Naomi & James’s Danish Inspired Summer Wedding at Barns & Yard

They took the principles (warmth, wellbeing, surrounded by loved ones) and made sure their day featured all of this good stuff… and more! Not only did they work hard to create a gorgeous, relaxed atmosphere, they also took inspiration from Naomi’s Danish roots to inject a rustic, Scandi aesthetic to the proceedings too. I have to say, I’m not sure they could have picked a more perfect venue than Barns & Yard for this, a beautiful blank canvas barn in Worcester.

The abundance of natural materials, the breathtaking grounds and welcoming, laid-back vibe lent itself perfectly to N+J’s late summer celebration.

Naomi & James say…

As with most couples, we had a few venues in mind that we were really excited to see. With Naomi being from Denmark, we had our hearts set on wooden features, to really capture that Scandinavian feel, so when we drove down the gorgeous drive to Barns & Yard, we immediately fell in love with the beautiful combination of stone barn and wooden beams of the Cartshed. Not only did the venue tick every box, you could feel the love that had gone into the restoration work, and both Lisi and Kate gave us such a warm welcome – it genuinely felt like family, which is exactly what we wanted our wedding to be all about, family.

We wanted to throw traditions out the window, whilst still keeping it classic and elegant. All bridesmaids were in white, and Naomi originally had her heart set on the Grace Loves Lace Bea dress, which had a more golden/creamy colour to it, however at the final trial, fell head over heels in love with the Luca style – almost as traditional as it gets, with a gorgeous low-cut back. With the high neckline of the dress, Naomi opted for a back-to-front pearl necklace, to really enhance the low-cut back. Whilst some may be tempted by an outfit change, it’s all about the shoes for Naomi, opting for a classic Jimmy Choo for the day part, and swapping over to some Gucci sandals for the evening – everyone needs dancing shoes!

We wanted a classic and relaxed style but with a Scandinavian twist. We loved all of the Barns & Yard suppliers, but especially Vintage Gold China. They invited us to their showroom, where we were able to choose from their elegant array of tableware to create something truly unique to us – a display that our florist, Rebecca Kate Flowers and stationery designer LouPaper really brought to life with gorgeous mixed eucalyptus table runners and dried flowers in the bridal bouquets, and minimalist menu and table-name stationery to match.

Laura (Studio 81 Events) and Lisi helped us design our table plan so that we had everyone sitting as close together as possible and able to share, chat, feast and celebrate. Our table names also incorporated our cultures using the word cheers in Danish, Irish, Greek and English.

Our florist was Rebecca Kate Flowers, a recommendation from our amazing wedding planner. Rebecca really understood our minimalist yet elegant vision, and created the most gorgeous bridal bouquets. Our stand-out feature for the day however, was without doubt, our ‘selfie station’, which not only captured the beautiful lake at Barns & Yard, but also made for the perfect spot to take a photo and capture the day. We loved the combination of eucalyptus and dried flowers, giving it a really lovely Scandinavian feel, with a touch of roses to keep it super romantic.

Our caterers were, Paisley Flour. From the first meeting we had with Emma, we knew we were in good hands. In Danish culture, having a lunch or dinner with your family, is a truly special experience. It can’t be rushed, it’s all about ‘hygge’ and enjoying time spent together. We opted for the bespoke menu and added Scandinavian twists at every opportunity possible, from Danish Smørrebrød, small rye pieces with cured fish and prawns, as canapés, to Scandinavian Sharing Platters with Gravalax to start. Perhaps the biggest shock to our lovely family and friends was when Naomi’s dad pronounced the pouring and drinking of Danish Schnapps with the starter.

Our photographer, Naomi Kenton, has the most gorgeous styling. Light and gentle, and very natural. We wanted to ensure we had as few posed pictures as possible, and Naomi excelled. Naomi is not only a fabulous photographer, but a lovely person too – although you’d barely feel she was there, she really did immerse herself and capture our family and friends enjoying the day together.

Best part of the day

Saying ‘I do’. We had a church wedding at the gorgeous Catholic church in Kemerton. James is Catholic, but Naomi is not, so we decided to (yet again) not make it too traditional. We decided to do a first look with each other outside the church with our bridal party and parents watching. We then walked down the aisle together. It was incredibly special to walk in hand in hand ready to be married in front of those closest to us. We read our own vows, and James’s family priest conducted the ceremony, the church was so full of love.

From one couple to another…

Don’t give yourself too many options. If you love it, and it’s within budget, go for it – that was our philosophy, and it meant we were able to enjoy the process of planning (that, and our amazing wedding planner), and be present and relaxed on the day. Looking at ten different options is only going to make you worry about whether you’ve made the right decision, and we promise it won’t matter on the day.