All the autumnal vibes for Katy & Tom as they said ‘I do’ in our beautiful light-filled Old Dairy last autumn. They dreamed of a relaxed countryside wedding venue with stunning surroundings — and South Farm was everything they hoped for and more. From cozy, rustic charm to breathtaking autumn colours, their day was filled with love, laughter, and beautiful details. Keep reading to find out how they planned their special day… and trust us, the photos are absolutely stunning!
Date of your wedding: 9th November 2024
Time of your ceremony: 2:00pm
Location of your ceremony: The Old Dairy
We’d love to hear how you first met?
We met on a dating app….as Tom’s Best man said “Day One. Match One. Date One. Done!
Which parts of the venue did you use on your big day?
Guests were welcomed with drinks in the Drawing Room and ushered through the garden to The Old Dairy for the ceremony. The drinks reception was also held in the The Old Dairy and the dinner and dancing was in the Tudor Barn.
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
There are too many to choose from! It was Autumn and the colours in the garden were so beautiful particularly around the pond.
Tell us about any special colour schemes you had for your wedding day and how you styled your big day?
Being Autumn I went for a combination of reds, oranges, and pinks. We had a mix of dried and seasonal flowers to tie in and had candles in the ceremony to create a cozy atmosphere.
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
We live nearby and I found South Farm online. We wanted a relaxed countryside venue with beautiful surroundings, and it looked perfect. Having then walked round and seen how gorgeous and peaceful it was and met some of the amazing team we were sold.
Tell us some detail about your special day?
There was lots of laughter. The ceremony was so beautiful, and the food was amazing!
How did you feel on the day?
Full of love!
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
I personally loved getting ready with all my girls and being distracted from the nerves with the beautiful chaos of everyone bustling around me. Then the excitement of seeing Tom as I walked down the aisle. The ceremony was the thing I was most nervous about but our celebrant was incredible and the ceremony ended up being my favourite part.
How did you choose your ceremony music?
Our friend did our ceremony for us, so we worked with her to pull it all together. We didn’t know what she had written as we wanted it to be a surprise on the day, so we put a lot of trust in her and it really paid off! Tom chose the reading his Mum read as he is the wordsmith out of the two of us. I then asked two of my oldest friends to choose a reading themselves and they adapted a piece to make it more personal and it was amazing!
We didn’t do a first dance in the end, so the band just kicked things off.
How many Bridesmaids did you have and how did you ask them to be your Bridesmaids?
I had seven Bridesmaids in the end, and I based this on who I wanted around me getting ready in the morning and I couldn’t whittle it down! They were all so brilliant creating a wonderful atmosphere on the day, it was very special. I didn’t do anything fancy to ask them, but I did paint each of them a portrait of an animal I thought represented them and gave it to them on the morning of the wedding.
How did you pick your Best Men and Ushers?
They were Tom’s brothers and his oldest friends. Two of which met and got married because of Tom.
How many speeches did you have and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We had four speeches. My Mum, my Bridesmaids, Tom, and Tom’s Best Man. The bridesmaids wrote their speech as a poem which was incredible! I don’t think I could give much advise other than not to drone on which was the advice Tom’s Grandma gave him when writing his speech!
What did you wear?
A very sparkly dress! It was November so I also had a faux fur cape.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Not really! It all worked out exactly as we could have hoped.
What are your top tips for other couples?
Don’t stress!
Where did you go on honeymoon?
We went to Thailand for two weeks on a bit of a travel adventure and it was incredible.
Suppliers:
Photographer: Tom Halliday
Videographer: Vlog my Wedding
Dress: Coco Couture
Grooms & Groomsmen outfits: Trotter and Deane
Bridesmaid Dresses: They wore their own, I just gave them a mood board for the colour scheme.
Cake: Donuts from Crosstown
Hair: Bridgette Ellwood
Makeup: Bridgette Ellwood
Flowers: Wild Stems
Entertainment: Entertainment Nation – What a Night
Styling: Stables Prop Hire
We’re so overjoyed that Katy & Tom’s special day went off without a ‘hitch’ — it was such a joy to see how beautifully our seasonal gardens complemented their gorgeous autumnal wedding vibes. A huge thank you to them both for sharing a little glimpse into their love story and all the personal touches that made their day so unique. It was an absolute pleasure to look after you and help bring your dream day to life — it was certainly a day filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable moments!
If you are looking to book your dream outdoor wedding venue in Hertfordshire for your wedding day please get in touch. We’d love to hear all about your wedding plans and to show you around our Cambridgeshire wedding venue, 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. What’s more, our friendly, experienced team will make sure your perfect wedding day runs perfectly to plan in our wedding venue near Bedfordshire.