Editor loves and inspiration

The team at ALT Events Co. organised this styled shoot at Didsbury Parsonage Trust. “The fact that the property was a Catholic building in the past made it even more meaningful to do a same-sex shoot there with a real same-sex couple,” says the team at ALT Events Co. “We’ve come so far from the antiquated views of the past that I wanted to blend a more modern shoot with the historical aspects. The autumnal colours are something I love to capture in November. As we moved from autumn to winter, the floor was littered with red and orange leaves, which really brought out the deep colour of the sunlight and the stained glass in the windows of the parsonage. We incorporated the autumnal theme into the florals and the tablescape and matched a black dress with dark muted make-up.”

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Amy and Chris met at work and started talking after they were introduced by Amy’s boss. “We became friends and the rest is history,” says Amy. “We have three children between us and in 2020, they said: ‘Will you marry our dad?’ with my mum’s engagement ring in hand. It was a complete shock and the most perfect proposal, as the kids were included. My mum sadly passed away in 2018 from cancer, so it means a lot to me that he used her ring.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

A team of local suppliers worked together to produce this beautiful shoot at Long Acre Barn.

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Joni Rogan from I Love You Thirteen shares her trend predictions for 2024.

"Couples are focusing on the candid action that happens throughout the day, with some cool portraits thrown in the mix. They’re having fun, and they want their wedding photos to show that.”

See more from our Photography feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Cumberland Flower Farm has been accredited by the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. The farm was established in 2018 and grows cut flowers for homes, businesses and weddings near Cockermouth in West Cumbria. Using old- school market garden methods, the team grows flowers and foliage from March until October. The company has a growing reputation for sustainable floristry, designing without floral foam and imported flowers that celebrate the seasons. Its relaxed ‘country garden’ florals have proved very popular with couples marrying in the Lakes, flowering between 40 and 50 weddings a year.

The Sustainable Wedding Alliance was set up in 2020 by Michelle Miles to help the wedding industry reach the country’s ambition to be net zero by 2030. The process of accreditation supports businesses in understanding their current carbon footprint and creating a sustainability strategy that helps them become more environmentally friendly.

Harriet Smithson, the owner of Cumberland Flower Farm, tells us: “We are delighted to have achieved accreditation with the Sustainable Wedding Alliance. It is brilliant to be able to celebrate our work and have a practical plan for our growth and development. The accreditation process has taken us a year and has involved us analysing our carbon footprint, supply chain and processes. It’s very thorough and thought-provoking! It’s easy to say you are ‘eco’ but this really underlines the effort we make to consider the environment. Sustainability is at the heart of what we do and to be the first business in Cumbria to be accredited is a great achievement. We encourage others to join and start the process!”

Read more local news in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Rosie and Michael met, like most modern couples, online. “We were attracted to each other’s sense of adventure and love of the outdoors,” says Rosie. “Michael almost missed out though, as he cancelled our first date at short notice because he’d found a lost dog while out on the fells and, in the process of reuniting the dog with his owner, managed to get sunstroke. It was only because my mum persuaded me to give him another chance that I agreed to reschedule!”

Michael proposed on Hopegill Head. “It’s one of our favourite skylines and the view from the top looks down on the venue where we wanted to get married,” shares the bride. “He’d planned it for a beautiful November day, but the bad weather suddenly set in, and by the time we’d had breakfast, it was a full blizzard. We set off in the snow and had a slow, cold and windy climb to the top, where he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was a complete whiteout; we couldn’t see the view and the dog’s whiskers were frozen, but it was magical nonetheless.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

To help you find the perfect flowers for your wedding, Sarah Cox from Wild Ivy Floral Design shares her top tips:

"My advice to couples who are planning an intimate wedding is to find suppliers who you are really compatible with, who understand your aesthetic, and who will enable you to achieve your dreams on the day.

"Small weddings are by nature intimate events and don’t tend to have the usual wedding props of larger-scale events, such as lighting, statement cakes, bridesmaids, etc.; they are more pared back, and therefore all the details are more visible. For us, the florals are so important; our style is wild yet elegant and is ideal for those couples who are looking for a wild elopement which they can take to the Fells for their photographs and enjoy the beauty of the Lake District landscape."

See more tips in our Intimate Wedding Inspiration feature in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Make-up artist Megan Hartley reveals how to get your skin looking its best in the run-up to your wedding.

"You can’t have a flawless face without putting in the work behind the scenes. Your make-up is only as flawless as your skin is. Be sure to cleanse (twice if removing make-up) and moisturise twice daily with the relevant products for your skin. If you have dry skin, look for moisturisers containing hyaluronic acid. If you have an oilier complexion, consider products with salicylic or niacinamide as an ingredient.

"Drink water and lots of it! If you don’t already, start now. Make sure you implement these regimes as early as possible; it may take weeks, even months, to see visible improvement in your skin. If you have major skin concerns, seek professional help from a skincare specialist.

"On the day, for a flawless base, be sure to make sure your skin is hydrated. Extra emphasis on moisturiser, even if you’re prone to being oily. All skin craves hydration! Alcohol is a diuretic, so keeping that to a minimum is very beneficial."

See more top tips in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

Olivia and Luke met in 2018 at work. “I was Luke’s boss,” says Olivia. “He convinced me that he was a qualified personal trainer, so we started going to the gym together, became best friends, and ended up falling in love.”

Luke surprised Olivia by popping the question in 2021. “He took me on a treasure hunt to all of the key places in my life, such as where I was born, where I went to school, and where we like to double date with our best friends,” shares the bride. “He took inspiration from the movie Love Actually by writing out cards that had poems on them that my loved ones were holding at each stop. These poems would give me clues on where we were going next. There were 12 stops in total and the final stop was a beautiful picnic set up in a field next to where we’d just bought a house. The final poem said: ‘You asked for a house, and there it came. Now will you share my last name?’ He got down on one knee and I burst out crying! He’d also planned an engagement party at our favourite restaurant for that evening, where we celebrated with our friends and family.”

See more from their wedding in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download

David Rucker Photography worked with a team of talented suppliers to create this stunning styled shoot. “Being a qualified mountaineer, it’s little wonder that I shoot the majority of my weddings in the Lakes or the Highlands of Scotland, where I’ve been in constant wanderlust since I was a young boy,” says David. “I love being surrounded by nature, so when my favourite venue in The Lake District, New House Farm, asked me to photograph a photo shoot with some of their favourite suppliers, I jumped at the opportunity. New House Farm is no ordinary venue; quite simply, it is something else. Nestled in the incomparable Vale of Lorton, surrounded by fells, it feels like you are detached from the hustle and bustle of places like Bowness, Grasmere and Keswick. A date was set, and little did we know that as the time came around, it would be the hottest day of the year. After many cold drinks and a cheeky ice cream later, we hit the slopes of Latrigg above Keswick, where fortunately there was a slight breeze in the air.”

See more from this styled shoot in the current issue. Download your free copy at www.yournorthwest.wedding/free-download