Amy & Steve’s Middleton Lodge Wedding

“A Georgian house was top of our wish list, and the Main House at Middleton Lodge Estate was the perfect venue…” says Amy. The Fig House or the quintessentially English garden marquee often garners the most attention at this renowned North Yorkshire estate. Still, I have to agree with Amy: their Main House is incredibly charming and special. From the magnificent façade to the sweeping staircase and the secret cellar bar, it’s refined and luxurious, but oh my, it’s a lot of fun too!

Jump in to see how Amy and Steve made this gorgeous venue their own…

Amy says…

A Georgian house was at the top of our wish list, and the Main House at Middleton Lodge Estate was the perfect venue. When we first visited, we were blown away by how stunning it was, even on a cloudy day in January. The sweeping staircase leading down to the circular hallway has such a dramatic yet intimate quality, and we could instantly imagine getting married there. The rooms all linked together and flowed perfectly throughout the day, and we kept the cellar bar a secret from our guests for a surprise late-night afterparty! We loved that there was accommodation at the venue, which meant we could spend extra time with our family and friends the next morning. The grounds are beautiful, too; on the day, we were lucky with the weather and had our drinks reception outside and played cornhole on the lawn. The team at Middleton Lodge were on hand throughout the planning process and were so helpful and friendly. They made us feel we could rely on them on the day to relax and enjoy ourselves; it was truly the spring wedding we had dreamed of.

My dress was by Jesus Peiro from The White Closet in Manchester. It had puff sleeves, and I paired it with pointed heels and a veil with applique flowers that instantly made me feel like a bride! I swapped my veil for a pair of statement floral earrings in the evening. My bridesmaids wore soft grey dresses, and my husband and his groomsmen wore black tuxedos. My hair was curled, and my makeup was dewy and peachy. The Amy George and Waves and Veil made us feel so at ease on the day, and we had a fun morning getting ready.

The styling was classic with a romantic softness. We had a colour palette of black, soft grey, and cream for the bridal party, and we incorporated spring pastels for the stationery and table flowers. We had fifty guests who wanted to make the day intimate and personal. My husband plays cricket, so we used cricket bats as our welcome sign. Our family and friends helped to bring it all together, from designing the stationery, writing calligraphy place cards, making candle holders, and arranging the table décor. Two friends shared the role of Master of Ceremonies and ensured the day ran smoothly and added a personal touch. We couldn’t have done it without them, making the day even more special.

Our flowers were supplied by Monton Florist in Manchester. We had large cream roses with long stems for the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets, large single roses for the men’s buttonholes and smaller spray roses for the corsages. Spring is our favourite season, and I wanted to reflect that in the feel of the table flowers; we had glass vases of seasonal flowers in soft colours. We gave our florist free rein when choosing the flowers. Among the selection were large carnations in peach; they added softness and texture and are my new favourite flowers, a lesson in trusting your suppliers!

We are both total food lovers, so we adored the menu planning and tasting with Middleton Lodge. My sister designed a beautiful, illustrated sign at the bar for ‘his & hers’ drinks; Guinness for my husband and a rosé spritz for me. Our vintage-style cake was by The Palms Bakery with ‘Mr & Mrs Bliss’ piped on the top, and it was the most delicious cake ever! We also had cupcakes by Abbie’s Kitchen for guests with dietary requirements.

Faye Wilde Photography was truly a dream to work with from start to finish. We chose Faye for her editorial and timeless style; it was the easiest and best decision for our wedding. Faye captured the magic of our day and countless moments we are taken back to whenever we look at our photos. We had flash portraits taken at night, which was so much fun, and Faye even captured some of the days on 35mm film, which adds a magical, atmospheric quality. Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer, Faye’s energy and positivity is infectious, and she made us feel comfortable in front of the camera. Our guests loved her and said how much she added to the day!

Best part of the day

The whole day was perfect, but if we had to choose the best part, it was the speeches. Everyone gathered in the drawing room before the wedding breakfast, with a mix of guests standing and on comfy seats, making it feel informal and relaxed. The speeches were a perfect balance of heartfelt and hilarious, and we felt the love in the room.

From one couple to another…

We advise deciding on your non-negotiables and being willing to compromise with others. For us, this was the venue and photographer. We did as much as we could ourselves, using many suppliers local to us in Manchester and transporting things to the venue. When choosing your venue, remember it is in all your photos, so ensure it fits the vibe you are going for. Finally, enjoy the process – all the planning comes together, and it truly was the best day of our lives.