Leah & Clark's Heartfelt Yorkshire Wedding: Planned in Just Four Weeks
A Wedding Filled with Love, Family & Perfect Timing
Some weddings are years in the making, while others come together exactly when they're meant to. For Leah and Clark, their wedding was a beautiful reminder that sometimes life's most meaningful moments happen when you least expect them.
After a long engagement, a surprise proposal in Paris, and some life-changing family news, the couple planned their dream wedding in just four weeks. Their day was filled with sentiment, laughter, sunshine, and the people who matter most.
I asked Leah to answer some questions about their wedding, the choices they made and why they felt it worked for them as a couple, as well as any advice they would give to newly engaged couples planning their wedding.
You chose St Thomas Church & The View Mapplewell for your wedding—what made this venue/s stand out for you?
Leah always knew she wanted to be married in a small church.
"The moment I saw St Thomas Church, I fell in love with it. Even before we were engaged, I said that one day we would get married there."
The church held special meaning for Clark too, as it was the very same church where his parents were married. Because of family commitments around their original date, Leah and Clark made the unique decision to split their celebrations across two separate days. After their church ceremony, they wanted somewhere relaxed where family and friends could gather for food, drinks, and a proper celebration of becoming husband and wife.
That's when they discovered The View at Mapplewell.
"We'd never even heard of it until someone suggested it. As soon as we visited, we knew it was perfect. The view was even more special because we could see both Clark's parents' house and our own home from there. It felt like it was meant to be."
Did you have a theme or overall vibe for your wedding day? How did you bring it to life?
Although the couple had been engaged for some time, a difficult family diagnosis prompted them to bring their wedding plans forward. When Leah's dad was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer, they realised they didn't want to wait any longer.
"We planned everything in four weeks. Looking back, it was exactly what we'd always wanted. Somehow everything just fell into place."
The whirlwind planning process was accompanied by another piece of joyful news: the couple had recently discovered they were expecting a baby.
After a challenging fertility journey, the months leading up to the wedding felt filled with hope, gratitude, and good fortune.
"We were spread some very lucky luck throughout the planning, and also we found out we were pregnant before this, but it felt like we had everything we every wanted, as the pregnancy journey hasn't been easy either, so it felt all the news and luck was on our side in the last few weeks."
It was so touching to hear that even throughout the hardship they faced with Leah's Dads diagnosis, there was some light in the form of a new life to celebrate.
The Moment They'll Never Forget
"Having my dad there to walk me down the aisle and give me away on the most special day of my life meant everything."
Let’s talk outfits! How did you choose what to wear, and how did it make you feel on the day?
Leah's best friend suggested two places where she had been and picked her dress from. "We went to Elite Bridal at Castleford and they made me feel so at ease, as it was off the peg it felt like I could try a few and see what I liked!"
Like many brides, Leah quickly discovered that the dress she thought she wanted wasn't actually the one.
"I imagined chiffon, sleeves and a high neckline. What I chose couldn't have been more different."
After visiting bridal boutiques and falling in love with multiple dresses, she faced an impossible decision. So she made a choice many modern brides will understand. "I bought both."
The two dresses allowed Leah to embrace different parts of her personality throughout the celebrations, and she felt incredible in each one.
For the boys, they went with light grey suits from Skopes, gently complemented by the light blue chosen to match the bridesmaid dresses. These complimented each other so well on the day and looked great in the British Summer weather!
What was the wedding planning process like for you both—what did you enjoy most and what surprised you? Are there any suppliers you’d particularly recommend?
It was very quick in terms of wedding planning meaning they didn't have time to stress, panic or get anxious. On the day before they said it felt like "we were going to be guests at someone else's wedding as it didn't feel real and that it was actually ours."
Despite organising the wedding over a Bank Holiday weekend and school holidays, almost everyone they invited was able to attend.
"We were surprised how many people said YES when we asked if they could be a part of our day."
Leah said this "made it feel like it was meant to be."
When it came to the suppliers Leah and Clark would recommend them all to anyone, "they are all and have been absolutely amazing!! Calming, stress free, nothing too much trouble, organised, helpful and very very friendly. No one has made us feel, pressured, overwhelmed or like we haven't known them for years!"
Suppliers:
Photographer: @meganmarshall_photography23
Content Creator: Emily @_yourdaycaptured_
Venues: St Thomas Gawber Church / @the_view_cafe
Flowers: @flowers_by_jude
MUA: Elysia Lee Makeup / @meganmurdochbeauty
Hair: @thebankofhairandcosmetics
Suits: @officialskopes
Music: @tommastersmusic
Videography (lovely guys!) @thecreativeweddingagency
Creating a Relaxed Celebration
From the beginning, Leah and Clark wanted their wedding to feel personal, relaxed and full of joy.
A live singer Tom Masters performed during the church ceremony, adding an emotional and intimate atmosphere.
Friends contributed handmade welcome signs, information boards and personalised touches throughout the day.
At The View, they embraced the venue's relaxed atmosphere, complete with sunshine, garden games for the children and a carefully curated playlist.
Rather than focusing on formal traditions, they chose to skip speeches, cake cutting and a first dance during this celebration.
"We wanted everyone to feel relaxed, enjoy themselves and simply celebrate with us."
Advice for newly engaged couples
"Having all of our family and friends together, enjoying every moment with us, means the most."
When asked what advice they would give to other couples planning a wedding, Leah's answer was refreshingly simple:
"Don't put pressure on yourselves."
She encourages couples to trust their instincts, make decisions that feel right for them, and avoid comparing their plans to anyone else's.
"Invite who you want. Do what makes you happy. Don't feel pressured to follow traditions if they don't feel right for you."
And perhaps her favourite piece of advice?
"Let children be children. The joy they bring to a wedding is something really special."
