Love, Mountains, and DIY Magic: The Wedding That Made Me Start Blogging

Some weddings stay with you longer than others. Not because they’re the biggest, the most expensive, or the most ‘Instagrammable’ — but because they quietly distil everything you love about what weddings can be.

Tom and Lydia’s wedding was one of those, and if you’ve read my previous blog post, you’ll know that it’s the reason I thought to start this blog –because I had far too much to say for a caption. Too many thoughts and feelings to sum up with a few slides and a heart emoji.

So here we are….

Doing things their own way

Lydia and Tom have always shared a love for the outdoors. The sort that’s built on weekends spent walking, camping and swimming.

So instead of trying to squeeze that into a single aesthetic or a few outdoor photos, they built a wedding weekend that genuinely reflected how they spend their lives.

They had a small legal ceremony on the Friday with just close family and friends, followed by a second, more relaxed celebration on the Saturday at YHA Langdale.

Image credits: James Hicks Photography

If you know the Langdales, you’ll understand why this felt so special (they are my absolute favourite). The hostel sits in beautiful grounds — complete with its own arboretum — surrounded by dramatic mountains that make you slow down without even realising you’re doing it. It wasn’t your typical wedding venue, but it felt grounding, calm, and completely right for them (and me!).

A morning that set the tone

The Saturday didn’t start with an early morning call for hair and beauty. It started with a group wild swim and hearty breakfast. Guided to meet at the correct place and at the right time, by gorgeous hand painted signs in the hostel, L&T's friends and family met first thing to head into the water together — probably very cold, but instantly connected. This told me everything about the kind of day this was going to be.

After that, Lydia headed back to her hotel to have her makeup done by the lovely Felicity at Ashby Artistry, and to change into a beautifully chic dress that felt effortless and very much her. From there, the day unfolded naturally.

Image credit: James Hicks Photography

Relaxed, but thoughtfully done

The ceremony was laid back and heartfelt, followed by incredible food from Smoke & Steel, an outdoor bar aptly named The Pemberton Arms, and plenty of time to just… be.

No tight schedules. No rushing people from one thing to the next. Just space to talk, eat well, laugh, and enjoy where they were (including the fab little fire pit outside).

Image credits: James Hicks Photography

The flowers

The flowers felt as honest and natural as the day itself. Loose, untamed arrangements of seasonal blooms —mainly  soft pastels with hints of greenery — reflected the surrounding landscape rather than fighting it.

They weren’t overly styled or perfect; they moved with the breeze, softened the tables, and made the space feel more alive. Every bouquet and arrangement felt like an extension of the outdoors Lydia and Tom love so much.

Image credits: James Hicks Photography

What really stayed with me

Yes the setting was stunning, their aesthetic beautiful and their day perfectly aligned with who they are as a couple, but what moved me most was the support around them.

This was a DIY wedding through and through, but their family and friends properly rolled their sleeves up — laying tables, setting things out, building grazing boards with cheese, veggies and care. Everyone seemed to have a role, and no one treated it like a burden.

It was such a privilege to be in the middle of it all, watching people show up so fully for Lydia and Tom. There was nothing performative about it. Just love, effort, and a shared sense of we’ve got this.

And their people were WONDERFUL — warm, generous, and completely invested in making the weekend feel special.

Why this one lingered

This wedding summed up so much of what I love about weddings:

• Days that actually reflect the people getting married

• Nature being part of the experience, not just the backdrop

• Community over perfection

• Feeling over formality

It was a reminder that when couples trust their instincts and make space for what matters to them, the result feels incredibly powerful — even if it looks simple on the surface.

A final note on DIY weddings

I often hear couples worry that DIY weddings won’t feel ‘finished’ or ‘good enough’. But this weekend was proof that DIY weddings can be deeply beautiful — visually, yes, but emotionally even more so. When the people you love help build your day, it creates something you can’t buy or hire. You feel it in the atmosphere the moment you arrive.

If you’re planning a wedding that’s outdoors-led, personal, and rooted in community, this is your reminder that doing things differently isn’t a risk.

And if this kind of wedding speaks to you, this blog is where I’ll be sharing more stories like this. The ones that deserve more than a caption.