A Whimsical Spring Woodland Wedding at The Woodlands at Hothorpe
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
There's something undeniably magical about saying "I do" surrounded by towering trees, birdsong and the fresh colours of spring. Jordan and Megan’s beautifully personal wedding at The Woodlands at Hothorpe was exactly that - an intimate celebration filled with thoughtful details, heartfelt moments and plenty of happy tears.
From a bespoke ceremony soundtrack to handcrafted wedding newspapers and an unforgettable choreographed first dance, every part of their day reflected who they are as a couple. We were honoured to help bring their woodland wedding vision to life.
A Ceremony Full of Heart
Set amongst the peaceful woodland at The Woodlands at Hothorpe, Jordan and Megan exchanged vows in one of the most personal ceremonies we've ever had the pleasure of witnessing.
Music played a huge part in creating the atmosphere. Megan carefully hand-edited their ceremony soundtrack herself, seamlessly blending together meaningful songs. The bridesmaids made their entrance to a beautiful piano rendition of Slipping Through My Fingers by ABBA, before the music gently transformed into Liz on Top of the World from the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack as Megan walked down the aisle.
"It sounded like waking up on a spring morning," Megan shared, "and perfectly captured how I felt marrying the love of my life."
Their celebrant, Jo Clarke from My Perfect Ceremony, beautifully told the story of Jordan and Megan before they exchanged vows they had written themselves. It's safe to say there wasn't a dry eye anywhere nearby.
Bringing Spring Into Every Detail
With a May wedding on the horizon, the couple knew they wanted to embrace the beauty of the season with a fresh spring colour palette centred around their favourite colour - blue.
Soft dusky blues and dusky rose tones featured throughout the bridal party, with Megan's Maid of Honour wearing a stunning embroidered leafy dress to stand out amongst the bridesmaids. Nature-inspired details continued through Megan's jewellery, while the groom and groomsmen wore a carefully coordinated selection of blue, blush and floral ties, allowing the Best Man to have his own unique look.
Florals played a starring role throughout the day, tying every element together effortlessly. The groom's floral pocket square perfectly matched Megan's bouquet, creating a lovely symbolic touch before they exchanged rings. Their cake was decorated with colourful spring flowers and delicate sugar paper butterflies, completing the elegant seasonal styling.
For Jordan and Megan, an outdoor woodland wedding felt like the obvious choice. Ever since their second date hiking The Roaches in the Peak District seven years earlier, spending time together in nature has been one of the foundations of their relationship.
"What could be more romantic than promising to love someone forever to the soundtrack of birdsong and a trickling stream?"
Moments They'll Never Forget
When asked about their favourite part of the day, both Jordan and Megan found it impossible to choose just one. For Jordan, seeing Megan walk down the aisle was unforgettable.
"She looked like a vision of Spring itself."
The emotion of the moment was so overwhelming that he nearly lost his balance, with his brother and Best Man stepping in to keep him upright.
Meanwhile, Megan's highlight came later in the evening during their choreographed first dance. Performing to Die With A Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, the couple flawlessly executed lifts, spins and intricate choreography they'd spent months practising.
Hearing the room collectively gasp as they completed each move made the performance even more special.
Thoughtful Touches That Made Their Day Unique
One of the most memorable personal touches was something guests could take home with them.
Drawing on her journalism career, Megan designed and created bespoke wedding newspapers completely from scratch. Packed with the story of how the couple met, fun facts, wedding statistics, an order of the day, crossword, introductions to the wedding party, a birthday message for their beloved family dog and a touching "In Loving Memory" tribute, they quickly became one of the day's biggest talking points.
As if that wasn't special enough, Megan's friend Katie (Incredibly Bookish) has since preserved her bridal bouquet in a beautiful frame with the wedding newspaper displayed at its centre - creating an incredibly meaningful keepsake they'll treasure forever.
Advice for Future Couples
Having now experienced their dream wedding day, Jordan and Megan have some brilliant advice for newly engaged couples.
Invest in a videographer. While photographs capture beautiful moments, video allows you to relive the laughter, speeches, reactions and voices that can so easily become a blur after the day itself. If possible, choose a photographer and videographer who already work well together - it makes a huge difference.
Don't be afraid to learn a choreographed first dance either. Although Jordan wasn't convinced at first, it ended up becoming one of the highlights of the entire day.
They also have one final piece of advice...
Make sure your Maid of Honour and Best Man have tissues ready.
And perhaps most importantly…
You definitely don't need to spend £800 on cheese.
Why They Chose The Rustic Wedding Company
Jordan and Megan first met Team Rustic at one of The Woodlands' wedding fairs and immediately appreciated our experience styling the venue.
After exploring our galleries and reading through our real wedding blogs, they loved the flexibility of our Bespoke Styling Package, allowing every detail to be tailored around their vision.
During their showroom consultation, we were able to recommend styling ideas specifically suited to The Woodlands, helping them bring together the elegant woodland celebration they had imagined from the very beginning.
We absolutely loved being part of Jordan and Megan's beautiful spring wedding. Every detail reflected their personalities, from the carefully curated ceremony music to the handmade newspapers and unforgettable first dance. It was a celebration filled with love, laughter and meaningful moments, and we're so grateful we could help bring their vision to life.
We wish the happy couple a lifetime of adventures together.
Dream Team
Venue: The Woodlands at Hothorpe
Celebrant: My Perfect Ceremony (Jo Clarke)
Photographer: James Andrew Photography
Videographer: Vision Wave Weddings
Florist: The Rustic Wedding Company
Venue Styling: The Rustic Wedding Company
Stationery: Vintage Prints
Wedding Attire: Silver Sixpence Bridal & Moss Bros
Hair & Makeup: Suzie Gee Make Up Artist & Bridal Hair Design (Lorraine Newark)
Lawn Games: Rustic & Vintage Carts and Props
Cake & Biscuit Favours: Lucy Claire Bakes
DJ & Photobooth: Rob Lawes Entertainments
