Evie and Mac focused on creating a day that reflected their shared love of paganism, nature, and community. On September 7th, surrounded by just 42 of their closest family and friends, they were married at the church in the Lost Village of Dode, a historic site which is 900 years old (and was abandoned over 600 years ago!) The couple drew inspiration from its medieval architecture and pagan history to craft a celebration that blended old-world traditions with their own personal touch.

“We were not interested in planning the day down to the last second and went with the flow of everyone around us”, Evie explained. “We let our son, River, run around the church during the church ceremony and had everyone join in with jumping the broom at our handfasting ceremony. I’ve always been drawn to paganism and the natural world, and Mac is fascinated by all things medieval. The venue brought those elements together for us.”

Evie walked down the aisle to the sound of her godfather playing Practical Magic on the harp, a nod to one of her favourite films. He also brought his bagpipes, which made an appearance later in the evening!

Following the formal vows, the couple and their guests moved outside for a pagan handfasting ceremony. Friends and family formed a circle around the couple, each standing on stones embedded in the ground. A celebrant, dressed in a grey robe reminiscent of a Tolkien character, guided the ritual. Evie and Mac exchanged vows that called for peace and connection before their hands were bound with ribbons. “We are so glad to have had an intimate ceremony, where every person there was a cherished family or friend”, she said. “Having them form the circle around us felt really special.”

Dinner was served inside the candlelit church, where two long wooden tables stretched across the space. Faux animal furs draped over pews provided seating, and the walls of the ancient church set the tone for a Game of Thrones-style feast. “We didn’t want a formal plated dinner,” the bride continued. “The food just kept on coming and the plates were passed from guest to guest with four different meats, a vegan barbecue and five different types of salad bowls. It was a far cry from most weddings we had both been to where you had to pick from two or three options and our guests loved it.”

In hindsight, the couple has only minor regrets. “I wish we’d hired the photographer for the entire day,” Evie admits. “We only had them for four hours and they captured some incredible moments, but I would have loved more photos of the evening.”

For those planning their own weddings, Evie and Mac offer this advice: “Trust in the people around you and enjoy the day. The hard work has already been done and you have planned it so that the day is your own. Take moments to really soak in the atmosphere as it will no doubt be the best day of your life that itself is a long day that goes so quickly. Also don’t put too much pressure on yourself for everything to be perfect, ultimately what makes the day so special is having your favourite people together to celebrate you both as a couple.”