Abbeywood // Courtney & Ben
Abbeywood Estate is one of my favourite Cheshire venues.
Describe your wedding in three words
Greatest Adventure Yet
Why you chose the date of wedding (did it have any meaning?)
We visited Abbeywood Gardens on the 18th of July the previous year and after Ben proposed, I knew that was the venue for us. When that date was available, we knew it was meant to be!
Anything about how you met/proposal story
Passion for protecting wildlife is how our story started. We met during our MSc programme in Zoo Conservation Biology at the University of Plymouth, UK. We started talking about our love and passion for zoos and conservation, and after some flirting back and forth, we started dating December 2018.
Our first adventure was going to Chester in March 2019. It was here we fell in love with each other, the zoo, and the city. This is why we chose Chester to host our wedding and share this special place with our friends and family.
On the 1st of August 2021, Ben took me to his favourite spot in Salcombe, Devon that means a lot to him and his family. We had breakfast and then took a hike up to the spot called Sharp Tor aka “Top of the World” where he asked me to marry him!
Your inspiration/style/aspirations for the day
Rustic nature with a hint of adventure was our theme to showcase our love of nature (it’s why we chose Abbeywood Gardens!) and to share our adventures with everyone.
Memorable/emotional/funny moment on the day
Ben’s sister, Beth’s speech was unexpected and absolutely hilarious moment of the day. Walking through the gardens to take our couple photos felt magical and romantic. Everyone dancing together at the end of the night was definitely memorable to us as it meant a lot to us that our loved ones were having a great time!
How did you discover me and why you chose me to photograph the day
Through Abbeywood wedding brochure and google/instagram research had recommendations for Jess Yardwood Photography. Reviews were amazing, instagram photos showcasing natural and candid photography is what we were looking for, plus being experts of our venue was the icing on the cake! We definitely clicked when we first discussed hiring you for our wedding and I knew we made the right choice and really enjoyed having you and your husband at our wedding!
Wedding song?
First Dance: One Life by Ed Sheeran and Last Dance: Perfect Duet by Ed Sheehan and Beyonce
Any advice for couples planning their wedding?
Utilise free website planning like Hitched to ensure you stay on budget and have everything done on time. Also use Instagram/Tik Tok/Social media in general to look at suppliers and what theme/styles inspire you. This will help set up your vision for the day that the photographer will capture.
Are you going on a honeymoon?
Yes! We are going to Italy on a 8 day tour in May 2023. We will spend a few days in Rome, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast.
