Sarah and Chris

We first met on Bumble, five years ago in June 2020 right in the thick of the lockdown era. We were both fresh out of previous relationships and really just looking for someone to chat to during such a strange and isolating time. Neither of us expecting to actually meet anyone in person (let alone find a future husband or wife!). But fast forward to now, and here we are – and honestly, there’s nowhere else we’d rather be.

We got married at the beautiful Beaufront Castle near Hexham, which we booked for 5 whole days through Wooden Star Cottages.  I think we were actually the first wedding held there! It’s the perfect venue for a small celebration.  We had 14 guests, each having a place to sleep in one of the fabulous bedrooms.

What made it extra special was the freedom we had to plan it all ourselves. We could bring in any vendors we wanted, and the space felt like a perfect mix of grandeur and intimacy. It gave off fairytale, princess wedding vibes. (without any of the onlookers or extra staff you might get at bigger venues). It truly felt like our own private world!

(One of our favourite memories are the days that followed. Everyone left and we enjoyed what was like a mini-moon almost.  We wandered around the castle and gardens, donning pyjamas, drinking leftover wine and eating wedding cake for breakfast, opening our cards and gifts — feeling like absolute royalty! A unique feeling which we will cherish forever).

We chose to have a celebrant-led wedding mainly because we’re not religious and wanted the freedom to get married in a place we loved, at a time that suited us. But more than that, it was really important to us that the ceremony felt personal — and THE HEART OF THE DAY.

We wanted it to be the time to share our story with the people closest to us.  Not just a generic ceremony that could apply to anyone.  Our celebrant wedding with Jo gave us the opportunity to celebrate our relationship in a way that felt totally us, and that meant everything.

We didn’t have a clear idea of what the ceremony would look like, but we definitely knew how we wanted it to feel. We wanted it to be warm, heartfelt, and inclusive — something that made everyone feel part of the moment. More than anything, we wanted it to be a true celebration of our love for each other and for the amazing people who were there to share the day with us.

Jo helped us shape that vision into reality and craft a ceremony that was completely us. It was just amazing!

The best part of the ceremony for us was how intimate and personal it felt. It truly captured us and how we wanted everyone else to feel, too and we loved that it included not just everyone who was there on the day, but also those who couldn’t be with us in person.

One of our favourite touches was the ring warming — it was such a beautiful moment, and all of our guests commented on how special it was afterwards. It really helped us to take a moment to appreciate everyone there.

Honestly, I think just about every guest came up to us at some point during the evening to share how blown away they were by the ceremony. We heard things like “the most beautiful wedding we’ve ever been to” and “it was so lovely to be involved.”

Of course, guests will always say kind things to the bride and groom — but we genuinely felt like they meant it.

The personal touches and the way everyone was included really seemed to resonate, which is exactly what we wanted, so we are very happy!

All of our wedding suppliers were absolutely fabulous. We sourced and organised each of them ourselves, and on the day, everyone came together with one shared goal — to give us the most wonderful day to remember.

• Joel Grainer, our super-talented violist, stayed with us throughout the entire day — from the ceremony right through to the first dance — and kept everyone entertained with his beautiful playing.
• Our dream team behind the cameras, Asia Burrill Weddings (photographer) and Laura Films Weddings (videographer), worked together seamlessly and made us feel completely at ease in front of the lens. The sneak peeks are incredible — we honestly can’t wait to see the full gallery and video!
• The food was absolutely perfect. Chris Allison and his colleague from Sheer Elegance Catering were incredibly professional and served up the most delicious and memorable meal.
• Our cake from Kate at The Jesmond Cake Company was, hands down, the best cake we’ve ever had. I still dream about it — and I’ve already decided we need to order another one for every anniversary!
• Carly Orr, our amazing hair and makeup artist, was so professional and helpful. She went above and beyond on the wedding morning to make sure myself and all my ladies had everything we needed and felt beautiful. The hair and makeup held strong for two whole days!
• And last — but certainly not least — Jo, our wonderful celebrant. She created the most heartfelt, personal ceremony we could have imagined, and her calming presence helped soothe a very nervous (and emotional!) bride. The care and passion for her work shines through. Thank you so much, we are forever grateful!

Personal, thoughtful, memorable.