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Bride and Groom walking in the gardens of Stockton house venue on their wedding day
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

Real Weddings

Kathryn & Lewis: A Relaxed Garden Wedding at Stockton House

Headshot of Fran Cavalier
Fran Updated:
27th of October 2025

Kathryn and Lewis tied the knot on the 31st of May 2025 at the beautiful Stockton House in Shropshire. Joined by 45 of their nearest and dearest, their wedding was a perfect blend of laid-back charm and heartfelt moments, filled with sunshine, laughter, and a whole lot of love.

Captured beautifully by Charlotte Bradley Photography, every detail reflected the couple's thoughtful approach to planning - from the soft colour palette of white, yellow and green to the handmade stationery and family-arranged flowers.

The Proposal

Kathryn and Lewis's story started long before their engagement. They first crossed paths at school but didn't truly get to know each other until years later when they reconnected in a bar in their hometown. Sparks flew instantly, and by 2019 they were officially a couple.

Fast-forward five years to 2024, and Lewis proposed during a quiet Saturday morning at their flat in Edinburgh. Still in their pyjamas, Lewis surprised Kathryn with champagne and the perfect vintage sapphire and diamond ring from Joseph Bonnar Antiques. After a morning of phone calls to family and friends, they spent the afternoon at a spa and dinner out - a simple, intimate day that suited them perfectly.

The Venue

After moving back to Cheshire from Scotland, the pair began searching for the right venue. Lewis discovered Stockton House, and from the moment Kathryn visited with her mum, she knew it was the one; she recalled how their jaws dropped when they drove down the driveway.

“Stockton is the type of venue you only ever see on Pinterest,” Kathryn said.

aerial view of Stockton House
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Stockton House - Apley Estate

For an unforgettable country wedding, Stockton House, an award winning venue, offers a stunning setting with exquisite gardens and elegant interiors.
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Venue manager Amy's warmth and enthusiasm instantly put them at ease and made the whole experience feel personal, like Stockton was already theirs for the weekend. Set in the Shropshire countryside, Stockton House offered everything they wanted - a relaxed, elegant space where their small garden wedding dream could come to life.

Stockton House Wedding Venue
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

The Fashion

Kathryn had never envisioned herself in a new gown for her wedding day, and initially looked for vintage dresses on eBay and Vinted. After struggling to find 'the one', a bridal appointment was booked and Kathryn fell in love with the 'Fleur' gown by Savannah Miller, but after an unexpected change in budget, Kathryn had to face restarting her dress hunt.

“I went back to the drawing board and restarted my hunt for vintage and second-hand dresses, this time on Stillwhite. And there she was. Second-hand, but in perfect condition. It was meant to be.”

Bride in vintage wedding dress
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

After rediscovering 'Fleur', a few alterations by Carrie at Paper Moon Bride made Kathryn's dream wedding dress fit like a dream. She paired her gown with two veils from Along Came Eve in Chester and ASOS heels, later changing into a sleek Abercrombie evening dress and blue slingbacks from Deichmann.

Lewis wore a double-breasted chocolate-brown suit from Next, paired with an M&S tie. His brother and best man wore the same suit, while their fathers coordinated with matching ties for a cohesive look.

Kathryn's bridesmaids, her sister Lizzie and cousins Emily and Jessica, wore butter-yellow dresses they chose themselves. Lizzie even handmade her own.

Bride with her bridesmaids in mismatched butter yellow bridesmaids dresses
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

The Ceremony

The couple achieved their dream garden wedding and exchanged vows in a stunning outdoor ceremony at 1pm, surrounded by sunshine and greenery. Kathryn walked down the aisle to an acoustic version of 'Brown Eyed Girl', and was given away by both her parents.

bride and groom at their wedding ceremony
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

Kathryn remembered how Lewis sobbed and waited until she reached him before turning around, but he wasn't the only one feeling emotional. Her grandpa, Eric, read two beautiful poems during the ceremony, one before they said “I do” and another just after, leaving barely a dry eye among their guests.

As they signed the register, 'Cowboy Like Me' by Taylor Swift and 'It Was Coming All Along' by Maggie Rogers played in the background, followed by their recessional music of 'Dive' by Olivia Dean and their joyful confetti walk to 'Packing It Up' by Gracie Abrams.

Bridesmaids holding butter yellow bouquets at the wedding ceremony
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

The Styling

Kathryn envisioned a romantic but understated aesthetic, and to achieve this she collected glass bud vases from charity shops and filled them with delicate florals from The Shropshire Flower Company's DIY buckets, styled with help from her mum and auntie.

Spring wedding flowers following a butter yellow theme
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

She designed all of their stationery herself on Canva, including the invitations, menus, and place cards. The soft white, yellow and green palette was accented by flickering candlelight and hints of blue to echo her engagement ring.

The Food

The food was a major highlight. Working closely with Chef Tom at Stockton House, they designed a completely gluten-free rolling tapas menu. Guests shared dishes of fried goat's cheese bites, slow-cooked beef cheek, and raspberry and white chocolate roulades for dessert.

Wedding breakfast set up with family style tables
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

The Entertainment

Their evening took an unexpected turn when their original band didn't show up - but their replacement, The Party Beats, saved the day and had the dancefloor alive and upbeat all night long.

The couple's first dance was to 'Love You For A Long Time' by Maggie Rogers - a song they'd known would be “the one” for years.

Bride and Groom enjoying their wedding reception and entertainment
Courtesy of Charlotte Bradley Photography

The Details

Kathryn and Lewis made their day deeply personal. Kathryn's aunt created floral arrangements for the stairs and tables, and the couple's cousin baked their wedding cake. Instead of a gift list, they set up a honeymoon and house fund, celebrating not just their wedding, but their new chapter - new jobs, a new home, and married life in Chester.

Wedding Highlights

When asked for their favourite part of the day, Kathryn and Lewis couldn't choose. “It was just a day full of love, laughter, and pure happiness.”

Bride and Groom enjoy golden hour at their wedding
Charlotte Bradley Photography

Their photographers, Charlotte Bradley and Becci Wiles, captured every aspect of the day perfectly in romantic documentary-style photography. Take a look below at their incredible work.

Featured Suppliers

  1. Charlotte Bradley Photography
  2. Becci Wiles Photography
  3. PRPSR Films
  4. The Shropshire Flower Company
  5. The Party Beats Band
  6. Moxi Makeup
  7. Along Came Eve
Bride getting make up done on her wedding day
The wedding ceremony set up from afar
Bride getting ready to put on her wedding dress
Bridesmaid getting ready
Bride in her wedding dress and veil getting ready.
Bridesmaids in mismatching yellow dresses
Bride walking down the stairs for her first look
Bride and Groom and their wedding ceremony
Bride and Grooms POV for confetti throw
Bride and Groom during wedding cocktail hour
Wedding table decor
Wedding table set up
Wedding breakfast table decor and set up
Bride and Groom arrive at their wedding breakfast/reception at Stockton House
Wedding breakfast food being enjoyed
Speeches being delivered at wedding reception
Bride and Groom enjoying their wedding breakfast
Bride and Groom at the wedding reception
bride and groom at golden hour
Bride at golden hour
Groom lifting bride
Bride and groom vintage photography style wedding photo
Bride and Groom Kiss During first dance
Bride and groom first dance
Bride and Groom at wedding ceremony
Bride smiles as she takes a private moment with her new husband
Guests enjoying the evening entertainment at the wedding reception
Bride having fun on the dance floor
Wedding evening live entertainment
Stockton House wedding venue in the evening
 
Headshot of Fran Cavalier
About the author
Fran
Fran is the Social Media Executive at Guides for Brides, supporting wedding businesses and venues with expert-led social media marketing, content creation, and digital strategy. With a degree in Creative Writing and background in copywriting and campaign planning across multiple industries including beauty and education, Fran knows exactly how to create compelling content that connects with modern couples and drives engagement. Whether it’s Reels, content calendars, or audience growth, Fran delivers creative, practical support that gets results.

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