After the longest winter imaginable, the sun finally made an appearance – for one day only – for Emily and Liam’s spring wedding at Holesfoot last month. They married in the Italian Gardens, and no one required a coat; dare I say it they might actually have required suncream!!

Emily and Liam’s day was a total vibe, gorgeous chilled and full of personal touches. Their friend composted the music for their ceremony and they painted personalised tiny canvasses for every guest’s place at dinner. The joy in the barn was palpable as friends and family shared wonderful speeches before tucking into a phenomenal barbecue sharing banquet provided by Foray.

Emily and Liam, it really was such a joy to share your day with you in such an incredible place. I know people rave about the Lake District, but our little slice of secret Cumbria, this magical bit of the Eden Valley, really has so much to offer.

If you’re planning a wedding at Holesfoot, I’d love to chat more.

How did you meet?

We met in school originally, then reconnected during lockdown due to mutual friends. Emily asked Liam if he wanted to go on a walk (remember the days when that was all you could do outside!) and the rest is history.

Tell me your proposal story

It was our 5th anniversary in Venice, he had the ring all day looking for a quiet spot to propose, but ended up doing it 3 minutes before our dinner reservation as he wanted it done before and had ran out of time! He found a quiet corner and popped the question, after distracting me as we walked past the restaurant so I wouldn’t notice.

Why did you choose a spring wedding at Holesfoot for your wedding day?

Holesfoot is just the most beautiful place, quiet countryside and insane views. We always wanted to have everyone there for two nights with us and the venue has so much space for people. The amount of outdoor areas was a massive win for us too.

What was it you loved about your outfits and accessories that made you choose them?

My dress was very “me”, a few people guessed it very closely! Liams suit was also very him, he suits beige so well! We both wanted to feel great but also comfortable. My favourite bit was asking our mums to join in the colour scheme as both dads were involved already. It made them feel included and I loved their personality in the choice of dresses.

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

We just wanted something simple, and for the day to be about the people not the aesthetics. The venue spoke for itself so we had very few decorations and additions. We wanted a simple yet elegant day, hence the bud vases and the minimal pink colour scheme on the tables. We made everyone their own little 3×3 inch canvas as their favour, I think this completed the theme so nicely as it brought a pop of colour to the tables and showed our appreciation for everyone there, they took a long time to do!!

What was your first dance and why did you choose it?

We had You to me are everything. We originally weren’t going to have one as we didn’t have a song in mind and didn’t want to force one but then we felt that we should have one. The song was perfect as it’s one everyone knows, the lyrics say how we feel and the whole vibe of the song is just perfect for what we wanted. Everyone loved joining in and singing along with us.

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

It’s a cop out, but the whole day! It was so relaxed, joyful and full of sunshine. Seeing all our family and friends mingling in the sun was such a joy for us both. Finding those small moments of time together as just us two was so lovely, we just said how much we were loving the day and everyone being there with us. And the sun. Massive shout out to the sun.

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

We met with a few photographers but Hannah stood out, her relaxed demeanour was perfect for us. Neither of us are too comfortable in front of a camera much but she promised us she would make us feel comfortable and she fully came through! As I’ve said, the day was about sharing it with loved ones and she caught so many moments of them that we missed on the day, it’s so lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves. Hannah caught so many moments where I think back and don’t even remember seeing her there, she’s like a stealthy ninja, you never see her but she’s always there! She was also amazing with helping us out, from delivering shirts, adjusting watches and fastening shoes, she’s not just a photographer, she could charge as a wedding coordinator too!

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

Make sure the day is yours. It’s a one time thing so do what you want, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

Emily & Liam’s spring wedding at Holesfoot happened with the help of the following suppliers…

Venue Holesfoot / HMUA Nala & Knot / Catering Foray Catering

Cake Cakes & Treats by Charlotte / Band Big Shout Band