A Romantic & Dreamy, Modern Mormon Wedding in the Woods

Lily and Joe’s wedding took place on Friday 15th April 2022, with a ceremony in their community church, followed by a tipi reception in the woodland at Hazlewood Castle in Leeds.

The couple, who are actively involved in the Mormon church, are keen to share their wedding to help lift inaccurate perceptions of the Mormon church and community. Their wedding was romantic, dreamy, relaxed and captured beautifully by photographer Helen Rose.

Veil, Shoes & Scent

I wore my sisters veil so was my ‘something borrowed’, it was floor length and an ivory/champagne colour so went with my dress perfectly.

I wanted to wear boots, firstly because I wanted to be comfortable all day and be able to move to my full extent, I knew we were going to be out in the woods and I didn’t want my heels to be sinking into the ground and lastly because I needed the height, I would’ve worn sandals or some sort of flat shoe, but my dress was long and I just wanted to feel tall and sexy for once.

How They Met

We actually first started messaging over Snapchat then we first officially met about two months after that at my Halloween party. A few days later we went on our first date.

We went to Paris for a few days in December last year and on the last day he proposed to me on a ferris wheel near the Louvre. That day we also missed our flight home. We were engaged for about only four months before we got married, once we knew we just wanted to get on with it.

My dad drove me to the chapel in his car, I wasn’t too fussed about transport there, it was just nice being with my dad on the journey, listening to music, and rocking out. After the ceremony Joe and I left in our black soft top Mazda MX-5. She’s a beauty of a car, and we just feel super cool when we’re in it the roof is down.

A Mormon Wedding Ceremony

My dad walked me down the aisle and then married us. He had only six weeks before been asked to become a Bishop in our local church that we attend (its on the side of his full time job, there’s no paid local clergy in our religion) so it was a very lovely twist that he was allowed to marry us and was only part of the plan those few weeks before hand.

We had a Christian religious ceremony at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Joe’s brother who is part of his band played the piano for us which was really special for the service. My older sister Eden spoke in the ceremony, then Joe’s grandad John spoke after, both were amazing and offered personal advice and experiences.

Joe wrote a new song for me and two members of the band sang and played guitars as we slow danced. Joe also had written and released a song called ‘The Puzzle’ for me previously that we then danced to afterwards with everyone else, it was so personal to us and so special.

We got the rings from Angelic Diamonds, we both wanted plain gold bands. Mine was as a classic court style ring which was as thin as my engagement ring and Joe’s as flat side court which was a bit wider.

A funny story is that my dad didn’t trust our best man (they have a great relationship) to remember to bring our rings so he said he would look after them and bring them… only he forgot.

He was that pre-occupied as he was the one driving me and then marrying us that he totally forgot about the rings himself it was so funny from the stand when we were getting married.

The Photographer

We chose Helen Rose as our photographer because she’s the best. I’ve had a few friends who hired her for their own weddings and all of the pictures looked stunning and they made everyone look so good, so it had to be.

Also she’s so kind and easy to be around, which makes it much less daunting having your picture taken.