A Magical Winter Wedding at a Yorkshire Stately Home

Celebrant Weddings at Carlton Towers

Few venues in Yorkshire boast as much heritage, grandeur, and architectural magnificence as Carlton Towers.

Founded in the 17th century, it was first designed by E.W. Pugin (whose father designed the Houses of Parliament). Later, in 1977, it was extended by the renowned architect John Bentley before being taken over by Lord and Lady Howard. Throughout its history, Carlton Towers has remained a cornerstone of architectural splendour. Unsurprisingly, couples now regularly choose it as their wedding venue with its year round appeal—a truly magical setting for one of the most important days of their lives.

In December 2024, John and Andrew exchanged vows in the gallery room of Carlton Towers. A dreamy couple with impeccable style and charisma, they opted for an impossibly elegant black-and-white theme, beautifully styled by the fabulous ‘The Blonde and Blooms.’ Only Carlton Towers could provide such a perfectly suited backdrop for their winter wedding. With its gothic furnishings, original floor-to-ceiling windows, and luxurious fittings throughout, the venue complemented their vision flawlessly.

For a full roundup of celebrant weddings at Carlton Towers, including an overview of all the stunning spaces within this glorious Grade I listed mansion which can be used for wedding ceremonies, be sure to check out my previous blog on Carlton Towers for more inspiration.

A Celebrant Wedding to Remember: Meeting John and Andrew

I first chatted with John and Andrew over Zoom, and it was clear from the outset that their wedding would be a joyous celebration—a coming together of both families. They envisioned a ceremony that felt modern, honoured their shared beliefs, acknowledged their different faiths, and reflected their unique personalities. Something relaxed, heartfelt, and truly personal.

Early in our conversation, it became evident that John and Andrew had a remarkable story to tell. Having been childhood friends, they had shared almost a lifetime together, navigating different paths through school and beyond; long-distance love and everything in between. I was excited to celebrate their story; to harness their creativity and curate a ceremony their family would talk about forever. 

Unlike most couples I work with, I only ever ‘met’ John and Andrew via Zoom before their wedding day. Still, by the time we finally met in person, it felt like reuniting with old friends (with less emphasis on the word ‘old!’). We hugged with excitement, eager for all that was to come.

Both John and Andrew were generous with their answers in their couple’s questionnaire, sharing hilarious stories from their youth, how they eventually reconnected, and their journey together. Over time, we identified and magnified the truly significant moments that shaped their love story—those key memories that made their ceremony script feel authentically ‘them’ and evoked elation, laughter, and joy in the hearts of their guests. We exchanged many emails, had further Zoom calls, and even last-minute text conversations leading up to the big day to ensure they felt prepared and knew exactly what to expect from their ceremony. 

A Winter Wedding Ceremony With a Celebrant

Prior to my celebrant ceremony, John and Andrew shared a legal ceremony in the library, with their parents. Then, they simply handed their wedding rings back over to me, mingled with guests over a glass (or two) of fizz before their celebrant ceremony with me began. 

We packed a lot into John and Andrew’s ceremony so that the end result was something that felt incredibly interesting and entertaining. This included a unique ring exchange; personal wedding vows (written and shared by John and Andrew themselves); shared promises and the signing of a beautiful wedding certificate -a keepsake from their special day.

The couple chose friends to sing during the ceremony, accompanied by a string quartet. They walked down the aisle together, preceded by their bridesmaids and both sets of parents. Their entrance to Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion’s ‘The Prayer’ allowed them to fully savour the moment as they made their way down the aisle.

The string quartet also played during the signing of their ‘ceremony certificate,’ a perfect opportunity to gather their witnesses; pose for professional photographs, and allow guests to capture their own pictures. This provided a natural pause—an opportunity for everyone to take a breath (or sneak a quick trip to the loo!) - before the second half of the ceremony.

Both John and Andrew had lost loved ones whom they wanted remembering in a simple but effective way. So this is exactly what I did. Sometimes, the most powerful tribute is taking a moment to ask guests to hold the memories of loved ones close in their hearts and minds—a gesture that feels both respectful and impactful without detracting from the joy of the day.

Given their close family ties, John and Andrew invited three family members—representing both sides—to share readings at different points in the ceremony. John’s sister brought the ceremony to a poignant close by reciting The Gift of Love (1 Corinthians 13 NRSV) as a nod to John’s Catholic background, leaving hardly a dry eye in the room.

A particularly fun and unexpected moment came when we asked guests to search for the grooms’ wedding rings! Unbeknownst to them, I had hidden the rings under two chairs belonging to unsuspecting guests (handpicked by Andrew, who knew they could handle the surprise!). The moment was captured beautifully by the photographer, Dale Turner Photography—I absolutely love this picture.

A Fun-Filled Celebrant Ceremony

For me, the real key to unlocking the magic of this effervescent, gorgeous couple and their undeniably special love story was through humour—their moments of comedy gold. Even their wedding vows, which moved everyone to tears with their sincerity, weren’t without a giggle or two. Of course, you never quite know how jokes will land on the day, but I needn’t have worried. The room was filled with laughter. John and Andrew’s friends and family were incredible, from John’s father’s perfectly timed quips to the rousing waves of applause at key moments. The emotion in the room flowed freely and openly. It was a truly intimate and unforgettable experience—a real moment in time.

It was an absolute joy to work with John and Andrew. Their relaxed, carefree attitude was infectious, putting everyone around them at ease and allowing their guests to be easily swept up in the emotion of the day.

I’ll leave you with a few more pictures that capture the essence of their wedding ceremony perfectly—love and laughter, intimacy, and deep joy!

For more information on how I can curate your dream wedding ceremony, please do get in touch. I offer a no-obligation discovery call where we can get to know each other a little better and you can tell me all about your visions for your celebrant ceremony.
I’m based in West Yorkshire but happily travel across Yorkshire and beyond.

Michelle