Today’s absolute joy of a wedding comes from beautiful Grasmere, in the heart of the Lake District. Mark and Dan look amazing in matching suits, the floral styling is out of this world and the photography captures the atmosphere of their day perfectly.
All images are by Lake District wedding photographer Mark Battista
I am head over heels in love with so many of Mark and Dan’s images I could have shared so many more on the blog… do head over to @englishweddingblog on instagram to see more of my favourites! Congratulations to this gorgeous pair – and huge thank yous for sharing such wonderful supplier reviews for the amazing team who brought the day to life. An absolute beauty!
Wedding photographer’s website
Lake District wedding photographer Mark Battista http://www.markbattistaphotography.co.uk
Wedding photographer review
The photos are absolutely perfect, Mark captured the whole event superbly. You really get the feel of it being a truly wonderful occasion (which it was)! We were super excited to share them with everyone. Everything on the day went perfectly, the style is just what we wanted and nothing too formal.
Your best wedding moment or memory
Undercover waiters – got everyone on their feet (some even on the tables) It was a really special moment and got the party started. They even got people on their feet who we didn’t quite expect to!
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
- We both walked down the aisle with our mothers.
- Our two dogs were the ringbearers.
- The two best women gave speeches.
- We had an evening party the day before for 55 of the guests who were staying at the venue.
Videographer name + review
Moments in White – Jayson.
Jayson captured the day in the most amazing way. (Check @momentsinwhite on instagram for the beautiful highlights reels!)
Venue name + review
Lancrigg, Grasmere (Lake District wedding venue)
What a venue and a hidden gem! Simon and Alison the owners are onto something special with this one as a wedding venue. We had a truly magical weekend and everything went the way we wished… and more. The staff were fantastic and many of our guests commented how friendly they were. No request was too much and Simon and his team were accommodating with all our requests (some quite outlandish!)
The Barn, Whiskey Bar and Main House played host to the best day of our lives and it felt so festive and homely. The Barn and Whiskey bar have been transformed into an impressive venue that provides a blank canvas to dress how you wish…. And we went to town and grateful we were allowed to do so. What a party it was!
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
We both wore: Green Tweed Suit, Beige Checked Waistcoat, Burgundy tie
Suit shop name + review
Edit Suits – great service from start to finish from Joeline and Wayne. Made, Measured and fitted to perfection.
Florist name + review
Brackens of Bowness
Kevin the florist really listened to what we wanted and adapted plans based on the season and cost. It felt like Kevin was at the venue for the entire day, flipping the ceremony displays to the table garlands for the evening and working tirelessly the day before setting up garlands for the aisle and hanging from the beams of the barn. We couldn’t have wished for anything better, the flowers and greenery really added to the look and feel of the day and we couldn’t have been happier. He transformed the venue in ways we didn’t think were possible!
Stationery maker’s name + review
Muse Calligraphy
The wedding stationery was absolutely beautiful and it was an absolute pleasure working with Muse Calligraphy. We adapted the format of the menu design with our own detail and Millie was amazing at delivering what we wanted and was happy to make last minute changes. The detail of the print and the quality of the card really added an extra special touch to the day.
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
We supplied the Christmas trees and made the garland around the barn doors. We also enhanced the table settings and seating plan with our personalised wax seal, bunny tail and feathers.
Entertainment
Undercover waiters – Live Music
Tailor and Co – Band
Catering
Karen Rhodes Wedding and Event Catering
Lauren from Karen Rhodes was exceptional on the day. The food was the showstopper of the day and everyone was so complimenting of the food and service provided (especially the poor girls serving canapés having to venture outside in the pouring rain into the house from the catering tent). The food was piping hot and delicious! Lauren really out our mind at ease around the logistics of the day and is a true asset to the business.
Our whole dealings with Karen Rhodes were without fault and Charlotte and Lucy have a business they can be really proud of.
Hair + makeup name + review
B the Bride – https://www.instagram.com/b_thebride_
I can’t really comment too much as it was the ladies who had their Hair and Make up done but everyone was really pleased and the girls looked amazing, our mothers especially. They listened to what they all wanted and executed it in the best possible way.
An artistic and beautiful bride and her handsome husband, surrounded by colour and joy! This wedding is beyond beautiful, filled with vibrant creative styling touches and personal details. Images are by our fave, Cambridge and South Farm wedding photographer Damien Vickers, who gets a glowing review from the happy couple. Lots of heartwarming supplier reviews from our star couple below, so grab a brew and have a slow scroll! I’ll share more on instagram @englishweddingblog later today!
Wedding photographer’s website
Cambridge wedding photographer Damien Vickers – https://www.damienvickersphotography.co.uk/
Wedding photographer review
Damien was just so easy to work with. We are terrible at taking photos and tend to look incredibly awkward in any that do exist! We had a pre-wedding shoot, which despite my nerves as we tread the cobbled Cambridge streets in the ‘golden hour’, was a great experience.
It meant that on the day, we’d already built a rapport with Damien and it was one less thing to worry about. I don’t know how he managed to be everywhere on the day!
One of the best things about getting our photos back was seeing all the moments we’d missed, being the centre of attention. He had captured so many wonderful candid shots of our friends and loved ones. He was both easy-going and relaxed with us, but also assertive and clear when getting the group shots. His experience shone through as we asked many questions in the run up to the day – all of which he answered with care and provided options or recommendations.
Your best wedding moment or memory
For me, it was the moment that my Dad and I could see our guests as he walked me down the aisle. Everyone was gathered in the beautiful garden at South Farm. I had been the most nervous all day once the music started and my bridesmaids left us waiting in the hallway of the farmhouse. Just the two of us for a few minutes. Then all of a sudden, we were bathed in love from our friends and family. Everyone was beaming and looked so fancy! I made a point to make as much eye contact as I could (whilst also trying to walk slowly). It was really a privilege to have so many people there to celebrate us. Then, there Jake was, smiling at the end of the aisle and we both had tears in our eyes when we said ‘hello!’.
Jake chose the first dance as his favourite moment. He said that the high pressure events of the day were all over, from ceremony to speeches, and he could now relax and have fun! I was not so relaxed in those final moments waiting for the first chords to kick in – as I’m not a natural dancer. We’d worked hard over a couple of months to learn a routine to ‘Come and Get Your Love’ by Redbone, which was played live by The Dominos. Jake used to be in a band and has an extroverted side, so our upbeat first dance suited his inner performer!
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
There was just so much about the wedding that fell into place. We were incredibly lucky to secure a Saturday in August at South Farm, just 7 months before our wedding. This happened to also be the date of our 11th anniversary together – this definitely felt serendipitous. We had no idea how popular South Farm was as naïve wedding planners ourselves!
Our Band, The Dominos, perform at weddings and events internationally and were available on our date! Two of the members of the band, Stu and Alex, had a band with Jake when they were teenagers, so really, we would not have wanted anyone else to perform for us.
We had our dogs, Bear & Arlo, with us on the day. They had many admirers and endless offers for walkies! For us, they’re part of the family so having them with us meant a lot.
In the run up to the wedding of course there’s lots of wed-min which can be stressful, but one of the best things we have ever done is learning our first dance together. We bought an online package which had video tutorials and spent about two months practicing most evenings in our dining room. Although we’re not dancers, we wanted to do more than an awkward shuffle for our first dance! We both loved the song ‘Come and Get Your Love’ by Redbone and wanted an upbeat opener to the evening celebrations. The tempo meant it was both fun and silly to learn, as we’d trip over each other, miss beats and fall around laughing. In all the stresses of day-to-day life our dance practice was a time apart, where we’d simply look in each others’ eyes and give it a go. I smiled so much in all of our practices.
Venue name + review
South Farm What can I say – South Farm are fabulous. Everything from the venue itself, the food and the smooth running of the day – they have it all down to a tee.
We had nothing to worry about on the day, South Farm managed everything. It meant we could be fully present and enjoy the time with our guests.
The spaces are all tastefully decorated, spotlessly clean and the gardens have a range of meticulously tended and wild areas. People can meet in larger or smaller groups both inside and outside, so everyone can be comfortable throughout the day. Having the whole site for your wedding feels special and exclusive.
The team at South Farm are impeccable. Any concern or query was responded to promptly. They provide really clear timelines and communications on decisions, payments and finalisations. The staff are warm and friendly, nothing phases them and any issue is dealt with smoothly and with ease.
The food is divine. We did a tasting evening and were stuffed! The menu is extensive and there are lots of options for those with dietary needs. I’m gluten free (allergy) and nothing was a bother, I felt really safe eating there throughout the day.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
My dress was from Heritage Brides in Hatfield – It is Lee Lee by ByWatters and Sam, who runs the shop, could not have been a safer pair of hands.
I’d been to one bridal shop before this and so I’d tried on a lot of silhouettes, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted. I’m not the type of person who has held a wedding for a long time. She listened and asked careful questions to pull out dresses for me to try. As I’d critique a dress, she’d adapt and pull the next choice.
I did have that ‘wow’ moment where I cried when I saw ‘the’ dress – which I did not expect! So there was no going back then. I didn’t expect to go for a gown or for the oatmeal colour in my dress, but when I tried it on, it sang and really complimented my (pale Irish!) skin colour.
I also had a flower crown handmade by Suzy, our Florist. My necklace was from Jersey Pearl. It was a present to me from Jake on the day – Jersey was where we’d spent a really lovely holiday a few years earlier! My earrings were handmade ceramic by Vivi Embellish (Elara Drops) from MarriMe in Newcastle. My bracelet was by Martina Hamilton, an Irish Jeweller, which was a present on the day from my parents. All of the accessories I have worn since and they bring a smile as I think back to our wedding day!
Jake’s suit was from Edit Suits in London – He had tried many high-street shops and rental options, but couldn’t find quite the right fit or colour so he opted to have his suit made. He said they offered a personalised service at a reasonable price, with numerous customisable options and provided quick turn-around from measure to final fit. His shoes are from Loake & the tie and pocket-square are a Liberty of London print bought from Etsy.
Florist name + review
Suzy Randell – Suzy was warm, knowledgeable and we worked well together to develop the vision for the flowers.
She was open to incorporating my creative elements into her floral displays. Using mood boards, visiting her in her studio and trying out a pre-wedding flower crown all really helped to bring the bold and bright florals to life. We took all the flowers home and had them up for weeks! She was very sensitive to any particular flowers we might want, for example, dahlia’s were Jake’s Nan’s favourite flower and she couldn’t be with us on the day. We had lots of dahlia’s! Across the different floral aspects – from meadow flowers, garland, bouquet to table arrangements, Suzy brought variation but matched this within the overall theme through her styling and flower choice.
Cake maker name + review
Our cake was made by a neighbour of ours, Chris. She made a gluten free Victoria sponge with raspberry conserve. She worked tirelessly making the individuals wildflowers which were modelled on those from Jake’s tie & pocket-square. She added fresh rosemary and a surprise of shamrocks, nodding to my Irish heritage. She is a warm and incredibly generous person and we loved the cake. It tasted wonderful too!
The topper is handmade in Vietnam (Chabinu Pegdolls on Etsy). Mika asked for details of our wedding outfits and also photos of us (and the dogs!). She sent proofs before she painted the figures and even clarified details for the dogs! I love them!
Stationery maker’s name + review
Grace Taylor @ Wildwood Paper – We opted for the Wild Meadow design for all of our on the day stationery. It matched the bold and bright colour theme, as well as featuring some of the same flowers in fabric and on the cake.
Grace was so easy to deal with, clear in her communication and managed expectations around delivery/timelines well. She gave a range of options based on her vast expertise. The quality of the prints was great and many guests took little mementos of the menu or their place-names!
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
Lots! I’m a maker and an art therapist by profession so once our wedding became a reality I had lots of ideas!
A bold and bright theme of colours overall. Given the height of Summer and our plan to get married in the gardens, I knew the flowers would be exploding in rich colours. There were nine different core colours.
We made 300 woollen pom-poms – transforming these into parts of the table decorations, bunting and chair tassels, as well as decorations along the aisle. The idea for pom-poms came from my work with people with a learning disability. I was doing some research into group art therapy, one group I went to had me making pom-poms and it was filled with such joy that I wanted to take this into our wedding.
We also made 100 origami birds. A few years ago, I’d made a mobile of origami birds that was focussed on grief in my life. For our wedding, I wanted to re-work the theme of the paper birds, with joy as the focus and so the 100 colourful origami birds were born. My bridesmaids and parents were the key helpers in making and assembling this vision!
Alongside what we’d made, Charlie (The Stables Prop Hire) hung paper lanterns in the barns and trees outside. Suzy (our florist) had carte blanche to go wild with colour, though we did agree that as many locally grown flowers would be included as possible.
My shoes were wedges from Hobbs and I sewed leather flowers onto them, which echoed the large applique flowers on my dress.
My mum knitted me a fabulous mohair cardigan to a 1980s pattern I found. Though on the day it was too warm to wear my cardi – I have it now as a wonderful token from our day and love wrapping up in it.
Wedding readings?
‘Everything I know About Love’ by Neil Gaiman
My dear friend Edward (O’Grady-Walshe) read this for us at our ceremony. I’ve known Edward since 2007, we met working together in an architectural practice. He’s the kind of person you could not see for a year and then stay up all night talking to catch up. He is wildly talented as an artist, on stage and behind the scenes. Creativity is part of his DNA. I knew he’d be perfect to make the reading memorable for guests and I really wanted him to have a role in our day. What I didn’t expect was that all three of us would choke up as he read the poem. The sense of love and gratitude at being together, celebrating love and friendship, was palpable. And the audience loved it!
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
‘Come and Get Your Love’ by Redbone
Jake was the master behind our playlist. We’d asked guests when they RSVP-ed for any requested songs and included these. We tried to have a range of musical styles across the day and into the evening so that everyone, if they wanted to, could get up and dance at some stage. We also worked with The Dominos to make sure that their set list was unique and our playlist didn’t repeat anything.
Other recommended wedding suppliers
Our band The Dominos have such a range of music and possible sets. They’re friendly and have just the right energy to match the vibe of the day. For us, they played during our drinks reception in the garden and then into the evening. They even checked outfit colours to ensure they wouldn’t clash with the wedding party!! Absolute professionals!
Coloured Paper Lanterns by Charlie Waters @ The Stables Prop Hire – https://www.thestablesprophire.co.uk/ She could not have done more for us – she was so helpful and so warm in all her communication.
Wedding bands were both from Galio Jewellers in St Albans – https://www.galio.co.uk/ Jake’s was custom made in Germany, mine was an accidental find which I was very pleased with as it fitted perfectly with my engagement ring, which Jake had chosen without any hints or suggestions.
Shellac Manicure (my first ever!) by Skin & Tonic in St Albans.
Mother of the Bride dress from Sinead’s Boutique, Ireland – https://sineadsboutique.com/ My mum felt really taken care of in Sinead’s. She was nervous about finding the right outfit as she’s more used to getting out and about in the countryside than wearing elegant dresses! So she needed a shop where they would work closely with her to make sure she was comfortable, but also that little bit special.
Bridesmaids dresses from Model Chic, Australia – https://www.modelchic.com.au/ Their communication was great and deliver estimates were spot on, also very reasonably priced. I wanted my bridesmaids to be able to choose a sleeve/strap style that they felt comfortable in, so the infinity dresses were perfect as there’s so many ways they can be worn.
Groomsmen & Father of Bride suits rented from Status Formal Hire in Harpenden. Efficient and professional service.
Wedding planner name + review
N/A – Though I must give a nod to South Farm here. Their team was incredible from our very first viewing, right through to having Evie as our wedding co-ordinator on the day. They know every aspect of weddings inside-out and so it felt like we had a team of wedding planners keeping us on track!
Hair + makeup name + review
Elouise Wallis @ Elouise Hair Stylist on Instagram as @elouise_hairstylist Elouise is my regular hairdresser, whom I’ve known since 2017 and followed her from salon to salon! I just knew it had to be her handling my hair and nerves on the day! She wouldn’t have let me go with a style that didn’t suit my face or hair type. A great piece of advice she gave at the trial was to try everything, every wild style idea I’d ever had and then see what felt most like ‘me’. She was a gem to have around on the day!
Katie Bullot @ GLOW by KT – Whom I chose for her natural looking dewey finish – I wear hardly any make up, so I wanted to feel like ‘me’ on the day, with a touch more glam! My bridesmaids and Mum also rarely wear make up, so I knew they’d be comfortable too. Katie is both professional and organised, with a keen attention to detail.
This wedding is an absolute beauty!!! Faye & Dean styled their day with a fantasy book theme (I’d be on the Rain Wilds table, which I love!) The gorgeous pair got wed at The Ferry House, one of our favourite Kent wedding venues. Danny Jack was their photographer. The images are out of this world, and Danny gets a glowing review from Faye & Dean below!
Wedding photographer’s website
Danny Jack https://dannyjackphotography.co.uk
Wedding photographer review
Danny was amazing. Having never had any professional photography done before we were both a bit wary about finding the right person to take the best possible photographs without it feeling too forced or posed. Danny was very easy going and fit in immediately – we shared several geeky interests and he was exceptionally easy to talk to. His natural and ‘in the moment’ photography style fit our wedding perfectly – allowing for an excellent mix of natural pictures and epic shots, without taking up too much time away from the party! He was able to capture all the magic moments – including an impromptu dancefloor cart-wheel from the groom! We would recommend Danny to everyone.
Your best moment or memory
There’s just so many, but if we had to pick one; the last dance of the night holds a special place for us; surrounded by all our closest friends and family (that had survived to the end!) whilst we danced as a couple at the center of the circle, allowing us to appreciate and soak up the final moments of the wedding evening.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
We did not have any speeches – we felt that it would add unnecessary pressure to family members that were not confident public speakers which in turn, would affect their enjoyment and ability to relax. We also wanted a relaxed vibe, and we felt speeches too formal for us. We also took great delight at sneaking in as many geeky references as we could in the wedding, with varying levels of subtleness! Ranging from the barely visible ATLA runes on the invitations, to the D20 jelly wedding favours.
Venue name + review
The Ferry House. Absolutely perfect! We viewed the Ferry House Inn as our ‘wildcard’ venue as part of their wedding showcase and instantly fell in love.
The outdoor ceremony option of the gazebo was divine – surrounded by greenery and a lovely view of the water – it was exactly what we wanted. The gazebo option for the reception allowed us ample space for our guests – and the excellent quirk of hiding the dancefloor behind a screen until the evening reveal, was joyous! The wedding coordinators were incredibly helpful and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. Not to mention the food was sublime!
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
After seeing a green suit at the wedding EXPO in London we were surprised at how much we both loved the colour and thus began the hunt for a green suit, not nearly as popular as its blue or black counterparts. We finally found a friend in Edit Suits that allows for a custom design suit to be made – including several choices of material, pockets, colour and linings. After trying on several dresses – Faye chose the first dress she had tried on in the first shop: Bell’amore To fit with the rustic/relaxed/fantasy vibe Faye opted for a lace dress with floral patterns that had detachable sleeves(!).
Florist name + review
For our wedding we used Idyllic and Co. wedding designers who arranged and designed many aspects of our wedding – including the sourcing the flowers/florist (which ended up lovely!).
Cake maker name + review
Ericakes : https://www.ericakes.co.uk/
When searching for wedding cakes we knew we had found our cake maker when Faye saw Erica’s ‘Alice in Wonderland cake’ – the detailing and patterns were beautiful. Wanting something similar but a reflection of both Faye’s chaotic side and Dean’s ‘neater’ aesthetic, we met with Erica to discuss ideas and how we could tie in our fantasy/book theme. Erica came up with the brilliant idea of having a book page curled around one of the layers and it looked perfect. To add to this the cake flavours were varied and delicious. We were spoilt for choice! Would 100% recommend – we received many comments on how great the cake tasted and looked.
Stationery maker’s name + review
In the process of designing the table plan – Sophie (Idyllic and Co) recommended the work of LyndaLoves to do the stationery for the the seating places and table names. The colour choices worked perfectly with the table plan and, to ensure we were happy , samples were sent to us before a final decision was made. The calligraphy was beautiful!
Any crafty projects or homemade styling touches?
We opted for sweets as our wedding favours and to hold them we purchased small white boxes and tied gold ribbon around them. However, looking a bit plain – we decided to tie them into our book theme by (spending many hours) making origami flowers from the pages of the book ‘The adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ which then perched upon the top of the boxes.
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
A serene cover by Romy Wave of ‘Something Just Like This’ by Coldplay.
Wedding planner name + review
The Ferry House Inn Wedding Co-ordinators were friendly and very prompt to reply to any emails we sent. It was obvious this was something they excelled in, as every step was planned and organised – allowing for very little stress on our part. Meetings and checklists ensured nothing was missed and all aspects were covered.
We met several co-ordinators throughout our wedding planning process and every single one was a joy to meet and put us at ease. We would highly recommend them. The Ferry House works closely with Idyllic&Co who often decorate the venue on showcase days. This is where we first met Idyllic&Co’s Sophie after she had put together a stunning Autumnal display.
We very quickly decided on hiring Idyllic&Co for our day, and we had several meetings to discuss wedding colours, themes and options that had not even crossed our minds! So much was covered, for example, having a central family table instead of a top table (which was a stroke of genius as no one was able to see the father-of-the-bride spill wine down the bride’s dress – thankfully white wine!), or using a board of books as a table plan to fully bind the theme.
Sophie took our small ideas and changed them to a spectacular vision! The combined efforts of the Ferry House wedding co-ordinators and Idyllic&Co. was a dream team – it allowed for a very smooth and enjoyable lead up to the wedding with minimal stress – on our part. We cannot thank them enough!
We would also like to mention, The Ferry House DJ Carl who ensured the dancefloor was never empty!
Hair + makeup name + review
Hair: Suzy https://www.bridalhairbysuzy.co.uk/
Suzy was simply an amazing hair stylist. Faye is not someone who typically spends a lot of time on her hair and so did not have much of a vision in mind. Once an enquiry was made Suzy took the time to call and discuss options prior to booking and meeting at her studio for a trial day.
Suzy had a great depth of knowledge and was able to offer great insight and ideas to a bride that knew very little about hair styling. On the day Suzy was a life-saver! Being summer a couple of pesky wasps had managed to find their way into the getting ready room – as well as being a superb hair stylist she is also a wasp-whisperer and managed to coax the wasps out of the room – saving the bridesmaids who may or may not have been cowering sightly in the corner…
Despite having fine hair that does not hold a curl well – the hair style lasted all day and survived long hours of dancing! I am very grateful to Suzy for her vision and expert styling!
Make-up: Clare Lake https://www.clarelakemakeupartist.co.uk/ Clare has a very happy attitude and is an expert in her field. She knew instantly what would or wouldn’t complement the dress and bridal style which was perfect for a bride that was not sure what would work and had never worn false lashes.
The trial was relaxed and amazingly fun, discussing several styles and brands. Clare was able to put together a look for the bride, bridesmaids, and mother of the bride that suited everyone perfectly! Providing exceptionally useful hints and tips about the day in general. The makeup lasted all day and night, and the bridesmaids and bride felt incredible.
