The film will play without sound, to listen and it's worth it.. unmute
SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO STOP
AND GO WHERE YOUR HEART TAKES YOU....
North East Wedding Planners are industry leaders designing weddings with originality and rebellious creativity. We specialise in creating elegant and understated, natural and refined, luxurious and opulent, but in no way cliché wedding designs for the modern-day couple.
Whether it’s a marquee in a private residence or an exclusive luxury estate, we focus on producing an elevated guest experience; creating atmosphere and ambience. Our celebrations feel intimate, no matter the size, and through collaborations with leading international industry creatives, our weddings are thoughtfully planned, carefully considered and executed with experience.
We've curated an impressive portfolio of extraordinary celebrations. Our online portfolio features a select few of our real weddings, demonstrating the scale and sophistication of our celebration. For those seeking a more exclusive glimpse into our work, we maintain an offline portfolio of our more opulent affairs.
Consciously Created Celebrations
Collaboration is Key to our creative ethos
The word “luxury” is used a lot in the wedding industry and it has different connotations for different couples. For us, luxury doesn’t simply mean opulence or grandeur, it means quality. Our services extend beyond the simplicity of pulling a 'Party' together; our clients want a beautiful, well-thought-through design, military precision logistics, clear and concise communication, and the industry's finest talents collaborating to create a wedding masterpiece.
Creativity and transparent communication is the basis of everything we do. Our focus when planning a wedding celebration is to produce an immersive and elevated guest experience, taking them on a beautiful journey step by step – starting with the excitement of their invitation arriving, the easy online RSVP website, to what the guests will hear, see, smell, touch and taste. Everything we create in the background is curated to elevate the whole wedding experience.
We are hugely influenced by interior design, architecture, travel, music and the wild outdoors. We don’t follow trends and fundamentally, conceptualise our client's own style; We are planners who listen, care and simply want to transform your vision into reality, smoothly, and stress-free.
Military bride & groom, old landrover wedding car. Cimbrian wedding celebrated at home, with luxury marquee and Donna Hartley-Redfearn North East Wedding Planner
Large military luxury wedding at Carlise Cathedral, followed by canape and champagne reception at home in Brampton on the family estate. Designed and created by North East Wedding Planner. Georgina Harrison Photographer Catering Boldon Farmhouse Pantry
Modern wedding held at Carlise Cathedral with canape and champagne reception on the Brampton Estate in Cumbria. Donna Hartley-Redfearn - North East Wedding Planner. Cumbrian Military Wedding
EXECUTED WITH EXPERIENCE
Excellent customer service is designed, nurtured and consciously created
We appreciate securing the services of a wedding planner may be an investment. You are trusting that person to interpret your vision, and meticulously and expertly deliver your wedding day, the decision on whom you appoint has to be right. We only work with an intimate number of clients each year so we can fully immerse ourselves in every wedding. We give you the time you need and deserve. We are honoured to produce such an important milestone in your lives together and with over two decades of designing for clients located globally, we bring a strong ethos of an incomparable experience, unparalleled depth of industry knowledge and calm reassurance to couples looking to celebrate a little differently..
We have designed and co-ordinated beautiful weddings at the following prestigious venues alongside clients private estates, farms and exclusive venues. We are well-versed in navigating NDAs and secured media restrictions.
St Andrews | Glen Eagles | Mulgrave Castle & Estate | Lambton Castle & Estate
Bamburgh Castle & Pavilion & village | Durham Cathedral & Castle | Calally Castle
Stonechester Racing Stables | The Hilton New York | The Savoy
Alnwick Castle & Gardens & Treehouse | Brancepeth Castle | Burnhopside Hall
Yorkshire Wedding Barn | Fusco Whitby Estate | Hornington Manor
Hexham Winter Gardens | Tynemouth Priory | Kielder Water
Hill of Tarvit | Preston Towers | Summer Hill Bowling Club
Donna is the epitome of refined excellence and Experience, she is the best-kept secret within the wedding industry. With exquisite taste and an elite network of global artisans, Donna elevates every celebration to an art form, setting a new standard in modern weddings.
Tatler
DESIGNED WITH INTENTION
ELOQUENT, EFFICIENT, EXECUTED WITH TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE
Every element of our service is meticulously tailored to each couple we work with. Every wedding is unique, as are the requirements that come with it. Our step-by-step guide serves as a snapshot of our collaborative approach, offering a glimpse into how we bring your vision to life. Let us help you create an unforgettable celebration that reflects your love story.
ONE | DESIGN
The starting point for our planning process is to create the celebration story; interpret your vision and create a design that is distinctive to you. Following a detailed planning meeting, where we talk through the whole wedding, we produce an overview and mood board for each stage of the celebration. This enables us to form the foundation for our planning. It provides us with a clear understanding from the start, enabling us to source incredible products and build the skilled team that will transform our ideas into reality.
THREE | PLANNING
Throughout the entire process we will work closely with you and on your behalf; attentively planning, sourcing and managing behind the scenes. We don’t over complicate this element because we know you don’t have time for that. Our thorough processes ensure financial management, logistics, scheduling, supplier communication and site visits are all handled efficiently without you having to get tied up in too many details. Creating our comprehensive “event report” will ensure each and every detail, movement and timing is considered in advance of your big day.
TWO | SUPPLIERS
Creating the right team from the beginning is vital. We are dedicated to recommending only the top suppliers who align perfectly with your needs. Our aim is to assemble a unified team that collaborates, supports each other, and delivers a wedding experience characterised by exceptional customer service and high-quality products. We have create a network of globally trustworthy and experienced suppliers, we guarantee a smooth planning process and an unforgettable event for your guests.
FOUR | EXECUTION
Celebration management is the decisive final step in our planning process. Whether you opt for our Wedding Management or On The Day Coordination, we craft a bespoke execution plan tailored to your unique celebration. We expertly oversee marquee setup, production load-in, floral installation, and de-rigging. On day itself, we confidently represent you, greeting suppliers, welcoming guests, managing the event flow, and ensuring everything runs seamlessly until the very end of the night.
'we've never planned a wedding before' is how we started our conversation.... donna replied
'It's ok I have' Her wicked sense of humour and wedding wizardry is what sets her apart.
Eleanor
A Blend of Harry Potter & Royals
RECOGNITION AND OPPORTUNITIES
We let our work speak for itself, yet we are deeply honoured by the recognition and opportunities we’ve received. From creating extraordinary celebrations for our couples to being the only independent planning team entrusted to design and host a wedding on Harry Potter’s iconic Quidditch lawn, our journey has been nothing short of remarkable. This honour, along with over fifty international wedding awards, reinforces our commitment to crafting one-of-a-kind experiences for each couple.
Donna Hartley-Redfearn, a celebrated force in the industry, was named Female Entrepreneur of the Year five times consecutively (2020-2024). Donna’s expertise extends beyond planning; she’s a trusted voice in wedding media, representing the Northeast BBC team to report on Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal wedding in 2011, and regularly taking the hot desk as the wedding specialist on BBC, Heart, and Metro Radio FM.
Donna’s insight and dedication have brought North East Wedding Planner couples weddings into the spotlight, with features in lifestyle and bridal publications both in the UK and internationally. It’s been a privilege to see our couples' stories shared across inspiring platforms such as Tatler, Love My Dress, Rock n Roll Bride, and Whimsical Wedding, alongside guest contributions for The Sunday Times, New York Times, BRIDE, Belle Bridal, Unveiled, and North East Wedding Magazine.
As seen in
ROCK N ROLL BRIDE | WHIMSICAL WEDDINGS | UNCONVENTIONAL WEDDINGS | OFFBEAT BRIDE
STYLE ME PRETTY | GAY WEDDING BLOG | LOVE MY DRESS | ROCK MY WEDDING | PRETTY & PUNK
TATLER | THE TIMES | SUNDAY TIMES | CHANNEL 4 | BBC
In the words of Tina Turner,
Donna is 'Simply the best'
Natalie
Hello
I create effortlessly cool, one-of-a-kind weddings that ooze style and individuality.
Hi, I'm Donna, the founder and lead planner behind North East Wedding Planners.
If you're seeking a relaxed, expertly executed one-of-a-kind wedding filled with delicious food, live music, and an unforgettable atmosphere, you’ve come to the right place.
My approach is intuitive and grounded in experience. I’m passionate about crafting genuine wedding celebrations that showcase the couple's personality, humour, and lifestyle. With a hands-on attitude, I can always be found in my hunter wellies, with a cup of tea in hand and my phone not too far away!
My background is unique, especially within the wedding industry; I spent many years in the corporate and high-profile event world, gaining valuable experience before transitioning to senior project management and logistic roles for both the Government and the private sector. I love a challenge, and these days it's often related to navigating heavy-duty equipment down narrow wild country lanes.
I'm often asked, who my clients are, that's an easy one to answer, dynamic professionals dedicated to climbing the career ladder, CEO's and many come from English aristocracy families. They embody a love for travel, fine dining, and music whilst possessing a keen eye for detail and quality. Over 70% are located overseas, however, they share a common vision of hosting their wedding at home in beautiful England.
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Our wedding was a dream come true, thanks to Donna's exceptional planning skills. Despite the challenge of coordinating between London and Cape Town, her communication was flawless throughout the process. Donna's eye for design created a perfect blend of antique charm and modern sophistication
Her ability to curate top-notch suppliers and execute a complex ten-day wedding build was truly remarkable. The result was a celebration that seamlessly bridged two continents and exceeded our wildest expectations.
Leah
CONTACT THE TEAM
THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A COOKIE CUTTER.....
We believe that every wedding deserves a completely bespoke planning experience.
So if you would like to have a chat please pop your details below and we will get right back to you.
I'll start this review off with a simple statement: If you are getting married and you're not sure A) if you need a planner and B) who you should be working with....
The answer is A) yes, you need one and B), 100%, without question...
Donna Hartley-Redfearn, North East Wedding Planners.
“We had an amazing wedding weekend, the last few hours are a bit of a blur, as expected, but I know we had a blast. Donna, we really can’t emphasise how immensely grateful we are for everything you did for us. You made the planning process so easy, alerted us to things we’d never have even considered and took care of everything.
Our guests at our next-day brunch commented on how the whole weekend ran so smoothly and your team is super-efficient, ever so helpful and friendly.
Can we do it all again
Cara x
Insta-Weddings!
