Ryan and Lotti's Wedding in Salisbury, Wiltshire

We got married under the Oak Ceremony Hut, and walking up the avenue of flowers to reach it is a memory I will hold onto forever. It felt like walking into a completely different world, hedged in on either side by blooms, with the barn and the fields opening up ahead. The bridal side room was a brilliant touch, too. It gave my bridesmaids and me somewhere private to get ready, breathe, and have one last moment together before the ceremony began, rather than being on show the whole morning.

Getting Ready

Michaela Selene did my makeup, and Liz Evans did my hair, and honestly, they were the calm in the middle of the storm that morning. Wedding mornings are a strange mix of excitement and nerves, and both of them were completely unflappable. They talked me through everything, kept the room relaxed, and had a way of making the whole process feel steady even when my nerves were creeping in. By the time I looked in the mirror, I felt like myself, just the most polished version of it, and a lot of that came down to how professional and reassuring they both were.

The Food

We went for a mix of BBQ and Mexican food from Demaine Artisan, and every single comment from our guests was praise, whether that was for the flavours, the variety, or just how well it suited a relaxed outdoor wedding on a hot day. If you are choosing a caterer for a barn or countryside wedding, I would say do not feel tied to a traditional three-course sit-down meal. A more informal, pick-your-own menu style suited our venue and the weather far better, and it meant guests could eat, mingle, and enjoy the space more quickly rather than being stuck at a table for hours.

Entertainment

One of the more unexpected highlights of the day was our magician, David Alnwick. He worked the reception doing close-up magic with an occult, almost eerie edge to his performance style, which was completely different to the cheesy card-trick magician I think a lot of people picture. Guests were genuinely gripped, huddled around him in small groups, trying to work out how he was doing what he was doing. If you want something a bit different for your drinks reception that gets people talking to each other, table magic like this is worth considering, and a magician with a distinctive style rather than a generic one made it feel much more memorable.

The Cake

Our cake, from Viking Bakehouse, was hands down one of the standout moments of the whole day. We went with a black, red, and gold gothic design, which was a real departure from the soft pastel wedding cakes you usually see, and it suited us perfectly. Guests were talking about it for the rest of the evening. If you want your cake to actually make an impression rather than blend into the background, do not be afraid to go bold and choose a design that reflects your personality as a couple rather than what is expected.

Tips for Other Brides

If you are considering Bowerchalke Barn, or a secluded barn venue like it, here are the two biggest things I would tell you to sort out early:

Accommodation: There is no accommodation on site, so get this organised as early as possible. Guests coming from further afield will need somewhere nearby to stay, and the good options nearby will book up if you leave it too late. We stayed at Strang Manor Farm, which was 10 minutes away and was able to accommodate our close family and friends beautifully, and was a perfect place to host a 'night before' celebration barbecue.

Transport: The venue is genuinely secluded, tucked away in proper countryside, so think carefully about how your guests will get to and from the venue. Taxis are not always easy to come by out there, so arranging shared transport or minibuses for the evening is well worth doing in advance. I sorted this by putting the taxi numbers on the website, and encouraging people to book them before in advance.

Everything about the day came together beautifully, and having a team of suppliers who were this good at their jobs made the whole thing feel effortless from where I was standing. If you are planning a wedding at Bowerchalke Barn, I would not hesitate to go ahead.