Winter WONDERLAND

Sarah and Chris’s wedding at The Post Barn that enjoyed a green, navy and white theme will inspire other couples planning seasonal I do’s Images courtesy of

Sarah and Chris met via the online dating site Bumble. “I fancied the Manchester City football club manager Pep Guardiola at the time and Chris appeared on my screen with a bald head and a beard, so I thought why not!” Sarah tells us. Chris adds: “I let Sarah think that I lived in Richmond despite only working there - I actually lived in Aylesbury! She looked gorgeous in her profile picture, and appeared to be plenty of fun – definite marriage material!”

Chris proposed in Dubrovnik during a holiday to Croatia. “It was the most surprising non-surprise ever!” Sarah tells us. “I knew it was likely to happen, but I was not expecting it to be that evening, as I wasn’t wearing my nicest dress!” Chris adds: “I was originally meant to ask Sarah to marry me in a hot air balloon in Provence, but Covid restrictions prevented us from travelling to France. So, at the last minute, I arranged a trip to Croatia and sourced a local photographer to capture it on camera - it was perfect and she didn’t suspect a thing!”

Setting The Scene

“We both wanted a barn venue that wasn’t dark inside so we decided to view The Post Barn,” Sarah says. “It’s a bright, contemporary space flooded with plenty of light, industrial-style windows and has a modern, luxurious feel. We both got a good feeling about it the moment we stepped inside.”

On the morning of their wedding, the hair and make-up suppliers couldn’t believe how calm Sarah was. “As cliché as it sounds, I was so excited to be marrying my best friend,” she tells us. “As I walked down the aisle to meet Chris, he was laughing and now tells me that it was a nervous laugh! Also, my father, who is hard of hearing, couldn’t hear the registrar when she was telling him to kiss me on the cheek and then sit down. So he ended up just standing there looking like he was refusing to let go of my arm when in fact he just didn’t hear the instruction!”

Chris adds: “I was the nervous one! I just wanted everything to be perfect for Sarah. Although she had told me not to have my phone rackleys.co.uk on me but Arsenal, who I support was kicking off at the time of our ceremony, so I kept checking my phone until the best man confiscated it about two minutes before the bridesmaids walked in! Thankfully, my other groomsmen were updating me with finger symbols of the score as the ceremony commenced!”

Sarah and Chris decorated their winter wedding with a seasonal green, navy and white theme. “Being a winter wedding in February, we wanted green and white touches throughout,” Sarah says. “Chris is an artist in his spare time and has a creative eye, so was able to explain his ideas to our florist, such as having a growing meadow placed on the top table made with the perfect blend of flowers. We also had an arch, in keeping with the meadow feel.”

The couple first spotted the idea for their centrepieces at a wedding fair that they had attended at the venue when they became engaged. “We saw some beautiful centrepieces filled with flowers created by our chosen florist which incorporated golden stands that varied in size which suited the composition of the room,” Sarah says.

As Arsenal fans, the couple named their tables after old and new Arsenal players. “This was my idea,” Sarah tells us. Chris adds: “This suggestion made me realise that I was marrying the perfect woman! Our table plan was named ‘Where you Gunner sit?’ because Arsenal is also known as The Gunners.”

Sarah and Chris had wooden name plaques teamed with sprigs of flowers, fairlylights strung across the beams in the main room and up lighters placed in line with the pillars to add a dramatic feel to the lighting, which later changed to party lights for the disco and band.

The couple had attended a tasting session at the venue before their wedding and fell in love with the food and wine. “Chris is a big foodie, a very good cook and really knows his wine, so we knew it was going to be tough to please him, but the team at the venue did a great job, Sarah says. “Because we were feeding our guests so well, and didn’t want anything go to waste, we decided not to have a wedding cake.”

Looking The Part

Sarah wore a gown by Essense of Australia. “It was originally a sleeveless dress, but as we were having a winter wedding, I had lace sleeves added that matched the lace on the dress,” she tells us. “I also had a long, two-tier veil, and two pairs of shoes.”

Chris wore a bespoke navy suit, a white shirt with his initials monogrammed on the cuffs and a grey waistcoat teamed with a dark green tie and pocket square plus a pair of brightly coloured socks with black brogues. “The groomsmen wore three-piece navy suits (so that Chris stood out in his grey waistcoat) with green ties and pocket squares, cufflinks to match the bridesmaids’ dresses and buttonholes with flower varieties to match those in my bouquet,” Sarah says. “Each was given a pair of colourful socks too!”

The couple’s bridesmaids wore emerald green satin maxi dresses. “My wonderful bride’s man wore an emerald blazer paired with navy trousers and a navy tie,” Sarah tells us. “We also had three younger flowergirls - the older two wore pale green dresses whilst our youngest one wore a gorgeous white dress with a sage green sash.”

Time To Celebrate

“We wanted our wedding to feel like one big party, so we spent a lot of time choosing our entertainment suppliers,” Sarah and Chris tell us. “We hired a magician, who was a hit with all of our guests. He mingled with the crowd during the early evening. Our four-piece live band, including a saxophonist, played for three hours before the lead bassist turned into a DJ for the final two hours.”

THE DREAM TEAM

Photographer, Stephen Walker Photography, www.stewalkerphotography.com | Venue and catering, The Post Barn, www.thepostbarn.co.uk | Bridal dress, Pure Couture, www.purecouture.co.uk | Bridesmaids’ dresses, Pretty Lavish, https://prettylavish.co.uk | Flowergirl dresses, Next, www.next.co.uk and John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com | Suits, Harris and Zei, www.harrisandzei.com | Bride’s man’s blazer, Brook Taverner, www.brooktaverner.co.uk | Wedding rings, Fullard Fine Jewellery, www.fullardfinejewellery.co.uk | Hair, Madeleine Grace Hair, www.madeleinegracehair.co.uk | Make-up, Laura Carroll Makeup Artistry, www.lauracarroll.co.uk | Flowers, Harrison & Green Bespoke Florist, www.harrisonandgreen.co.uk | Magician, Sylar Magician, www.sylarmagic.com

Helping you say it from the heart

When you want to show the world just how much you love someone, you want a ceremony that tells a truly personal story. Wherever you are getting married or if you’re planning a wedding celebration, Springwood Ceremonies will help you create a memorable and unique ceremony.

For further information please call or visit: www.springwoodceremonies.co.uk hello@springwoodceremonies.co.uk | 07766 750 446 |

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A beautiful backdrop to say “I do” in Berkshire

Set in 250 acres of gorgeous countryside, the Mansion House at Wokefield Estate is the perfect setting for your dream day.

Choose to get married inside this stunning Grade II listed building, or take your vows outside under the eaves of our Wedding Pavilion.

With the capacity for up to 300 guests, Wokefield Estate can accommodate both large and intimate weddings alike.

For information about our packages or to arrange a show-round of the venue, please contact us on the details below.

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