Magical & Loving Wedding Day at Cockley Woodland Weddings

If you’re wondering whether to go all-in on your day and be true to yourself, Emily and Josh’s Cockley Woodland Weddings story in Yorkshire is undoubtedly going to inspire you to be you!

What do I love most about their day, apart from the homemade decor, burnt orange tones and gorgeous woodland ceremony? It has to be how fun and happy their day was. How much their personality shone and of course, their thoughtful choices throughout.

There was lots of delicious food, personal song choices, dancing and fun portraits in the woods. What an intimate and loving day indeed.

And last but by no means least, thanks ever so much to Don’t Delete The Kisses for sharing with us these absolutely amazing images.

Cockley Woodland Weddings Story

The Proposal

Josh proposed to Emily on 18th December 2021. After a week in Scotland with our two beagles, we headed down to Keswick to walk up Cat Bells.

We got wrapped up and headed up the ridge with the sun rising. We reached the summit, then headed down where there were a few loose rocks. Josh put his backpack down on the ground to help the dogs, which started rolling all the way down the hill. Emily was panicking about losing the car keys, Josh panicking about the ring Emily had no idea about! He eventually returned with the backpack laughing.

Walking back down Josh said ‘well, do you want to do this forever?’. Emily turned around and he had a beautiful vintage ring. Of course, it was a yes.

We walked back to Keswick centre, stumbled upon a quirky bar that sold pizza and beer – our perfect kind of spot. In the corner booth the music was playing in the bar – our favourite band Caamp. The band we fell madly in love with together, the songs which we always said would be our wedding songs. It was meant to be.

The Vision

We considered eloping, but with both of us enjoying being outdoors, eating food and casual drinks next to the fire, we knew we had to step away from the traditions and make this plan our wedding.

All we cared about was being with our best friends and family, music and good food.

Budget

Initially £10,000 but we stretched to around £15,000 including everything.

The Venue

Cockley Woodland Weddings. It’s just as beautiful as the photos look.

The Ceremony & Music

Josh’s song: Strawberries – Caamp
Emily’s song: So Long, Honey – Caamp
Post ceremony song: Kiss Me – Six Pence None The Richer
First dance song: Stolen Love – Josiah & The Bonnevilles

DJ provided with the venue, however we got all of our guests to add a song of their choice to a shared Spotify playlist which became the playlist of the night.

Your Outfits

Emily

Dress: Harper – Shikoba Bride – Purchased online as a risky sample sale but I knew it was the one. Archive12 which is now unfortunately closed.
Flower Crown: Etsy
Shoes: Converse (Vinted)

Josh

Suit: Twisted Tailor
Jacket: Moss Bros (Vinted buy!)
Shoes: Doc Martens

Your Photographer & Filmmaker

Don’t Delete The Kisses. We were let down by our initial photographer 7 weeks before the wedding and we’re in panic mode! But we were saved by Jane @ Don’t Delete The Kisses. A blessing in disguise that the first photographer cancelled!

Creative Lens – Filmmaker

The Styling & Decor

We needed minimal décor as the venue speaks for itself. We added rustic jam jars with supermarket flowers.

We went for a burnt orange theme with Josh’s amazing mum creating all of the bouquets, ceremony flowers, boutonniere and table designs. All of which were fake flowers that can be resold and reused. She’s not a florist- just a lovely creating person wanting to add her touch of love on the day.

Emily’s good friend Emily hand-wrote the signs which were made from leftovers and findings from old cupboards.

Both families came together the day before the wedding at Cockley Woods to help set everything up together.

Cake from The Cake Lady – Birdsedge.

The Honeymoon

A week in the Amalfi Coast, followed by a week in Croatia – Dubrovnik, Korcula and Split. Two weeks of sun, good food, wine and even better company.

Memorable Moments

Josh reproposing at the ceremony to make up for the bag drop.
First dance – unscripted dance having the time of our lives, jumping around like kids at a school disco.
Two families getting ready together the day before the wedding at 315 Bar & Restaurant.
Having pizza as our wedding breakfast, followed by an ice cream van and coffee cart manned by our guests!

Advice For Other Couples

Although we went over budget, we would not change a thing. We had the most perfect day for us. Every guest we spoke to said how amazing and how ‘us’ the wedding was. The day was filled with so much love.

Do what you want to do, invite people you want to be there, break tradition if it doesn’t represent your relationship, make it your day.