If you’re all about the details when it comes to your wedding plans, you’re going to love Louise and Gareth’s wedding! Having got engaged in Paris, this wonderful pair decided to opt for an Autumnal wedding at Bury Court Barn in October 2013.
“We knew we both wanted a barn style venue from the start, as we were hoping to capture the country style (more relaxed) approach to getting married rather than a stately home,” Louise explained. “Bury Court took our breath away when we viewed it; it was just so magical and the gardens were beautiful. It was clearly the best venue out of about eight barns that we viewed!”
After an initial 30 minute delay as the bride made her fashionably late entrance to St Mary’s Church in Bentley, Louise and Gareth’s 90 guests enjoyed a personal and uplifting ceremony that included a reading by the bride’s grandmother of an autumnal poem written especially for the occasion.
Louise opted to incorporate sunflowers – her favourite childhood bloom – into both the bouquets and decorations throughout the day. The burnished oranges and rustic hues extended from homemade bunting to the groom’s bespoke paisley patterned waistcoat.
Confetti cones inscribed with Semez l’amour en couvrant Gareth et Louise de pétales requested guests to shower the newlyweds with their love in a nod to their Parisian engagement, a theme that continued with French music during their reception at Bury Court.
One of Louise’s favourite memories of the day includes arriving at The Barn at Bury Court for their wedding reception. “Coming back from the church and seeing how the venue looked with everything set up was amazing,” Louise reminisced. “We were so pleased with all our autumnal colours and, having visualised the theme, seeing everything come together perfectly was great.”
To add an extra personal touch to their tables, Gareth and Louise opted for some special wedding favours as well. “We had homemade orange soaps for the females guests with a quirky poem,” Louise explained. “And beer stubbies for the males that had personalised labels with a secret acronym ‘ALE HOUSE GRIT’ (Louise and Gareth) along with a quirky poem.”
For their wedding breakfast, Gareth and Louise chose the following menu:
~ Starter ~
Pork rillette with chutney, pickles and mini baguette served on slates
OR
Beetroot and red onion tart with minted feta, pistachio candy, micro salad and herb dressing
~ Main ~
Slow braised beef with celeriac potato mash and Savoy cabbage
OR
Aubergine, spinach and lentil moussaka
~ Dessert ~
Cheese Tower Wedding Cake with biscuits and chutneys
Whilst the father of the bride serenaded guests with a personal acoustic session after the wedding breakfast, it gave Louise and Gareth a chance to mingle with everyone. A wishing tree in place of a traditional guest book and the towering cheese wheels provided plenty to talk about.
Meanwhile, certain members of the wedding party soon found an array of peculiar artwork in the ladies which had become a makeshift gallery for the collection of drawings created during a live art class at Louise’s hen do.
“We loved having a sparkler send-off at the end of the night with our guests,” Louise said of the perfect way to round off a fantastic day. Throughout the evening reception Gareth and Louise’s guests also enjoyed a first dance lovingly choreographed by the new Mrs Coles and a fun photo booth with prop box provided by their photographer, Esme Ducker.
“It’s so overwhelming to have so many people you love in one place all there to see you,” Louise said. “Jacaranda assisted in the set up of so many decorations, even placing the little flags on the tea party cakes! We were so grateful to have the capris marquee set up in the garden as well, it gave an additional space for guests to sit outside.”
“I can’t believe it’s been 5 months now!” Louise said. “It was such an amazing day and we would love to be able to do it all over again. All our guests were so, so impressed with the food and presentation and keep commenting still after all this time how they adored the venue with the theme and all the food. It was the best wedding breakfast food! The day turned out perfectly and we really will remember our autumnal wedding forever!”
Credits
Photographer: Esme Ducker
Florist: Flowers by Becky
Entertainment: Surrey DJ
Cake: Jacaranda Cheesecake!
Hair/Makeup: Kelly Bryan through Natasha Wiggins
Transportation: Westbury Cars
Bride’s outfit: Suzanne Neville dress from Bride to Be, Reading
Bridesmaids’ outfits: Reiss
Groom & ushers’ outfits: The Grooms Room, Reading