Although at the time the couple found the news was devastating, in the end it made their day even more special. The English lockdown restrictions were lifted just two days before their celebration took place, where they were able to be surrounded by their closest friends and family on a very warm and sunny day in the Devonshire countryside. We couldn’t be happier to share a snippet of their special day with you…
“The week we got married also landed in one of the hottest weeks of the year, at 28 degrees it was a scorcher. The venue was dazzling in the sun and the handheld fans we handed out to our guests went down a storm. We smiled and laughed the entire day. Each picture shows genuine happiness, it is true what they say, it did feel like the best day of our lives,” says Laura.
The pair opted for a colour palette consisting of light pink, ivory white and green foliage. “The beautiful walled garden brought so much colour that we wanted our colour scheme to only amplify the stunning surroundings, rather than steal focus,” explains Laura. “We extended this to the table plan, where we named each table after a flower that could be found in the walled garden.”
Living in the West Midlands, Laura and Earl decided very early on in the planning process that they wanted to get married in Devon. The groom shared some wonderful family memories here when he was a child, as well as together as a couple over the last few years. The bride’s sister had been to a wedding at Upton Barn once before and recommended our countryside wedding venue to the couple.
“After going for our first viewing at Upton Barn, we drove home, cancelling other viewings, we knew it was the perfect place for us. The beautiful backdrop of the Devonshire countryside, the elegant stable barn and modern open plan feel was exactly what we were looking for.”
Laura wanted a classic bridal hairstyle that she would look back on in years to come and still like, opting for a simple low bun that her veil sat underneath perfectly. On the morning of the wedding, the bride’s mother gifted her a beautiful hair pin with a picture of her and her dad, who sadly passed away when she was seven. “It was a discretely perfect way of having him with me,” Laura tells us. She went for a fresh, natural make-up look with sun-kissed, dewy skin.
When it came to decorating Upton Barn, florals played a huge part in Laura and Earl’s wedding styling. They filled to large milk churns with mixed blooms and foliage, which were placed at either side of the arbour for their outdoor ceremony. They also popped a smaller version inside next to their wedding guest book, helping to tie their theme together. Florals also featured on their reception tables, matching the flowers that were in the bridal bouquet.
Laura and Earl’s Upton Barn wedding was brimming with thoughtful touches, including personalised activity bags for the younger children. They were packed with bubbles, colouring books, playdough and games – which went down an absolute treat amongst the smaller guests. The evening was filled with dancing, fire pits, a pizza van and a photo mirror!
“There were so many things we couldn’t control leading up to our wedding. It was a year postponed, we didn’t know how many people would be able to attend until one month prior to the day and the week of the wedding ten people were unable to come due to isolating, including one of the best men. The lesson we learnt was that we could not control any of these factors and the main thing is we were finally going to be man and wife, that was the most important thing, and we didn’t lose focus on this.”
We hope you enjoyed hearing about Laura and Earl’s beautiful summer wedding day here at Upton Barn. If you would like to see our charming countryside wedding venue in action, please do get in touch to book in a private tour.
Laura & Earl’s Favourite Moment
“It might be the moment I walked down the aisle. I think we both expected to be nervous and emotional, but that was overridden with excitement. Seeing all our family in friends in one place after so long, on a beautiful sunny day, it was pure joy.”
