There is something really magical about a wedding in the weeks running up to Christmas; they’re festive and cosy and the long dark nights just seem to add a special something to the celebrations. So when Bonnie & Duncan booked me to be their Haweswater Hotel wedding photographer for their wedding the week before Christmas last week, I was absolutely buzzing.

Bonnie & Duncan live in Australia, where the weather was the complete polar opposite to the very cold snap we were experiencing last December, but they were absolutely able to capture the romance and richness that the season brings here through their impeccable styling and florals. It was a joy to work with Lake District florist, Seed & Wild who created the most phenomenal bouquets and centrepieces in hues of red and purple; traditional colours perhaps but a very modern and stylish take!

Bonnie & Duncan got married in St John in the Vale which is one of the tiniest, most remote churches in the Lake District. It’s accessed by a gated no through road and boasts incredible views over the Blencathra range (when the weather is clear!) After a quick confetti throw and a few photographs before the rain set in, we headed back to the Haweswater Hotel for an evening of dancing, speeches and incredible food.

I absolutely adored by day with Bonnie & Duncan and I really hope I’ll get to go back to this incredible venue before too long. If you’re planning a wedding of your own at the Haweswater Hotel, or indeed at any other of the incredible venues Cumbria has to offer I’d love to chat some more. Do drop me a line and tell me more about your plans!

An intimate wedding celebration on the side of Haweswater

Although Haweswater is a reservoir, it’s no less picturesque than some of the other bodies of water here in the Lake District. Swimming and paddling is strictly forbidden, however, so if a wedding morning swim is on the cards you’ll need to head a little further afield for that dip!

Haweswater reservoir sits in the Mardale valley; work on the dam began in 1929 and the village was subsequently flooded and it now supplies around 25% of the north-west’s water.

The hotel itself if a glorious art deco building, and the rooms are quirky, stylish and full of character. The hotel is the only building in the 100 square mile Haweswater Nature reserve and feels incredibly quiet and remote. It is licensed for civil weddings and can offer exclusive use with a capacity for 40-50 guests for a sit down meal depending on table arrangements, or 80 for a more informal buffet with casual seating. The restaurant boasts two Rosettes with incredible menu options on offer.

Haweswater Hotel Wedding Photographer

Whether throwing on your hiking boots and climbing the fells above Haweswater, or making the most of the art deco decor of the hotel, the Haweswater Hotel offers wedding photography opportunities for every couple. The dining room offers large windows for maximum day light by day but is small enough to maintain that cosy, intimate feeling with family and friends over dinner. You can read about what Bonnie and Duncan said about working with me as their Haweswater Hotel wedding photographer below…

“Hannah, you’ve put us in an impossible position, how will we ever decide which photos to print for our walls when they are all so stunning!

We were so excited when we found out Hannah was available for our intimate winter wedding in the Lake District. From the start Hannah was amazing, very professional and knowledgeable and fun at the same time. We received the most gorgeous set of preview photos just a few days after the wedding and we were blown away, we couldn’t believe it was just a preview and that there were more to come! And the full set didn’t disappoint either, we couldn’t be more happier with the photos and experience we had with Hannah, now to decide how many to print!”

Bonnie & Duncan’s Haweswater Hotel wedding happened with the help of the following suppliers

HUMA Sarah Morten / Venue The Haweswater Hotel / Florist Seed & Wild / Band Fresh Orange