First things first, what does the role of a Wedding Coordinator at Upton Barn involve, we hear you ask! It goes without saying, to be a part of the Upton family you’ve got to be passionate about love stories – our Wedding Coordinators really do pour their heart and soul into each and every celebration at our barn wedding venue in Devon. There isn’t a day go by where we don’t find it a privilege to be given the responsibility of delivering one of the most important days of our couple’s lives and this is certainly something that Natalie and Harriet can tick off their checklist.
On a standard day at Upton Barn, you’ll find Natalie and Harriet in the depths of organisation. As Wedding Coordinators, their roles are all about communication and building relationships with our couples, all of whom are in various stages of their wedding planning journey. Every special day at Upton Barn is unique to our couples, which is why our Wedding Coordinators love getting to know everyone, discovering their backgrounds, hopes and dreams. It helps us to support you and guide you seamlessly through the planning process without a hitch.
The beauty of being a Wedding Coordinator is that every day is different to the next – whether it’s giving a newly engaged couple (eeek) a private tour of the venue, to having a catch-up with another couple over Zoom, or setting up the venue and tables for a wedding the following day. Over the years, we’ve put some super handy IT systems in place so that our brilliant team can make sure everything is on track. It’s our job to make your lives as easy (and as magical) as possible.
“Being a Wedding Coordinator is similar to being a swan. On the surface, the part that everyone around you sees, is a picture of complete calmness. Under the surface are the little legs constantly kicking to keep them moving across the lake…”
Being a Wedding Coordinator at Upton Barn is all about having a calm exterior while thinking of the next ten things to tick off that all-important wedding to-do list! When the big day finally arrives, our Wedding Coordinators will be up early and raring to go, working behind the scenes covering all the tasks that most people don’t even realise happen! This can include jobs that aren’t even necessarily part of the Wedding Coordinator rule, such as…
- Nanny – Rocking the baby to sleep or keeping little ones entertained so the parents can still get in the group shots
- Clown – Making the flower girls laugh so they’re feeling a little braver about walking down the aisle
- Seamstress – When the groom gets carried away on the dancefloor and his trousers need sewing up
- Hairdresser – For the bridesmaid who just needs a few extra hairpins throughout the day
- Friend & Family Member – Being there as support throughout the celebration, whether that’s for a pep talk or a little hand squeeze before the ceremony
As you can see, a lot goes into being a Wedding Coordinator here at Upton Barn and the girls wouldn’t change it for the world. We asked the gang what their favourite part of their job is and here’s what they had to say,
“The joy on our couples faces on their wedding day and knowing that we have played a part in delivering an incredible day is why we love weddings so much! The icing on the cake is the lovely reviews and thank you cards we receive after their wedding; it honestly means the world to us. Winning the TWIA 2021 National award for our Events Team in January was an absolutely amazing feeling, reading the feedback from our couples on how they felt about us delivering their day is just heart-warming and makes the tired feet and long days all worthwhile. Being part of an amazing team, in which every single person puts their heart and soul into their job really helps too, we are always looking to the future and how we can improve what we do to be the very best we can for our couples…”
Meet our Wedding Coordinators!
Wedding Coordinator – Natalie Hyland
We’re lucky enough to have not one, but two fabulous wedding coordinators at Upton Barn. Meet Nat – she’s super-efficient, incredibly thoughtful and has a deep-rooted love affair with weddings! Having worked all over the world coordinating weddings, she has heaps of experience under her belt. You’ll often find her fixing a bridesmaid’s hair, sorting out splits in trousers and taking care of any wedding day hiccups! A true cocktail lover, Nat loves baking, travelling and losing herself in a good book.
Wedding Coordinator – Harriet Goodall
Harriet found her feet in the world of weddings after many years as a Legal PA at Michelmores. She quickly fell in love with the hospitality industry and has never looked back. Once upon a time a fashion blogger, Harriet now adores using her creative side to bring couple’s wedding visions to life. She slotted straight into the family the very minute she started and is guaranteed to get the whole office in fits of giggles. It’s a real pleasure to have her as part of Team Upton and her fun nature really does shine through.
From your very first viewing of Upton Barn, right through to leaving our countryside wedding venue as a newly married couple, our team will be there to guide you throughout the process, filling it with pockets of magic and ensuring it is a memorable experience. Your day is hugely important to us, and it really is an honour to be a part of your ‘happily ever after’.
If you’d like to book in a private tour of Upton Barn, please do get in touch with a member of the team, we’d love to show you around!
