“Thank you so much for everything again, everyone we know has been swooning over the photos… They have completely exceeded our expectations!” – Sarah & Alex

2026 weddings are go, and so far I’ve had 100% dog friendly celebrations, which of course I’m delighted about. Last week’s dog friendly Merewood wedding was completely perfect; Sarah & Alex managed to choose the most beautiful spring day for their intimate celebration (the day after the wedding it snowed which makes the mild weather even more wonderful!) and were able to marry outside on the terrace. After some canapés we headed to the lake for photos with their dog, Olive, who was the star of the show.

While of course you gamble with the weather in early spring, the benefit of getting married out of season here in the Lake District is that you don’t tend to have to persuade other visitors out the back of your photos like you might have to in the summer. Down at Millerground we had the place to ourselves save one yacht which had moored up but I think it really adds something to the photographs.

After some pictures we headed back for the speeches and then I left Sarah and Alex with their guests to continue the celebrations. Aboreal is perfect for a small gathering, allowing everyone to share a meal around one large table with views over the lake.

As dog friendly weddings go, the ratio of dogs to humans was excellent, and they were all very good boys and girls. Of course Olive does take the crown for best dog, having been in charge of the rings as well as behaving perfectly all day.

If you’re planning a dog friendly Merewood wedding, I’ve love to chat some more – please do get in touch.

How did you meet?

We met through work, we both work with looked after children.

Tell me your proposal story

Alex took me on a surprise anniversary trip to Venice and proposed during a gondola ride.

Why did you choose a dog friendly Merewood wedding for your wedding day?

We love the Lakes and have spent other family celebrations there, so it seemed a fitting choice… We also wanted an excuse for it to feel more of a trip rather than a one day celebration!

Tell me about the vision you had for your wedding including your theme/colour scheme/styling/flowers

We loved the earthy colours and wanted it to warm & welcoming!

What were the most wonderful parts of the day for you?

The weather, we loved that it felt small and intimate and it allowed us to spend quality time together!

Why did you choose Hannah Hall Photography as your photographer, and what was your experience of your photography on the day?

Hannah was recommended by our venue, we did some social media research and we were totally sold!

What would be your best bit of advice to other couples planning their wedding?

Keep it small and simple, to allow for it to feel a little less overwhelming and stressful!

Sarah & Alex’s dog friendly Merewood wedding happened with the help of the following suppliers…

HMUA Kym Wolfe / Venue Merewood / Dress The Rebridal Boutique / Suit Suit Culture

…and if you’re looking for dog friendly day care or a doggy chaperone, I’d recommend Dapper Dog & Cumbria Dog Services