Rustic Botanical LGBTQ+ Wedding at Carr Bank Wedding Venue

Our Queer Love Stories: Sarah & Lucy

At Rebel Love Directory, we believe love deserves to be seen in all the ways it truly exists - messy, magical, and deeply personal. That’s why our Our Queer Love Stories series exists: to celebrate LGBTQ+ couples, spotlight the suppliers who help bring their days to life, and share the kind of representation our community deserves to see in wedding media.

This week, we’re sharing the story of Sarah (she/her) & Lucy (she/her), who met as teenagers during Covid, fell in love, and tied the knot on their five-year anniversary. Their day was beautifully captured by the talented Real Life by Robyn, who nominated them to feature in this series. From a proposal that didn’t go quite as planned to a wedding filled with rustic, botanical vibes and unforgettable dance floor energy, their story is one full of love, resilience, and joy.

Let's start at the beginning. How long have you been together and how did you meet?

We met online during Covid at 16 & 17 after going to the same school but never spoke to each other, we got married on our 5 year anniversary this year!

If your love story was a song or genre of music, what would it be and why?

We’re both big into our music and listen to a bit of everything - picking just one song feels impossible! If we had to choose we’d probably say our first dance, Baby I’m Yours by Arctic Monkeys. We’ve been through a lot together, and think this song just encapsulates our love for one another.

Can you paint us a picture of your proposal?

This one’s a long story, where a dream proposal on a beach in Rhodes got derailed and ended up with a 2 week stay in hospital. Despite the situation, we were there for each other every step of the journey to recovery, and Lucy couldn’t wait much longer to propose. The proposal ended up being in the pouring rain and a wheelchair, and she was so nervous she even forgot to ask the question ‘will you marry me?’ Sometimes things don’t always go to plan, but having each other was what mattered most.

Let's get on to the big day. Where did you get married?

Carr Bank Wedding Venue in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. We knew it was the one as soon as we saw it!

Was there an overall vibe you were going for?

Very rustic, floral, botanical.

Did you have any elements that were unique to your love story?

We love our music and had a vinyl record guest book - we got so many compliments on it and everyone said it felt just like us!

Tell us about the suppliers you chose

Though we didn’t find her through Rebel Love, we couldn’t recommend Robyn enough. We felt so comfortable the whole day with her, and are in love with the pictures!

Did you face any challenges when planning your wedding?

Not necessarily challenges, but we definitely struggled at a few wedding fayres, with either confusion of two brides, the forms always being ‘Bride and Groom’ or vendors not really knowing how to communicate with us. We are grateful for many of the lovely people we ended up meeting along the way, especially those we booked with.

If you could live one moment from your wedding on repeat, what would it be?

Just after our first dance, all of our family and friends joining us on the dance floor, screaming the songs and dancing with each other.

And finally, what advice would you give to LGBTQ+ couples currently planning their wedding?

Do it for you - not anyone else. There is no ‘right way’ to do things, and all that matters is celebrating your love!

Sarah and Lucy’s wedding shows us that sometimes the most meaningful moments come when plans don’t go as expected, and that the heart of any wedding is love, laughter, and community. From a rain-soaked, wheelchair proposal to a dance floor full of joy, their story is a reminder that queer love is beautiful, resilient, and worthy of celebration.

We’re so grateful to them - and to Real Life by Robyn, for sharing their day with us as part of Our Queer Love Stories.