CUMBRIA played host to a very special wedding celebration when a couple from the Netherlands - with a shared passion for Herdwick sheep - chose the Lake District as the perfect place to celebrate their marriage.

Klaas and Paula Sassen, who live in Ouddorp, a village in the Netherlands, first met each other when Paula purchased a bottle-fed lamb from Klaas. This chance encounter sparked a friendship that blossomed into love, all thanks to their mutual enthusiasm for Herdwick sheep.

(Image: Yew Tree Farm) Klaas, an engineer, and Paula, a teacher, had hoped to marry at Yew Tree Farm in Coniston, a historic farm once owned by Beatrix Potter and instrumental in preserving the Herdwick sheep.

However, they didn’t have enough time to arrange the necessary paperwork so after tying the knot at the registry office in Kendal they had their wedding celebration at Yew Tree Farm surrounded by their beloved Herdwick sheep.  

"Yew Tree Farm was the perfect place for us to celebrate our wedding,” said Paula. “The history, the sheep, and the breathtaking scenery made everything feel so meaningful and magical.

“A real highlight of our day was sipping champagne surrounded by the very sheep that had brought us together."

Jo McGrath – who runs Yew Tree Farm with husband Jon Watson - captured the day’s magic by taking photos of the happy couple.

“It was a really exciting day and the weather was on our side too,” said Jo. “We were delighted to help Paula and Klaas celebrate with their two guests, who enjoyed an afternoon tea and a champagne toast in the field with our wonderful sheep.”

(Image: Yew Tree Farm) Adding a special touch to their experience, the newlyweds were delighted to discover that the farmer - Jon - spoke a bit of Dutch, having once lived near their village in the Netherlands.

The couple’s connection to the Lake District goes beyond their love for Herdwicks. "It felt like we were celebrating our love right at the source of what brought us together," Klaas added.  

“Our day was absolutely perfect - just us, surrounded by the Herdwicks we love, at a place with so much meaning. The whole experience felt like a dream come true, and we couldn’t have asked for a more memorable way to start our married life!”  

The couple hope to return to the Lake District in the future to celebrate their anniversary.

For more information about weddings at Yew Tree Farm or to learn more about the farm’s history and Herdwick sheep, contact  ytfweddings@yahoo.com for more details or go to https://yewtree-farm.com/