On Saturday 15th April 2023, their spring wedding was filled with beautiful florals, endless fun and a whole lot of love! If Sophie and Ilaria could describe their wedding day at Upton Barn, they would say ‘Unbelievable, Special and Happy’. So, keep scrolling and enjoy a glimpse inside their rather lovely celebration, accompanied by beautiful imagery by Helen Court Photography…
When it came to the brides’ aisle style, their glam squad of make-up artists were on hand to create a neutral make-up look with a matte finish. Ilaria adorned her curls with a handmade hairclip on one side, while Sophie chose a one-sided bridal braid. Both brides found their gowns at Brides at Waterfields in Exeter – but despite getting their dress in the same shop, they decided to keep them a secret until they set eyes on each other on the day itself. For their bouquets, the couple wanted their floral design to be similar but not the same. Sophie carried a bouquet brimming with soft pink and white hues, whereas Ilaria’s featured a darker pink and purple palette.
From the offset, they wanted to keep their wedding styling simple and the atmosphere relaxed, focusing on spending the day making memories with their favourite people. Their ceremony space featured a deconstructed archway by Floren Studio, alongside pew ends, floral urns and registry table decorations. As Ilaria is Italian, the couple were keen to incorporate some Italian traditions to the day as a nod to Ilaria’s family heritage, opting for a subtle olive-green colour palette and using traditional olive trees for table centrepieces. Leafy foliage and greenery also adorned the chandeliers, while fairy lights added a gorgeous twinkle to their reception space.
Sophie and llaria’s guests were spoilt with a refreshing glass of fizz for their welcome drinks, followed by a choice of red, white and rosé wines on the table. Their friends and families tucked into a delicious feast of smoked salmon Bellini canapés with crème fraiche and caviar, mac & cheese bites with ketchup and crispy onions and crispy fried chicken with lemon mayo. The team at Mulberry Catering Co also whipped up their renowned sharing boards of meats, cheese, ciabatta bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar for starters. Roast beef from Dart’s Farm was served up for the mains, while apple pie and custard or clotted cream curbed any guests’ sweet tooth cravings. Exe Valley Pizza arrived later on in the evening to give everyone an extra burst of energy for that all-important dad dancing to the DJ.
The couple’s favourite part of the day was being able to relax after the ceremony and enjoy spending time with their loved ones as a newly married couple. Here’s Sophie & Ilaria’s word of wisdom for couples who are about to say, ‘I Do’…
“The stress is definitely worth it, and you’ll want to do it all over again. Take time to relax and enjoy the day, take it all in as it will go so quickly. Try to speak to all your guests as a couple, it is so easy to find you’ve been speaking to people and actually haven’t seen much of your new husband/wife!”
Don’t forget to follow Upton Barn on Instagram where you’ll find even more swoon-worthy love stories waiting for you! You can also have a nosey at our availability for 2024/2025 over on our handy calendar tool. And if you want to see more of our charming barn wedding venue in the countryside, we welcome you to book in for a private tour!!
