Corinne & Jake: A Modern Summer Wedding at The Willow Marsh Farm

The Willow Marsh Farm, a 160-acre family farm in Leicestershire, provided the perfect backdrop for their seasonal ceremony meadow, sage-toned styling, and exceptional food. Nothing was done for social media’s sake – just genuinely thoughtful decisions that reflected exactly who they are as a couple. We could all take a leaf out of The Dominys’ book…

Firstly, (you may laugh), having our dog with us on our wedding day was our number one priority. The Willow Marsh Farm were happy for Wilson to be by our side during the ceremony and for our photographs – perfect! But overall, we chose The Willow Marsh Farm because of the way it made us feel…

We viewed other venues, which felt too commercialised and like a conveyor belt. But as we walked around the grounds at the WMF, on a beautiful hot day in August 2022, we could hear gentle music in the background and the leaves blowing in the breeze – the calm and peaceful vibe we were looking for.

The Willow Marsh Farm has its own unique style and is clearly loved dearly by the Jenks family and their team. They wanted us to have our day how we envisioned it, rather than the other way around. Looking at previous weddings at the farm, I could see that no two weddings were the same, which filled me with excitement and a sense of individuality. The two on-site cottages allowed us to spend the entire weekend in an undisturbed bubble with our nearest and dearest, something very important to both of us. So, we booked our date for Saturday, 22nd June 2024.

On the Friday night, our caterers and florists quietly set up in the barn and stables. There was no rush or urgency; everything was relaxed, and they were in complete control. I woke up on my wedding morning and looked over the balcony to see a mother swan and her cygnets in tow alongside the lake. I couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere and space.

It was whimsical, I guess! Aesthetics and fashion aren’t a strong point of mine, but I tried aha!
I fell in love with Australian bridal fashion and visited Dress Me Pretty with a specific dress in mind: ‘Jaya’ by Madi Lane. It was the first dress I tried on, and whilst I did try on a couple of other beautiful dresses, nothing compared. The all over detail, the sparkle and the train – it was the one.

We wanted a summery, almost abroad feel, so Jake and his groomsmen chose their suits to reflect this. Our colour scheme was primarily white, but we chose a lovely sage colour for our bridesmaids, which looked divine in the June sunshine. My rule for my bridal party was ‘go with what makes you feel comfortable’. So, hair and makeup were all a matter of personal preference, and we chose shoes for comfort.

I feel that The Willow Marsh Farm is a style and theme all by itself. The venue already reflected both our personalities and style; therefore, we felt that we didn’t need a strong theme. Don’t get me wrong, I have seen some exceptional styling and themes on the WMF’s social media, but for us, our theme was to be natural and ‘no fuss’.

We chose Nicole and Saffron at Sutton Lodge Flowers and Floristry. Their values resonate with mine – to be sustainable, grow your own, and support locally sourced produce. Having met the ladies a couple of times at their farm and workshops, I put my trust entirely in them to create something fabulous that reflected Jake and me. The only guidance I gave them was ‘white, and I love eucalyptus.’ Nicole and Saffron pulled it out of the bag. I couldn’t have ever imagined how amazing their flowers and displays were.

The Willow Marsh Farm provided us with a list of caterers to choose from, so we knew that any of those would provide exceptional service. We selected Black Peppermint and collaborated with them to create a bespoke menu. My mum and sister gatecrashed our tasting session, but to share the journey with them made it even more special. I sent BPM a million emails along the way, and they took care of us perfectly. Their food on the day was exceptional too!

The Mother of the Bride made our cake. A three-tier cake made up of a Biscoff cake, a Victoria sponge cake, and a lemon cake, with flowers from Sutton Lodge. Our guests devoured it within record time!

We found Amy Woodham Photography, along with our other fabulous suppliers, on Instagram.
We could see that Amy’s work was top quality, and to hear that she had The Willow Marsh Farm on her wish list, it was meant to be that we chose Amy to photograph our wedding day. From Amy’s social media, it was clear that we would feel comfortable with her and that she would make us laugh along the way.

I felt that Amy’s style matched mine, and I was confident that even though Jake and I are not particularly affectionate, she would capture our joy and unique love perfectly. And she sure did! Since our wedding day, our friends and family have said that our photographs are some of the best they have ever seen.

Being announced as Mr and Mrs Dominy over the microphone by my niece, to our guests waving their napkins, to ‘Club Foot’ by Kasabian. Without a doubt – sharing this moment with our closest friends and family is a moment I will never forget!

This is your special day. I would advise you to plan your day the way you want it to be. (If you want a small and intimate or low-key formal ceremony, be prepared for conflicts!)

Rightly or wrongly, I felt obliged to speak to everyone at all times. If I had my time again, I would sit down and stay put, appreciating everything happening around me. The day goes by so quickly; don’t waste it by trying to make conversation with every single guest.

If you are a nervous bride, like I was in the lead up to our day, you may well surprise yourself and flourish at the last moment!