Weddings are about celebrating who you are, and Erica and Mark’s day at Whitley Hall was unapologetically them—fun, unique, and packed with laughter from start to finish.
The ceremony kicked off with a twist. Instead of flower petals or traditional confetti, Erica’s bridesmen/maids marched up and down the aisle armed with bubble guns. Yep, bubbles everywhere—floating through the air, catching the light, and making for some cracking photos. It set the tone perfectly: this was going to be a wedding like no other.
Now, if you know Erica, you know she’s a die-hard Star Wars fan. So when I say her bouquet wasn’t your average floral arrangement, I mean it. She spent hours crafting it herself, combining artificial flowers with one hell of a centrepiece—a lightsaber hilt she had knocking about at home. Let me tell you, seeing Erica holding that bouquet with the biggest grin on her face made it all worth it.
The fun didn’t stop there. Erica and Mark took the idea of cutting the cake and flipped it on its head. Why use a knife when you can use a sword? Not just any sword, though—a replica of Aragorn’s blade from The Lord of the Rings. One of their friends brought it along for the day, and the couple sliced through the cake like true nerd royalty. Then came the twist: their friend gifted them the sword as a wedding present. You can imagine the shock and sheer excitement—Mark and Erica’s faces lit up like kids at Christmas.
Whitley Hall’s stunning grounds gave us plenty of options for portraits. The place has this old-school charm that makes every shot feel a bit magical, especially when you’ve got a couple as easy going as these two. We wandered around, snapping away, and the laughs just kept coming. They didn’t take themselves too seriously, which is always a photographer’s dream.
From the bubble-filled ceremony to the lightsaber bouquet and sword-wielding cake moment, Erica and Mark’s wedding was a celebration of individuality. It was nerdy in the best possible way, but more importantly, it was them—authentic and full of life.
Erica and Mark, thank you for letting me share in your fun wedding. May your future together be as epic as the stories and fandoms you love. Wishing you a lifetime of love, laughter, and lightsaber battles.
Erica's Supplier Shoutout:
Wedding Dress - It's Bliss Bridal Wear
Wedding Cape - KimAlphaBridal
Wedding Cake - Groom's Mum
Florist - Erica
Light Saber Bouquet - Erica
Mark Tierney is a Yorkshire based Contemporary Wedding Photographer covering the UK and beyond.