There’s something truly special about Spring weddings at South Farm, and Scarlett & Ben’s big day was no exception!
From the moment they first visited, they knew South Farm was “the one” – loving not only the rustic barns and stunning seasonal gardens, but also the charm of our working farm where homegrown, locally sourced ingredients take centre stage. Their wedding day made the most of all of our charming indoor and outdoor spaces, with an emotional ceremony in The Old Dairy, heartfelt speeches in the Tudor Barn, and lively dancing in the Horse Barn – a setup that they said “made everything and everyone feel very connected.”
Keep reading to discover more about their story at our eco-conscious wedding venue – from the special role Scarlett’s mum played on the day, to a unique first dance choice that had all their guests smiling, and the little details that made this Spring wedding so full of love and personal touches…
Date of your Wedding: 16th May 2024
Time of your Ceremony: 2:00pm
Location of your Ceremony: The Old Dairy
We’d love to hear how and when you first met?
Ben and I first met through friends at a party back in 2017 but didn’t start dating until early 2018 after we reconnected at a festival. We moved in together in Cambridge in 2019 and on our second anniversary in 2020 he popped the question – only for us to go into lockdown just two weeks later! That delayed wedding planning quite a bit but we finally tied the knot in May 2024.
Which parts of the venue did you use for your big day?
We loved all the barns so much that we knew we wanted to use all of them! So we had the ceremony in the Old Dairy and the wedding breakfast and speeches in the Tudor Barn. It was lovely to be able to use the courtyard, the Old Dairy and Granary for the immediate drinks reception while the Tudor Barn was set up. We really enjoyed having the evening dancing in the Horse Barn with the dancefloor visible from the Tudor Barn! Just a really amazing set up that made everything and everyone feel very connected I think.
Which was your favourite spot for wedding photos?
We loved meeting the piggies! They were such sweet little babies so that was definitely a highlight. But the gardens were also so beautiful – our favourite photo from the day is definitely the one of Ben carrying me over the bridge at the pond by The Summerhouse.
Tell us about any special colour schemes you had for your wedding day?
We went with pinky tones to match the dress, with complimentary peach and cream and contrasting blue for the Groomsmen’s suits. Very Spring-time appropriate!
How did you first hear about South Farm and what made you choose our venue for your wedding day?
Ben was a big fan of the rustic barn venues we were seeing online and I really loved how much South Farm stood out as also being very elegant and beautifully kept, and as soon as we visited for the first time – we knew! We particularly loved it being a working farm with homegrown and locally sourced products across the menu, that meant a lot to us.
Tell us some detail about your special day?
We really loved the start to our day – it had a great atmosphere as the Bride’s parents, the Bridal party, and the Groomsmen all turned up bright and early with the two of us to help with set up! We decorated the Old Dairy and Tudor Barn ourselves before taking off to get ready and it really made it feel like so many people chipped in to make it perfect.
How did you feel on the day?
More nervous than I was expecting! But so excited. Getting ready with my best friends and my mum all together really eased my nerves.
What was your most memorable moment from your wedding?
A couple stand out – walking into the Old Dairy and seeing Ben waiting for me with his Best Man and our close friend who was our Celebrant was about as emotional as I expected! And our first dance felt pretty special, your wedding day can be pretty hectic and those couple of minutes alone on the dancefloor together really gave us a second to catch our breath. It was like we were on the only ones there for a moment and it was beautiful.
How did you choose your first dance music?
We had a pretty unconventional track for our first dance, Wagon Wheel by the Old Crow Medicine Show. It’s not a typical first dance love song, but it was suggested to us by one of Ben’s Groomsmen not long after we got engaged, because we would sing it together so often it always made them think of us, and we thought that was perfect.
How many Bridesmaids did you have and how did you ask them to be your Bridesmaids?
I had four – I had a mixed gender Bridal party which meant I got to have a Bridesman as well as a Maid of Honour, so it was nice to be able to celebrate both of them being my best friends. Three of them were there when we got engaged so I asked them right away. I asked my Maid of Honour as soon as she was able to visit after lockdown.
How did you pick your Best Men and Ushers?
Ben knew he wanted to have his closest mates with him there on the day, both older friends and those he became closer to more recently, and as far as his Best Man goes he picked the most organised and dependable friend out of all of them!
How many speeches did you have and do you have any advice for anyone giving a speech?
We had a few and a couple of them were not super traditional. We had the usual Best Man and Father of the Bride, but we also had Mother of the Bride be the first speech since I’m very close to my mum and she was very involved in the whole day, and was the one to walk me down the aisle. The Maid of Honour and Bridesman gave a joint speech which had everyone in stitches. My best advice would be to not leave your speech cards, if you have them, at home!
What did you wear?
Much like the rest of the wedding, the dress was a mix of conventional and unconventional. The fabric itself was a lovely shimmery oyster pink with white lace overlay and a lovely train. My Grandma wasn’t able to make it on the day due to being very ill, but she felt present the whole day as my shoes were a wedding gift from her.
Is there anything you would have done differently?
We don’t think so! We really did have the most perfect day other than the morning rain – but that didn’t cause any trouble at all really. Everyone was very happy to take an umbrella for the confetti tunnel and by the time drinks were served it had cleared up! And personally I think the mud that got on the hem of my dress just added character.
What are your top tips for other couples?
Communication. We were very lucky that we were on the same page with a lot of things, but for the few things where we weren’t, being upfront and honest about what we wanted meant there were never any disagreements. Also, it doesn’t matter what sort of wedding you have, whether you go all out or more low key – if your wedding is perfect for you, then it’s perfect all round.
Where did you go on honeymoon?
We went to an adults only resort in Rhodes, Greece. After the months of planning and the excitement of the big day, we really just wanted to lie in the sun by a pool for a week and do nothing!
Suppliers |
Photographer: Damien Vickers Photography
Dress: Michelle at Emstrey Bridal
Cake: Fifi’s Cakery
Flowers: Suzanne Randell
Entertainment: JHA Entertainment (Sound and Lighting)
A big thank you to Scarlett & Ben for sharing their beautiful Spring wedding with us. From the thoughtful details to the heartfelt moments, it’s been an absolute joy to hear about how you planned your special day at the Farm, and we’re just delighted you chose to celebrate with us. From all of us at South Farm, we wish you both every happiness for the future!
If you are looking to book your dream eco-conscious 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 dream wedding day runs perfectly to plan in our wedding venue near Bedfordshire.