A cosy and chilled wedding in the Lakes, that's what dreams are made of, right? Well, it was certainly what Ffion and Eliot had been dreaming of. From all of the tiny details to the incredible views, the Lake District provided the most amazing setting for these two jet-setters.
A beautiful country venue nestled in the heart of the Lake District. It has space to roam and spread out and has some incredible views of the surrounding mountain-scape. It's a grade 2 listed building with a guesthouse. The venue has a separate ceremony and dining space, making it practical for all-in-one weddings.



The decor feels cosy yet uncluttered, and the ceremony space is light with plenty of room. Fi and Eliot's wedding consisted of a travelling theme (since they met when they were off exploring the world.) They were also due to head off on another round-the-world adventure shortly after they said I do, and incorporated their love of travel and exploration in every detail. No detail was spared: from their map-style seating plan, suitcase-themed cake, to the travel itinerary invites.
One of my favourite finishing touches was the hundreds of tiny paper aeroplanes used to decorate the ceremony room and used as guest name places. I assumed they purchased these in bulk. However, Eliot had spent hours and hours folding these paper aeroplanes by hand.
This showed me how much time and effort he had also put into making the day exactly what they wanted. It's not unheard of, but you rarely get to witness a groom so dedicated to the big day!





There was space for both Ffion, Eliot and their bridal party to get ready on site. I had a team of 3 with me to capture both photos and video of their day, which was set to be a busy one! The hair and makeup team (Lindsey Miller of @lakedistrict_bridalhair and Ashby Artistry) were busily working on Fi and her bridal party, and everyone was relaxed and calm. The boys got ready outside with a view of the valley.













The ceremony time grew closer and loved ones arrived - you could see Ffion and Eliot's excitement building. They both had silly grins; they couldn't stop smiling.
As a photographer and videographer, witnessing two people who are so genuinely smitten with each other and unable to contain themselves at the thought of marrying the love of their lives is priceless.
Ffion's mum helped her into her dress (from Brides of Southampton) while her bridesmaids eagerly waited for the big reveal. After the emotions of that, Ffion's dad waited patiently to see his little girl in her white dress.











Finally the time came for the I-Do's. Eliot waited eagerly in the ceremony room, and the the bridal party made their way around the property and snuck in through the side door. The staff were extremely experienced and were able to keep everything running on time and without a hitch. I love it when a venue and their events team are able to coordinate everything perfectly on a wedding day! It keeps everyone relaxed and allows the couple to get the most from their day.





I first met Ffion and Eliot in 2021, and was lucky enough to be there every step of the way in their planning journey. Finally watching Fi walk toward her love, and watching Eliot break down in emotion was incredible. As soon as he saw her, his eyes welled up and a look of total shock and devotion came across him.








When Fi arrived at the top of the aisle, her bridesmaid was there to fluff the back of her dress. Fi's veil came loose and provided quite a few giggles to everyone in the room! A true testiment to how chilled out Ffion was as a bride, nothing phased her. The most important thing to these two was tying the knot. The other details were lovely of course, but they were not the be-all and end-all.
Ffion and Eliot chose to write their own words and promises to each other, using personalised Vow Cards from MrMrsC_designs.
This was an extra special touch, and when I came to edit the full ceremony video, I loved listening back to their stories.














Once the personal promises were said and done, and the rings were secured on their fingers, Ffion and Eliot were finally able to share their first kiss as husband and wife.
The day followed quite traditionally; the newly wed's signed the legal paperwork and then exited the ceremony holding hands and laughing. We ushered the guests out of the doors, and lined them up ready for a confetti exit. The sun was out and perfect for Ffion and Eliot, a perfect august wedding day in the Lakes.










The guests enjoyed drinks and canapes, supplied by Liz's Country Kitchen, and we were able to get the formal family photos done close by to keep everything running smoothly. The location meant that the background of these images was mountainous, which is exactly what Ffion and Eliot were envisioning. Guests drank, chatted and danced to the acoustic sounds while the sun warmed everyone's souls.








One of the 'must haves' for Fi and Eliot, was a trip out to Crummock Water for their couples photos. This meant being extra organised in our pre-wedding calls and making sure our trip was efficient and timely, to ensure that Fi and Eliot weren't late for their own dinner. They had scoped out an area before hand, so we knew exactly where we would head to in the car. We also used the drone to capture aerial footage for the full picture.
The area we went to had a few wild water swimmers enjoying the August heat, but luckily with the use of Photoshop, you wouldn't even know they were there!
We went out as a team of 3, with one of us on photo, one on video, and the other flying the drone. This combination works perfectly when you want full photo and video coverage.
















How gorgeous are these images? Of course, it's easy to get amazing imagary when the location is so lovely and the couple are so relaxed!
We headed back to the venue for food - I'm a stippler for timekeeping. We're all a part of the day and all play a role in keeping things running on time.
Eliot and Ffion opted for a 3-course meal, and their speeches between courses. This isn't usually what I'd advise if you want your speeches video'd in full, as well as photographed. The stop-start element can cause things to be missed if your photo team are sitting away from the guests, and if you are feeding your team the caterers will usually feed them last, resulting in food going cold if we rush off to set up cameras/not being fed at all!
Luckily, on this occasion, we had a seat at the table with Fi and Eliot's guests. This meant we could eat and set up immediately for the next speakers, and we felt super appreciated!





After a divine meal and some emotional words, we headed back out to make the most of the August daylight. Yes, more photos! I do usually make the most of a sunset, but I am always conscious about not spending too much time, or keeping my couple away from the action and enjoying their day.
A little break after the speeches and general business of the wedding day is usually appreciated. Some time away with your new spouse to let the moments sink in is always advised!
We took a little walk around the pond before Fi and Eliot joined their guests again for some outdoor games, ahead of the evening reception commencing.














There were quite a few activities; swing ball and rugby, a beanbag toss area - lots for the guests to keep entertained. I knew it was a competitive bunch: the night before Fi and Eliot had arranged a Kwick Cricket tournament in Cockermouth. My family and I had been invited to join in and share fish and chips with their loved ones. It was quite a turnout!
On the subject of competitive, Fi nd Eliot had been taking professinal dance lessons and had a whole routine planed. I was so excited to see it, as it was one of the first things they mentioned they wanted to do all those years ago on their engagement shoot.
Queue the cake cut, outfit change and quick-step!











Being August, the air was stifling in the bar area. Fi and Eliot’s loved ones were all a lively bunch and quickly worked up a sweat. After a quick outfit change and some awesome dance moves, the best way to get some fresh air was with a little sparkler exit.
Sparklers in the evening are so popular at weddings - just make sure you do them before your guests have too much to drink!
My favourite time to do sparklers is dusk, when it’s getting dark, but before it's pitch black. This allows a little bit of light , especially when I am videoing.





To summarise, a lake district wedding was an incredible experience. New House Farm was a welcoming, cosy and professional venue to work at - their top priority was ensuring their couple and loved ones had an unforgettable experience. They were also incredibly hospitable to my team and I.
Taking my couple to Crummock Water for their wedding photos is something I will never forget. Seeing the excitement in their faces was truly priceless.
A big thank you to all of the wonderful vendors that made this happen, and my team, Lex and Jamie for helping me capture Eliot and Ffions big day.
Photo + video // Danielle Chambers Wedding Photography + Team
Makeup // Felicity - Ashby Artistry
Dress // Brides of Southampton
Catering // Liz's Country Kitchen
Vow Stationary // Mr + Mrs C Designs
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