The Oakwood at Ryther LGBTQIA+ Wedding

Laura & Rachel's day at The Oakwood at Ryther was all about love and equality. The couple got ready together and separated to get dressed, then they had such an emotional first look! Both brides walked down the aisle with their fathers and both said their own personal vows. There wasn't a dry eye in the house! The afternoon was spent in the sun-drenched courtyard soaking it all in and posing for some amazing golden hours portraits by Recommended supplier, Abbie Sizer Photography. The couple chose Recommended supplier, The Wedding Shop, for their gift list and had a fun guest book from Recommended supplier, Audio Guest Book.

The Oakwood at Ryther LGBTQIA+ wedding

It’s cliche but try to remember, when making decisions, that this day is about you. Your guests will have a wonderful time being part of your day if it reflects you as a couple, so don’t feel pressured to do things in a specific way just because it’s tradition. Especially for LGBTQIA+ couples, remember there are no fixed traditions or expectations for us, so enjoy that freedom and plan your wedding to bring you and your partner the greatest happiness on your special day.

Laura & Rachel

Father of the bride in three piece grey suit walking down the aisle with the bride in a lace wedding dress at The Oakwood at Ryther

Bride in off the shoulder lace wedding dress walking down the aisle decorated with white pillar candles with her father in a grey suit

Bride in lace wedding dress walking down a candlelit aisle for the same sex wedding

LGBTQIA+ wedding with the two brides in stunning lace wedding dresses embracing for a private first look moment

Purple and white wedding bouquet with roses and foliage to match the wedding venue's flowers

Handdrawn wedding stationery with an image of The Oakwood at Ryther wedding venue and wedding rings

Brides wearing pretty floral lace wedding dresses share a kiss holding matching purple ad white bouquets tied with pink ribbon

Diamond silver wedding band with plain silver wedding band for two brides

The two brides stand facing one another for their civil ceremony at The Oakwood at Ryther

The Oakwood at Ryther wedding venue decorated with fairy lights and soft candlelight

Bride in delicate off the shoulder sweetheart lace wedding dress walking in with the father of the bride in a grey wedding suit

Brides stand holding hands for their wedding ceremony in front of column of fairy lights lighting up the cosy barn

Same sex wedding with the two brides wearing gorgeous lace wedding dresses in front of fairy light altar decor

Father of the bride in grey three piece suit with floral tie walks in to see the bride in her gown for the first time carrying a gift bag

The two brides exit their ceremony to colourful confetti to celebrate the wedding

LGBTQIA+ wedding with the two brides holding hands and smiling with silver hair accessories and lace wedding dresses

The Oakwood at Ryther

Laura & Rachel envisioned a relaxed and romantic, botanical vibe for their day. The couple chose The Oakwood at Ryther as the backdrop for their day! They styled the venue by themselves using hundreds of candles and real potted plants. Laura & Rachel used lots of fragrant plants such as lavender and rosemary, which the guests actually got to take home at the end of the evening! The Oakwood at Ryther has beautifully planted white and purple flowers around the venue, which the florist mirrored beautifully with the bouquets. Everything ties together so well! Both Laura & Rachel's lace wedding dresses even carry the romantic, botanical theme perfectly!

Wedding Traditions

The Oakwood at Ryther wedding was traditional in many ways but in others, it was totally unique to the couple. Laura & Rachel included traditions that they liked, such as their Dad’s walking them down the aisle. Those traditions they didn’t like reimagined! For example, Laura & Rachel chose to get ready together in the morning and had a Thai feast for the wedding breakfast! Once their hair and makeup were done, the couple separated to get dressed and have finishing touches added to their bridal looks. Then, they did a private first look! It took away a lot of nerves and the couple were so glad they built this into the morning, it was a very emotional moment!

Two brides smile up at one of the father of the brides as he reads out his wedding speech

Two brides holding hands both wearing lace bridal gowns with silver hair accessories in for the barn wedding

The bride in an off the shoulder wedding gown dances with the wedding guests at the wedding reception

Potted plants of rosemary and lavender with a wooden table number sign along with white taper candles in black candleholder with smaller tea lights and pillar candles

The brides beam brightly at the father of the bride performing his wedding speech

The Oakwood at Ryther barn wedding with the two brides posing out at golden hour for their couple portraits

The bride in an off the shoulder wedding dress reads out her bridal speech at the wedding breakfast

LGBTQIA+ The Oakwood at Ryther wedding venue with two brides wearing lace wedding dresses

The wedding party with bridesmaids in green bridesmaid dresses, or green suits and bridesman in grey suit

A little girl leaves a message for the happy couple on the audio guest book by Audio Guest Book

Romantic same sex wedding at The Oakwood at Ryther with the two brides sharing an embrace in lace wedding gowns

Wedding table setting with black plates, white napkins, crystal slice place names, and thank you charity donation wedding favours

A wooden tray of shots with slices of fruit for the wedding guests on the tables with potted plants of lavender and rosemary with candles

Everyone looks better at golden hour, so having some golden hour portraits is a must!

When your photographer tells you to go have some golden hour photos done - go with them! Abbie & Lee stole us away from our guests just after the speeches had ended and took us into a grass meadow to take some golden hour pictures. We were so relaxed by this point; the photos they captured are incredible! The evening summer sun and our ‘just married’ joy, along with our photographers’ creativity produced absolute magic and we cannot get enough of the pictures!

Laura & Rachel

Loving Laura & Rachel's The Oakwood at Ryther wedding? Then here's plenty more LGBTQIA+ wedding inspiration to get you in the feels. The cosy fairy lights at this couple's ceremony really set the mood! Don't underestimate the importance of good ambience at your wedding! Here is our wedding lighting inspiration and our wedding reception playlist!