Sheep-loving couple gets married surrounded by sheep

By Izzy Hawksworth

This loved up couple said "I d-ewe" on their wedding day - by spending it surrounded by sheep.

Paula Sassen met husband Klaas when she bought a bottle-fed lamb from him and the couple hit it off instantly.

They bonded over their love of Herdwick sheep, which is native to the Lake District.

The couple, in their forties, hoped to marry at Yew Tree Farm in Coniston, Cumbria, which was owned by Beatrix Potter and is known for breeding the breed of sheep.

But as they didn't have enough time to arrange the necessary paperwork, they tied the knot at a registry office in nearby Kendal.

And they had their wedding reception at the farm on August 7, surrounded by the adorable sheep, sipping champagne and posing for photos.

Paula, of Ouddorp in the Netherlands, said: "Yew Tree Farm was the perfect place for us to celebrate our wedding.

"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."

Paula, a teacher, and Klaas, an engineer, now hope to return to the Lake District in the future to celebrate their anniversary.

Klaas, an engineer, said: "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."

Jo McGrath, who runs Yew Tree Farm with husband Jon Watson, said Paula and Klass' wedding day was "really exciting."

She said: "It was a really exciting day and the weather was on our side too.

"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."