Fantasy Wedding in a Mason’s Lodge
A full wedding day at Old Oakhamian Lodge with Jade and Joe started in two very different rooms, both equally full of personality.
Joe was getting ready surrounded by a group of close friends who could only be described as gloriously nerdy. Anime rings were being passed around, meme compilations played in the background, and there was a relaxed, slightly chaotic energy that felt very true to them. It was the kind of morning where laughter did most of the talking and nerves were kept firmly at bay.
Elsewhere, Jade was getting ready with her bridesmaids and family close by. The room was calm, affectionate and full of quiet moments between people who clearly meant a lot to her. There was a real sense of excitement building.
Her arrival at the Old Oakhamian Lodge Wedding in a vintage car was worth the wait. Guests had already taken their seats when the ceremony truly announced itself, starting not with tradition but with theatre. The groomsmen entered wielding swords from Lord of the Rings, set perfectly to the score, setting the tone immediately. A few very sweet flower girls followed before Jade finally made her way down the aisle.
The ceremony itself didn’t take long to become something entirely its own. There were cheers from the groomsmen at unexpected moments, laughter rippling through the room, and to finish, an owl appeared and flew down the aisle. It was one of those scenes where everyone looked around to check they hadn’t imagined it.
Jade and Joe shared a quiet drink together away from the noise — a private Coke mixer moment before rejoining their guests — and afterwards we moved straight into group photographs. These were anything but standard, with anime poses mixed in among the more traditional combinations.
Later, we headed out for a woodland walk nearby for portraits. It was unhurried and conversational, wandering through the trees that held personal meaning for them both. These moments felt particularly reflective, a pause in the day where they could just be themselves before the evening gathered pace.
The attention to detail throughout the wedding was unmistakably theirs. Table dressings included D20 dice from Dungeons & Dragons, character sheets, and a casino experience before the wedding breakfast. Speeches followed, with Jade’s dad speaking first, then Joe’s brother, and finally Jade herself, doing things a little differently but very much in keeping with the day.
As evening arrived, the dancefloor filled under colourful star projections from the DJ, lighting the space beautifully for their first dance. It was a relaxed, joyful end to a wedding that never once tried to be anything other than what it was.
I left them as the celebrations continued, surrounded by friends, family, games, and a lifetime of shared references still to come.