Emma and Billy, Eden Barn
A relaxed barn wedding, rustic, boho, indie-chic vibes, and more bridesmaids and grooms men than you can shake a stick at. This July, Emma and Billy wed at the beautiful Eden Barn in the Yorkshire dales.
When Emma and Billy initially contacted me, they said they wanted less of a formal traditions and more of a big party in a barn. They wanted their wedding to be a celebration of them, bringing together their family and friends and bridging that infamous North/South divide! Inviting their nearest and dearest and holding joint events over the weekend for everybody to get to know each other, Emma and Billy made a weekend out of their wedding.
The Big Day
Emma's prep was at Nelson Barn in the Yorkshire Dales, not too far from their venue, Eden Barn. Emma did her own makeup instead of opting for an MUA, and as one of the bridesmaids was a hair stylist, all of the bridesmaids' hair was sorted! With everybody pitching in, there was a real atmosphere of helping each other out as Emma and her bridesmaids all pitched in to get ready. While it can get a bit hectic with 7 bridesmaids in one place, luckily, there was enough space for everyone - important when everybody's getting ready together! All the girls kept their cool, staying excited, not stressed.
Emma's gorgeous dress was by one of my favourite designers, Made With Love bridal. The dress was beautiful and free flowing, with floral lace applique details that matched the rustic boho theme perfectly. Flowers for the day were by the incredible Sasha at Sassflower. The couple opted for greenery everywhere to create that boho luxe wedding vibe, with a few muted dusky pink accents and pampas grass in Emma's bouquet. Billy and the boys went for vintage style woollen houndstooth ties to compliment the tweed jackets, braces, and Billy's signature trilby.
Emma, her mum and dad, and the bridesmaids arrived at Eden Barn in style in a vintage campervan. Eden Barn offers a beautiful choice of ceremony spaces, as you can either get married inside the barn or outside under the pagoda. Thanks to the beautifully sunny mid-July weather, Emma and Billy opted for a gorgeous, outdoor wedding - it was like being abroad! The bridal party walked down the aisle in pairs, with a romantic touch added as some couples walked together. Emma's dad had the honour of walking the bride down the aisle, bringing groom Billy to shed a little tear or two.
Inside the venue, Emma and Billy had the barn set up with one top table at the front and two long tables either side, running the length of the barn. The tables and the barn beams were adorned with Sassflower greenery, with lots of DIY details by Emma. The favours of mini alcohol bottles, that came with personalised messages, along with the order of the day and seating plan, were made and calligraphed by Emma! Billy's mum generously made the cake, which was decorated with two polaroids of the bride and groom.
Instead of a traditional sit down meal, Southcott Event Catering served some seriously good BBQ in a serve yourself style buffest. In the evening, the band Fraudio kept guests entertained with indie rock all night long. Both serious music fans, Emma and Billy wanted their day to incorporate the bands they'd seen together. Their first dance was to Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees, with Emma walking down the aisle to Bombay Bicycle Club. Meaningful touches like this made the day extra special and personal for the newly married couple.
Eden Barn is a dream for wedding photographers, with so many options for bridal party and couple portraits. Each little spot feels unique to Eden Barn, with some of my favourites including the corrugated iron structures and the countryside road outside which offers spectacular views of the Cumbria/Yorkshire dales.
If you're planning a countryside barn wedding, relaxed boho wedding, or a wedding at Eden Barn, then have a nosy below for some of my favourite highlights from this wedding.
