THE PERFECT SMALL BARN WEDDING in the LAKE DISTRICT
By CAROLINE
A DESTINATION Lake District Barn WeddIng
I first met Franco and Jenny in November 2018 when they came to visit Cote How for their small barn wedding.
A wonderful couple who have spent much of their lives travelling around the globe.
After being together for an incredible thirty years, they decided it was time to affirm their fabulous relationship by getting married at a Lake District wedding barn. They were looking for a special place with meaning for them, and the Lake District was top of their list as a place with special memories.
I was so pleased they felt Cote How was perfect for them, and they decided on the spot.
Travelling from Hampshire, they needed a rustic barn wedding venue to host their intimate family wedding in a relaxed, family-style environment.
A RELAXED WEEKEND WEDDING IN THE LAKES
They wanted to hold their wedding as a complete and relaxed weekend wedding. This allows them to travel to the Lake District the day before, check in and have some chill time.
Jenny had organised some beautiful cards for the order of service. Along with their place cards and wedding favours, all they needed to bring along.
ALL INCLUSIVE BARN WEDDING
Everything else was provided by us, which included the cake, flowers, chair covers and even Simon Hughes, the photographer. Simon took all of these marvellous photographs (thank you, Simon).
We were all set, and the wedding day was arranged for early May 2019. A fabulous time at Cote How when the garden is in full Spring bloom. The lake and surrounding hills are full of a stunning array of fresh greens and blossoms, Azaleas and Rhododendron. The fells are decorated with bluebells, and the air is heady with its sweet perfume! The perfect backdrop for our exclusive use rustic barn wedding.
BEAUTIFUL LAKE DISTRICT CEREMONY ROOM
Franco and Jenny opted for the Fairfield ceremony room for their 14 guests. This is an opulent room dressed with oversized gilt mirrors and chandeliers. The fabulous double-aspect views create a light, airy atmosphere and stunning views from every angle.Â
RUSTIC BARN WEDDING DECORATION
Guests were welcomed with arrival drinks on the house terrace. Whilst Franco & Jenny Woodrow met with the registrars and conducted their interviews. in our reception room Woodrow.
The all inclusive wedding included fresh flowers, dotted around the venue in a selection of dainty jars and are a great way of bringing colour and scent to the room. Jenny opted for classic whites and they were stunning!Â
BEAUTIFULLY CHOSEN CEREMONY PLAYLIST!
The room was arranged in an intimate and friendly circle with the bride and groom’s chairs offset for the readings. A more cosy and intimate setting where the couple is in front of the ceremony table, looking toward their family and friends. The registrar stands at the other end.
Franco and Jenny opted to walk in together and chose some wonderful entrance Music, “Can’t take my eyes off you” by Andy Williams.
Afterwards, I always manage to get in there to get my signing of the register pic – You can see Simon got me too!
Franco and Jenny signed the register to “The Book of Love” by Peter Gabriel and “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong.
The happy couple emerged from the ceremony room via the French doors onto the garden to the sound of “Your Love Gets Sweeter” by Finlay Quaye.
Paul one of the Kendal Registrars giving Jenny her Marriage Certificate! 30 years in the making! 🙂
Time for a few family portraits in the garden…
and canapes and drinks on the terrace…
The happy couple had a little stroll down to the edge of Rydal Water for those all-important first moments together, captured beautifully by Simon.
PERFECT FIRST MOMENTS BY RYDAL WATER
The Rydal Water oak tree is featured in so many wedding photographs but it looks different every time, bathed here in beautiful light and newly emerged oak leaves!
Stunning views across the lake to the distant mountains of the central lakes, clearly visible with lovely light here
The cake was a classically styled lemon cake iced with ivory and decorated with raffia and fresh flowers to match the flower jars and chair backs, bouquet and buttonholes.
The Wedding Barn dressed for you
Franco and Jenny opted for the “square polo”, an excellent setup for a lovely wedding dinner where everyone can chat and see. Everyone loves this setup, and we can offer this layout in our Lake District wedding barn for rustic barn weddings of up to 24 guests.
We love the middle of the polo, always adorned with ivy, candles, lights and fresh flowers!
The dinner table from the couple’s view – Looking out of the open barn doors And the barn window ledge decorated with flowers, candles and lights with homage to absent friends x
Speech time! And time to look around the barn at the many photographs Franco and Jenny had printed out and pegged all around the barn to celebrate their 30 years together all over the world!
We absolutely loved this small barn wedding – Franco and Jenny and all of their guests were lovely and very interesting people!Â
Here is what Franco and Jenny had to say about their wedding….
Franco and Jenny's Review of Cote How
Simply Perfect!
“After being together for 30 years and deciding to finally get married. From the moment we saw Cote How and met Caroline, we just knew this was the place for us.
Whilst we currently live in Hampshire, the Lake District has personal connections for us. Cote How, full of Lakeland charm in a stunning location close to Rydal Water, was the perfect setting. Perfectly intimate for our small wedding with the people we love.Â
It was worth the wait, with every detail taken care of by Caroline, Steve and their friendly team. The food, flowers, cake and overall decor were clearly all made and presented with care and looked stunning too! The weather was kind to us, so we could enjoy parts of the day outside on the terrace. We loved breathing in the fresh air and basking in the spring sunshine with a glass of bubbles. What wonderful memories!
Thanks to Caroline and the team, we could completely relax and enjoy every moment of our special day. We had the perfect day and would recommend Cote How to anyone looking for a small and intimate wedding. The whole team genuinely go the extra mile to make you feel special. Thank you so much, Caroline and Steve; you’re amazing!”
Jenny and Franco May 2019
read more about our weekend weddings here
If you feel that a small and intimate wedding is what you are looking for, please complete our enquiry form here and download our current wedding brochure below.Â
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Thanks Jess
We can’t wait for August either! 🙂
Looks absolutely beautiful! Congratulations to Franco and Jenny. Can’t wait to get married here in August x