Katie and Lewis – A Colourful, Fun-Filled Easter Wedding
The April wedding of Katie and Lewis was a glorious celebration. With fabulous colour scheme, great entertainment and an exceptional menu, their guests were in for a treat at Sandhole Oak Barn.
Setting their wedding date for April 1st which also happened to be Easter Sunday, Katie and Lewis were looking for a venue in Cheshire where they could host a fun-filled celebration. Sandhole Oak Barn was the third venue they visited and they knew it was the one.
“It had the relaxed atmosphere we were hoping for with breath-taking views and an equally exquisite barn interior,” smiles Katie. “We also wanted to have the bar within the same room so there wasn’t a separation between guests in the evening. Sandhole ticked all the boxes.”
Setting the Scene
An Easter theme ran throughout the day, along with an abundance of fabulous colour. An Easter egg hunt proved popular with all the children and colourful balloons featured in the stationery and also in a balloon release on the day. Colour was also introduced through sashes on the chairs and a wonderful ambience was created using 25 hanging lanterns in the dining area with candle lanterns during the ceremony.
Harry Potter played a part in the day with the cake sitting on top of a pile of books, signage on the back of the chairs and Butter Beer served as one of the reception drinks.
“We wanted the whole day to be a celebration,” explains Katie. “The Easter egg hunt, colourful dresses, balloons, sparklers, bubbles and our multi-coloured cake certainly helped toward that!”
All About Flowers
With all this fabulous décor, very little was needed when it came to flowers. An artificial garland adorned the entrance to Sandhole Oak Barn, and Katie and her bridesmaids carried pretty bouquets of fresh blooms.
Bridal Style
The beautiful bride wore a Sincerity gown with 50’s style skirt and separate lace top.
“I had it shortened to tea-length and it had buttons down the back,” says Katie. “The bodice had a lace overlay which was perfect for me – I’m not massive on embellishments or fuss.”
She completed the look with her cousin’s veil, Rachel Simpson shoes and Swarovski jewellery.
Meanwhile, Lewis looked the part in a blue suit from Marks and Spencer.
“We chose it with ease as it had a matching grey version for the groomsmen to wear,” says Katie. “It’s also something he’ll love wearing again. The ties and pocket squares were made from the same material as the bridesmaid dresses.”
Finally, Katie’s bridesmaids were stunning in dresses made by her talented colleague. Silk with lace overlay, they were designed to suit all four bridesmaids and the end result was simply fabulous.
“The ladies danced all the way to their beds in them which I was thrilled about,” smiles Katie.
Wedding Day Details
Following their romantic ceremony at Sandhole Oak Barn, a drinks reception was held on the terrace.
Moving in to dine, pate was served to start with roast beef as a tantalising main course. For pudding, a trio of mini desserts were all delicious. Katie and Lewis also catered for vegetarian and vegan guests with a spinach and pine nut lasagne and a vegan chilli.
Evening Celebrations
With a passion for music, the newlyweds delighted their guests with wonderful entertainment throughout the day, from a pianist playing during the ceremony and welcome drinks to a fabulous live band, The Daisy Chains, in the evening.
“I knew the band would be incredible as I had worked with most of the musicians, but we were pleased that our guests seemed to agree.” says Katie. “They are a five-piece girl band playing rock and roll – what’s not to like!”
The newlyweds took to the dance floor for their first dance to ‘Better Together’ by Jack Johnson, and the party started. An outdoor barbecue was just the thing for evening dining, alongside a full cheese board and delicious wedding cake.
“The day was joyful, playful, run and relaxed,” Katie laughs. “If adults wanted to play dress up in the photo booth – great! If kids wanted to run wild – let them! We danced to 50s swing and rock music all night long.”
Katie’s favourite moment:
“Walking down the aisle with my dad and seeing Lewis standing there… and the food!”
Advice from the Bride
“Spend money on the things that are important to you and don’t worry what other people have done at their weddings. Most of all… have fun.”
If you are considering Sandhole Oak Barn for your celebration, we would love to show you all this wonderful venue has to offer. Please get in touch with our friendly events team to discuss your plans, receive a brochure or arrange a visit.
Photography courtesy of © Vox Photography
