Catherine & Ben got married last August in a stunning barn wedding ceremony. Their friends and family contributed to their day and helped them create lasting, special memories with many handmade personal touches centred around their wildflower theme which they cleverly weaved through the day. We loved catching up with them to hear all about their beautiful summer wedding.
Date of wedding: 18th August 2022
Time of ceremony: 3pm
Location of ceremony: Tudor Barn
How did you first meet?
Ben and I met at the school we work in, he’s the drum teacher and I am a Year 3 teacher! Our 1st date was in a bar in London, we got on so well we forgot what time it was and I missed the last train home!!
Which parts of South Farm did you use for your big day?
The Tudor Barn was just perfect for our ceremony, it felt so homely and cosy. Ben’s friends played live music for our ceremony – the acoustics were brilliant. The gardens at South Farm were one of the biggest draws so we were unbelievably happy that we got sunshine for our drinks reception. Ben’s friends played jazz music just by the outside bar, it was perfect!
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
We loved the confetti shots in front of the beautiful house, the garden shots were stunning and we used the fields out the back for that golden hour shot!
Tell us about any special colour schemes or themes you had for your wedding day?
Our wedding was wildflower themed, a gorgeous rose pink for bridesmaids, the best men had bee ties and Ben had a wildflower tie!
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
Google, but when we realised where it was we knew it was something we always cycle past on our bike rides!
Tell us some details about your special day?
All of the flowers used for the centerpieces and up the aisle were home grown by family members, Ben’s Nana and Mum made our stunning wildflower cake and his brother brewed us a beer for the day – it was very much a family affair – it made it so special!
How did you feel on the day?
Lots of people commented on how happy and calm Ben and I both were on the day. South Farm made that possible because we knew they had everything in hand and we didn’t need to worry about anything.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
Live music through the whole day, each section of the day was seamless thanks to South Farm!
How did you choose your ceremony and first dance music?
Ben is a musician so we were so lucky to have friends playing live music throughout the ceremony and drinks reception. Our first dance music was The Beatles – I wanna hold your hand. Because it was one of the first songs we danced to together.
How many bridesmaids and groomsmen did you have?
We had three bridesmaids and two brothers and a best friend for our groomsmen
How many speeches did you have and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We had best men, father of the bride and groom speeches. We would advise keep it short and sweet!
What did you wear?
I wore Fleur by Etoile dress from Heritage Brides.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
We would have hired a videographer!
What are your top tips for other couples?
Try to run through your day in your head before so you can know you are prepared – then you can sit back and relax on the day knowing that everything is in hand! It will go by so much faster than you can imagine. Take the time to look around and enjoy it.
Where did you go/where do you plan to go on honeymoon?
We are going to Nashville, New Orleans and Cancun!
Wedding Suppliers – who did you use?
Photographer: Lauren Knuckey
Wedding Dress: Heritage Brides
Bridesmaid dresses: Monsoon
Cake: Ben’s Nana & Mum!
Hair: Makeup by Sam
Makeup: Makeup by Sam
Flowers: Welwyn Florist
Entertainment: Sugar T and The Swells in the evening
We love the care Catherine and Ben and their family and friends put into into creating such a unique wedding day. From their musician friends playing jazz in the garden to Ben’s Mum and Nana making their beautiful wildflower wedding cake – not to mention their very own wedding day beer brewed especially for them by Ben’s brother! We are over the moon that they celebrated their day in such a uniquely personal way and the sun shone for them!
If you are looking to book your dream wedding day please get in touch. We’d love to hear all about your wedding plans and to show you around our countryside wedding venue in Hertfordshire, rustic wedding barns and stunning gardens. Our fantastic choice of ceremony and reception spaces is perfect for intimate weddings or larger guest numbers. There are so many gorgeous spaces to choose from and we offer exclusive use for your wedding day, guaranteeing you total privacy on your special day. What’s more, our friendly, experienced team will make sure your perfect wedding day runs perfectly to plan in our small barn wedding venue.
