Wedding photography at Otley chevin country park hotel
Rachel and Dagmara's beautiful wedding at Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa was full of colour, emotion and personal touches. Set amongst the woodland surroundings of this stunning Otley venue, their day brought together family and friends from near and far to celebrate a love story that began at Leeds Pride four years earlier.
From a Stardew Valley-inspired proposal to tropical-inspired styling and an unforgettable woodland ceremony, every detail reflected who they are as a couple. I asked Rachel and Dagmara to share more about their wedding day in their own words.
How did you meet? How long have you been together?
We met at Leeds Pride four years ago, both chronically single and ready for a party. After dancing next to each other with our respective friends, Dagmara came up to me and sang, "It's Raining Girls!" to the famous Weather Girls song, and I knew from our shared dad-joke-level sense of humour that we'd get along! Several kisses later, we exchanged details and planned a date. From that moment on, we saw each other every weekend until we moved in together a year later.
See their engagement photo shoot
See their wedding highlights
Tell us about the proposal.
Dagmara took me on a food tour of Leeds as an early birthday present and was suspiciously punctual! She said she had a surprise and took me to Lower Briggate, to the spot where we first met, where our friends were gathered with flowers and a lovely man with a guitar was playing our song. She gave me a blue feather (I'm a big gamer nerd, and in one game this is how you propose to your love interest – 10/10 research!) and got down on one knee. Of course, there was no question – a very definite yes!
What venue did you choose and why did you choose it?
Rachel: We chose Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa in Otley, mostly for the beautiful woodland setting and secluded feel compared to many venues around the city. It was also lovely to have somewhere special for some of our international guests to stay.
Dagmara: When we walked into the venue for the first time, we immediately knew it was exactly our vibe. It was truly beautiful and also a lovely place to stay before and after the wedding. The venue will definitely be part of our memories and somewhere we'll love coming back to when we celebrate our anniversaries.
How did you feel as you walked down the aisle or waited for your bride?
Rachel: Just the most amazing butterflies of excitement to finally see and marry my lady!
Dagmara: The moment I heard the music playing in the ceremony room was incredible. Having my stepdad walk me down the aisle was such a special moment. Then seeing Rachel waiting for me, looking absolutely stunning, was a mixture of butterflies, excitement and pure emotion.
What was your favourite moment?
Rachel: Aside from seeing my beautiful wife coming down the aisle and trying desperately not to cry with happiness, it was amazing seeing my dad having an in-depth conversation with my uni mates I used to go clubbing with. Having all the best people in one room was wonderful.
Dagmara: There were so many! When we went to our room after the reception, I had all the memories running like a film in front of my eyes. The moment I loved most was walking towards the ceremony room and hearing the music we'd picked from our favourite game, Stardew Valley. Then seeing Rachel waiting for me brought happy tears to my eyes. I also loved seeing our families finally meet for the first time – our mums, dads and siblings all together.
Would you recommend your venue?
100%! Tyran and the rest of the staff go above and beyond to give you your dream day. There are so many options for food and drinks, and the setting feels fairytale-like whilst still being conveniently close to the city and airport.
I have to ask about the dresses – why did you choose them?
Neither of us are particularly girly in our everyday lives, but we knew we'd both like to wear dresses. We (separately!) visited Bridal Apparel in Rawdon, where we met our dress fairy godmother, Susan, who instantly knew what would suit us both and even added little details to make our dresses match.
How and why did you choose your photographer?
When looking for a photographer, we really prioritised finding someone who prefers natural, candid shots with less perfection and posing. After sending our enquiry, Gemma sent us some photos she'd taken at Chevin before. They were so beautiful and natural-looking that we were instantly sold!
Which photo moment were you most looking forward to seeing?
Rachel: Some of the photos of Dagmara getting ready! We're honestly not co-dependent, but I was missing her all morning.
Dagmara: I really wanted to see the photo of Rachel and her dad walking down the aisle because I wasn't able to see it myself. Also, Rachel getting ready!
Often, the details are what make a wedding unique to a couple. Tell us about the details of your day.
Our colour scheme was based on two of our favourite colours – teal and burnt orange.
These bright colours sum up the vibrancy of our lives since we met and also brought macaws to mind, which are a wonderful example of love as they tend to mate for life. This, combined with the fact we've not been able to go on holiday for several years, led us to adopt a tropical theme throughout the day... although the weather didn't quite get the memo!
How did you feel being in front of the camera?
The pre-wedding shoot really helped show us that we do, in fact, look cute in front of a professional camera, which definitely put us at ease! Gemma & Jo are lovely too, which helped massively. They always asked if we'd be up for trying something rather than directing us, which made everything feel very natural.
Was there anything you wish you'd known before?
Rachel: How messy dried rose petal confetti can be! I'm still finding it everywhere.
Dagmara: Keep that dress train a little shorter! I ended up wrapping it around myself like a toga. Although both our dresses looked beautiful, especially Rachel's when she was spinning around like a princess.
What were the most important investments for you and why?
Rachel: Honestly, it's all equal. Our wish was for everyone to have a fantastic day and create amazing memories. Every second spent planning (and making 60 portions of fudge!) and every penny spent on decorations was worth it. You feel so honoured that so many lovely people make the effort to celebrate with you, and you can never do too much to thank them.
Dagmara: Buying the Instax camera was definitely worth it! The guests loved it, and we'll continue using it long after the wedding.
What song did you choose for your first dance, and why?
We chose So Easy (To Fall In Love) by Olivia Dean. We both love the song and the singer. The song is a light-hearted and beautiful reminder that love can be uncomplicated and that everyone has something somebody else will fall for. While our love may not always be conventional, it's ours, it's easy, and it's perfect for us. There are a million ways to love someone.
Do you have any advice for couples in the planning stages?
Rachel: All those hundreds of emails discussing minute details are actually your friend! We had the whole day rehearsed over and over in our heads, which meant everything went seamlessly. Also, remember that your guests are your people. They love you and want the best for you, so try not to stress about things going wrong.
Once you see each other, all the worries melt away and you're in a blissful bubble for the rest of the day. Enjoy every second!
Dagmara: Don't leave important appointments too late. Most importantly, don't stress too much. You'll have the most amazing day, and the stress disappears the moment you see your beautiful partner.
Are there any suppliers you'd like to give a shout-out to?
Our lovely friend Nat from Little Pastry Cook in Knaresborough truly understood our vision and made us the most gorgeous and delicious wedding cake. We chose lemon and blackberry, but she loves a challenge, so the sky's the limit when it comes to creative cakes!
We'd also love to give a massive shout-out to Lois from Lois Cora Hair & Makeup in Sheffield for expertly beautifying us and our bridesmaids in a way that enhanced our natural good looks.
And finally, Gemma and Jo – the wizards behind the camera, for capturing our day in such a natural and non-invasive way. We can't wait to see the photos!
Rachel and Dagmara, thank you for letting us be part of such a joyful and memorable day
If you're planning your own wedding at Chevin Country Park Hotel & Spa, or looking for natural, relaxed wedding photography in Yorkshire, I'd love to hear more about your plans.
See more wedding from Otley Chevin County Park Hotel here
Yorkshire Wedding Suppliers:
Photographer: Gemma Suckley Photography
Associate Photographer: Joanne Lawrence Photography
Dress: Ever-Pretty UK & Bridal Apparel Leeds
Shoes: Lace and Favour
Wedding Planner: Tyran Wong at the Chevin Hotel
MUA: Lois Cora
Cake: Natalie Rawlins
DJ: Audio Events