Ashleigh & Matt’s Bold, Bright Wedding in Ilkley
From Church Ceremony to Ilkley Moor: Ashleigh & Matt’s Ilkley Wedding at Craiglands Hotel
Every once in a while, a love story comes along that’s as heartwarming as it is unforgettable. Ashleigh and Matt’s journey started in 2012 at college, and their wedding day in Ilkley was the perfect reflection of their adventurous, joyful personalities. From reconnecting on Facebook to life-changing decisions, their story is one that’s full of love, and a little bit of whirlwind magic
How did you meet?
We first met in 2012 at college. We got together and it was a bit of a whirlwind with many mistakes on both sides (including Matt coming to college with a new girlfriend without first informing me).We then got back in touch when I “accidentally” added him as a friend on facebook. This was not too long after Matt got diagnosed with kidney failure & was on dialysis and waiting for a transplant. For some reason, I decided it would be a really good idea to give him my kidney, why not? Even though we were basically strangers again at this point. Mid way through all the tests, he actually found a perfect match (yay!!) And we have been together ever since. We don’t really know when we got together again, but we chose the 19th December 2022. I basically turned up at his house one day and never left!
How did the proposal happen?
We had been ring shopping earlier that day & found the absolute perfect ring. Matt wanted to wait a little bit, but I told him it wasn’t fair to let me try it on and not keep it haha! So he decided he would go for it but not tell me exactly when in the day it would be. So we had a really nice home cooked meal, listened to some music and in the middle of a really random conversation, he got down on one knee and asked. It was perfect for us
What was your favourite moment?
Matt: Watching Ashleigh walk down the aisle. It was so nice to not care about anything else in the moment except the person walking towards me.
Ashleigh: the end of the ceremony when we walked back up the aisle. I got to see everyone who had come to celebrate us and of course stop halfway to kiss my new husband
How did you feel as you walked down the aisle/ waited for your bride?
Matt: incredibly nervous. I couldn’t stand still.
Ashleigh: excited. All my nerves disappeared as soon as I saw his face and i just couldn’t wait to get to the end.
Which photo moment are you most looking for to seeing. Or which photos have you loved so far?
Ashleigh: During the ceremony. Its all a blur and I don’t really remember that bit!
Matt: the candids of everyone mingling after the ceremony
How/ Why did you choose your photographer?
Having done my 2 best friends wedding before, I knew Gemma would be perfect for us
How did you feel being in front of the camera?
Awkward at first, especially for the formal photos. But just us and you, we were so comfortable and happy, even walking through the mud on the moors
Wedding Details: Bold, Bright, and Beautiful - tell us about the details of the day.
Colour scheme/theme was “bold, bright and beautiful”. We couldn’t really pick a colour scheme, so we just chose them all! We wanted a day that was really calm, relaxed and easygoing, to reflect who we are. We definitely got that!
What was the most important investments for you and why?
Photographer. Its the only thing we really spent a lot of money on, because we wanted those memories to last forever. The decor, music, food....its all over after a while. But the memories are forever.
Was there anything you wish you’d known before
Ashleigh: there’s no need to be nervous or stressed. Its much easier than I thought.
Matt: how easy everything would be and that I didn’t need to stress about it
Do you have any advice for couples in the planning stages?
Just pick what YOU want. Don’t even consider other people when it comes to decor etc. You do what you want to make your day reflect you as a couple
Days like Ashleigh and Matt’s are exactly why I love being an Ilkley wedding photographer. From relaxed moments during the ceremony to exploring Ilkley Moor for portraits, this wedding had everything that makes photographing weddings in Ilkley so special.Capturing natural, real moments in such an incredible location is what it’s all about and it’s why Ilkley is one of my favourite places to photograph weddings
If you’re planning your own wedding in Ilkley or getting married at the Craiglands and want natural, relaxed photography that captures the real moments, I’d love to hear all about your plans.
Wedding Suppliers
Photographer - Gemma Suckley Photography
Florist - Emmie Rae’s
Makeup - NicoleMarie - Makeup Artistry
Hair - maddie.alix.hair
Dress - wed2b
Suit - Charles Tyrwhitt
Church - St John’s Ben Rhydding
Venue - The Craiglands Hotel