As soon as they started planning their wedding, Hannah and Tom knew that the most important thing for them was going to be the atmosphere on the day itself. The couple wanted a relaxed venue where everyone would be able to enjoy themselves and happily, Rivervale Barn could provide just that.
A special wedding venue
Like lots of couples, Hannah and Tom had visited lots of wedding venues in their quest to find the perfect location for their big day. As soon as they arrived at Rivervale, they knew the hunt was over:
“We must have looked at about 20 different venues and just couldn’t find the right fit until we walked into Rivervale. The second we stepped through the front doors, we knew that it was perfect and we both just fell in love with the look and feel of it.”
“From the outside, it looks like a regular barn but the second you step inside and see the high ceilings, light wooden beams, open plan layout and huge glass windows that let light flood through, you know that it’s just something special.”
A soft grey and pink colour scheme
Hannah and Tom opted for a wedding theme that was both classical and romantic. Soft greys, pinks and hints of silver all came together perfectly and it was Tom that choose the colour palette for the big day.
“We used lots of fresh flowers throughout the day. In the Ceremony Barn, we opted for tall pedestals with large flowers vases at both end of the aisle along with hurricane lanterns and petals. We used the hurricane lanterns outside in the evening to create a romantic feel too.”
“In the Dining Barn, we decorated our tables with tall fresh flower centrepieces on top of mirrors with tea lights. I also made a few things myself such as our confetti basket and also a sign for our ceremony but we left most of the decoration to Cherubs Floral Design.”
A wedding dress all the way from New York
When your maid of honour works for an airline, a girls’ trip to New York is an absolute essential and, if you can shop for your wedding dress when you’re there, even better! It’s fair to say that Hannah’s trip to the Big Apple was simply fabulous:
“My mum, my maid of honour, my mum’s best friend and I stayed in New York for five days. We toured the city and went to a few bridal appointments at Kleinfeld Bridal and David’s Bridal. I wasn’t hopeful but the second I tried my dress on, I knew it was the one. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I can’t thank my Maid of Honour enough for the part she played in it.”
Hannah also found her diamante and pearl headband as well as her cathedral length veil in New York too. On the day, Hannah finished her bridal look with diamond earrings and a diamond necklace, both bought for her by Tom as a Christmas gift.
Tom was keen to support local businesses throughout and found his outfit at Anthony Blay, based in nearby Wokingham. He wore elegant grey tails and an ivory waistcoat and cravat. The couple were incredibly impressed with service they received and with the quality of the suits themselves.
A day full of special moments
Hannah made use of the Pamper Room at Rivervale Barn to get ready and enjoyed spending time with her bridesmaids, mum and Nan at the start of the day. However, one of the bridesmaids was particularly special:
“One of my bridesmaids was my 85 year-old great aunt, who flew in specially from the States to be with us. It was a surprise that she was a bridesmaid and only the bridal party knew that she was going to be with us.”
“We got married in Rivervale’s stunning Ceremony Barn. It has a church-style door, amazing high ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling window at the back that lets light flood into the room and gives a breath-taking view of the gardens.”
Amazing food and drink
After attending a Tasting Event at Rivervale Barn, Hannah and Tom chose a menu that they loved for their celebrations and their guests couldn’t have been happier with their selections.
“For our drinks reception, we had a rustic cocktail bar and there were also milkshakes and cookies for children. There were also six different types of canapes and we chose things that most people would like including duck spring rolls, prawn tempura and Thai sweet chilli chicken.”
The couple’s wedding breakfast included salmon followed by duck two ways and a trio of desserts. During the evening, a BBQ, vintage popcorn machine and candy cart provided even more treats for guests.
“We fell in love with our menu at a Tasting Event. The duck was impeccable, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. Sophie, our event manager, spoke to the chef on our behalf and there were so many great ideas.”
“The events team at Rivervale is unlike any other events team I’ve ever come across. They are always there if you need them at any point during planning. They have great ideas and are open to help in any way they can. On the day, I couldn’t thank them enough. Our day was flawless and ran perfectly. They really do go above and beyond.”
Celebrating in style
Music played a big role in Hannah and Tom’s wedding day with live performances throughout the day. A string quartet accompanied the ceremony whilst in the evening, a live band got the party started in fine style:
“Our band, The Indie Killers, were amazing. The dancefloor was full to bursting all night. They interacted with the crowd and even let my friend’s 8 year old son play the drums with them! It was incredible and everyone’s still talking about how amazing they were.”
Special memories and moments
“I have so many favourite memories that it’s really hard to pick one. Seeing Tom waiting at the end of the aisle, our first dance and my Dad’s speech all stand out. My dad isn’t one for being conventional and actually sang his speech! It was special and amazing.”
But that wasn’t all. Tom had arranged a very special surprise for his bride and this was a beautiful and unforgettable moment:
“After our photos, were we led to the Cornstore Cottage to have 10 minutes to ourselves and grab some canapes, we were then led out to what I assumed was going to be our receiving line. However we walked into the venue to see all of our guests had lined both sides of the reception room and were coving the front door, to say I was confused was an understatement, but we walked down towards the front doors to applause and as we got to the end, everyone parted to reveal a vintage car outside waiting for us.”
“Tom had planned the whole thing, we have some wonderful family friends who own the car and they gave that to us as their wedding present. It was amazing, we had a 20 minute drive around and it gave us a chance to be alone for a bit.”
To start your journey to your perfect wedding day, why not arrange a time to come and visit us? We’d love to show you around Rivervale and find out more about your wedding plans. Get in touch today.
Images © Senior Mac Photography
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