At the end of March, we had the absolute joy of hosting Alice and Ryan’s beautiful spring wedding here at The Great Barn Devon. From the pastel-toned florals to the moving ceremony and relaxed evening feast, every element of the day felt beautifully “them”. It was such a pleasure to watch it all unfold, and we’re delighted to share a little more about their special day, in their own words. Thank you to Alice and Ryan for sharing this with us.
Tell us a little bit about your wedding day…
We had the most amazing wedding day! The Great Barn team were so efficient and everything ran so smoothly. We handed everything over to the team on the Friday then could relax in the knowledge that they had everything under control. Our guests commented on the quality of the food, the beautiful setting and the incredible staff. Many said it was the best wedding food they had ever had, and the generous canapés were very much appreciated. Emma & John were so relaxed and easy-going throughout the planning process and we felt really supported to shape the day as we wanted to. The Great Barn is the furthest thing from an impersonal wedding factory, which was so important to us.
Why did you choose The Great Barn?
There were so many reasons that we loved the Great Barn from as soon as we visited. Firstly, the incredible barn itself! It’s such an amazing space that had a church-like feel for the ceremony which we really loved. We loved the West Barn as well — it was important to us that we weren’t too stressed about weather impacting the day. The grounds and the gardens are so beautifully maintained, and we were so excited about all the places we could get lovely pictures. It was so important to us to have a venue that we could house our family comfortably and that would feel luxurious for the weekend. The on-site accommodation was so beautiful and really added to the value of the venue for us. We are big foodies, and we loved the flexibility of the menus and the feasts too!
Emma & John are such lovely people, and we felt so comfortable and at ease with them. The pricing was transparent and fair for the venue, food and drink which helped budgeting enormously. We really appreciated that ‘extras’ (e.g., croquet on the lawn, fire pit and easels) were included and not charged as additional fees! The whole team just want you to have the loveliest wedding day, and we absolutely did!
How did you bring your vision to life? Tell us about the styling, colours or any special touches.
As we got married in March, we wanted to incorporate all the spring pastel tones in the flowers, candles and stationery. Wedding signs had a wildflower print to tie in with the flowers. We asked the florist to use lots of different heights and textures with the flowers, so they felt wilder and more natural. We also encouraged her to use every pastel colour going to bring lots of tones of colour to the decoration. To us, the flowers were the main decoration.
Tell us about the outfits — what did you both wear, and how did you feel on the day?
Ryan had his suit made to measure — he had chosen all the details, and it meant it felt more meaningful for him on the day. The groomsmen were in black tuxedos and looked very smart! My dress was from Lara Belle Bridal Boutique, as well as the veil. I went for a long veil and loved wearing it for as long as possible. My bouquet matched the wildflower theme which was a lovely contrast with the formality of the dress and suits.
What was on the menu, and how did you keep your guests entertained?
We chose The Great Barn Feast — lamb shoulder with mainly salads as sides. Guests had a light starter, and we served the wedding cake as pudding! This went down well and ensured the cake was going to be eaten on the day! We had a band in the evening; that was the only entertainment we had but we felt that worked well for our day. The band were incredible and kept the dancefloor busy all night!
What was your favourite part of your wedding day?
The Ceremony! We had planned two very personal readings; we included a Celtic Ring Warming Ceremony which was a lovely way to include the guests more. We were both smiling the whole time and holding back the tears as it felt so emotional and perfect.
Looking back, what advice would you give to others who are planning their wedding?
When we planned our wedding, we thought about the most important things to us and used this to ground us in what was important for us to focus our energy and money on when we planned. For us this was: Food, Flowers & Music! This really helped when we got swept up in the temptation of additional expenses and ensured we kept to the budget we set and held on to what we felt was important.
Hair by Amber Mae Rockey
Make Up by Rebecca Searle
Dress, Veil and Shoes from Larabelle
Grooms suit from Zebel
Flowers by From the Wild
Evening Band We Are The Shrine
Photographer RockRose Photography
Cake by Blossom and Bee
Venue The Great Barn Devon
A huge thank you to Alice and Ryan for choosing The Great Barn for their special day, and for so kindly sharing their beautiful photos and feedback – it was a joy to be part of such a special day. If you’re dreaming of a wedding that feels relaxed, meaningful and truly unique, in a picturesque setting, we’d love to welcome you for a viewing. Come and explore our gorgeous venue, and start to picture your own dream day here with us. Book a viewing.
