Alison & Andrew planned an intimate wedding for 40 of their closest friends and family. They first discovered South Farm online and loved our sustainable values and plant based menu options and the fact that everything was all in one place for their wedding ceremony and reception. We caught up with them to hear how they first met, how they planned their Spring South Farm Wedding and how they felt on the day itself!
Date of your wedding: 15/03/2023
Time of your ceremony: 1pm
Location of your ceremony: Old Dairy
We’d love to hear how and when you first met!
We met through a mutual friend, Traci. For about a year we crossed paths at various house parties and gatherings. Andrew knew who Alison was, and thought of her as ‘Traci’s fit friend’. Alison had no idea Andrew existed. Eventually we ended up at a small dinner with just Traci, her partner and us, so we were forced to interact. From that dinner Andrew asked Alison on a date, much to Traci’s disapproval. For our first date we went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. That was 10 years ago!
Which parts of the venue you used for your big day?
We had our ceremony and reception in the Old Dairy, wedding breakfast in the Tudor Barn, and evening dancing in the Horse Barn. The morning after the wedding we also had breakfast in the Horse Barn.
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
We got married in March. The colorful spring flowers were in bloom out the front of the Farm House and toward the entrance. The photos there are lovely.
Tell us about any special colour schemes and themes you had for your wedding day or how you styled your big day?
We used greens and pinks in our styling to match with the spring theme. We wanted the event to be as environmentally sustainable as possible so that was a big thread throughout the day. Pretty much everything we had on the day was handmade by friends and family.
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
We found South Farm online. We chose south farm for our wedding day because it had everything we needed in one place without the need for multiple vendors; ceremony space, party space, accommodation and wedding breakfast. The ability to do a full vegan menu was critical for us, the menu itself was amazing. The environmental sustainability piece was also a huge decision maker. And of course the venue is beautiful.
Tell us some detail about your special day?
We planned for a very small, intimate and chilled out wedding (40 people including bride and groom). We wanted to celebrate our wedding with the people we loved the most, without the need for formalities or having to worry about keeping people entertained. It was important to us that we could arrange nearly everyone to stay onsite, we had family traveling from all over and didnt want anyone to have to worry about accommodation.
How did you feel on the day?
Because our wedding was so relaxed we pretty much felt that on the day. The South Farm event manager, Hayley, was incredible. She made sure that everyone had everything they needed at all times, she really looked after us!
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
The most memorable moment of the day was of course when the music started playing and the doors opened, and the bride, groom, and guest all saw each other for the first time.
How did you choose your ceremony and first dance music?
We chose our music together, which was no easy task as we have completely different music tastes! Our first dance was the song that was all over the radio when we first met, we have always thought of it as ‘our song’, it was even playing when we got engaged years later completely by chance – although for years Alison thought that Andrew had orchestrated that as part of the proposal. For the ceremony we went for music composed for the soundtracks to our favorite movie/tv/documentaries, we wanted music that represented us, who we are individually and as a couple. The music Alison walked down the aisle to was one of the few romantic songs we both liked, and is often played in our house. The music we walked back down the aisle together to was completely chosen by Alison, she wanted something fun and upbeat – and had to sneak Taylor Swift in somewhere!
How many bridesmaids did you have and how did you ask them to be your bridesmaids?
We went for a very informal chilled out wedding so we didn’t have bridesmaids. I did however have my three best friends, my mother and my sister who got ready with me in the Coach House Suite. And we did things like dress shopping and pre-wedding planning together. My three best friends pretty much took control of helping to organize things and making sure the day ran smoothly without needing to be asked. That’s what friends do, they support each other.
How did you pick your best men and ushers?
As we went for a very informal chilled out wedding we didn’t have best men or ushers. Andrew’s Dad passed us the rings. This seemed the natural thing to do, he is a carpenter and made the ring box himself for when Andrew proposed so it made sense for him to be the one to do this.
How many speeches did you have and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We didn’t want any speeches at our wedding. We didn’t want anyone to feel anxious in the lead up to speeches, we just wanted everyone to have a good time, and for the day to feel natural and unscripted. As bride and groom we stood up and said a big thank you and a ‘cheers’ so that everyone could toast. This was completely unscripted; we just said what we felt in the moment.
What did you wear?
I wore a Ted Baker dress from a very old wedding line that I bought secondhand online. I saw it probably about a decade before getting married when shopping with my friend for her wedding dress and I fell in love with it. I went on a mission to track it down for my own wedding. I then took it to a seamstress to be customized and tailored. I wore her mum’s veil that many women in our family had used. I also wore a bolero that was from Ted Baker’s wedding line, borrowed from a friend who was a bride a few years earlier but couldn’t make it to the day. As well as being beautiful, it was a way to have her with us on the day. The bridal shoes were Jimmy Choo. The whole look was 1950’s style inspired.
The groom wore a three piece suit that was handmade for the wedding.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
We would have had more posed photo’s planned so that we had some with every guest.
We also would have provided some form of a schedule/agenda for the day. The event manager did a great job of telling people where they needed to be. However we kept losing people at crucial moments, for example the first dance, because guests didn’t know when things were they would pop back to their room etc at inopportune times.
What are your top tips for other couples?
Everyone says it but it’s true, it’s over VERY quickly. Try and stay in the moment and not worry about how you look or what you should be doing next. Having a few friends/family who know how you want things/what needs doing is crucial to make sure you can chill out and not worry about anything.
Where do you plan to go on honeymoon?
We don’t have our honeymoon planned yet. We know we want to go and see the northern lights, so that our honeymoon is something spectacular that we will never forget. We expect we will do that at some point in the winter.
Suppliers
Photographer: Howard, Absolute Photo UK
Dress: Ted Baker, and tailoring by Exclusive Alterations
Grooms & Groomsmen outfits: Richard Thompson, Exclusive Alterations
Cake: Robyn Harris of Buttered Up Cakes
Hair & Makeup: Laura Cartwright (enquiries@lauracartwrightmakeupartist.co.uk)
Flowers: Green Goddess Flowers
Entertainment: The Brightsons
It means the world to us how relaxed Alison and Andrew felt on their day knowing all the little details were taken care of so all they had to do was enjoy their day with their loved ones! It was absolute pleasure to host their informal, chilled out Spring Wedding at our eco friendly wedding venue and we are delighted they had the perfect day!
If you are looking for your dream wedding venue please get in touch to arrange a visit. We’d love to hear all about your wedding plans and show you around our beautiful barn style wedding venue. We have a choice of ceremony options for indoor and outdoor weddings so whatever the season you can enjoy your special day in our wedding venue near St Albans!
