Real Wedding Feature
Our Elopement Experience
Real Elopement Wedding At Cote How
Deciding to get married is a huge decision, and planning your dream wedding day can be just as challenging. After a great deal of thought, Claudia and Joe decided that an intimate elopement was their perfect wedding style. In this blog, they share their inspirational real wedding story, and invaluable advice for couples considering eloping…
Pre-Wedding Story
Q. What sort of wedding day did you imagine when you first started planning?
A. When we first started planning our wedding, we imagined a much bigger day surrounded by all of our family and friends. But as time went on, the thought of the cost, pressure and stress that can come with planning a large wedding made us stop and really think about what we truly wanted. Choosing a smaller, more intimate wedding at Cote How ended up being the best decision we could have made. It allowed us to focus completely on each other and actually enjoy every moment of the day without feeling overwhelmed. In the end, it felt more personal, meaningful and “us” than we ever could have imagined.
Finding our Wedding Venue
Q. What made Cote How feel right for you?
A. From the moment we found Cote How, it just felt right. There was something about the atmosphere that immediately made us feel calm, comfortable and excited all at once. It never felt overly formal or staged — it felt intimate, peaceful and full of warmth, which was exactly what we wanted our wedding day to feel like. The surroundings were obviously breathtaking, but it was more than just how beautiful it looked. There was a feeling about the place that made everything seem so personal and meaningful. We could instantly picture ourselves there, enjoying every moment without pressure or stress, and that feeling never changed from the day we booked to the day we got married.
The best decision we could have made
The Wedding Planning Experience
Q. How did you find the wedding planning process?
A. Wedding planning felt so much easier and more enjoyable than we ever expected, and that is completely thanks to Rachel and Caroline at Cote How. From the very beginning, they made everything feel effortless, calm and completely manageable. Nothing ever felt too much trouble, and they were always there to answer questions, offer reassurance and help everything come together smoothly. Their warmth, organisation and attention to detail meant we were able to genuinely enjoy the lead up to the wedding instead of feeling stressed by it all. A huge shout out to both of them for making the entire experience feel so special and seamless from start to finish.
Our Wedding Day
Q. Tell us about the atmosphere and emotions on the big day!
A. Oh where to start! Being surrounded by the lakes and mountains created such a peaceful, romantic feeling, and every little moment felt incredibly meaningful. It never felt rushed or overwhelming, just warm, personal and full of love.
Wedding Highlights & Memories
Q. What were your highlights/most memorable moments?
A. One of the most special parts of our day at Cote How was the atmosphere from the very moment we arrived. Sitting and chatting with everyone before the ceremony about how the day was going to unfold made everything feel so relaxed, intimate and exciting all at once. The confetti shot is a moment I’ll never forget — you could genuinely feel the happiness from everyone around us, and the photos captured that perfectly. We also had one completely unexpected moment when a BT engineer tried to get access to the grounds, which honestly had us all crying with laughter and somehow made the day feel even more personal and memorable. Stepping away together afterwards for our photos was another highlight. The surroundings were absolutely breathtaking, the weather could not have been more perfect, and having those quiet moments together amongst such beautiful scenery felt incredibly special. It was one of those days where everything just felt full of love, happiness and emotion from beginning to end.
The magic of the day happens in the moments you never plan for
Our Elopement Wedding Details
Q. Tell us which details you loved the most (your dress/outfits/flowers, etc.)
A. The details of the day came together more beautifully than I ever could have imagined. My flowers were honestly incredible — I had sent over a few inspiration pictures beforehand, but what was created exceeded every expectation in every possible way. They were so natural, romantic and perfectly suited to the setting. I also absolutely loved how my dress felt on the day, alongside my husband’s suit. Somehow our outfits just felt completely made for Cote How and the atmosphere of the Lakes. Everything tied together so effortlessly with the surroundings that it felt like the whole day had its own little kind of magic.
Advice for Future Couples
Q. What advice would you give to couples planning their wedding?
A. My advice to future couples getting married at Cote How — soak up every single second and don’t stress about making everything “perfect”, because the magic of the day happens in the moments you never plan for. The laughter, the happy tears, the random unexpected moments and the quiet little glances at each other end up being the memories you treasure most. Also, trust the setting to do its thing — the beauty and atmosphere of Cote How makes everything feel effortlessly special. And if a random BT engineer appears mid wedding day… just laugh and add it to the memories!
We wish we could relive it one more time
Any Wedding Planning Regrets?
Q. What would you do differently, if anything?
A. What would we do differently? Honestly, absolutely nothing… other than maybe find a way to do it all over again next weekend. The day felt so perfectly “us” from start to finish. Every part of it — the setting, the atmosphere, the emotions, the weather, the flowers and our outfits — all came together more beautifully than we ever could have imagined. If anything, we just wish we could relive it all one more time because it went by far too quickly!
And Lastly...
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share…
A. Finally, just a huge thank you. We are truly forever grateful for everything that made our day so special at Cote How. From the planning to the day itself, every part felt handled with such care, calmness and attention that we were able to just be present and enjoy every second. We’ll always look back on it with so much love and appreciation — it really was everything we hoped for and more.
Thank you
Heartfelt thanks to Claudia and Joe for sharing their wedding story with us. Their wedding day was a joy from beginning to end, and we absolutely loved having them. Thank you also to the fabulous Tiree Dawson for sharing their incredible wedding portraits, and to our extended team of suppliers who all played a part in making their elopement at Cote How the most magical, memorable wedding day:
- Flowers – Lilylou’s of Ambleside
- Transport – VW Wedding Campers
- Stylists – Amy Brown & Katrina, Bowness Bridal Hair
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