Photography by
Inspiration
This dreamy fairy-lit barn wedding with a cute and rustic DIY wedding sign is so fun! With a relaxed summery dress code, all the guests wore bright colours. From a fancy dress box for evening entertainment, Steph and Will's curated playlists blasting through a boombox, and bell tents for the wedding guests to camp, meant the relaxed festival vibes were definitely achieved! The wedding took place at Recommended venue, The Secret Barn who also took care of the flowers! Plus, the makeup was done by, Recommended supplier, Makeup By Becky Flynn.
The Secret Barn rustic wedding with DIY wedding sign
Our favourite moments of the day were the speeches, which blew me away with a rollercoaster of emotions. Having the readings written by our loved ones, and a friend conducting the ceremony, made the whole day unique and I had a smile on my face all day. Also, it was the time after dinner when the sun started to go down, the speeches were done and there was a sense of calm. After the previous 18 months of lockdowns and restrictions, we were finally surrounded by all our favourite people and had nothing left to do but enjoy each other’s company and relax.
DIY Wedding Sign
Steph and Will are an interior designer and a carpenter, so they love a bit of craft and DIY. The couple wanted lots of colours and a relaxed festival feeling. They bought block-printed fabric as tablecloths for the banquet tables, which Steph is going to make into curtains for their flat! Steph and Will made the wedding sign from an old pallet and even made up a fancy dress box! The couple was meant to have 120 guests but due to Covid restrictions, they moved a lot of the day outside and got down to 44 guests. Steph and Will planned their humanist ceremony in the apple orchard with a good friend, Gabi, as their celebrant. Everyone camped in bell tents, so there was lots of chatting under the stars until sunrise! They had so many people saying how personal and fun the day was.
Personal Touches
Besides the DIY wedding sign, Steph had arranged her own bouquet including flowers from her own garden, her godmother’s garden, her granny’s garden, her late grandmother's favourite flower, stephanotis (a family nickname as a child), and a rose donated from the village where she grew up. Steph and Will wanted to use local suppliers. They set on an indoor/outdoor venue where everyone could be together, whether they're a dancing queen or the self-conscious type! All the flowers and food were homegrown or locally sourced. Their mum wrote a special poem and their friends adapted a reading, so they had a few surprises after all the planning! Steph and Will even made their own playlists for each part of the day and played them on a boombox!
Having a summer wedding? Ask your guests to wear something bright & colourful!
Try not to lose sleep over the small details. Have fun styling your wedding but don’t panic if you can’t find the perfect vase or candlestick. People remember the atmosphere and the unexpected moments, not the missing sprig of sage.
Feeling creative and want to create your own DIY wedding sign for your wedding? We have some great DIY ideas for you on our podcast. Maybe you were feeling emotional about those personal readings? Check out our planning page for some wedding reading inspiration.
Written by Leah Blundell
Featured suppliers
Venue:
The Secret Barn | Photographer:
Irene Yap Weddings | Florist & Food:
Petal and Feast | Cake Maker:
Glazed | Hair Stylist:
Bex Standing Smith | Makeup Artist:
Becky Flynn | Bridal Outfit & Boutique:
Eliza Jane Howell | Bridesmaids Outfits:
Rixo | Tents:
Beautiful Bells
