UK Castle Wedding: Felicia & Garrett’s Regal Riff Raff Celebration at Allerton Castle
A Transatlantic Love Story
When Felicia and Garrett first reached out to me about their UK castle wedding, I knew this was going to be something truly special. True to form for a LA couple, their love story had all the makings of a great indie film – social media meet-cute, a first date at Universal Studios, and a surprise rollercoaster proposal just before an 85-foot drop on the Jurassic Park ride.
When they decided to fly across the Atlantic to the UK to host their wedding gathering at the breathtaking Allerton Castle in Yorkshire, it was clear this would be a UK castle wedding like no other. The bride is a Hollywood Art Director and the Groom is a World Famous Skateboarder. Their pet cat is called Pyramid Scheme 😀
Felicia and Garrett wanted something that felt grand yet completely their own. As Felicia put it, their unofficial wedding theme was “Regal Riff Raff” – opulent but gritty, like if grunge grew up. They weren’t interested in a garden wedding or a sleek hotel ballroom. Instead, they wanted something dramatic, historic, and unapologetically bold.
Allerton Castle, with its towering gothic architecture and opulent interiors, was the perfect fit. And despite the grandeur, Felicia and Garrett were pleasantly surprised to find that hiring a castle in the UK was actually more affordable than the venues they’d considered in LA and New York.
Felicia said…
“We wanted something that felt uniquely us – nothing too traditional, but still grand.
Allerton Castle was everything we dreamed of, and more. Lisa captured every single moment with such character and edge – we were blown away by how the photos felt like a true reflection of our day, not just another wedding shoot. She’s worth every single penny.”
A Ceremony Fit for a Cinematic Love Story
This wedding was anything but traditional. Felicia walked down the aisle to the Jurassic Park theme played on the harp, a playful nod to their rollercoaster proposal. Their ring bearer? An owl, much to the delight (and slight shock) of their American guests. The day was full of moments like this—unexpected, theatrical, and infused with their unique personalities.
The Details: Edgy Elegance with a Touch of DIY
Despite flying across the world for their wedding, Felicia and Garrett made sure to add plenty of personal touches:
A DIY bride: Felicia designed their wedding invitations, sealing them with wax for a gothic romance feel. She also made her own bat hair clips, added a custom overskirt to her Milla Nova gown, and created Venus flytrap and man-eating flower arrangements.
A Ghostbusters getaway car: They left the castle in the Ecto-1, the iconic car from Ghostbusters, proving that even the most sophisticated settings could handle a little nostalgia-fueled fun.
Floral confetti & no phones: Guests showered them in biodegradable floral confetti, and they enforced a strict no-phone policy for the ceremony, ensuring that everyone was truly present in the moment.
A UK Castle Wedding That Felt Just Right
What made this wedding so magical was that it was completely them. There was no strict theme or Pinterest-perfect vision – just an incredible castle, a group of their closest people, and a series of unforgettable moments stitched together like the best kind of indie romance film.
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Felicia and Garrett’s wedding at Allerton Castle was a masterclass in making a wedding truly personal. They didn’t feel the need to fit into a rigid theme or follow tradition for the sake of it. Instead, they filled the day with details that reflected who they are – from Felicia’s hand-crafted carnivorous flower arrangements to the leopard print in the lace of her wedding dress, to the Ghostbusters Ecto-1 as their getaway car.
Their creativity brought so many unexpected delights, and every choice felt intentional. Felicia’s Hollywood starlet look,paired with Garrett’s bespoke gold suit from their friend, celebrity tailor Joshua Kane, brought full movie-star glamour to a gothic Yorkshire castle. When we spoke about the owl ring-bearer they assumed I had photographed this many times as ‘every UK castle wedding has one, right?’
It felt like the perfect, slightly rebellious, and completely unforgettable wedding that was truly theirs. If you are planning your own UK Castle Wedding and feel ready to talk about your wedding photography, I’m all ears. Drop me a note about what you have planned.
