Laura & Connor’s Relaxed Thirsk Lodge Barns Wedding

Laura and Connor’s venue selection was driven by a desire for a cosy atmosphere, a beautifully designed ceremony space, and open outdoor areas with meticulous landscaping. The celebration’s fashion and style echoed an organic, natural theme, with men donning Yorkshire green tweed and bridesmaids in olive green satin dresses. Foliage-heavy décor, marked by neutral tones and symbolic olive branches, adorned the venue, with Walter + Blossom providing a floral vision rooted in local sourcing.

Keep reading for valuable advice for future couples on personal touches, decor reuse, and taking time for cherished moments.

Laura says…

We instantly fell in love with Thirsk Lodge Barns. We grew up in Yorkshire, so it was important for us to truly feel at home on our wedding day. With its cosy corners, beautifully designed ceremony space, big open outdoor spaces with immaculate landscaping, and unique rustic country backdrops for photographs, we just knew it was the venue for us.

We wanted to keep the fashion in line with our foliage-heavy, modern, elegant design, so we decided on a Yorkshire green tweed for the men and simple yet stunning olive green satin dresses for the bridesmaids. Hair and makeup were kept minimal; natural radiance with a touch of glam. Comfort was key for shoes; the girls opted for low-height block-heel open-toe sandals, while I wore a glitzy pair from the gorgeous Charlotte Mills collection. I feel that I was meant to wear a Savin London gown. Alika is a beautifully hand-crafted ivory gown with a balance between classic design and the modern aspirations of contemporary brides.

Our décor was foliage heavy with neutral tones to complement. One reason we chose the venue was that it doesn’t really need much dressing! We kept the chairs and aisle plain and made the statement using the overhead rings and meadows at the front accompanying a harpist. The dining room mimicked the ceremony space, with a mixture of textures sprawling along long tables. Olive branches were a feature throughout the day, giving the nod to our favourite holiday destinations: peace, purity and love. They also tied in the olive tree in the internal courtyard perfectly.

Sophie at Walter + Blossom has the biggest smile and the best floral vision. She was undoubtedly the warmest supplier we had, and she just slipped in and out during the busy morning prep. We couldn’t recommend Sophie enough. One of our aims for the wedding was to have a ‘local’ wedding, meaning our flowers, decor, catering, and entertainment were all from Yorkshire. Sophie listened and fit the brief perfectly. My bouquet had structure, yet it was whimsical in style with trailing ferns and long stems. Again, it was foliage heavy with olive and eucalyptus and white florals.

Our cake was a two-tier sponge cake from local baker Rebecca Beaumont. It was minimal in style yet tall and modern. We added a few fresh florals, complementing the ribbed lower section beautifully. Catering was a big factor when planning, as Connor works in the food industry. The Hog & Apple Food Co. were outstanding. Forget chicken and mashed potato; they have taken event catering to a whole new level. Canapés were followed with individual starters and sharing boards for the main and dessert. Everything went down a treat, and we could even keep some leftovers for our day two celebrations!

We were instantly drawn to Eve’s photography style—romantic and modern, capturing moments, not poses. A pre-shoot is a great way to meet your photographer and sets you totally at ease on the day. Eve and her mum were the dream duo. With a Mary Poppins bag of essentials, my maid of honour could put her feet up! Our photos are simply stunning. I’m still posting them and showing them off six months later.

Best part of the day

For us, the best part was having all our loved ones together in one room, celebrating US! Seeing the smiles, laughter and joy across everyone’s faces will be unbeaten. But obviously, I loved showing off my dress and being the most glamorous but authentic version of myself!

From one couple to another…

Re-use your decor! Move flowers and foliage around from the ceremony space to the dining room—it saves money and is better for the planet!

Add personal touches like film cameras, and definitely go for a band!

Lastly, have some time for yourselves. We went for a walk before our first dance, and it was so lovely to just reflect on the love we were surrounded with.

Oh, don’t copy me and forget to take off your engagement ring (oops!).