Kelsey & Josh Brought Boho to the Barns!

Kelsey & Josh married this August, and we love their relaxed style – think pampas, festoon lights, sage green accents, and the prettiest semi-naked cake. Grab your wellies, folks; we’re off to the farm!

Kelsey says…

Abbey Farm ticked all the boxes for what we wanted: local, rustic, characterful, boho and BEAUTIFUL! It was the perfect venue; I had my eye on this venue way before we even got engaged – it was always my dream to one day get married there! Both of us had our hearts set on getting married in a barn; the fact that this one is only 25 minutes from where we live and just a throw from Woodhall Spa is excellent. Woodhall Spa is a lovely village with so much to offer and the perfect base for our out-of-town friends and family to stay for the wedding weekend!

When we met Jo and Millie for the first time, we knew we’d be in good hands. We liked the fact that a small team runs Abbey Farm. It gives you a personalised, intimate experience that feels nothing like a ‘cookie cutter’ wedding package. Instead, it was very tailored to our needs and wishes. We especially liked that the venue was exclusively ours for the weekend, giving us ample time to set up the day before and clear up after ourselves the day after – no conveyor belt weddings here!

Our guests loved the laid-back vibe of Abbey Farm; the layout is excellent as you can spend lots of time outdoors, which is precisely what we wanted for our summer wedding! Jo, Millie & Will are genuinely lovely people we trusted and enjoyed communicating with. On the day, they were on hand to help with anything and had fun with us while maintaining the utmost professionalism.

I wore my grandma’s engagement ring and some old hairpins for something old. Something new was my dress, found at Belle and Bouquet, Wellingore. My dress was by Enzoani, and I added a few personal details to make it my perfect dress. My veil was my veil borrowed from my cousin. Our Grandma helped pick it up before she passed away, so it was unique to my cousin and me that we’ve both been able to wear it on our wedding days! Finally, my something blue was a gift from my husband: a dainty chain bracelet from Daniella Draper with his initials. He also got me a gorgeous blue sea glass pendant, which we had added to the bracelet; also very special as the sea glass was picked up on a beach in Hawaii, where we Honeymooned!

My cousin did our hair, and Evelina Butke did the makeup. I was so happy with how it all turned out; they listened to me and hit the nail on the head with the brief – I am so grateful to them for making me feel like the best version of myself on the day!

We chose to keep the styling and decor of the venue to a more minimalistic theme. The barns speak for themselves and are already adorned with twinkling fairy lights, so additional decoration was optional. The colour scheme tied in beautifully with the venue, with hints of a very soft eucalyptus green combined with a natural beige within the floristry and the table decorations. The table centrepieces were rustic dried wreaths, and every table had a box containing notes for guests to write us – the perfect wedding day keepsake.

Local Legends Abigail & Pippa from Petal & Stalk in Navenby designed the perfect floral features to complement Abbey Farm’s rustic, luxury setting, from the cake topper to a showstopper ceremony backdrop. Kelsey’s brief was very much ‘glam boho’, so a combination of dried flowers and blush roses was used to create each of the florals, alongside soft pampas grass, natural bunny tails and fresh eucalyptus. The bridal bouquet incorporated all the elements discussed: bleached ruscus, blousy quicksand roses, fresh eucalyptus, white limonium and a mix of dried flowers and grasses, including smaller pampas and bunny tails. The showstopper entrance columns were created with an entwined willow and chicken wire base, and the cloud was then formed using larger pampas and oversized palms.

We had not one, not two, but three cakes! These included a traditional fruit cake made by my Grannie, a 3-tier sponge cake designed by Angelic Delights of Sleaford and a beautiful cheese tower constructed by a friend with cheese sourced from the Cheese Society in Lincoln. As for the meal, Black Peppermint pulled out all the stops. Over a few glasses of Pimms in the garden, the canapés were a nod to our Lincolnshire roots, with Lincolnshire sausages and mini fish & chips. Everyone then took their seats in the Oak Barn, built using the traditional Lincolnshire mud and stud technique, for a 3-course meal, rounded off with some hilarious and heart-warming speeches.

Ashley (aka Monkeymole) is truly a photographer like no other! His photographs speak for themselves, but what makes him truly unique is how he quickly becomes a part of the day and could easily be mistaken for one of the guests! He can effortlessly gather your guests whilst having them in hysterics, making for the perfect group shots. You will always feel comfortable during the more intimate couple shots, too, as he is your number one fan, giving you that extra boost of confidence to take full advantage of your moment in the spotlight! He is renowned for capturing the perfect golden hour shot, and by making his galleries people-orientated, the day’s atmosphere is savoured forever through all of his images.

Best part of the day

My new husband surprised me by learning the dance we put together on my hen night to my favourite song ‘Loving on You’ by Luke Combs. Everybody was dancing in sync on the dance floor, and I was shocked!

From one couple to another…

Amongst all the joy and madness, plan a moment – even if it’s just 5 minutes – to spend together, just the two of you. Your wedding day disappears quickly, so take the time to soak up everything around you.