Making an old fashioned move and asking Jess to dance, Zak’s lovely gesture ensured the couple haven’t been apart since. Opting for a wild wedding in the mountains, they chose the Coniston Coppermines Lakes Cottages, nestled among the hills of the Lake District. 

Jess told us, “Our venue provided the inspiration for our wedding. As soon as we visited the site in 2018 we knew it was perfect, so everything was then planned to fit into the venue. The valley itself is breath-taking and the views are just dreamy. We knew we didn’t want a formal indoor venue, we wanted the whole day to feel free and everyone to relax into their surroundings, which they certainly did.”

The couple wanted to keep the day simple, and chose a photographer to match their vision. Jess explained, “We laughed throughout our ceremony, photos were naturally done with minimal standing shots with family. Our favourite part of the day was taking some time out at a nearby waterfall. It was so remote and peaceful we just forgot for a minute what we were supposed to be doing but it gave us chance to be together and we really appreciated the time out just to be the two of us for a moment. It was so special looking back, it something we would enjoy doing anyway but just to have that chance for a moment alone on such a busy day really was something.”

Everyone got involved with DIY for the wedding, with friends and family offering their talents to make the day unique and special. Jess explained, “Most of the décor we did ourselves apart from the large macrame backdrop which we hired from Sophie’s Knots. Our talented friend Jamie hand drew our jackets and all our wedding signs. My friend Jenny from Tuna and Bear handmade the dogs’ wedding attire. Zak’s mum made our cake, plus cupcakes! Even my beautiful bridesmaids’ dresses were all handmade from scratch from a dear family friend. Also, our favours were made by a lovely friend Rach who owns Lune Elie, a local pottery business. She made individual heart shaped favours which doubled up as place cards.”

Jess and Zak took the opportunity during their speeches to announce their impending new arrival, surprising their guests with a video. Jess told us, “This was the most special part of our day, finally our nearest and dearest knew the hardest secret we had ever had to keep. It was such a special moment for us and something we will never ever forget. The look of surprise on our loved one’s faces was so incredible.”

Offering advice to engaged couples planning their day, Jess added, “Keep things simple, don’t get caught up in the small things they really don’t matter. What really matters is by the end of it you’ll be married and afterwards, not what colour your napkins were! Enjoy your time as a bride! It’s a really special time and the best memories you’ll make.”