Hope & Craig’s Wedding at Larkspur Lodge

All images credit: Vanessa Bryson Photography

On Friday 13th June 2025, we were delighted to welcome Hope and Craig to Larkspur Lodge to celebrate their wedding day with family and friends. Their celebration began with a beautiful church ceremony before returning to the Lodge for a reception filled with laughter, music and delicious food.

With sunshine in the Cheshire countryside, a lively dancefloor and plenty of personal touches, their big day was a wonderful example of how couples can make our Knutsford wedding venue completely their own.

A morning of quiet anticipation

The day began early at Larkspur Lodge, where Hope arrived at The Loft, our dedicated prep room, to get ready. Throughout the morning, we saw the room gradually fill with excitement as hair, makeup and final preparations unfolded. There’s always something special about these early hours at Larkspur Lodge, when the venue is still quiet and the anticipation of the day ahead begins to build.

Meanwhile, Craig prepared at home in Congleton before making his way to St John’s Church in Toft, where the ceremony would take place. Friends and family gathered there to witness the start of Hope and Craig’s marriage, creating a meaningful beginning to the celebrations before everyone returned to Larkspur Lodge.

Returning to the Lodge

After the church ceremony, guests made their way back to Larkspur Lodge, where arrival drinks were served and the celebrations continued. 

Our bar and lounge often becomes the social heart of the day during this part of the celebrations, and for Hope and Craig it was no different. Conversations flowed easily while Vanessa Bryson, their photographer, captured the early moments of the reception.

Outside, the gardens provided the perfect setting for photographs, where the pair had their couple portraits and family pictures captured.

The room reveal

While guests enjoyed drinks and conversation, the Lodge Room was being prepared for the wedding breakfast. This moment of anticipation makes the room reveal particularly special.

When the doors opened later in the afternoon, guests were invited to take their seats. The space was set with a long top table for the newlyweds and round tables for their guests, all dressed with white linens. Hope and Craig had chosen to provide their own centrepieces, adding personal touches that reflected their style and vision for the celebration.

Once everyone was seated, we announced Hope and Craig’s entrance as the new Mr and Mrs. As they entered the room, guests waved their napkins in the air in celebration, filling the Lodge with cheers and applause.

Speeches and a delicious wedding breakfast

Before the meal was served, guests enjoyed a series of speeches that brought both laughter and emotion to the room. Hope’s brother and mum spoke first, sharing stories and memories that reflected just how much she means to those closest to her. The best man followed, before Craig brought the speeches to a close. It was a lovely moment of reflection before the celebrations continued with the wedding breakfast.

Fork & Field then began serving a delicious three-course meal, featuring starters of melted Camembert with honey glaze and chutney, followed by slow cooked beef with horseradish creamed potato and red wine jus. Dessert was a honeycomb cheesecake finished with caramel and honey, a perfect sweet ending to the meal.

With music playing from the couple’s own playlist and wine served with the meal, the room had a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere as everyone enjoyed their food together.

A singing surprise

Just when guests thought the afternoon was settling into a calm rhythm, Hope and Craig had one more surprise planned.

The singing waiters made their appearance shortly after dessert, transforming the room with an unexpected burst of music and energy. What began as a playful moment quickly turned into a lively performance, with guests clapping along and joining in the fun.

It was one of those wonderful surprises that instantly lifted the atmosphere, and it proved to be a real highlight of the afternoon.

Evening celebrations begin

Following the performance, we invited guests back into the bar area while our team prepared the Lodge Room for the evening reception. This short transition allows the space to be reset for dancing and evening entertainment.

As evening guests arrived, the celebration quickly took on a lively party atmosphere. Hope and Craig cut their wedding cake later in the evening, a lovely moment shared with friends and family to begin the evening celebrations.

Music, dancing and a fantastic party

Hope and Craig chose live music from The Light Men, whose performance filled the dancefloor and set the tone for a brilliant evening party. Their guests were more than ready to celebrate, and the energy in the room quickly built as the band played through their sets.

Later in the evening, Fork and Field served evening food from our iconic fire engine, offering freshly prepared sourdough pizzas including margherita, spicy pepperoni and shredded chicken with pesto.

With music, dancing and great food, the party continued well into the night. It was the kind of joyful celebration that perfectly reflects the spirit of weddings at Larkspur Lodge.

A wonderful day to remember

As the evening drew to a close and taxis arrived, Hope and Craig’s wedding came to a close. From their church ceremony earlier in the day to the lively celebrations that followed at the Lodge, every moment reflected the warmth and personality of the couple and the people around them.

It was a pleasure for our team to host Hope and Craig’s celebration here at Larkspur Lodge, guiding the day as it unfolded and helping to create a wedding that felt relaxed, fun and completely personal.

Planning your Larkspur Lodge wedding?

If Hope and Craig’s wedding has inspired you, we would love to help you plan your own celebration at Larkspur Lodge. From church weddings followed by receptions at the Lodge to full-day celebrations in our beautiful venue, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Download our brochure or contact us to arrange a viewing and discover everything our Cheshire wedding venue has to offer.