Horsley Lodge Wedding | Melissa + Tyler - Rachael Phillips Photography

A couple poses outdoors on a grassy field. The bride holds a bouquet and wears a white dress, while the groom wears a gray suit and sits on a stone wall. The image has a blurred vignette effect around the edges.

A Magical Day at Horsley Lodge—Melissa + Tyler’s REAL Wedding Story

Some weddings are so full of love, laughter, and unforgettable moments that they leave a lasting impression. Melissa and Tyler’s wedding at Horsley Lodge in Derby was beautifully personal, full of meaningful details, and with a surprise moment that had everyone in happy tears!

From the very beginning, their wedding was designed to reflect them as a couple, from Disney-inspired touches to their fur baby Teddy playing a starring role. And let’s not forget the moment they revealed whether their little bundle of joy would be a boy or a girl; what a way to make their big day even more special!

Melissa and Tyler were married at the lovely Horsley Lodge last summer; read on to hear about their wedding day in their own words. This blog was put together with all the quotes and input from Melissa (the bride)

The Dress That Made Her Feel Like a Princess

Finding the dress was something Melissa was nervous about at first. But all it took was one clever bridal consultant and a surprise pick to find the one!

Elegant bridal gown hanging in hotel room

After trying on almost the whole store, the lady from the shop snuck in a dress I hadn’t chosen. The second I put it on, I felt like a princess, it made me feel so confident! But the real moment I knew it was my dress was when I walked out and saw my bridal party in tears, telling me how beautiful I looked.”

Choosing the Perfect Venue

Horsley Lodge was the ideal choice for so many reasons. Not only was it a stunning venue with gorgeous scenery, but it also held a special family connection.
We had celebrated my grandmother’s 70th birthday there before, so we already knew the staff were amazing! But what really sealed the deal was that they allowed our fur baby to attend the ceremony and stay for photos, it wouldn’t have been the same without him!”

Couple walking on path in scenic parkland.

Personal Touches & Disney Magic

Every wedding has those little details that make it uniquely you, and for Melissa and Tyler, that meant incorporating their love for Disney.
Our tables were named after Disney princesses and decorated to match the theme, and we even had Disney songs on our playlist. Walking down the aisle to Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid was such a special moment!
But the biggest surprise of the day? Their baby gender reveal!
Finding out we’re having a baby boy at our wedding was unforgettable. It made the day even more emotional and exciting!

Bride and groom with blue smoke celebrating wedding

Keeping Flowers Simple & Stress-Free

Not everyone is a fan of fresh flowers, and Melissa had a clever way of keeping things low-maintenance and budget-friendly.
I liked the idea of having flowers we could keep, so we went with artificial ones from SHEIN. We kept it simple—just a few on the tables and buttonholes to match the bridal party. Flowers don’t need to be expensive to look beautiful!

The First Dance

Their first dance song was always going to be ‘I Wanna Grow Old With You’ by Westlife. It wasn’t just a romantic choice, it had a deeper meaning.

Wedding couple posing with illuminated LOVE sign.

Tyler introduced me to the film Up, and the music video for this song included clips from the film. It was also one of the first concerts we went to together, so it’s always been our song.”

Favourite Photos & Special Memories

There wasn’t just one favourite photo, there were too many to choose from! But the ones that made their hearts melt the most?

Bride and groom embrace on stone bridge.

“Our baby gender reveal photo on the bridge was incredibly special. And of course, the photos of Teddy—he looked so smart and handsome!”

Man in suit holding small dog at wedding.

The day was packed with emotional moments, but one surprise stood out.

“One of my bridesmaids was in the hospital and couldn’t make the ceremony. But after the wedding breakfast, she surprised us all by turning up, it was such an emotional moment, and Rachael captured it perfectly!”

Bride embraces emotional woman at wedding.

Wedding Day Tips and Advice for Engaged Couples

Having just been through the planning process, Melissa has some golden nuggets of advice:

“Go to wedding fairs! They give you great ideas and help you discover what you really want.”

“Cherish every moment; the day will fly by!”

“Stay with your partner as much as possible; you’ll want to experience the day together.”

“Set up a separate email for all your wedding suppliers; it keeps everything organised.”

Bride and groom with their dog at wedding.

15 of Melissa’s favourite photos from the day

Small dog in suit on stone wall outdoors.

Bride and groom embracing in garden setting.

Bride and groom smiling at wedding table.

Bride in white dress holding bouquet outside

Bride and groom holding hands during ceremony

Bride and groom posing outdoors, holding flowers

Man in grey suit sitting on stone wall outdoors.

Wedding couple embraces by lake at sunset.

The Photographer Who Captured It All

Of course, I couldn’t write this blog without mentioning how much it meant to be part of this amazing day! Hearing these words from Melissa means everything:

“Everyone kept saying how amazing Rachael was—she never stopped taking photos, made sure everyone was okay, and worked so hard! We just knew our photos were going to be beautiful, and we couldn’t wait to see them. Everything felt so perfect; we just want to relive the whole day again!”
By Melissa

And honestly? So do I!

This was such a joy to photograph, and I’m so grateful I got to be part of it. Congratulations again to Melissa and Tyler—wishing you both (and your little boy, congratulations!) a lifetime of happiness!