Real Life Wedding

Martine and Andy’s Elegant Wedding Theme

There were just two things Martine and Andrew wanted from their wedding day: a rustic, romantic venue and an unforgettable celebration. With this in mind, they began the hunt for the perfect Chichester wedding venue; one that was both beautiful and fit for a party.

Finding ‘the one’

The couple didn’t have to look hard to find their dream unique wedding venue. They’d fallen in love with Upwaltham Barns before they’d even visited, after finding it online.

“The Barns were perfect for what we wanted from our day. We felt so relaxed there and knew our guests would feel the same.” – Martine

Styling Upwaltham Barns

Styling the barns was easy. Rather than add a wedding theme of their own, Martine and Andrew decided to accentuate the rural and romantic feel of the rustic wedding venue by adding a few simple details. They dressed the venue in pastel pink and mint bunting and added handmade creations to the tables. Martine’s DIY wedding centrepiece design featured ribbon, lace and pearl embellished jam jars, sat upon tree slices for a rustic feel.

“The venue itself is already stunning and we felt that less was definitely more when it came to décor. The courtyard was in full bloom too – providing a beautiful backdrop for all our photos.” – Martine

Dressing for the occasion

Martine was keen to keep her attire simple like their wedding theme – opting for an elegant A-line Naomi Neoh dress. Her pretty gown was blush pink in colour – complementing the couple’s chosen colour scheme – and featured a fairytale-inspired chiffon overlay.

“I felt that the elegance of my dress suited the romantic setting of Upwaltham Barns perfectly.” – Martine

James, on the other hand, teamed his charcoal suit with mint accessories to match Martine’s four bridesmaids.

The wedding day

Martine and Andy said “I do” in a civil ceremony in our East Barn. The ceremony was one of Martine’s favourite parts of the day with her son, Ben, walking her down the aisle.

In keeping with late spring wedding theme, the pair opted for a sociable barbeque menu rather than a traditional three-course meal. Some of the delights that were served were sweet chilli chicken skewers, classic burgers, and salmon with lemon and tarragon. A delicious pudding followed with guests indulging in chocolate brownies with ice cream while Martine enjoyed her own cheese board selection.

The couple and their guests partied into the night, dancing to music played by their live band. With spirits high and the dance floor packed all night, Martine and Andy certainly got the unforgettable party they’d hoped for.

“We wouldn’t change a single thing about the day. It was perfect from start to finish.” – Martine

Martine’s wedding tips and advice:

Don’t stress and take everything in your stride. I almost didn’t make it to the venue on time due to technical difficulties with our wedding campervan – but everything turned out OK in the end.

Photography by McKinley Rodgers Film & Photography