Vilma & Tom’s wedding reception at South Farm last June was the epitome of English countryside elegance! Their beautifully planned day was straight out of a storybook, with romantic Jane Austen vibes and breathtaking English summer florals that perfectly complemented the magical charm of our barn wedding venue. Discover all the dreamy details of their enchanting celebration, filled with timeless beauty and romance, in our latest blog. It’s a day you won’t want to miss!
Date of your wedding: 13 June 2024
Time of your ceremony: 1:00pm
Location of your ceremony: St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Stevenage
We’d love to hear how you both first met!
Vilma was out shopping near London Bridge and was trying out hats when Tom confidently approached her and told her that another hat on display would look better on her. Vilma was of course taken aback by this handsome stranger and the smoothness in the way he approached her. So, she asked for more fashion tips and one thing led to another and next thing they both know, an agreement was in place to meet up in Tottenham Court Road in a few days for coffee and a walk in Regents Park for a first date!
Which parts of the venue did you use on your wedding day?
We had an off-site ceremony at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Stevenage, our local parish, which is roughly 30 minutes from South Farm. After the ceremony, we went back to South Farm for the reception. We had drinks in the magical gardens which was such a lovely way to catch up with all of our family and friends and really enjoy that just married feeling. We then moved to the Tudor Barn for the Wedding Breakfast and Speeches. We had tea, coffee and brownies inThe Old Dairy and back again to the Tudor Barn for our cake cutting, first dance and dancing the night away!
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
Everywhere at South Farm is just a perfect backdrop for photos. But, there are just a few corners which are absolutely magical. We love the iconic front of house where we had most of our couple and group photos – the roses in June are just incredible – giving the most idyllic vibes. We also particularly love the gardens near the Summer House for our couple photos too. It is very quaint and charming and the perfect English garden where we could relax and spend some magical time together amidst the partying.
Tell us about any special themes you had and how you styled your big day?
Vilma has always been an avid Jane Austen reader ever since forever and we tried to make this apparent in our wedding details. Our guests were telling us about the Bridgerton vibes they felt during the entire day which made us equally as pleased as Bridgerton is based off Austen.
In tune with a summer wedding, our colour scheme was pastel with wisteria being a dominant shade. We also tried to include old-y world details like feather quills for the guest book signing and personalised wax seals for our stationery.
For the overall styling, the Tudor Barn is so stunning that we felt it did not need a lot of decor. We have incorporated English summer florals, pastel-toned stationery and fairy lights to elevate that old world feel. We spent ages researching English June blooms and our lovely florist amazingly put together the Jane Austen brief: Summer blooms looking like they were plucked from a meadow. Overall, we were going for an understated, magical, quaint and charming vibe for our wedding and thanks to our suppliers, especially South Farm, we were able to achieve that.
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
We first heard about South Farm from Instagram whilst searching for wedding venues. The captivating photos we saw online did not do justice to the actual venue when we had our first viewing. The moment we stepped foot onto the gravel, we were immediately mesmerised by the overall magic of the place – the beautiful gardens, the charming barns, the piggies and the staff are just some of the reasons why we picked South Farm. We knew we found the one! Plus, we had a seal (paw!) of approval from our little pug boy who went with us during the viewing.
Tell us some detail about your special day?
We just love that we made our special day as personalised to the both of us as it can be. We had a church wedding, which was so important to us. Our wedding details were just as we wanted – the wax sealed, illustrated stationery, the amazing June flowers, the wedding props (rustic baskets, candles, small bud vases, photos of us during different holidays), the string trio for that Austen, old English vibe and most importantly, our remembrance table where we honoured our loved ones who are not with us anymore, Vilma’s parents and grandma and Tom’s mum and grandma, really made us feel like our day is as special as it can be, in our own way.
We also chose a more intimate celebration with just our closest family and friends and the day went by so chilled, so fun and so full of meaning.
How did you feel on the day?
In Vilma’s case, she was nervous at first but we both agreed beforehand that no matter what happens, we would enjoy our special day and soak everything in. The day flew by so quickly but we enjoyed every second of it- very happy with the fact that we just got married and were surrounded by our loved ones. Our special day was indeed the happiest day in our lives so far.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
Aside from of course being pronounced man and wife, it was when the ceremony had just finished and we were preparing to go to do the confetti. We went into the farmhouse Dining Room as all the guests were preparing to line up in the front of house. That’s when we saw our little pug boy for the first time in his suit (he is our pug of honour and would be walking with us while we had the confetti shot) and we both just sighed and felt immeasurable love for this little boy as always.
How did you choose your ceremony and first dance music?
For the ceremony, Vilma walked to a piano version of our would-be first dance, “From This Moment On” then we had traditional church music all the way culminating in “I Vow To Thee My Country” as a perfect ode to an English wedding.
The first dance song choice was easy – as mentioned previously, it is “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain. We both grew up listening to this song and to Shania Twain in general. There is actual video footage of Tom as a toddler dancing to the song (he is also the biggest Shania fan) and Vilma can recall early childhood memories of watching a Shania concert on DVD with her family. Also, this song is written for the singer’s parents as a tribute and we both wanted to honour our parents, who are not with us anymore, es through the first dance.
How many bridesmaids did you have and how did you ask them to be your bridesmaids?
We had three bridesmaids in total – Jessette, Vilma’s best friend was Maid of Honour. Corrine, Vilma’s niece, and Eme, Tom’s sister were the bridesmaids. Vilma asked them by presenting them each with a personalized necklace and a card with an illustration of her and them (Back view of Vilma in her would-be wedding dress and each of the bridesmaids in their would-be bridesmaid dresses) plus a text with a personalised message and “Will you be my Bridesmaid?”
How did you pick your best men and ushers?
Josh, Tom’s best friend was the Best Man. Nathan and Matthew, Vilma’s nephews were the ushers.
Grogu, our little pug boy, is Pug of Honour.
How many speeches did you have and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We had four speeches in total – Father of the Groom, Best Man, Maid of Honour and Sister of the Bride. Make it as heartfelt and as genuine as you can – there is no standard about wedding speeches and you do not have to have the fanciest wording or speech flow – just say what you really mean to say plus a few light-hearted jokes on the side never fail to make the couple and the guests reel with laughter!
What did you wear?
For Vilma – The Katiya gown by Madi Lane Bridal, c/o the Amazing Dolly’s Bridal Boutique and alterations from the wonderful Aggie Seamstress. Veil by Richard Designs Bridal also c/o Dolly’s Bridal Boutique. Shoes from Paradox. Accessories from Etsy
For Tom – Suit and Bow Tie from Chimney Formal Menswear. Shoes from Moss Bros
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Nothing! It was as perfect as we could have imagined. We could only wish the day went on longer and we ate more of the food and cake. Haha.
What are your top tips for other couples?
Enjoy every minute of your special day! The day goes by so quickly so make sure you make time for each other as well. You can do this by going away for a few minutes away from the party to have your couple photos taken or just by taking some time together to just talk and catch up with each other. Don’t forget to also eat (a lot!) especially as South Farm makes the most delicious food ever.
Where did you go on honeymoon?
We went to Jersey. It was an amazing honeymoon where we just relaxed after the high energy-filled weeks leading up to the wedding.
Suppliers |
Photographer: Sian Richardson Photo and Film
Videographer: Love Me Do Wedding Films
Dress: Madi Lane via Dolly’s Bridal Boutique
Grooms & Groomsmen outfits: Chimney Formal Menswear
Bridesmaid dresses: Azazie
Cake: Kelly’s Cake Kitchen
Hair: Make-up by Sam Bridal
Makeup: Make-up by Sam Bridal
Flowers: Halo Blossom
Transport: MC Wedding Cars
Entertainment: String Trio – Niche London Quartet
We absolutely loved catching up with Vilma & Tom to hear all about how they planned their elegant English countryside wedding. From their dreamy outdoor setting to the charming Jane Austen vibes, their day was nothing short of magical. It’s been such a joy learning about their love story, their thoughtful wedding tips, and, of course, seeing more photos of their adorable “Pug of Honour,” Grogu—what a star of the day!
If you are looking to book your dream garden 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 Hertfordshire 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 award-winning Hertfordshire wedding venue.