Andra & Rhys’s Late Summer Wedding at Barns & Yard

Their wedding was a testament to personalised touches, from the bride’s elegant Maggie Sottero gown to the carefully curated details reflecting their unique style. Minimal decorations, accented by soft colours and wildflowers, set the stage for an intimate and enchanting atmosphere. However, it was the reuniting of friends and family that truly made their celebration unforgettable.

Andra says…

We were always set on getting married in the Gower in Wales as it’s very close to our hearts; we never even looked at venues in and around the Midlands. However, through chance, we came across Barns & Yard. When we pulled into the drive at B&Y, there were not enough words to describe our overwhelming excitement. The grounds were stunning, and the barn and cottages were elegant with a rustic feel, which provided the perfect blank canvas to make the day our own. Most importantly, you could feel the love and care the ladies at B&Y put into the venue and, eventually, our wedding day.

The dress by Maggie Sottero was one of the first dresses I saw online when I first gathered ideas. The bridesmaids wore multiway dresses, each making their own by tying them in various ways. Groom and groomsmen suits were Moss Bros. Hair was done by the lovely Gemma Hull Hair and Makeup. I opted to do my makeup myself as I was petrified of not looking like myself on the day if anyone else did it. It was exciting in the initial planning stages and shopping for new makeup, but with hindsight, I would say let someone else take control of this for you on the day!

We wanted the venue and our chosen flowers to speak for themselves, so we kept the decorations to a minimum, focusing on soft colours and wildflowers. Vintage gold candlestick holders complemented the rustic feel of the barns. Hannah at Bride & Bloom wowed us and our guests with her incredible floral designs. Her natural, locally grown flowers were absolutely stunning.

Beth’n Cakes made the cake. We kept the design natural and simple, yet I still wanted something slightly different, so I went for a cube shape, which wasn’t seen that much at that point in time. Beth is local to us and someone Rhys went to school with. She is our go-to for all cakes, from birthdays to the biggest milestones since the wedding, such as our baby’s gender reveal, baby shower, and baby’s 1st birthday party.

We love our food, so this was probably the most important part of the day. The team at Caviar & Chips smashed it out of the park. The menu was created purely based on what we liked; think Italian with mushroom arancini, elegant fillet of beef and short rib ragu and Greek street food for evening food. The team was attentive, ensuring they followed us around to keep us fed on the day! Our guests still speak about how excellent our wedding food was two and a half years down the line!

Scarlett was so lovely to work with. To start with, it took me absolutely forever to find a photographer due to my extremely high and meticulous expectations. Scarlett’s portfolio stood out from the rest; it was stunning, natural and warm. I had every faith she would capture the happiness of the day through her photography. We’re both camera shy, but she made us feel so at ease and captured the day even better than I could have ever imagined!

Best part of the day

The party! With our wedding in September ’21 and COVID-19 restrictions only easing in July ’21, we were looking forward to reuniting with all our friends and family and having the best celebrations after so many restrictions and uncertainty. Jeris’s music and her band kept us dancing all night, and everyone raved about how they were the best wedding band they had seen!

From one couple

Make the day your own, and don’t put harsh expectations on yourselves because of how it will impact someone else. All your friends and family are there to celebrate you. It’s easier said than done, but don’t sweat the small stuff. The day will be perfect even if some of the smaller pieces don’t fall into place!