Lorna & Paul – An Autumnal Celebration

The October wedding of Lorna and Paul embraced all that is wonderful about tying the knot at Sandhole Oak Barn. With delicious food, beautiful décor and their family and friends… it was a romantic day to remember.

The Perfect Venue

With friends and family travelling from all over the country, Lorna and Paul were on the lookout for a venue where the ceremony and reception could be held under one roof and where there was accommodation nearby. “Sandhole Oak Barn was just perfect,” says Lorna. “Close to major road links but set in beautiful countryside with just sheep in the field next door for neighbours… it really felt like our own hideaway!”

Theme of the Day

The happy couple decided to embrace the autumnal season and use natural materials to bring the outdoors in. Shades of golden yellow, burnt red, oranges and greens were introduced throughout, predominantly using wood, leaves, pumpkins and flowers.“For our table centres, we used slices of tree trunk,” explains Lorna. “Paul’s dad grew a bumper crop of pumpkins which we then hollowed out before giving to the florist to fill with flowers. I also made leaf lanterns by collecting glass jars and sticking leaves to them.” Ribbon and fairy lights adorned the barn beams to add extra colour and Lorna’s mum dried pretty leaves, which were then scattered around the tables along with some conkers. To complete the look, two beautifully carved pumpkins (created by a neighbour) sat in the entrance with lit candles after dark.

Paul and Lorna’s passion for mountain biking also added to the theme of the day, through the stationery and cake design.

All about the dress

Lorna wore ‘Bia’ by Pronovias, a stunning princess dress with shoulder straps, a tulle skirt and applique lace detail.

“I absolutely loved my dress!” she smiles. “It was one of the first dresses I tried on and it felt great. I especially loved the neckline.” To show off this elegant neckline, Lorna decided not to wear a necklace. Instead, she wore pretty pearl drop earrings from her mother, and a delicate gold bracelet that had been a gift from Paul. In the evening, she added a diamante belt for a little sparkle.

As for the Groom and the Bridesmaids…

Paul wore a completely bespoke suit from Frank Roston, with he and Lorna choosing the material, colour and cut together. “The level of personalisation was great,” says Lorna. “He even has the date of our wedding embroidered inside the suit jacket!”

Lorna didn’t have any official bridesmaids, but her friends Katie and Lisa were there to help every step of the way and organised her amazing hen party.

Beautiful Blooms

The wonderful flower arrangements were created by a family friend, sticking to the autumnal colour scheme. Lorna’s bouquet featured roses, cockscomb and eucalyptus leaves and were hand tied to create that ‘just picked’ look. All the ladies in the wedding party had matching corsages with roses, berries and leaves. The buttonholes were a real favourite of Lorna’s with a burnt orange Calla lily combined with a thistle, leaves and berries.

The Wedding Breakfast

Following the civil ceremony, guests enjoyed welcome drinks and canapés in The Oak Barn, spilling out on to the lovely courtyard overlooking the lake. An abundance of delicious canapés were served, before guests sat down for dinner. For the main course, Lorna and Paul wanted to encourage interaction on the tables, especially where some guests had never met before. “We chose chicken and leek pie, which was served whole to the table,” says Lorna. “There was a designated ‘chef’ on each table who then served the rest of the guests.” For pudding, a trio of tempting desserts was a winning choice.

Let Them Eat Cake!

“My mum’s friend made the cake, and it was amazing!” smiles Lorna. The three tiers consisted of fruit cake, chocolate cake and an orange cake – all delicious. When it came to design, it was adorned with sugar leaves and pumpkins, and given a mountain bike theme with the addition of two metal bikes as a cake topper.

Evening Celebrations

Keen to get everyone on the dance floor, the newlyweds entertained guests with a DJ in the evening. Treating the taste buds once again, bacon sandwiches were served, with halloumi panini’s as a vegetarian option.

And Another Thing…

Thoughtful favours gave a personal touch. Lorna and Paul made chili-infused oil and tomato chutney from homemade ingredients. As well as looking delicious in their pretty jars, the colours suited their wedding theme perfectly!

Lorna’s Top Tip

“Take your time to walk down the aisle. I was in such a rush, Dad and I were at the front before the music had really got going!”

To see how beautiful Sandhole Oak Barn can look in the winter as well as autumn, check out Victoria and David’s Winter Wonderland Wedding. There’s plenty in there to get you inspired!

Photography courtesy of © Andrew Wade Weddings