donut wall, John also handmade a gorgeous, personalised beer pong table and cornhole set, lovingly engraved with “Mr. & Mrs. Crowe”, to help entertain everyone.
Both games were a nod to my American heritage and our rowdy teenage party days! Even the bean bags for cornhole were a mix of the American flag and the Union Jack, which felt like the perfect little touch. Bringing our cultures together in such a simple way made every little moment feel so much more personal. It wasn’t about anything big or flashy, just thoughtful details that told our story. Knowing so much of it was made by John’s own hands made it all the more special.
When it came to music, we wanted it to feel just as personal as everything else. Rather than handing our DJ a basic list of wedding classics, we created our own playlist filled with all of our favourites. It was a night of rock ’n’ roll, indie favourites, and 90s and early 2000s smash hits that got everyone up on the dance floor! Hearing the songs we love fill the room made the whole evening feel like a celebration that was truly ours.
Everything in our reception came together in what ended up being the best (and most expensive) party that we have ever thrown and we wouldn’t change any part of it for the world. Not even Storm Amy.
Wedding suppliers
Wedding venue name + review
I am not sure we have the words for the wave of emotions we felt when we visited Falcon Manor for the first time. It was only the second venue we had toured and yet, it immediately felt like home. The calm and warm environment enveloped in the rustic Yorkshire charm we were searching for immediately drew us in and made our choice of venue a very easy one.
While planning a wedding certainly comes with some challenges, Katie and Lucy rose to the occasion and navigated any and all of our requests with a kindness and professionalism that exceeded our expectations. Every question, query, and concern were managed proactively and promptly, taking some of the pressure off of us so that we could focus on other areas of our wedding planning.
As a Michelin recognised chef and self professed foodie, the quality of the meals at our wedding were at the top of our priority list.
We all know that wedding food has a bad rep and honestly, that reputation is well earned in most cases. We didn’t want our wedding to become another bad statistic in that category.
Even through staffing changes, the Head Chef, Lucy, and Katie worked very closely with us to curate our perfect wedding menu. Through personal tasting menu dinners at the venue, we were put at ease and confident that the venue would deliver the quality we were seeking on our special day.
The day of was no different. Almost every guest we spoke with said the food was so much more than they expected and they were truly blown away by their meals.
We are so grateful that the team at Falcon Manor took our feedback and expectations seriously, delivering a cocktail hour and three course wedding breakfast that was ten steps above the rest.
On our wedding day, everything ran like a well oiled machine purely through their coordination and guidance. The ceremony, the wedding breakfast, the reception – every single little detail was handled with such graceful precision. Even in the rare moments where we could have had a slight hiccup in the day, we didn’t know about it until a resolution was already in place.
Hosting a large wedding in the middle of a severe storm that was sweeping the nation absolutely created obstacles throughout the day but the team at Falcon Manor made it feel like sunshine and rainbows outdoors.
We will never forget our beautiful wedding day in this stunning venue and the incredible people that helped make our dream a reality. We are more grateful than we will ever be able to express.
Florist name + review
Manchester Florist and event stylist Gingerbread Events (Amanda & Peter)
Our favourite season of the year is Autumn. With our anniversary being on the 5th of October since we began dating and Joe’s birthday being on the 9th, we knew wanted our wedding to be in October. We envisioned a soft autumnal theme with decor and florals to match.
While I was worried about bringing too much pink into the picture, Joe loving leaned into helping me create the vision boards that we ultimately handed over to Amanda and Peter at Gingerbread Events. From the very beginning, both Amanda and Peter were enthusiastic in their approach to creating the breath-taking displays that would make our wedding everything we ever hoped for. It is genuinely as if they looked into my mind and saw our wedding day before it was even here.
Through careful research, dedicated attention, and several trial set ups, Gingerbread Events crafted our beautiful bouquets, tablescapes, and floral displays with soft pinks, terracotta roses, and autumn foliage, alongside the most stunning half arch floral display at the front of our venue. Every little detail was so loving crafted with the upmost professionalism while also making us feel like they were friends who had known us personally for years.
It didn’t matter if a specific flower we wanted was half way across the globe and out of season. They somehow managed to work their magic and bring every aspect of our wedding vision together so seamlessly.
We were so blown away on our wedding day seeing all of their work come to life right before our eyes. Amanda and Peter came together to make one unstoppable team that would not rest until every corner of our venue was showered in the dreamy autumn aesthetic that we strived to create together.
Give Gingerbread Events an idea and they will turn it into the most incredible reality with all your wants and needs in mind. I would trust them with our special day in every lifetime.
Hair + makeup name + review
Juno by Brittany Jae (based in Leeds)
Brittany and her assisting artist were like the calm before the storm. Literally. They helped us settle into what would ultimately be a chaotic morning but they did a sterling job at making me and my girls relax and enjoy our pamper session. Brittany did a fantastic job with all of my requests as the bride, especially considering how particular I can be with my make up. In the end, I felt like real life princess ready to marry her prince.
My hair and make up last well into the evening even after a large number of drinks and some very questionable dance moves. I’m so grateful I chose her to be my hair and make up artist on the most important day of my life and I would recommend her to anyone!
Wedding cake maker name + review
Bec at Three Little Birds is truly a master of her trade. She helped us create a mock up of our dream wedding cake in what felt like minutes. On the day when we saw the finished product, we were speechless. It was so much more than we had imagined and seeing our cake brought tears to my eyes. Everything about it was perfect and even our guests marvelled at just how beautiful it was.
But let’s not forget the taste of the cake. Each tier was a different flavour that we had chosen through a tasting session and wow! Soft, moist, delicious, sweet but not sickly. Everything you want in an amazing cake, she brings to the table. We even got a tier that was pumpkin spice to match our theme and my love for pumpkin cake! Three Little Birds Bakery will make your wedding cake dreams come true and we are so glad we trusted her with ours. In fact, she did such an amazing job, we have asked her to create our baby’s gender reveal cake less than a year later.
Wedding wear
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
I wore the stunning Oleesa gown from the Blue by Enzoani collection. I bought my dress from Scarlet Poppy Bridal based in Pudsey and the service I received was second to none. From the shop manager through to the in house seamstress, everyone helped me find my perfect dress that was far outside the realm of what I thought I would ever choose. They helped me explore options outside of my initial comfort zone and ultimately, I walked away with a show stopper of a dress and a lovely wedding dress shopping experience.
Joe wore a brown 3 piece tweed herringbone suit that really tied in with our hope to embrace the Yorkshire feel in our wedding. What made his suit particularly special was, in fact, his waistcoat. Instead of wearing the waistcoat that came with the suit, he paired his jacket and trousers with a made by hand waistcoat, lovingly stitched together using fabric from a suit that belonged to his much loved and dearly departed grandfather, Bob. Incorporating this sentimental piece into Joe’s wedding suit made him feel closer to the family that could only attend our wedding in spirit.
Styling and personal touches
Our favourite personal touch that we added to the day was our memorial table. With some family missing from our wedding party as they had moved onto the afterlife, having their wedding portraits on display surrounded by candlelight and flowers really made us feel like they were there with us celebrating our special day from heaven.
Wedding ceremony and readings
They say when you walk down the aisle on your wedding day, you end up with complete, blinding tunnel vision. I didn’t realise how true this statement really was until the ceremony room doors opened and at the end of the aisle stood my Groom, partner of ten years, and soon to be husband.
As much as I tried to take in the room, filled with stunning floral displays, decor we had hand picked together, and every person we love in one place, I simply couldn’t see any of it. I could only see him. And he could only see me.
I managed about 3 steps, holding my father’s hand like a little girl, before I burst into tears. The utter and overwhelming gravity of where we were stood finally took hold as I realised we had finally made it. After a decade of love, laughter, growth, and partnership, we were finally going to be husband and wife. By the time I reached Joe, his eyes were filled with the same tear soaked realisation.
Our celebrant walked us through the ceremony formalities, after which we exchanged our own personal vows. Promising to be each other’s best friend, support, guidance, and strength until our last breath. Joe, of course, had to throw in some vows that got a few good laughs, as well!
Once we had exchanged our vows, my amazing stepfather and ring bearer stood and helped us exchange our wedding rings. Including this kind man in our ceremony who has been a constant support and father figure to both of us for over 12 years was so incredibly special and we are so glad he played such an important role in our special day.
Walking out of the ceremony room as husband and wife was the most surreal feeling and one we will never forget. Surrounded by the claps and cheers of our nearest and dearest during the biggest moment in our lives will keep a special place in our hearts forever.
Wedding planner name + review
Kyla, the Bride!
With a strong professional background in Operations and Project Management, planning our wedding came naturally to me. While I’d love to take all the credit, the support and guidance of our incredible vendors alongside my organisational skills and my amazing husband’s endless encouragement made our wedding planning a fun and enjoyable experience that resulted in our dream wedding come true.
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