Allie and Richie’s Boho Barn Wedding

Summer Loving in Slovenia

“We got engaged on the first night of our summer holiday in Slovenia, on a gorgeous balcony overlooking the mountains. At that moment, we decided that we had to have a summer wedding too. We both love the outdoors and liked the idea of getting married in an open-air reception venue with a rusting setting, which would give us more opportunities to decorate than in a traditional wedding venue.”

“As soon as we visited Askham Hall in Cumbria we knew it was the one – the barn is gorgeous and so are the grounds and gardens. With plenty of wedding guest accommodation on-site, our families could stay the night before and on the night of the wedding, which meant we could decorate together beforehand. There was a beautiful barn for the reception and a smaller barn for a more intimate drinks reception after the ceremony.”

The Ceremony at Askham Hall

Bride Allie was pampered by hairstylist Emma Jewell and makeup artist Alice Stephens on her wedding morning, before slipping into her floral appliqué Enzoani wedding dress.

Allie stunning in a lace-adorned figure-hugging gown with dainty spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline, joined by bridesmaids in blush pink tones with embroidered blooms and halter necklines. Richie chose to dress his groomsmen in navy blue suits with matching pink bow ties and pocket squares.

“I felt strangely calm getting ready, I loved having my hair and makeup done. It wasn’t until I got into my dress that time seemed to fly and I realised I’d soon be making my vows in front of everyone,” she laughs.

“The outdoor wedding ceremony was incredible because we wrote our own vows. I thought I’d be nervous, but as soon as I got to the end of the aisle and saw my husband-to-be Richie, it felt like it was only the two of us there.”

The couple tied the knot outside under clear blue skies. Allie walked down the aisle to an acoustic rendition of ‘A Thousand Years’ performed live, with the same guitarist and singer lending a laid-back vibe to their drinks reception afterwards.

An Ibiza themed party

After a quick wardrobe change into an embellished dress for Allie, the newlyweds shared their first dance to ‘Forever Young’, performed by the bride’s mum’s partner.

“We both love Ibiza, so we booked a DJ and saxophonist for the evening reception party. They were amazing and the sax player really brought the music to life. So many of our guests commented that they had never seen a dance floor so full,” Allie reminisces.

Duky Pink & Pampas

The couple styled their barn wedding setting with dusky pink and mauve tones. The wedding decorations were relaxed and romantic, with eye-catching pampas grass installations, soft and airy drapes and an eclectic mix of glass candleholders.

“We added lots of pampas grass flowerheads and candles and our amazing family made many of the wedding decorations. My grandpa sanded antique ladders for our table plan, while my step mum flavoured gin with homegrown rhubarb to create unique wedding favours,” the bride smiles.

Honeymoon Homestay

Being keen hikers, Allie and Richie had initially set their sights on Switzerland for their honeymoon holiday, but a change of plans led to them choosing the spectacular setting of Snowdonia National Park in Wales instead.

“The weather was fantastic, we swam in secret waterfalls and hiked up Mount Snowdon. We stayed in a log cabin with a hot tub, which was perfect for relaxing in with a glass of fizz.”