George & William’s Countryside Wedding Celebration

George and William tied the knot at Abbey Farm Weddings on the summer bank holiday weekend. Considering they had planned every last detail thousands of miles away (from where they live in Dubai), you really wouldn’t have known because their rustic but luxurious celebration is an ode to all things British. From the red double-decker bus to their beef Wellington wedding breakfast and the spectacular florals by Sophie Fieldsend Florals, who created a wild, meadow-inspired scene in and around the Old Granary Barn, folks, this is a modern British masterclass…

But it’s also effortlessly stylish, deeply romantic, super fun, and utterly gorgeous!

George & william say…

Abbey Farm Weddings stole our hearts as the ideal venue; it was picture-perfect, and Woodhall Spa, a charming British town, made the perfect place for us and our closest loved ones to start our wedding weekend. The venue’s courtyard with a fire pit, indoor/outdoor feel, and modern yet charming interior captured our vision.

Millie and Jo from Abbey Farm were incredibly accommodating and personal throughout the wedding prep. We appreciated the laid-back approach, allowing us to choose caterers, bands, and entertainment without pressure.

Suited & Booted Dubai designed William’s deep navy suit, which was traditional and timeless. In true George fashion, he opted for something slightly different but in a matching colour tone, boasting a beautiful velvet jacket! Both suits featured bespoke engravings with our initials and wedding date above the jacket pocket.

We chose a classic green and white theme, bringing the woodland feel indoors and perfectly complementing the rustic feel of the barns. The wedding breakfast for 90 guests featured banqueting tables adorned with green foliage, taper candles, gold charger plates, and cutlery for an elegant touch. With her floral designs, Sophie Fieldsend Florals created a secret garden atmosphere in the ceremony space. She dressed the full shelf space of the Old Granary Barn with meadow designs, full of height and soft textures. This lead beautifully onto the broken arch design placed at the end of the aisle. Standing at nearly 8 feet, this design felt natural and loose, which perfectly correlated with the surrounding barn. The other arch design placed at the porch entrance of the Oak Barn was a slight step change and was more ethereal and cloud-like in style. Sophie used darker green tones of beech, oak and silver birch to give the perfect contrast against the fresh whites of the florals. All designs were foam-free and provided a stunning backdrop.

Black Peppermint designed a British-themed menu, including canapés, a beef Wellington main, and a trio of desserts: Eton mess, lemon tart and poached rhubarb & custard. Spitting Pig‘s hog roast was a hit during the evening cocktails!

Polka-Dotty’s statement (and tall!) cake matched our theme and added elegance with a wreath featuring our initials.

Photographer James Williams Photography found Abbey Farm a dream venue, capturing the lighting, different locations, and breathtaking backdrops. The Abbey Ruins are ideal for couples’ portraits, and James certainly succeeded in capturing the most elegant, beautiful photos that truly reflected our personalities!

Best part of the day

The day was a total rollercoaster of emotions, so it’s really tricky to pick just one moment, but hearing the vows had everyone choked up. Having waited so long for this day and with the difficulty of planning a Lincolnshire wedding from Dubai, the stress and worry were suddenly non-existent. The day was filled with fun and laughter from start to finish, and it was one that nobody wanted to end.

From one couple to another…

Expect things to go wrong during the planning process – they do! Remain level-headed, as everything can be fixed!

Keep track of everything! There are many plates here to keep spinning, and the temptation to pass work on to others might pop up, but if you want something done right, do it yourself!

Keep a spreadsheet (I love a spreadsheet!), but prepare your steps from who you’ve contacted to who you’re booking, all the way through invoices paid and the next steps. Add dates so you know you’re managing the time you have and can keep your schedule on track.

We found many suppliers were slow at responding to enquiries and not keeping to the timeframes they had initially given at the quoting stage BEFORE we agreed to use them! We organised our wedding from the other side of the world, so the situation was exacerbated. If your chosen supplier’s communication is poor during the initial stage, imagine what it will be like once you have paid a deposit. You’re chasing a list of suppliers, and panic is setting in. Communication is key! It is a big red flag if this is poor from the outset!

On the day, just enjoy yourself. You’ve put so much effort into creating this magical day, and you want it to be amazing for your guests, but the only people that really matter are you and your partner. If something goes wrong, it really doesn’t matter too much. Remember that everyone’s going to have an amazing time no matter what!