Wild Weddings without Exception

Working with a small dedicated team and gorgeous real life, inter-abled couple, Georgina & Richard, they wanted to showcase how alternative, inclusive wedding venues do not have to compromise on style and individuality. Set within seven acres of land, with options to be outside in the wild or inside wrapped in decades of rustic charm, the venue lends itself perfectly to romantic ceremonies, personal touches and tailored adaptations.

Joanne says…

The Owl Barn is a place for celebrations of originality, personality and identity.

Our goal as a team was to demonstrate how weddings need to adopt a refreshed approach to inclusivity. An approach that celebrates a couples’ identity, without expecting that identity to be moulded by the limitations of decades of years of routine and compromise.

Planning a wedding with a disability can be time consuming. A lack of awareness of basic requirements can add complications and stresses to the planning process. As a team, we believe we have an opportunity to make sure everyone feels represented and that venues and suppliers can offer a bespoke, tailored approach in everything from adapting clothing and access to creating additional rest times and offering one-to-one on-the-day support.

The styling for this shoot was wild and natural, sustainable and creative. We used local, boutique suppliers with home grown flowers, foraged greenery and compostable stationery. We are proud to support and represent a team of suppliers who believe in creating a positive, sustainable, inclusive change within the wedding industry.

The shoot took place at the beginning of April so we wanted it to feel fresh and light to reflect the change in season. Our colour palette was influenced heavily by the local seasonal blooms Rachel could source.

Everyone wants to feel like the best version of themselves on their wedding day and attire, hair and makeup can be a key factor in helping you to achieve this. We wanted to make sure that the outfits chosen were created using sustainably sourced and recycled materials, as well as being practical for Georgina to move around in when in her manual wheelchair or using her mobility aids. Miriam at Eliza May Atelier created a collection of outfits and accessories to meet Georgina’s requirements, seeking to complement her fun-loving and vibrant personality. Clare and Sarah kept Georgina’s makeup and hair soft and natural to match the setting. Laura at Haworth Menswear selected a grey 3-piece suit for Richard to wear, finishing the look with a green tie and pocket square which matched the foraged foliage used throughout.

As The Owl Barn lends itself perfectly to outdoor weddings and elopements, our style was natural, seasonal and sustainable. Our intimate dining set up, created inside a yurt provided by North Sky Yurts, bridged the transition from outside to inside beautifully. Lattice styling, softened with trailing ivy blended beautifully with the woodland setting surrounding the site. We chose to keep the décor minimal but elegant to reflect the rural setting, opting to use hired cutlery, crockery and glassware, old milk bottles and ripped old cotton sheets to create the napkins. The finishing touch for the styling came in the form of the beautiful seed paper stationery from Hervé-Jones Designs. Our gorgeous sage mini cakes from Folia Cake Design were styled on a vintage wooden sideboard with the yurt’s lattice frame as a backdrop.

Rachel from Rose Cottage Barn used foraged foliage and sourced locally grown British blooms to help add a softness to The Owl Barn and the yurt. It was key that everything was proportionate, understated and natural. Creating an impact that matched and celebrated the surroundings.

We would love for couples to use this shoot as inspiration for inclusive, sustainable marriage celebrations. To showcase that there are suppliers within the wedding industry who are dedicated to sustainability, representation and bespoke, personal service provision.

Weddings can be low impact in terms of environment and still celebrate personality, individuality and romance. We believe couples can be uncompromising when it comes to seeking venues and suppliers that adapt to meet their individuality. We also love the personality added by a celebrant led wedding, which is why we chose to work with Jackie from I Do Your Ceremony who included a beautiful “tying the knot” element into her ceremony.