Chelsee and Ryan’s ‘Simplistic Boho’ Relaxed and Meaningful Terracotta Leeds Wedding by Fabio Photography

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have had a good week and if you are in the UK I hope you have survived yet another heat wave! It sure is Hot! We are currently in the process of moving, half out stuff went yesterday and the big move date is Monday! So this weekend we will be finishing off the last bits of packing and giving the house a good old clean, all very exciting but also pretty stressful! To finish off the week I have this gorgeous Terracotta wedding from Yorkshire Wedding Photographer Fabio Photography. Chelsee and Ryan stated quite clearly ‘We are planning a marriage more than we are planning a wedding’ and what a wedding they planned. They went for a terracotta colour scheme which made the whole day, warm, layered and full of rustic touches. Their dog Otis also played a very integral part to the day, not only by being there but being present in a lot of the theming and decoration. A fabulous day fro a fabulous couple.

Our wedding was a celebration of love, laughter, and the joy of bringing together all the people who have shaped our story. Filled with natural light, meaningful details, and unforgettable moments, it was a day that felt effortlessly authentic—a reflection of who we are and the life we’re building together.

Chelsee and Ryan were married on 16th April 2026 at  Woodlands Hotel in Leeds. ‘We chose our wedding location because it felt like the perfect reflection of us as a couple. We wanted somewhere that was beautiful, welcoming, and practical for our guests, but most importantly, somewhere that felt special the moment we visited it. The setting created exactly the atmosphere we imagined for our day, and we could easily picture ourselves celebrating there with our family and friends. It combined everything we were looking for and made the decision feel effortless. Guest wise we had 46 day guests and 27 evening, so 73 in total. We planned our wedding in just under a year, which felt like quite an achievement given everything else that was going on! I’m a secondary school teacher, so much of the planning took place alongside the chaos of GCSE and A-level exam season, with all the marking and deadlines that come with it. To make things even busier, I was leading a ski trip to Italy the week before the wedding. Thankfully, I was incredibly lucky to have such a supportive husband-to-be, who was involved in every step of the planning process. It really was a team effort, and having someone to share the decisions, organisation, and excitement with made the whole experience so much more enjoyable. We were also fortunate to have an amazing venue team and photographer, who were incredibly supportive throughout the planning process. As first-time wedding planners, it was so helpful to have experienced professionals guiding us on what really needed our attention and what we didn’t need to stress about. Their advice helped us focus on the priorities, keep things in perspective, and enjoy the process rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.
Looking back, it was a busy year, but with the support around us, everything came together beautifully and made the day even more special. The motto I followed was ‘We are planning a marriage more than we are planning a wedding’.

How they met 
Me and Ryan met at college (16/17), right person wrong time as we both went our separate ways. I went to university whilst he joined the Army. He came back into my life after finding me on Facebook through a mutual friend when we were 22. We’ve been together for 8 years.

The proposal
Ryan proposed in 2019 in front of the breathtaking Gullfoss Waterfall in Iceland, making it a moment we’ll never forget. What’s even funnier looking back now is that in almost every photo from that day, you can clearly see the outline of the ring box in his pocket—something I was completely oblivious to at the time! Once he got down on one knee, everything suddenly made sense

How did you allocate your budget?
We were fortunate to have already built up some savings before we decided to get married, so we had a solid starting point when it came to budgeting for the wedding. My dad very kindly bought my dress, and Ryan picked up some overtime shifts to give us a little extra flexibility, but throughout the planning process we were determined not to spend beyond our means. We wanted to start married life together without the pressure of wedding debt hanging over us.

Once we’d secured and paid for the venue, we looked carefully at what we had left and prioritised the things that would make the biggest difference to our day. One of the best decisions we made was using part of the remaining budget to hire a stylist to decorate the venue for us. It took so much stress away in the lead-up to the wedding and meant we could relax and fully enjoy the day, knowing everything would be beautifully set up just as we had imagined.

Where did you splurge and where did you save?
We decided to splurge on the things that would have the biggest impact on the overall experience and the memories we’d take away from the day. Our venue was a top priority because it set the tone for the entire wedding, and we also invested in our photographer to ensure those special moments were captured beautifully. Décor was another area where we chose to spend a little more, as we wanted to make the most of the stunning spaces and create the relaxed, boho atmosphere we had envisioned.

On the other hand, we were happy to save money where we could. We kept the cake, jewellery, and wedding shoes relatively simple, knowing they weren’t the things that mattered most to us. I also took on a few DIY projects, making the bridesmaids’ bouquets and the groomsmen’s buttonholes myself. Not only did this help us stay within budget, but it also added a personal touch to the day that made it feel even more special.

The photographer
Choosing our photographer was actually one of the easiest decisions we made. We first came across him online and immediately loved his personality—there was a video of him being wonderfully sassy and full of character, and we instantly felt like he was someone we’d enjoy having around on our wedding day.
Once we looked through his portfolio, we were completely sold. We adored the soft, neutral tones and the beautiful beige, timeless feel of his photography style. His images felt natural, romantic, and effortlessly elegant, which perfectly matched the vision we had for our wedding. Finding someone whose personality and photography style both aligned with ours made it an easy “yes.”

The dress
My dress was a Madi Lane dress (Thane from the Ceres collection). Accessories, I only wore earrings from Lovisa, I didn’t over do the jewellery because the dress spoke for itself. Our rings were from Chapelle. Shoes I actually bought from Asos as the dress covered my feet so no one really looks at your toes.

The suit and bridesmaids
Ryan’s suit was from a place in Barnsley called Suite Bea. They tailored his suite to fit him perfectly and ensured he had the perfect tie to match our theme. The bridesmaid dresses were actually from Shein. I let the bridesmaids choose their own style so they felt comfortable for the day. This also added personality to the day.

Theme or colour scheme
Our wedding theme was boho, simplistic, and intimate, with a focus on creating a relaxed and meaningful atmosphere rather than anything overly formal or traditional. We chose a terracotta colour palette, which we absolutely loved—not only for its warm, earthy feel, but also because it reminds us of travelling and the places we’ve explored together abroad.
That sense of wanderlust and adventure subtly ran through the day, tying everything together in a way that felt personal to us. The tones, textures, and overall simplicity helped create a calm, natural setting where the focus stayed on the people, the emotions, and the experience itself. Our dog, Otis, being an apricot cockapoo, also felt like a sweet little coincidence that fit perfectly into the palette and made everything feel even more “us.”

Fowers
Amaretto Rose, Pampas Grass, Ivory Avalanche Rose, Dried Bunny Tails, Rose Garden Caffe Latte, Eucalyptus

Decoration 
Our decorations were all about creating a warm, boho, and intimate atmosphere with lots of natural textures and soft lighting. We used plenty of candles throughout the venue, paired with pampas grass to add height, movement, and that relaxed, earthy feel we love. To complement this, we chose a mix of different textured candle holders, which added depth and subtle detail to the tables without feeling overdone.
Instead of traditional table names, we decided to make it more personal by naming each table after a place we’ve been together. Each table also had a photo of us at that destination, which was such a lovely way to reflect our travels and share a bit of our story with our guests. It made the décor feel meaningful, personal, and completely unique to us.

Food 

• For canapes we had halloumi with chilli jam, prawn and cake cake.
• Stater: Tomato roasted pepper served with chunks of crispy grenary bread and butter
• Main course: Roast chicken served with Yorkshire pudding, roast and mashed potato, maple glazed carrots and red wine gravy.
• Pudding: Chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

Wedding cake
Our wedding cake was actually the naked tier cake from M&S costing £55. With the left over pampass grass, all I did was add a couple into the sides, a flower left over from my flower girls bouquet and a miniature ornament of a cockapoo looking like it’s eaten a chunk of the cake.

Entertainment
For entertainment, we had my best friends Donovan and Jacob put on a Bongo Bingo-style set, and they absolutely took their role to the next level. They fully committed to the atmosphere, making sure the music, bingo cards, and prizes were all brilliant and kept everyone laughing and involved.
We had some really fun and unexpected prizes, including a bubble gun machine, a huge cut-out of our dog Otis’s head, and even a t-shirt featuring a photo of Ryan and me riding a cannon from a previous wedding we attended. It was chaotic in the best possible way and added so much personality to the evening.
They also had a bit of help from our photographer, which helped everything run smoothly and kept the energy flowing as we moved from the wedding breakfast into the evening celebrations. It was the perfect way to transition the day into a party and made the whole evening feel relaxed, fun, and unforgettable.

Who supplied the stationery?
Our stationery was a real mix of personal DIY touches and professional styling, which worked perfectly for the look we wanted. I created quite a few of the details myself, including the napkins, wedding favours, confetti, and some of the printed pictures we used throughout the venue. It was really special being able to add those personal elements and see them come together on the day.
For the rest of the styling and stationery, we were supported by Izzy and Emily—the dream team from Ambience Venue Styling Manchester. They helped bring everything together so seamlessly and elevated the overall look in a way we couldn’t have achieved on our own. Having their expertise alongside our personal touches meant everything felt cohesive, beautifully styled, and completely “us.”

Where are you going on your honeymoon?
For our honeymoon, we’re heading to Crete. Our first holiday together was in Turkey, so we’ve always loved the Mediterranean vibe, and Crete felt like the perfect next chapter for us. It has that same warm, relaxed atmosphere we adore, but with even more to explore together.

Personal touches
I painted and personalised champagne flutes from my bridesmaids, MoB and MoG. I had wild flower seeds, ‘let the love grow’; to save the bees as our names are now Mr and Mrs Beasley. Our photos for the tables, bouquets and buttonholes. Most people have a guest book to write in, we had a frame to write on, we have now put a wedding picture in it and hung it in our house. We had a newspaper article made that include the menu, timings, a little about us and our story for the ceremony which was intimate. I also had made a picture for the underside of the ties for my father in law, dad, step dad, brother and Ryan.

Special moments 
There were so many special moments from the day that stand out, but a few really stay with us. I had first looks with the most important people in my life, which were such emotional and grounding moments before everything began. When I walked down the aisle, it looked like a perfectly intimate, heartfelt moment—but in reality I was trying not to laugh as I quickly picking tissue out from Ryan’s eye!
The Bongo Bingo was an absolute highlight of the evening and brought so much energy, laughter, and chaos in the best possible way. But my favourite moment of all was our first dance. In that moment, it truly felt like it was just the two of us in the room, completely present and soaking everything in. It was the perfect pause in an otherwise incredible, fast-moving day, and something we’ll never forget.

Advice for other couples
There’s so much advice I could give other couples, so I’ll try to narrow it down to what really mattered to us. Wedding planning can feel overwhelming and, at times, a little lonely—because ultimately, only you know exactly what you want your day to feel like. Trusting your own vision makes such a difference.

• One of the biggest things we learned is that nothing ever goes completely perfectly on the day, but honestly, you don’t notice or care in the moment. You’re so caught up in each other and the emotion of it all that the little things fade into the background.
• We also found it really helpful to stay together as much as possible on the day and to give clear jobs to our groomsmen and bridesmaids. Having trusted people take on those responsibilities meant we weren’t being pulled in different directions or constantly answering questions—we could just be present.
• And finally, a piece of advice that really stuck with us: you’re planning a marriage, not just a wedding. Focus on the people who genuinely matter to your life together. If you wouldn’t take someone out for a meal outside of the wedding, then it’s worth questioning whether they need a place on the guest list.

Biggest surprise
My biggest surprise of the day? Gosh that is a difficult one to answer because everything flowed so well from start to finish. My biggest surprise was Ryan crying when I met him at the bottom of the isle and I had to make sure there was no tissue in his eye. I really wasn’t expecting that from him as I teased him a lot on the run up.

Supplier Shout Outs

• Photography: www.fabiophotography.co.uk
• Venue: www.woodlandsleeds.com
• Decor & Flowers: www.ambiencevenuestyling.com
• Make up: www.makeupbyamyboole.co.uk
• Hair: Toni Louise 
• Dress: Jayne’s Bridal boutique
• Dress adjustments: Petit versailles lincoln 

Fabio Photography 

www.fabiophotography.co.uk  / www.fabiophotography.co.uk/blog / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM 

Fabio Photography is a Yorkshire wedding photographer who shines more with couples who are just up for as much fun on their wedding day as possible! With a relaxed approach to photography but still capturing those epic shots!