At Chalk Barn, we pride ourselves on being a beautiful, sustainable wedding venue nestled in the Wiltshire countryside. Surrounded by organic farmland and with unparalleled views of the rolling hills, our venue is perfect for couples looking for a natural wedding venue for their special day.
In this blog, the spotlight is on Ellen & James, a lovely couple who celebrated their wedding at Chalk Barn in 2021. The pandemic meant that Ellen and James had to postpone their wedding two times, but in 2021 they finally got to say ‘I do’ at Chalk Barn. Read on as we take a look back over the details from their gorgeous wedding in the Wiltshire countryside.
The Venue
When it came to their wedding venue, they just knew Chalk Barn was special. Ellen told us ‘the location of Chalk Barn perfectly fit with our vision for our wedding, being in the countryside, surrounded by beautiful views and being able to get married and party all in one place.’
Another benefit of Chalk Barn was that Ellen and James were able to include their dog Gunner in the celebrations, Ellen added ‘we also liked the sustainability and environmental aspects of the barn.’
The Flowers
Ellen and James worked with Hibiscus and Hodge to create a whimsical and natural wedding theme full of foliage and white accents. They included hops in the men’s buttonholes and delicate gypsophila in bridal parties’ hair pieces.
The Ceremony
Ellen and James were thrilled to be able to host their ceremony outside, with beautiful weather predicted for the whole day. For their outdoor ceremony they kept the decor understated, as they felt it was unnecessary to distract from the view with excess decorations – describing the view as ‘incredible’ and ‘breathtaking’. To add some personality to their ceremony space, Ellen and James used large lanterns and milk churns to decorate the aisle for their outdoor wedding, which were then repurposed indoors later in the day to keep their wedding sustainable.
The Signage
James thoughtfully made signs for their wedding day out of pallets, including an order of the day. He was also able to create a stand-alone bar which they have been kind enough to allow us to keep at Chalk Barn for future couples. Our favourite DIY project from Ellen and James’ wedding was their ‘guest book’, which was two pallets with string and pegs for guests to adorn with polaroid images.
The Details
For their colour theme, Ellen and James chose a natural palette of sage green and navy, to reflect their love of nature and being outdoors. Both Ellen and James were keen to keep their plans simple, their focus for the day was to have amazing food, music and fun.
For favours, Ellen and James gifted their guests with a double shot of Nuts and Nougat vodka. This drink was chosen to represent their engagement, as they enjoyed this drink when James popped the question during a trip to Amsterdam in 2018. Ellen and James told us one of their highlights was watching Ellen’s Grandad being the first to drink his shot!
The Cake
One standout part of this gorgeous wedding was the cake, topped with a ‘finally’ sign to represent the postponements this couple had to endure. Little Rose Cake Studio created a stunning three-tiered wedding cake, decorated ‘naked’ with real white roses. Each tier was a different flavour; one was raspberry bakewell, one was Biscoff and the last one was ‘royal wedding’ which was a lemon sponge with lemon and elderflower buttercream
The Entertainment
Entertainment was a crucial part to their big day. Ellen and James chose a pianist named Lorraine Wild to play for their wedding ceremony and reception, and a live band ‘That Cover Band’ to perform in the evening. For their first dance as a married couple, Ellen and James danced to Hold you in my arms by Ray LaMontagne performed by ‘That Cover Band’.
The Photographer
To document their day, Ellen and James picked Sophie Jane for their wedding photography. Together, they were able to make the most of the stunning views and extensive farmland to capture gorgeous wedding photos. The variety of wonderful photograph opportunities at Chalk Barn is a photographers best friend!
The Perfect Venue in the Wiltshire Countryside
Ellen and James were able to celebrate their wedding day at Chalk Barn with timeless and classic decor that suited the venue perfectly. Their passion for the outdoors was carried through every decision they made, complimenting the ethos and setting of Chalk Barn for a seamless day.
When we asked the happy couple why future couples should choose Chalk Barn, they simply said ‘Once you see it for yourself, you will understand why it is the best wedding venue! ’
And when we asked them for any recommendations for future Chalk Barn couples, they responded with:
‘Make the most of the exclusivity of the venue both before, during and after the wedding. Speak with the team about your non-negotiables for your wedding and they will support you in making your dream wedding come true. Enjoy the process and remember to take 10 minutes together as a newly married couple, just you two, to take it all in.’
To request a brochure or arrange a private tour of our modern barn wedding venue in Wiltshire, get in touch with our team today!