Hannah & Joe – Love in the Summertime

Hannah and Joe chose an elegant colour scheme, fabulous menu and great entertainment for their wedding at Sandhole Oak Barn.

Setting a July date for their special day, Hannah and Joe were searching for their dream wedding venue in Cheshire. Sandhole Oak Barn was the first venue they saw and they fell in love at first sight!

“To be greeted with the view of the barn, the Clock Tower and the lake was just breath-taking,” smiles Hannah. “We knew it was the venue for us and it just ticked even more boxes as we walked around and discussed the day further.”

Setting the Scene

Planning a summer celebration meant the happy couple could take advantage of the beautiful outdoor spaces at Sandhole Oak Barn. They decided on a whimsical, rustic theme with an edge of elegance and a stylish colour scheme of dusky pink, grey, and gold.

“The brilliance of Sandhole is that it doesn’t need many decorations – the beauty of the venue speaks for itself,” says Hannah. “We put fairy lights around the beams and had an abundance of flowers. We also used gold frames for the table numbers and a gold mirror for the table plan.”

All About Flowers

Centrepieces, bouquets, corsages and venue flowers were all designed by Green Earth Flowers.

“To suit the whimsical theme, we used a lot of gypsophila and we had a lot of wild flowers – as if they had been scooped up in a meadow and placed on the tables,” smiles Hannah.

Bridal Style

After visiting a number of bridal boutiques, Hannah fell in love with a Lazaro gown.

“I knew I wanted something different and the Champagne-coloured Lazaro gown was the one,” she explains. “It has the most beautiful lace edged with gold stitching and a big tulle skirt. It truly is the dress for me.”

The stunning bride completed the look with delicate jewellery.

Meanwhile, Joe looked the part in a bespoke suit with the wedding date embroidered under the collar.

“We really enjoyed the whole experience, from choosing the fabric to seeing the finished product,” says Hannah. “I also bought him a Rolex watch as a wedding gift. He loves watches and was blown away to have his own Rolex to wear on the day.”

Finally, Hannah’s bridesmaids wore dusky pink multi-way dresses while her ‘bridesman’ wore a dusky pink suit.

Wedding Day Details

Hannah and Joe married at the Blessed John Henry Newman Catholic Church, Joe’s local parish church.

“It is the most beautiful church with the chairs set around a circular labyrinth,” explains Hannah. “We got married in the middle so everyone had an amazing view!”

Back at Sandhole Oak Barn, Prosecco and canapés were served along with a ‘Pimp your Prosecco’ trolley beside the Clock Tower. Moving in to dine, the wedding breakfast started with a caramelised shallot, roasted pepper and brie tart, moving on to stuffed chicken breast and, for pudding, fresh strawberry compote in a brandy basket.

“The entire menu was fantastic,” smiles Hannah. “We’ve had many comments from our guests to say that it was the best wedding food they have ever eaten!”

Evening Celebrations

As day turned to evening, live band, ‘Under the Covers’ played two sets, filling the dancefloor. As actors, Hannah and Joe met on a show called ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’, so ‘Dance with Me’ by The Drifters proved to be the perfect song for their first dance.

Pulled pork baps were on the evening menu.

“Not only were they delicious but they were portable!” laughs Hannah. “It enabled people to have the minimum interruption to their time on the dance floor!”

Hannah’s favourite moment:

“The time we were able to have to ourselves on the car journey from the church to the venue. The half an hour that we got to spend with each other away from all of our guests, swapping stories about how our day had been so far was priceless to us and something that we will never forget.”

Advice from the Bride

“Take time out for yourselves to have a quiet moment for just the two of you.”

If you are considering Sandhole Oak Barn for your celebration, we would love to show you all this wonderful venue has to offer. Please get in touch with our friendly events team to discuss your plans, receive a brochure or arrange a visit.

Photography courtesy of © Lisa Aldersley Photography