Meet the Newlyweds

Names: Esmé and Mischa Hollens
Wedding Date: 21 June 2025
Venue: Main House at Middleton Lodge Estate, North Yorkshire, UK

Tell Us About the Vision for Your Big Day

Esmé: We always wanted our wedding to feel intimate and romantic, but with a fun twist. Our goal was to give our guests a day they’d remember while keeping it personal to us. It was all about creating a vibe that felt like us – full of laughter, love, and little personal touches throughout the day.

We also wanted to sprinkle in a touch of Tuscan charm, since we got engaged in Florence and were heading back to Tuscany for an 11-night honeymoon.

How Did You Choose Your Venue?

Mischa: We didn’t have a wedding planner, so we scoured Google and Instagram for inspiration ourselves. Ultimately, we created a list of “must-haves” and only visited venues that ticked most of the boxes.

On the day we visited Middleton Lodge Estate, the sun was shining and the venue instantly gave us all the feels. Heading home, we knew straight away it was our dream venue – and we booked it the very next day.

Describe Your Wedding Day

Esmé: We got married on one of the hottest days of the year. We had a mix of rain, cloud and sunshine – apparently, it’s good luck for it to rain on your wedding day!

The rain during our indoor ceremony created the most perfect, romantic backdrop for sharing our vows. Right afterwards, the sun made an appearance and we hosted a laid-back drinks reception on the lawns, with a bar stocked with Aperol Spritz and fruit arrangements for that Italian touch.

Our wedding breakfast was held in a gorgeous marquee, with banquet tables lined with florals and personalised stationery. Guests enjoyed a delicious three-course dinner alongside a playlist featuring some of our favourites, including Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke and Etta James.

Mischa: We also had a sax player perform on the lawns during cocktail hour to set the mood. After our first dance, he led us down into the cellar bar, performing live alongside a DJ to create the ultimate party atmosphere.

What Were Your Favourite Parts of the Day?

Mischa: Seeing everyone from all walks of our lives come together to celebrate us was incredible. The live DJ and sax sets in the evening were also epic.

Esmé: The ceremony was incredibly emotional, as was chatting with our guests during the drinks reception. And, of course, the late-night rave in the cellar was unforgettable!

How Did You Keep Your Guests Entertained?

Mischa: Music has always been a big part of our lives, so it made sense to make it central to the day.

A string quartet welcomed guests with classical music before switching to some of our favourite contemporary songs for the ceremony. During the drinks reception, they played a huge range of 80s and 90s hits, pop and indie favourites, and our guests had great fun recognising the songs.

Esmé: In the evening, a sax player took over for cocktail hour with chilled Ibiza-style tunes, before amping up the energy in the cellar alongside our DJ.

The mix of entertainment was incredible – it kept the party going from start to finish.

What Were Some of the Key Songs From Your Day?

Esmé: I walked down the aisle to Spring 1 by Vivaldi, recomposed by Max Richter, performed by our string quartet.

During the register signing, they played one of our favourites, Lovesong #43 by Guillemots. We walked back down the aisle together to God Only Knows by The Beach Boys, which is a song we always sing along to.

During our drinks reception, the quartet played songs by artists including The Cure, Stone Roses and The Cranberries.

Our first dance was Let’s Stay Together by Al Green, complete with confetti cannons at the climax. It was epic and definitely a highlight our guests are still talking about!

Did You Have a Budget, and How Did You Stay Within It?

Mischa: It’s so easy to get swept away with everything that’s available, and your budget can quickly get eaten up by things that weren’t initially important to you.

I created a gigantic spreadsheet to track our savings and spending, and we were really clear about our “must-haves” versus “nice-to-haves”.

For our must-haves, such as entertainment, we picked suppliers who guaranteed a top-notch experience. Once those were booked, anything left could go towards the fun extras – the nice-to-haves that made the day even more personal.

What Are Your Top Tips for Future Couples?

Esmé: Go with what feels right and personal to you, rather than simply following what’s trending on Pinterest. And don’t stress about things you can’t control. Leave it to the experts – they want your day to be incredible just as much as you do.

Even the weather! I had my heart set on an outdoor ceremony, but in the moment, all that mattered was that we were together.

Mischa: Focus on what really matters to you and invest in that. For us, it was all about our photographer, videographer and entertainment – and it was worth every penny.

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