Chloe & Reece - An Elegant Lake District Wedding at The Merewood Country House Hotel (with singing waiters!)

If you love the Lake District's jaw-dropping views and lush greenery then you’ll adore this stunning hydrangea-bordered Lake District garden party wedding!

Chloe and Reece got married at the grand Merewood Country House Hotel, Windemere, last August. It was a brilliant summery wedding, with flowers everywhere and some exciting surprises throughout the day.

The Excitement Before the Wedding

Chloe got ready in the spacious bridal suite surrounded by her gang of HILARIOUS bridesmaids, and there was such a happy vibe. The girls were super giddy and the champagne was flowing so the atmosphere was crackling with excitement and energy. These were my kind of girls! She wore a showstopping multi-layered Mori Lee gown from Blush Bridal Boutique, and looked so incredible. She then walked down the amazing carved staircase to get to the ceremony.

Reece got ready also at the Merewood and we had a good laugh taking the lads down the hill for some quick portraits. He wore a tuxedo from Swarbricks, and looked really dapper.

The Serious Part

The ceremony took place in a beautiful room that was lit by the big bay windows. The ceremony area was filled with candles, which was so perfect, because it was such an intimate wedding. The ceremony began with Chloe being walked down the aisle by her mother, and finished with a big cheer from everyone. It was a wonderful ceremony, full of so much love and private smiles.

After the ceremony, I left the couple to mingle, which was the perfect time for me to get candid photos. Then we took some time out for photos, which is such a great time for the newly married couple to have some time to let it sink in - that OH MY GOODNESS WE’RE MARRIED moment! I got some really special couples photos on the grounds with the breathtaking views of the lake – Chloe & Reece are both so photogenic and truly trusted me to create some amazing and intimate portraits. We also got a chance to set up some gorgeous family and bridal party shots in the parlour of the hotel, framed by those big bay windows with the views creating a timeless wedding backdrop. The weather was all sunshine and blue skies, it was a beautiful day.

The Afternoon

Chloe and Reece chose to have their wedding at Merewood Country House Hotel because it has so many options, and it’s where they always wanted to have their wedding. Merewood Country House Hotel is a huge venue, and it’s got such a romantic feel to it, especially in the gardens where the hydrangeas bloom lush in their deep blues and purples.

For the reception, the couple had planned a cocktail drinks reception and a 'pimp your prosecco' station for their guests, and everyone really enjoyed it. Everyone was then called in for the wedding breakfast, which was proper wedding grub. It was absolutely delicious. They had speeches after the meal, which were so emotional – Chloe's bridesmaids surprised her with a truly beautiful speech read in stages - each with a personal anecdote of their history together. My very favourite part of the meal however, were the singing waiters that Chloe & Reece had arranged to have without telling ANYONE. The set-up involved a trainee and an antagonistic boss and when the big reveal was made - after a huge scene and several guests nearly getting involved - the looks on everyone's faces were PRICELESS. It was seriously one of the BEST surprises I've seen at a wedding to date and the performers got everyone up singing and dancing on their chairs.

The Party

After the meal was finished, we escaped down into the gardens for some twilight portraits, and the kids all began to roll down the hills as the evening guests' taxis drove up the winding driveway. We then made our way back inside just as the guests were sampling the Krispy Kreme doughnut wall and then straight into the cake cutting.

The evening ended with a packed out dancefloor, which was so much fun. The whole wedding was everything I love about weddings, from the waiters kicking off a pre-meal dance party to the wonderful speeches. Chloe and Reece (and baby Freddie!) were an absolute joy to capture and I loved every second of their beautiful day. One of the most memorable moments of the wedding was the afternoon reception, because everyone was in such high, happy spirits. The dress was also a talking point of the wedding – it was absolute perfection.

I loved this Merewood Country House Hotel wedding so much. If you’re getting married and looking for a Lake District wedding photographer, get in touch, I’d love to be a small part of your big day.