Since I visited this venue back in 2020 for a stylised shoot I have been so excited to shoot an actual wedding in the new Hidden River Barn, which was officially finished last year (when lockdown no1 hit) and with all the postponements I’ve certainly had to wait a little while for my first one (like many couples with their own weddings!) but like always it was certainly worth the wait!
Megan and Mark got married on the 17th August 2021 in the stunningly designed and built Hidden River Barn with their closest friends and family, and just WOW, what a beautiful day it was!
We started the morning in one of the log Hidden River Cabins close by with Megan and her 3 bridesmaids getting pampered with their hair and makeup. These four are honestly some of the most relaxed girls you could meet, with most letting the fabulous makeup and hair team suggest what they thought would look best – there wasn’t a nerve in sight for the day ahead . Well… not until Megan’s Maid of Honour/sister got in her dress! It was only then when she started to feel nervous about her reading and speech later on (which she should never have been nervous about, because both were absolutely amazing to listen to!)
Megan and Mark are a couple after my own hearts booking Charlotte Pennefather Celebrant, their ceremony was perfectly tailored to them with their story as a couple told perfectly, a beautiful handfasting, and finished by some personal vows written by Megan and Mark. I adore when my couples choose a celebrant that creates a ceremony so unique for the two of them! As I’m sure you can tell from the sheer volume of photographs I’m sharing from this section of the day – it was so SO beautiful!
Getting to know Megan and Mark both their big day and on the run up has been an absolute pleasure and I still cannot believe that they both had to live in the Middle East to meet each other (especially considering they both grew up in Cumbria!!! You’ve just got to travel the world to find someone on your doorstep!) However it’s probably best they met in the Middle East because their first date was apparently at a boat party… it wouldn’t have been quite the same vibe having your first date on a boat in rainy Cumbria!
It was so clear throughout the whole day that Megan and Mark are made for each other, from the little looks throughout the ceremony, to the many laughs at all points of the day. They have so much in common too, for example their many spontaneous activities, like scuba diving with box jelly fish! (Is anyone else secretly jealous of this… I need to get myself away to scuba dive!)
This blog of photographs probably tells their story better than I ever could do in words, so why not grab a coffee, because scrolling through these photographs may take a bit of time - there's just so many I loved from their day!
For now though, I’d love to wish Megan and Mark a lifetime of happiness together – if anyone deserves it they certainly do! Here’s to the wonderful Mr & Mrs Hartley!!
Suppliers to adore: Venue: Hidden River Barn & Hidden River Cabins Celebrant: Charlotte Pennefather Celebrant Makeup: Keseme Bridal Makeup Hair: Love & Hair Bridal Grooms Apparel: Goodfellows Menswear Dress: The Wedding Dress Company Cake: Mama Cakes Cumbria Flowers: Border Flowers - Gretna Band: The Lost Keys
