Barn Beautiful

Shelley and Jim were married on 20th December 2019 at The Barns Hotel, Bedford

How did you meet?
Our families have been friends for many years living just 4 doors away from each other. Our paths crossed many times but it obviously wasn’t the right time romantically until New Year’s Eve 2012 where we met at Jim’s Dads house 4 doors away from Shelley’s mums house. Shelley had been out partying with her Mum and friends and we knocked to say Happy New Year and were invited in for a drink. Jim had just returned earlier in the year from a trip in Australia. Jim and Shelley got talking and dancing and the rest is history as they say.

How did the proposal happen?
Jim proposed on Christmas Day 2016. He woke me with loud music playing Bruno Mars ‘Marry You’. My hair was a big ball of mess and he got down on one knee beside the bed and asked me to be his wife. It was a huge surprise! Jim said if he had booked for us to go out etc I would have guessed his plans and this much is true.

Where did the wedding take place?
We had the whole day at The Barns Hotel, Bedford. We had the most amazing day at this incredible venue.

What did the bride wear?
An Ivory A line, vintage lace dress from Wed2b, veil with crystals, winter hair comb and stunningly sparkly blush shoes. My bouquet oozed Christmas.

What did the rest of the Bridal party wear?
The bridesmaids wore rose gold sparkly long sleeve dresses from ASOS with an addition of a rose gold belt. Gypsophila flower head crowns and a matching bouquet. The groomsmen and pageboys were in three-piece dark grey tails suit with matching rose gold ties and buttonholes.
What was your theme?
Rose gold, Vintage, Bohemian with a little bit of Christmas sparkle.

Describe your cake.
My cake was made by my Made of Honour Suzi from Suzi’s Novelty Kids Cakes. She’s a self-taught baker who created this small business from a hobby that got out of hand. It was two tiers with buttercream, rose gold and white with a stunning rose gold topper from Top it all displayed inside a rustic stand with hoop.

Something Blue?
My seamstress covered this for me sewing a beautiful blue bow inside my dress. My something borrowed was my father’s St Christopher which I attached to my bouquet, he passed away when I was a little girl so my mum walked me down the aisle.
What were the highlights?
The whole day was amazing but some of my highlights were my three sons seeing me in my dress for the first time. The weather was far from ideal but as soon as I walked into the manor suite at The Barns Hotel to reveal my dress the sun shone so bright.

Your best buy?
My shoes blush pink and sparkly from Quiz a bargain at £30. So comfortable and I added a rose gold vinyl saying ‘I DO’ to the bottom of them.

How did it end?
We enjoyed sparklers outside the barn it was amazing.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently?
I can’t think of anything I would have done differently. Every penny spent was worth it from the Harpist to the most delicious food served at the hotel.