Jack & Victoria
Hampshire//2023
Brief
We were tasked with the challenge of creating an intimate wedding for 100 guests at a family home, incorporating an existing barn and bothy in the winter month of November.
Where
Hampshire
Concept
We wanted to creatively and sympathetically link the barn and bothy, taking guests on arrival through different areas for each ‘stage’ of the wedding reception. This would create a flowing party, keeping people engaged and excited for what’s next whilst not realising the tricky logistics behind the build. This would then culminate in a fantastic dinner in the barn, followed by a big party to end the night in another marquee, secretly attached to the barn. The most important goal was that the marquee and buildings would blend into one.
How we did it
Guests arrived to a marquee that was attached to an existing bothy at the house. The marquee housed a bar, a cloakroom and some casual seating. This created a very relaxed area for reception drinks with all the excitable chat about the wedding ceremony where there had been lots of hilarity! There was then a wonderful photo opportunity in the bothy, where we used subtle lighting and furniture to enhance the rustic, cosy feel of the building.
The next area was the walkway leading to the barn. This became the incredible sparkler avenue for the entrance of the bride and groom, lined with their guests to give them a welcome they would never forget. We built the walkway on our ringbeam cassette floor system, taking out the slope of the gravel driveway and creating a level pathway to walk on. With an easily accessible linked washroom marquee (built to enclose and protect a luxury portaloo from the elements) guests were then into the barn.
The barn was a fantastic building to work with. Warm lighting was key so chandeliers on dimmer controls were suspended between ladders hung from the ceiling, flowing with foliage cut – with permission – from the local woods and floating T lights. The overall atmosphere we created was wonderful and warm with delicious food and flowing wine. The guests then thought it was time to return to the entrance area for more drinks and a party, when the barn doors behind the top table were pulled back and …..…
Waiting for them was a marquee, decked in black, which could have been mistaken for a thriving nightclub. A circular bar, already topped with the cocktails of choice, the dancefloor gleaming and polished waiting for some questionable dance moves to occur and the band set up, eager to entertain the guests throughout the night. All this led to a party like no other, and left the guests, along with the bride and groom, with memories to last a lifetime.
Take a look through the gallery below to see photos from the event. Included are some before and after photos that really show how using marquees can enhance areas around your home to create a venue you might not have thought possible, no matter what time of year.
