Our real wedding couple Michelle and Martin, along with GK Photography have treated us with a summer wedding day featuring a unique selection of wedding treats! A beautiful bohemian-inspired bride, a groom uniform, a ring-warming ceremony, garden games and a wedding meal infused with Greek influences! This couple certainly allowed their personal style to shine bright throughout the day, and for that reason, we know it will inspire so many of you who wish to do the same! Sit back and allow this beautiful barn wedding in Reading, in the UK, to work its rustic, romantic magic!
Martin, who is British, grew up in Germany and met the Irish love of his life Michelle on a night out in London. Michelle recounts how a trip to Iceland transformed their romance into something so much more: "Things did not quite go to plan for Martin at first with many tourists being at all the scenic spots we had visited that day. He finally proposed in the Airbnb we were staying at that evening. I was not expecting it, so it was quite the surprise!"
This wooden palette with the order of events made for the perfect rustic DIY wedding decor and is such a practical way to let guests know where they should be throughout the day. We can't help but adore their choice of guest book - the creative couple used Jenga blocks for guest to sign their names and add to the block towers to help 'build memories'! This unique idea infuses some fun and personality right from the beginning of the day!
Michelle, looks sensational in her Anna Kara lace gown with touches of boho-inspired details. The dress showcased intricate lace detail from her bodice to the sleeves and throughout. She chose a neutral bouquet bursting with fluffy pampas and pastel florals while choosing loose waves to complement the look. "The vibe of the day had a rustic feel with the Tithe Barn, Manor House and military uniforms. The blush tones, in the bridesmaid dresses, bouquets and floral arrangements tied everything together whilst the garden games, ice cream tricycle, and sharing style Greek mezze BBQ gave the day an overall relaxed, informal vibe!" she says.
Martin's uniform was an incredible choice for his groomswear, supported by his colleagues in their formal military attire too. And while we usually find ourselves writing about an outfit change for our brides, this time it was the groom who wowed in a second ensemble.
The newlyweds had the Celtic tradition of handfasting for their wedding ceremony which was described as very fitting given their Irish backgrounds. Additionally, they held a ring-warming ritual during which their wedding bands were shared among the guests to *infuse them with warmth and well wishes, such a lovely idea! When asked what their favourite ceremony reading was, they chose He Never Leaves the Seat up by Pay Ayres, which was read by their friend Claire. "It was really heartfelt, and she had us all choked up in tears by the end!"
The venue that held the wonderful barn wedding celebrations was Ufton Court. Tucked away in 16 acres of private gardens, the venue is located in the charming town of Ufton Nervet in the breathtaking Reading Berkshire countryside. "Ufton Court has so many different areas that can be used for the ceremony and drinks reception. The gardens really come to life in the summer months, so it was perfect for a July wedding. There were also loads of catering options and it is a no-corkage venue which was a big decider for us. The Tithe Barn and Elizabethan Manor have a real rustic feel and the surrounding gardens are so beautiful. The venue itself inspired our wedding aesthetic!" they say.
When we asked these lovebirds for nuggets of advice for those who are beginning wedding planning they said: "Really think about what your priorities are before you start making bookings, its easy to get carried away at first. Due to the pandemic, we ended up having a very long engagement which gave us a lot of time to think about what was important to us. Also, it's worth doing something a bit different that guests may not have seen at a wedding before such as the garden games that we did, they were a big hit!"
Pretty in purple! The beautiful bridesmaids wore a selection of mix and matched dresses, in different shades of plums and purples bringing much warmth and diversity. We also spot a glowing expecting bridesmaid who is radiating in her maternity gown!
The couple's priorities when in the midst of wedding planning were to choose a venue which was both unique but also somewhat accessible for guests travelling from abroad. "We always loved the idea of a barn wedding venue.We are also foodies, so we were excited for the food to be something a bit different than the usual formal wedding breakfast. The caterers had a great range of options, so we had a Greek mezze BBQ, followed by a wood-fired pizza oven for the evening food. We also had an ice cream tricycle after the ceremony with loads of flavour options," they added.
A table plan inspired by the couple's love for travel!
That naked cake bedecked in summer berries looks too good to eat! After the ceremony, and the idyllic garden wedding photoshoot, Martin hung up his uniform and changed into dapper evening attire. He chose a deep blue, plaid suit paired with a casual open-tie shirt!
When it comes to honeymoons, most couples fly off for R&R following the celebrations, but Michelle and Martin flew off before the big event! They explain: "We went to the Dominican Republic a couple of months before our wedding day as we have a son and the timings worked out better for us. We’d highly recommend it if you want a relaxing beach holiday and great weather. After the wedding, we went to a local hotel called The Pig near Bath for a couple of nights and it was perfect as we were so tired after the wedding events that we didn’t want to travel far!"
A very special thank you to our real wedding couple Michelle, Martin and GK Photography for sharing their barn celebrations with One Fab Day!
Looking for more rustic barn weddings? Check out our list of 28 Brilliant Irish Barn Wedding Venues!
