“We initially chose to view Upton Barn as we loved the rustic style of it. When we imagined our wedding day, we wanted it to be relaxed and a celebration of the West Country. When we went for the viewing, we completely fell in love with the beautiful grounds and the barn. The team were so lovely and were really flexible and understood our vision for the day. It just felt magical!”
Abi, Bride
The beautiful bride-to-be found her dress in the very first boutique she visited, opting for a seriously romantic gown that Abi knew she’d be able to eat, drink and dance in. She teamed it with a cathedral length veil that was lined with pearls, matching the intricate details of her bodice. She completed her aisle style with a super glam (yet very comfy) pair of heels from Topshop.
Abi found her wedding hairstylist, The Updo Girl, via Instagram and she knew she was the one for her! She opted for an elegant up-do with a subtle rustic feel, along with glowy yet natural make-up by Laura Le Page. Both her bridal hairstylist and make-up artists were fabulous, and Abi looked utterly beautiful.
Jake, the groom, wanted a suit that was a nod towards country style so chose to don tweed. The bridesmaids looked gorgeous in multi-way dresses so that they could wear them in a way that felt confident and comfortable to them all. Their dresses were a neutral shade (to match with the wedding colour palette) and the girls chose their own shoes.
The happy couple already adored how Upton Barn looked so they didn’t want to add too much in terms of décor. They maintained the relaxed, neutral theme and kept their table centrepieces simple, decorating the tables with eucalyptus garlands and candles. Jake and Abi got engaged while travelling, so made their table plan out of an old map, tying in with the vintage-rustic theme.
Let’s talk about their wedding flowers – cue all the heart eyes! Abi’s very talented mum (we are still in awe) made the bouquets out of blooms from The Flower Monger, inspired by seasonal summer posies. The bouquets were brimming with roses, lisianthus, thistle, Veronica, alstroemerias, olive, eucalyptus and pittosporum, with lots of white and pale pink hues, as well as lots of greenery.
These guys certainly had a sweet tooth and opted for a truly delicious alternative to their wedding cake – hello brownie tower! They provided their guests with paper bags so they could take them home, a tasty reminder of their wedding day. The food was an incredibly important part of the wedding to Jake and Abi, and here at Upton Barn we know a thing or two about throwing a feast! The couple went for a ‘posh picnic’, served in large wicker baskets that were filled with mouth-watering treats such as quail’s egg scotch eggs, crayfish salad, local cheeses and sausage rolls. Their dessert option consisted of mini scones with jam and clotted cream, and mini lemon posset. It was a dining experience to remember!
Jake and Abi found their photographer, Nova, at one of our supplier events here at Upton Barn. They were instantly drawn to their lovely, soft documentary style that suited the couple down to the ground. After meeting with Katherine and Steve of Nova, they felt at ease and knew they would be the perfect photographers to capture their barn wedding in Devon. Having two photographers on hand also meant not a single moment was missed, and they were completely blown away by the results!
“The whole day was amazing, but we both absolutely loved the ceremony. It’s the bit we had imagined the most in our heads and we felt so blessed to get married in such a beautiful setting amongst our loved ones, with such perfect weather!”
It was an absolute pleasure to host Jake and Abi’s special day at Upton Barn and watching their sunshine-filled celebration unfold, with tonnes of love, laughter and the happiest of moments. We’ll end this gorgeous feature with some words of advice from the newlyweds…
“Be present throughout the whole day if you can and take in every moment. We were able to just enjoy what was happening at that point rather than thinking ahead to what was coming next, so didn’t feel as if the day was over in a flash. We also took a moment during the evening to catch up as a couple and look at all the things we’d spent so long planning.”
Head straight back to the journal for even more real love stories or book a tour if you’re feeling smitten and would love to see Upton Barn for yourself.
