Even though I grew up and spent most of my childhood and early adult life in a town in north London, I was always drawn to the countryside. I think that this was mainly due to my Mum and Dad being involved in scouting, which meant that all of my childhood holidays were spent on campsites and under canvas. I even learnt to walk in a field by the sea in Shalfleet, the Isle of Wight with the encouragement of two dozen cheering scouts (not that I remember!). The smell of cutgrass, wood smoke and the water proofing on canvas still takes me back to those days and the fond memories that they bring. Having lost my Mum when I was aged 9, these reflections of my childhood become even more precious!

So, Saturday 21st August 2021 was filling me with excitement! For the last couple of months, I have been making friends with a gorgeous couple as I crafted their wedding ceremony and that was their wedding date. Following a referral from their outdoor wedding event planner Hannah Whiteley of Fields and Festoons, we had a video call. I felt from the get-go that we connected, something in which the bridegroom has confirmed with me since, and I immediately knew that they were my ideal couple. They were very relaxed, open to ideas and suggestions for their script, longing for a handfasting ceremony and to top it all was their love for the outdoors. So, being a celebrant who loves rustic, barn, boho and outdoor weddings, I was already on cloud 9. The location they had chosen for their wedding was the Lakeside, Moor End, Radwell, Befordshire, a venue new to the wedding industry. I began flicking through the images of the venue on social media and straight away I felt the sense of pulling back to my childhood, immediately smelling the wood smoke and hearing the tree branches creaking in the breeze. My eyes glazed over at the pictures of lush green fields, the huge lake, recreational areas with firepits and canvas castles in the forms of tipis and yurts!

I kept in regular contact with Hannah and was introduced to venue owners, husband and wife team, Laura and JJ Ibbett who also run the adjoining family farm. I really cannot praise these people enough. They were so accommodating with my requirements for the ceremony and had initiated ‘bad weather’ back up contingency plans. Saturday finally arrived! I set out extra early in preparation for any traffic issues I may encounter, and drove to this little hamlet right next to the Great River Ouse. The 40-foot yurt was the first image to capture my eyes as I slowly drove up the dead-end road. The pictures I had previously viewed had not given this location the justice it deserved; it was truly breath taking! I don’t really know where to begin in describing what I was seeing, which is not like me. The lake was still like a mill pond with the occasional ripple from the fish or the odd insect nipping across its surface. They had mowed recreational areas out of the long grass, which hosted lawn croquet. There were rugs with wooden loungers and nearby firepits ready to be lit in preparation for the night time chill. I was in my element!

The inside of the yurt had been set up ready for the ceremony, in case of bad weather, which was really touch and go. However, between us, we made the decision, with half an hour to spare, to have the ceremony outside to really take advantage of the picturesque surroundings. The event staff, re-kitted the yurt ready for the wedding breakfast, with rustic tables, place settings and centre pieces, it was beautiful.

Everything was in place! The bride looked gorgeous, Archie, the Black Labrador and Best Man and Lola, the Fox-Red Labrador and Maid of Honour were extremely cute and very well behaved. Archie, delivered both the wedding rings just at the right time and the tears of happiness began to flow from everyone during the handfasting. I honestly couldn’t have wished for a better day, it was perfect, which also reflected in the feedback I received from numerous guests as well as the guests of honour.

At the Lakeside especially, outside weddings are not restricted to the summer months. With the use of yurts, tipis or marquees, ceremonies can be easily conducted inside without any hinderance of the weather elements. Autumn and winter weddings will look magical with the different colours of the surroundings and utilising the ample firepits the venue has to offer will ensure the guests stay warm in the colder months. I was honoured to discover that I delivered the first wedding at The Lakeside. I hope this will be the first of many ceremonies to come and the beginning of a special relationship