Nadia’s family has the same theme for almost every event and party they throw – neon, disco, jungle. Think bold jewel tones, fun lighting, perhaps the odd animal figure in the centrepieces, palm leaves, mini disco balls, and flashes of animal print. So, when she got engaged to Jack, that’s where her mind first went. Jack had other ideas, though, so they compromised and instead created a laid-back yet still super personalised party that felt like it represented them both.
Held at the picturesque Yew Tree Farm in the Lake District, the day featured outfits handmade in Indonesia (where the bride’s mother is from) for the bride, groom, and entire wedding party, a camping field for guests, and flowers arranged by the bride’s auntie. The table runners at the reception featured similar batik fabrics to the outfits.
They opted for a casual dress code to ensure everyone was comfortable, with a suggestion to wear jazzy shirts. Nadia also wore her cowboy boots, perfectly suited for their countryside wedding. “I have always known that I wouldn’t be wearing a white dress,” the bride told us, “but my decision to wear my cowboy boots came about around the time we decided on a Lake District wedding. Our dress code was, ‘wear what you want, heels and ties are optional, jazzy shirts are encouraged!'”
A standout feature was the ‘Disco Station’, where guests could apply eco-glitter, get temporary tattoos of the couple’s faces, and don flashy accessories leftover from Nadia’s hen do. They also had a ‘Cereal Station’ because Jack loves it and has a bowl after every meal! “One of my favourite moments of the evening was dancing on the dance floor and then seeing my Man of Honour dance over with a full glitter beard and a bowl of cereal!” Nadia laughed.
Music was a huge consideration for this pair, with them choosing upbeat favourites to play throughout the ceremony and reception. The evening was filled with dancing to 90s pop, and the bridesmen even did the Dirty Dancing lift! For those wanting a break from the dance floor, fire pits for toasting marshmallows were set up outside the wedding barn. One of their favourite DIY details was the table plan and numbers, showcasing songs from their journey together. “We printed them on paper and affixed them to repurposed CDs labelled ‘track 1, 2, 3’, with a QR code so you could save the playlist,” Nadia said.
Reflecting on the planning process, Nadia said the hardest part was sticking to the budget and she wished she had made a priority list. “We spent so much time on big expenses like the venue and food that we overlooked smaller details. We didn’t get the disco ball we wanted because we ran out of budget, and we DIY’ed our stationery ‘to save money’ but we had to buy so many materials that they probably didn’t!”
For future couples, Nadia advises, “Don’t let others dictate your choices, but also don’t dismiss all traditions. We almost skipped the cake cutting but realised those moments add to the day’s excitement. Plus, who can resist a giant Colin the Caterpillar cake?”
