Mark got down on one knee on Brighton Pier, Lisa’s favourite place, during a special day trip to the seaside resort. Once Lisa had recovered from the shock and excitement of the proposal, the couple began planning their special day which was sure to be full of fun and unique touches…

Finding ‘the one’

Lisa and Mark began their wedding planning by looking at wedding venues. They wanted to find an alternative venue to fit their vintage wedding theme and came across Upwaltham Barns online.

 “After browsing millions of venues on the internet, we went to see about five in person, Upwaltham Barns being one of our top choices.” – Lisa

During their visit to the Barns, Lisa and Mark quickly made up their mind that it was the venue for them. They especially liked the idea of tying the knot and celebrating their marriage all in one place.

  “It was amazing and the set-up was ideal. Plus, the owners were so lovely and helped us out so much.” – Lisa

Styling Upwaltham Barns

Lisa and Mark loved the natural, vintage style of the barns and felt little need to add much more in terms of décor. Instead, they just added a few vintage touches inspired by ideas they’d seen on Pinterest.

 The couple collected vintage items, such as books, keys, and vases, from car boot sales, and placed these on their wedding tables. They also added a few superhero touches, including bespoke cake toppers. They had a groom with a superman outfit under his suit and a bride with ruby slippers, and large M & L lettering for the cake table, made from superhero comics.

 “As we wanted a few quirky bits for the wedding I tended to follow a few of the big wedding blogs for ideas like Rock n Roll Bride.” – Lisa

Dressing for the occasion

To reflect her unique wedding style, Lisa chose a dress with a difference. She opted for a 1920’s style sequin and beaded gown with a cowl neck back. She teamed this with a birdcage veil, art deco-inspired hair comb, and sequin and beaded shoes.

Mark showed off his personality in a suit with a pop of colour. He wore a blue three-piece suit teamed with a pale pink tie and a white shirt, while the bridesmaids wore lilac.

 “Mark looked so smart. His outfit definitely matched well with my dress and the theme of the wedding.” – Lisa

The wedding day

Lisa and Mark tied the knot on the 4^th July and enjoyed a ceremony in one of the barns. Lisa walked down the aisle to A Thousand Years, by Christina Perri, and the couple exited to Marry You, by Bruno Mars.

The couple’s ceremony was followed by a drinks reception and a three-course meal with a pate starter, chicken main, and ice cream dessert, served from a vintage ice cream cart.

“The venue and catering costs were definitely our biggest expenditure but they were so worth it. We got so many positive comments, on the day and afterwards, from family and friends.” – Lisa

Come evening, the pair got the party started on the dance floor with a first dance to Bad Things, from the TV programme True Blood.

“We had an amazing day, it was perfect in every way.” – Lisa

Lisa’s Wedding tips and advice:

1. Look for bargains at car boot sales, antique places, and on the internet, you’ll be surprised at what you can find.
2. Keep true to yourself. It’s easy to get caught up with lots of ideas and before you know it you’re completely overwhelmed.

Pinterest is a great resource for styling your wedding definitely use it for inspiration.

Photography by Tim Simpson Photography