Chalk Barn is a contemporary modern barn wedding venue in Wiltshire that boasts breathtaking views and a unique setting. With its floor-to-ceiling windows, airy interior and minimalist style, Chalk Barn is the perfect venue for couples looking to create a personal and memorable wedding experience. In this blog, we’ll share 10 ideas to help you make your special day truly your own.
1. Write bespoke wedding vows
Writing your own wedding vows is a beautiful way to personalise your Wiltshire wedding and make your ceremony truly yours. You’ll have the opportunity to express your love and commitment to your partner in your own words – something that you’ll never do again. This not only adds a personal touch to your ceremony, but it also allows you to share your unique love story with your guests.
Crafting bespoke vows also allows you to tailor your promises to your partner’s personality, values, and beliefs. You can include inside jokes, personal anecdotes, and intimate details that are specific to your relationship. Making your vows personalised to you as a couple is more likely to set off some tears in the room, so make sure to keep handkerchiefs close by!
2. Create a signature cocktail
Crafting signature cocktails for your wedding is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your big day. By working with the team at Chalk Barn, you can create a drink for your guests that reflects your personality and love story. Whether you prefer something sweet and fruity or strong and bold, the fully stocked bar and knowledgeable staff can help you create a signature cocktail that perfectly embodies your relationship.
Not only does creating a signature cocktail add a personal touch to your wedding, but it also gives your guests something special to enjoy. They can toast to your love and celebrate with a drink that was created just for you. So, if you’re looking to make your wedding day even more special, consider crafting a signature cocktail with the help of the team at Chalk Barn.
3. Choose a menu that incorporates your heritages/cultures or favourite foods
“Everyone remembers the food!”
It is well-known within the wedding industry that your menu will play a big part in your wedding day and is something your guests will remember post-event. That’s why at Chalk Barn, we offer fully-flexible menus – to the point where you can completely start from scratch if you wish!
Since 2014, McCrimmon and Reid, our in-house wedding caterers and headed by renowned chef Alan Haughie, have been creating menus that are imaginative, seasonal, and locally sourced. They use high-quality ingredients sourced from within Wiltshire to create personalised and modern menus that stand out.
Together with McCrimmon and Reid, you can personalise your wedding day at Chalk Barn by designing a menu that reflects your heritages, cultures or simply reflects your favourite dishes! You may opt for a fusion menu that blends elements of both of your cultural backgrounds, or you may choose to serve traditional dishes from each of your cultures separately. Alternatively, you can choose to incorporate your favourite foods into the menu, whether that be a specific cuisine or dishes that you and your partner love to eat together. Regardless of what you choose, a personalised menu will add a special touch to your wedding day and make it a memorable experience for all.
4. Get married in the season that you both best align with
Selecting the right season for your wedding is highly recommended at Chalk Barn, as you both want to be comfortable and happy on your special day.
If you’re the type of people that become uncomfortable in the sun, an indoor winter wedding might be the perfect fit. You can create a warm and inviting atmosphere by incorporating elements like hot chocolate, blankets, and fire-pits. For nature-loving couples, a spring wedding is a great option. With the blooming of flowers and the return of warmer weather, you can take advantage of the beautiful natural scenery to create a romantic and picturesque setting.
Alternatively, if you’re sun-seekers or festival-goers and live for the sun, a fun and laid-back outdoor summer wedding might be the way to go. You can play with bright and bold colours to create a fun and festive vibe, and incorporate outdoor activities like lawn games to keep guests entertained. Couples who enjoy rustic and vintage themes will love an autumn wedding, the warm colours and crisp air are perfect.
Getting married in your season of choice will impact many of your personal decisions – from your food menu, to your attire and decor. If you’re unsure where to start with personalising your wedding day, choosing the right season for your both is a great place to start.
5. Incorporate shared interests or hobbies
Keen on travel? Obsessed with animals? Love gigs and festivals?
Incorporating shared interests or hobbies into your wedding day is another way you can add a personal touch and make your Wiltshire wedding more bespoke to who you are as a couple. For example, if you and your partner love to travel, consider incorporating maps or postcards into your decor, or have a travel-themed photo booth. If you both enjoy the outdoors, bring in natural elements such as wood accents or greenery to create a rustic atmosphere. Alternatively, if you both love music, consider having personalised playlists or a live band that reflects your taste.
Thankfully, Chalk Barn is minimalist and neutral in design, enabling you to truly make it your own through your own decor and style. Incorporating your personalities as a couple can be as simple as adding personal touches throughout the ceremony and reception.
6. Choose colours that you feel represent you both
Pinks, blues, greens or neutrals – the options are endless! Choosing the right colours for your wedding day is one of the most obvious ways to make your special day bespoke to you as a couple.
At Chalk Barn, you have the opportunity to create a unique and personalised experience that reflects your individual personalities and style. By selecting a colour theme that represents you both, you can create a cohesive and meaningful day that will tie all aspects of the wedding together.
If you don’t know where to start with colour selection, look to shared interests. If you both love the beach, you could incorporate shades of blue and green to represent the ocean and nature. If you have a favourite sports team, you could use their colours as inspiration.
You could also choose colours that represent your cultural heritage or the season in which you are getting married – this works particularly well in spring or autumn. Once you have chosen your colours, you can incorporate them into all aspects of the wedding, from the invitations to the decor to the bridal party attire.
7. Choose a first dance song that holds a special meaning for you both
Ready to dance the night away with the love of your life?
Another way to personalise your wedding day is to select a first dance song that holds meaning for you and your partner, rather than simply choosing any song or a song you’ve heard from someone else’s wedding.
Choosing a song that has meaning for you as a couple is a romantic way to express your love for one another and to move into the rest of the evening. Whether it’s a classic love ballad or a more contemporary tune, you can set the tone for the rest of the evening with a special first dance that reflects your personality as a couple. It can also serve as a way to honour important moments in your relationship. For example, you may select a song that was playing on your first date, the night you got engaged, or at some other significant moment in your relationship. This personal touch will be remembered for years to come!
8. Offer personalised wedding favours for your guests
Favours or no favours? A centuries-old tradition, some couples love the idea of wedding favours while others are less keen. However, wedding favours offer a beautiful way of incorporating that personal touch to your Wiltshire wedding.
These small gifts are a great way to show your appreciation for those who have come to celebrate with you, and they can also serve as a keepsake to remember your special day. Making them personalised to you as a couple adds more value and emotion to your gift.
For example, you might offer a mini version of your favourite cocktail in a bottle to take home, or a personalised candle with your wedding date and names. Other ideas include a personalised flower seed packet if you love gardening, custom frosted shot glasses, jam pots with personalised name tags or personalised golf balls if you’re golf fans!
The beauty of wedding favours is that you can make them hyper-personalised to you as a couple, or to the individual receiving the wedding favours. Alternatively, if you’re a minimalist couple by nature, you might skip them altogether.
9. Use unique table names or numbers that have special significance to you as a couple
A popular way to add a personal touch is creating unique table names or numbers that have special significance to you as a couple and can be a great way to elevate your wedding day. Not only will it add a personalised touch to your reception, but it can also spark conversations among your guests and create a fun experience for everyone. Consider using names or numbers that relate to your shared interests, favourite places, significant dates, or even inside jokes.
One idea could be to use the names of cities or countries that you have travelled to together as table names. You could include a small description or photo of your favourite memory in each location to make it even more meaningful. Another option could be to use the names of your favourite books, movies, or songs as table names.
How would you personalise your wedding tables? We’d love to hear your ideas!
10. Have a wedding hashtag for guests to use on social media
Chalk Barn offers a picturesque venue for the ultimate Wiltshire wedding day, and creating a wedding hashtag for guests to use on social media is a great way to capture and share memories of the special occasion! By choosing a unique and memorable hashtag, guests can easily share their photos and experiences with each other and with the happy couple.
To create a successful wedding hashtag, it’s important to choose something that is easy to remember and that incorporates the couple’s names or other relevant details. For example, #TheFullersChalkBarnWedding or #JohnAndJaneTieTheKnot. This will help ensure that all of the photos and posts are easily searchable and accessible to everyone who attended the wedding.
Your perfect day at Chalk Barn
Personalising your wedding at Chalk Barn can make your big day all the more special and memorable. From signature cocktails to bespoke menus, there are endless opportunities to make your wedding uniquely yours. With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can create a wedding that reflects your personality and love story. So, go ahead and make your wedding a reflection of who you are as a couple, because in the end, it’s the little personal touches that will make your day truly unforgettable!
If you are yet to say ‘we do’ to a Chalk Barn wedding, get in touch with us to book a bespoke viewing of our stunning barn and to see the magical views for yourself.