There is something truly special about a wedding that feels completely personal, and Emily and Aidan’s beautiful spring wedding at South Farm was just that. Choosing a relaxed woodland theme inspired by nature, they created a day filled with thoughtful details, meaningful music, and plenty of rustic charm.
After meeting at university and sharing their very first date at a coffee house in Bath, their story brought them to South Farm — our sustainable wedding venue in Hertfordshire. From a heartfelt ceremony in the Old Dairy to mouth-watering food in the grand Tudor Barn and dancing into the evening in the Horse Barn, their day flowed effortlessly.
Adding an extra personal touch, the couple even grew some of their own wedding flowers, incorporating natural textures and dried hops to bring their spring woodland vision beautifully to life. Read on to discover more.
Date of your wedding: 14th March 2025
Time of your ceremony: 2:00pm
Location of your ceremony: The Old Dairy
We’d love to hear your first date stories or to tell us how and when you first met?
Our first date was at a coffee house in Bath after meeting at University, where we had enrolled on the same course. Aidan hates coffee, and he was the one who chose the location for our first date!
Which areas of the venue did you use for your big day?
The ceremony was in The Old Dairy, the reception was in the Tudor barn, and the dancing (or as close to it) was in the Horse Barn.
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
All of the charming barns and rustic farmyard equipment. And of course the piggies!
Tell us about any special colour schemes you had for your wedding day?
We decided on a spring-woodland theme. We had dried hops in the Old Dairy, and for the table decorations, each table was inspired by a Lord of the Rings location, each with unique plants.
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
Through online research. Everyone was so lovely, and the place was immaculate. It was the perfect combination of country charm and high-end style
Tell us some detail about your special day?
The day ran so smoothly without us having to think about a thing! The ceremony was perfect, and the Irish band got everyone in the mood for a great time. Everyone said how delicious the food was, and it was lovely to hear that some piglets were born while the speeches were being delivered.
How did you feel on the day?
I was super happy throughout the whole day. No worry about anything, all the details were taken care of. Both me and Aidan felt nerves in the morning, but adrenaline just before the ceremony. It was a truly special day.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
The ceremony was our favourite bit of the entire day. Everything else was the cherry on top.
How did you choose your ceremony & first dance music?
I suggested the song Nothing Else Matters, knowing it was Aidan’s favourite band, which I also enjoy. I love the song with orchestral notes.
We saw them live the year before, and when this song was played, we knew it was the perfect choice.
How many bridesmaids did you have, and how did you ask them to be your bridesmaids?
We had four Bridesmaids. I gave each a dried flower bouquet and asked if they would be my bridesmaids.
How did you pick your best men and ushers?
Gus has been Aidan’s best friend since university, and also has close ties to me.
How many speeches did you have, and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We had four speeches: the classic three, plus a bridesmaid speech, which she made entirely Shakespearean that was very clever. We would suggest delivering the speeches before serving food, so you can enjoy the delicious South Farm catering without feeling nervous.
What did you wear?
I wore an A-line, sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice which had lace detail. The skirt was plain tulle, and I had a long veil with lace edging. Aidan wore a brown tweed suit with a green tie, and had dried flowers for his buttonhole.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
Nope. Although Aidan says he should have lost a little bit of weight. I don’t think so.
What are your top tips for other couples?
Don’t stress about things that are out of your control, for example, weather. Make sure you find a moment to steal each other away to have time together alone.
Where did you go or plan to go for your honeymoon?
We flew to the west coast of Ireland for five days for a small mini-moon. We stayed in different locations and visited many areas. It was so lovely, and the people were really friendly. In June we plan to go to Tuscany for a bit longer to indulge in some sun and Italian countryside.
Suppliers |
Photographer: Tom Halliday
Dress: Town House Bridal St Neots
Grooms & Groomsmen outfits: Mr Munro / Leonard Silver
Bridesmaid Dresses: Wed2b
Cake: M & S
Hair: Morna Bucknell (Wedlock hair)
Makeup: Anita Hamer
Flowers: Various garden centres and made our own (then re-planted in the garden)
Entertainment: Celtic Collective (Irish band)/ DJ Gary
From heartfelt ceremony moments to lively celebrations with their Irish band and the simple joy of stealing a few quiet minutes together, Julia and Aidan’s wedding was full of genuine happiness from start to finish. Their guests loved the relaxed countryside feel, delicious food, and thoughtful details, all of which helped create memories to treasure for years to come.
Weddings like this perfectly capture what makes South Farm such a special place to celebrate. As a barn wedding venue in Bedfordshire, South Farm offers couples the chance to embrace nature, seasonality and meaningful personal touches, whether that’s incorporating home-grown ingredients, choosing eco-friendly details or, like Emily and Aidan, growing your own wedding flowers. We absolutely love this! We wish them a lifetime of love, adventure, and many more magical moments together.
If you are looking to book your dream Hertfordshire garden wedding venue for your 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, rustic wedding barns, and stunning gardens. Our fantastic choice of ceremony and reception spaces is perfect for weddings all year round. 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 dream wedding day runs perfectly to plan in our beautiful barn wedding venue.