Real wedding · Spring
Isla and Paul married in May, on one of those bright spring days when the whole estate is in fresh leaf. Isla didn’t arrive by car. She rode down from the Farmhouse on her horse, Duck, with her guests waiting on the terrace to see her in.
An entrance on horseback
Isla and her bridesmaids stayed in the Farmhouse for two nights and got ready there on the morning, while Paul got ready at home. Just before one o’clock, our team asked everyone out onto the bar terrace. Then Isla came down the drive on Duck, bouquet in hand.
Paul stayed inside in the oval room the whole time, so the first time he saw Isla was when she walked down the aisle.
Rainbow flowers in the oval room
The ceremony was at half past one. Isla and Paul brought their own hoop arch for the oval window, and Cathleen’s Flowers came in from nine that morning to dress it in every colour they could find. Our log stumps, slices and glass cylinders lined the aisle, each with its own little cluster of flowers.
Ryan Smith was their host for the whole day. He played them in for the ceremony and looked after the music right through to the last dance.
Aperol in the sunshine
After the confetti on the terrace, it was drinks on the lawn: Aperol spritz, Peroni and Prosecco, with nibbles the couple had brought along themselves. With the sun out and the trees in blossom, nobody was in a hurry to come inside.
Fairy Bridge and Pendle Hill
Mark took Isla and Paul down to Fairy Bridge by the stream. Later, as the sun went down, he took them out into the meadow, with yellow flowers at their feet and Pendle Hill on the horizon.
Speeches, then dinner under a sunset glow
The speeches came first, so everyone could relax over the meal. Cheek & Tongue cooked the wedding breakfast, served on rustic tables: a long top table in front of the arch and round tables working back through the room. Each had a log slice centrepiece from Cathleen’s, with the couple’s own coloured napkins and ribbons in every colour on the chairs.
We set the halo light above the room to sunset colours, orange fading into pink. Afterwards, the couple’s own sweet treats came out with the tea and coffee.
Sax, fire pits and pizza
While the room turned around, the top table came out to show off the arch again. Ryan was joined by a saxophonist for the evening, and Isla and Paul had their first dance and cut their cake from Bella Bakes.
Outside, the fire pits were lit for toasting marshmallows, and Fratelli’s pizza van fed everyone at nine. Isla and Paul made sure they got a slice too. The music played until half past twelve.
Bacon butties the morning after
The next morning, we served bacon and sausage butties at the barn for the friends and family who had stayed over: a slow, happy end to the weekend.
The details
- VenueThe Out Barn, Ribble Valley
- StayThe Farmhouse
- ArrivalDuck the horse
- PhotographyMark Tattersall
- FlowersCathleen’s Flowers
- Host, music and DJRyan Smith
- Wedding breakfastCheek & Tongue
- CakeBella Bakes
- Evening foodFratelli’s
Planning a spring wedding?
Come and see the Farmhouse, the oval room and the walk down to Fairy Bridge, and talk your day through with us.
Book a showroundSee the Estate Takeover