Lake District Mountain wedding

Monday 3rd Feb 2025

Mr. & Mrs. Horrex: A Love Story That Led to the Lake District

Some love stories begin with an instant spark, a moment of recognition that this person will be by your side forever. On the other hand, for James and Alicia, it was a slow-burning friendship that eventually blossomed into something extraordinary.

James and first met Alicia in 2016 at Birmingham University, where they shared student accommodation. James, a Chemical Engineering student, and his future wife, a Law student at the time, didn’t fall in love instantly. Instead, they formed a deep and lasting friendship, one that transcended time and distance. Life took them in different directions - James remained in Birmingham, while his future bride returned to Sheffield to study nursing. Yet, despite the years apart, their connection never faded - A sign of true love in my opinion.

When they finally reconnected, it wasn’t long before love took its natural course. A trip to the cinema to see The Lion King marked their first date, and within weeks, Alicia knew that James was the one - providing, of course, that her beloved Irish-doodle, Albus, approved. I believe many long hikes and runs later, Albus gave his permission.

Their love endured the trials of long-distance during the COVID pandemic, with months spent apart relying on FaceTime calls to bridge the gap. Then James casually suggested stepping into a jeweller’s shop while flat hunting in Manchester, the course of their lives were set. He proposed in Hyde Park, on a bench whose exact location is still up for debate.

Their search for the perfect wedding venue was guided by one key factor: their dogs had to be part of their big day. That’s when they found the scenic Coniston Coppermines - a breathtaking, dog-friendly venue, nestled in the heart of the Lake District. From the moment they saw photographs of the location, they knew it was the place where they would say "I do."

The Venue: Coniston Coppermines

Tucked away in the rugged beauty of the Lake District, Coniston Coppermines is a venue like no other. Steeped in history and surrounded by vast fells, this breathtaking location offers a rare combination of wild, untamed landscapes and rustic charm.

The couple chose to hold their wedding in 'The Copper Barn' and tipis, pitched next to a charming, old-world mountainside cottage. It was a setting that felt both intimate and expansive, where nature itself became part of the celebration. The freedom to roam, the crisp mountain air, and the uninterrupted views of rolling hills made it the perfect backdrop for their special day.

Blessed with beautiful weather, guests were treated to a breathtaking experience - clear skies, the warmth of the sun, and a gentle breeze that carried a calm sense through the air. The dramatic peaks of the Coniston Fells framed the wedding beautifully, creating a setting that was both grand and freeing.

For James and his Alicia, this venue ticked every box. It was a remote escape, yet full of warmth and history. It offered the freedom to roam, giving guests the chance to explore the beautiful surroundings, and most importantly - it was dog-friendly! As a Lake District photographer, and farmer, Coniston Coppermines is one of my favourite venues - the twinning of country life and my creativity flares naturally in this environment.

Set against the dramatic Coniston Fells, the venue featured:

A rustic mountainside cottage, where the couple and their close family stayed, offering a cozy, old-world charm.
Tipis, pitched nearby, blending seamlessly into the landscape, creating an atmosphere that was both bohemian and intimate.
Endless views of the Lake District’s rolling hills and rugged beauty, giving guests a front-row seat to one of England’s most breathtaking landscapes. This wasn't just a wedding day, for guests it was certainly an experience in life that would not be forgotten.

Stay tuned...

for the next section, where I dive into the delightful details of the couple’s attire, the stunning colourful floral arrangements, and their beautiful wedding cake.

The Wedding Barn

Alicia and James chose to wed in Coniston Coppermine's wedding barn. 'The Copper Barn' surrounded by majestic, mountains and waterfalls. For the first time, The Copper Wedding Barn is available for simple, midweek wedding ceremonies independent of the Coppermines Mountain Cottages.

For couples wishing to celebrate their love, without the pomp of a large and sprawling occasion, The Copper Wedding Barn is now available mid-week for intimate weddings with 30 guests or fewer.

Mr and Mrs Horrex opted for a Saturday wedding with a guest list of 70, which is about the barn at a comfortable, cosy full capacity.

From arrival, the venue is exclusively yours and you have the freedom to decide how you wish your celebration to unfold, allowing couples to manipulate their day to how they prefer.

This suited James and Alicia perfectly as they wanted a free flowing relaxed occasion, allowing everyone to appreciate the scenery around them.

The Bride’s Attire: Beauty in the Mountains

Alicia had a vision of grace, effortlessly blending bohemian romance with timeless elegance. She brought this to light with perfect planning, incorporating vendors who understood her vision and had reliable capabilities of achieving it.

The morning began, calm and organised with Alicias nearest and dearest, in the quaint cottage a stones throw away from their ceremony barn. You could hear the water flowing down the nearby waterfalls through the slightly opened windows, allowing the Lake District fresh air to circulate around the cosy environment.

Her wedding dress, hung peacefully in the bedroom, aside her velvet dark green shoes with decorative gold details. Practical footwear, something that's recommended at this mountainous venue. Alicias off-white, silk gown, with delicate sleeves and a flowing silhouette, perfectly complemented the rugged beauty of the surroundings. Not a 'fussy' gown, just simplistic, clean cut and effortlessly flowing - echoing the breeze of the day and naturally fitting into the landscape.

Her hair was adorned with a floral crown, translating the warm, earthy tones of the wedding florals, and she carried a bouquet of bright blooms in shades of peach, blush, and burnt orange.

The Groom’s Attire: Classic with a Personal Twist

James opted for a dark suit, a subtle but striking choice that harmonised beautifully with the natural surroundings. His bold orange tie and floral boutonnière added warmth and vibrancy, tying into the autumnal colour palette of the day. Right down to the little details in James orange socks, adding a funky splash of colour as we adventured around the venue.

By his side, their beloved Irish-doodles, Albus & Mango, wore matching collars and leads, proving that even the family dogs were dressed for the occasion!

Floral Arrangements: A Celebration of Nature

Florals played an essential role in creating the couple’s dream wedding aesthetic. From the bride’s bouquet to the ceremony arrangement, every floral element embraced the untamed beauty of the Lake District and seasonal colours.

Key Floral Highlights:

A rich, warm colour palette of peach, burnt orange, blush, and deep greenery, mirroring the changing hues of the surrounding landscape.

Wild, textured arrangements incorporating roses, dahlias, pampas grass, and trailing foliage, adding a boho-luxe touch.

A stunning floral installation inside the quaint wedding barn, framing the rustic wooden beams and twinkling fairy lights, giving the setting a cosy bespoke escape.

Rock and Wreath consistently pull it out of the bag with wedding florals!

For me, the show stopping floral display at the head of the ceremony barn, was an eye-catching and beautifully crafted piece, giving the rustic low lit barn its much needed splash of colour and a centrepiece to draw the eye.

All the floral details, down to the boutonnieres and crown were cohesive with this show stopping arrangement, ensuring everything tied together effortlessly.

The Ceremony & Reception: A Day Filled with Love & Laughter

7th September 2024 - as guests arrived, they were welcomed into a setting that felt both intimate and memorable. I could see guests taking a moment to take in the outstanding environment in which they were present, somewhat earthed and detached from the hustle and bustle of the 'real world'.
The energy, natural and welcoming, had guests chatting and excited for the day ahead.

Key Moments:

The bride’s entrance, a moment of pure beauty, and chaos, as she took a LandRover ride (thanks to Phil Johnson the venue owner) from her preparation location over the rough track, being surrounded by the locals. The locals being a flock of Herdwick sheep that were in the precess of being hefted from the higher Constion Old man fell side.

Moments, of tears and laughter is the couple exchanged their heartfelt vows in The Copper Barn, surrounded by the warmth of florals, fairy lights and their loved ones. Beautifully written words were spoken by the couples parents in a moving passage full of warmth.

A joyful confetti aisle following their marriage, with guests showering the newlyweds in environmentally friendly dried confetti, with Coniston Old man in the background.

The reception was held in the tipis, a short and scenic walk away from the perfectly positioned wedding barn.
Guests enjoyed delightful drinks from a horse box wedding bar, with a relaxed afternoon adventuring and sitting by the thundering waterfalls.

Picturesque Formal Portraits

Coniston Coppermines allows for the most picturesque portraits upon the natural background, the only challenge really being, the lighting on the day.
Mr and Mrs Horrex planned for a laid back day, with limited formal moments as they weren't a fan of being in the lime-light. We worked effectively to crack on with the formal portraits to allow the couple to socialise and enjoy their day, their way.
It was clear the couple really wanted to be present with their guests and make memories, an absolute blessing for me as a photographer who prefers to capture the day as it unfolds naturally.

The two of them + Albus and Mango

As always with working with me (Clare Gelderd Photography), a huge part of any wedding day, is giving the couple a moment to step back and enjoy it in their own way, away from all their enthusiastic guests and noise. Couple portrait time is ideal for this, as I often capture moments from a distance while the couple take in their day.

The quiet, scenery at Consiton Coppermines, with occasional thrashing waterfalls, and rugged terrain makes candid portraits a dream, as the couple help each other through the landscape and marvel at the views.
Not only did we have a brief time during the afternoon, we also ventured back out after dark hours, resulting in some striking portraits.

The Wedding Cake: A Work of Art

No wedding is complete without a cake to remember, and Mr. and Mrs. Horrex’s three-tiered masterpiece was nothing short of spectacular.

The Design:

An elegant aesthetic, featuring subtle gold leaf accents on a smooth, white base and trendy lower tier blush peach.

Accompanied by in keeping florals cascading down the tiers, mirroring the tones of the wedding warmth and scenery outside.

Displayed on a wooden tree stump stand, and old barrel tying in with the natural, earthy theme of the day.

The result? A cake that was as delicious as it was breathtaking.

Wren Cake Design, always a joy to work alongside!

Delicious Delights

Following the lovely 13.30hrs ceremony, crafted vegan canapés were served (14:30hrs), thanks to Foray catering, alongside a glass of fizz. The array of canapés was not only delicious but decorative, a constant I see when working alongside Foray catering. Guests enjoyed milling around and enjoyed the sunshine on their faces - something that seemed very rare during the 2024 wedding season in the Lake District.
Seating was taken for a delightful wedding breakfast at 15:45hrs. With an intention to start serving at 16:00hrs, given the 70 guest attendance this run pretty much on time.

Between

Between courses Mr and Mrs Horrex, opted to have speeches. Something, I quite enjoy, giving guests a chance to have a moments break between each one.
That being said, I highly recommend you put a limit on speech length, as to not upset the food service - after all you want hot, fresh meals served streamline on your wedding day.

Celebrations

The joyous day flowed comfortably, like the rivers and waterfalls surrounding us all. 19:00hrs saw the cutting of the cake and the partying began with wonderful wedding band, Titanium. Opening with a first dance 'Miss You' (The Rolling Stones) as Alicia and James have a good boogie to that in their kitchen at home, followed by a touching Mother daughter dance with Alicia and her mum to "I Loved her First' (Case Joy).
Throughout the evening, guests of all ages were rocking that dance floor.

Everyone continued to enjoy beverages served up from the quirky and very fitting horse box bar, Lakes Horse Box Bar. The couple also had a collection of tasty treats as puddings on offer with the delicious cake by wren cake designs, fuelling the celebrations as the evening progressed.

A Wedding to Remember

Looking back at their wedding photographs, James and Alicia feel nothing but gratitude. Their day was everything they had dreamed of and more - an intimate, nature-filled celebration surrounded by their closest family, friends, and beloved dogs.

Their journey, from university friends to lifelong partners, was honored in a place that reflected their love for adventure, freedom, and each other.

Their story reminds us that true love is patient, enduring, and sometimes, found in the most unexpected places—like a student flat in Birmingham.

As they settle into their life in Ilkley with Albus and Mango, their wedding at Coniston Coppermines will forever remain a cherished chapter in their love story.

Alicia said, "Clare, as we look back at photos from the wedding we realise how lucky we are. You captured our day with our lovely family and friends in ways we could not have imagined. Your talent, honesty and genuine desire to do an excellent job has been mentioned by so many of our guests. Thank you again and we very much hope to meet again."