George + Arianne by Lara Luis Photography

We knew we wanted a rustic barn in the Lake District.

Tell us a little about yourselves, what you do, what you love…

We’re Arianne and George. Arianne’s a doctor working in paediatrics, and George works in marketing. Life is busy, but we always make time for the things we love, mainly being outdoors, exploring new places, and sharing good food.

We spend a lot of our weekends walking, camping, and climbing hills. We’re currently working our way through the Wainwrights in the Lake District – it’s become a bit of an obsession! We also love cooking together at home and finding new places to eat out.

How/where/when did you meet – and what were your first impressions?

We met in sixth form, sitting next to each other in psychology. George was the quiet one, and Arianne definitely wasn’t. We became good friends first, part of the same group, and gradually got to know each other better over time.

Towards the end of the sixth form, things started to shift, and we officially got together just as we were heading off to uni, Arianne in Belfast, George in Manchester.

Tell us about the vision you had for the mood and style of your wedding. (theme, key styling elements, florals, colour palettes etc.).

Our wedding vision was centred around creating an intimate, personal celebration that felt relaxed and true to us, with sustainability at its heart. From the start, we knew we wanted a rustic barn in the Lake District, with the stunning fells as the perfect outdoor backdrop. To make the ceremony special, we hired props like a rustic birch arch, vintage-style lanterns, and Persian rugs lining the aisle, which created a beautiful and inviting setting.

The florals were a key part of the look. We chose dried flowers that weren’t dyed and were sustainably sourced by an eco-friendly florist. All the blooms were seasonal and locally grown for us, giving a light, bright, and wildflower vibe that felt fresh and natural. For the tables, we used bud vases filled with summery stems full of texture and colour.

Our colour palette was soft and summery, with pale yellow bridesmaid dresses (Arianne’s favourite colour) mixed with oranges, pinks, and sage green.

We made every effort to be as sustainable as possible: Arianne’s wedding dress was second-hand, George’s suit was made from high-quality surplus fabrics, and we hired props rather than buying new. Many décor pieces were picked up second-hand, adding to the unique and personal feel.

Instead of traditional favours or place cards, we wrote handwritten notes for our guests. Our ceremony was written by our celebrant, telling our story in a way that was perfectly us.

What styling and visual elements worked best for you? (could be things, the florals, particular hire products or your marquee, etc., something the stylist created or simply just the scenic beauty of your location or the existing design of your venue).

For us, the styling really started with the venue itself. It was the most important element from the beginning, and we built everything else around it. The rustic charm of the barn, paired with the incredible views over the surrounding fells, created a setting that honestly didn’t need much added to make it feel special. The scenic beauty did so much of the work for us.

One of our favourite visual elements was the birch arch, which framed the outdoor aisle perfectly. It added such a lovely focal point to the ceremony, and later in the day, we brought it inside to sit behind us at the top table. It felt like a subtle way to tie the whole day together. Deborah Maria did an amazing job styling the arch with natural foliage and soft drapes; it looked beautiful and really suited the setting.

Our dried flowers also got a lot of compliments throughout the day. Their soft, summery colours and wild textures added to the rustic feel we were going for, while also being a sustainable option that we could take home and keep afterwards.

What did you enjoy most about the planning process, and do you have any tips for couples starting their wedding planning journey?

We really enjoyed visiting the venue and seeing how our ideas could come to life there. It was so exciting to walk around and start imagining how everything would look and feel on the day.

We also really loved getting to know our suppliers, especially our celebrant and photographer. Building those relationships made everything feel more personal, and it was lovely to work with people who genuinely cared about making the day special for us.

Our tip would be to lean on your suppliers and venue for guidance. They are so helpful with advice, contacts, and sense-checking ideas. Don’t be afraid to ask – they’ve seen it all before and are always happy to help.

We’d also really recommend looking into second-hand or thrifted items. There are so many beautiful things you can find that are cheaper and more environmentally friendly!

Most importantly, focus on what really matters to you. It’s easy to feel pressure to include everything you see online, but we kept it simple and just chose things that had meaning and purpose for us. The result felt authentic and special, nothing unnecessary, just things that reflected us and what we value.

Tell us about your vendors. Were there any standout suppliers you would like to make special mention of?

We honestly couldn’t have asked for better suppliers! Everyone we worked with went above and beyond to make the day feel special.

Our photographer, Lara Luis, absolutely smashed it. She was incredible from start to finish, so helpful throughout the planning process and just an absolute joy to have around on the day. She fit in seamlessly with our friends and family, and we felt completely at ease with her. The photos captured everything so perfectly, the atmosphere, the emotion, the little in-between moments, we couldn’t be happier.

Our celebrant, Lara from Celebrate with Lara, was also amazing. She spent so much time getting to know us and our story, and wrote the most perfect ceremony. It felt so personal and heartfelt, full of laughter, a few tears, and so much love. It was one of our favourite parts of the whole day.
Pavs Dhaba did our catering and brought the most amazing Indian street food and curries. We really wanted food that felt true to us, and they completely delivered. They put so much care into every detail and helped create such a relaxed, vibrant feel to the meal.

Our evening party was made by Clare from Wedding Jam, who brought such great energy. The dance floor was full all night – exactly what we’d hoped for!

Tell us about your main outfits, what was unique, and is there a story?

We’re both very environmentally conscious, especially when it comes to fashion, so we knew from the start that we wanted our wedding outfits to reflect that. We try to buy second-hand where we can, or support ethical, high-quality brands, and we approached our wedding no differently.

Arianne spent a lot of time looking for the right dress, but was keen to buy it second-hand, knowing how often wedding dresses are only worn once. After trying on a few styles to see what suited her, she found the perfect dress on Still White. To make it more personal, one of her bridesmaids created bespoke sleeves, hand-sewing tiny flowers onto soft tulle, adding something completely unique and filled with love. A veil didn’t quite feel like her, but when she tried on a scarf instead, it just clicked – simple, elegant, and true to her style.

George wanted something that felt timeless and could be worn again, so he chose a suit from an ethical brand that creates clothing from surplus fabrics that would otherwise go to landfill. It was classic, well-made, and sustainable – everything he was looking for.

Tell us about your wedding and engagement rings.

George’s ring was made by Flinn & Steel, a ring maker based in Sheffield, where we lived together for several years. The ring is named after the Rivelin Valley, a place we lived close to and one of our favourite places for walks. Having that connection to a place that means so much to us made it feel like the perfect choice.

Arianne’s wedding ring is her mum’s old wedding ring, which gives it such sentimental value. It felt really special to be able to carry a piece of her mum’s story into this next chapter, and to continue its meaning in a new way.

What were one or two elements that were most important to you both that you were happy to spend a little more on? (food, photography, florals, the venue, your outfits?).

The venue was a big one. Getting married in the Lake District was non-negotiable; it’s a place we love and where we’ve made so many memories together. We knew we wanted a barn surrounded by the fells, and when we found Low Hall, it felt absolutely perfect. The setting was everything we’d hoped for and more.

Food was also really important to us. We didn’t want a traditional wedding meal, especially not a roast dinner. It took a while to find the right caterer, but we were so happy when we found someone who could serve our favourite food, curry! It felt relaxed, personal, and totally us.

We also put a lot of thought into the evening food. We had a local cheese selection and a table full of homemade puddings brought in by friends and family, which made it feel even more special.

Was there a favourite moment (or two) that you will treasure always?

There were so many special moments throughout the day, but a couple really stand out for us.

One was our first look and morning photos. We decided to see each other before the ceremony so we could head down to a nearby lake together. It was just the two of us (and our photographer!) in the calm before everything began, and it felt so peaceful and grounding. We could really be in the moment, take it all in, and just enjoy spending time together without any distractions. It’s one of our favourite memories from the day, so simple but so special.

The speeches were another highlight. We went slightly untraditional and had both of our dads speak, along with our best friends, a couple who mean the world to us. Each speech was so personal and completely unique, full of warmth, humour and stories that captured us perfectly. We felt so loved and understood, it was emotional in the best way.