Photography Alex Miller Photography alexmillerweddings.co.uk Venue Ashridge Great Barn ashridgegreatbarn.co.uk
Romance blossomed at university for Gemma and Phil. “We lived in the same halls but didn’t meet until the very last day of first year,” says Gemma. More than a decade later, during a six-month adventure around Southeast Asia, Phil found the perfect moment to propose – waiting until the final week of their trip. “We were staying in Jatiluwih in Bali, renowned for its rice paddy fields,” says Gemma. “Phil proposed as we watched the sunrise over a cup of tea.”
Back home, the rustic charm and idyllic grounds of Ashridge Great Barn stole their hearts. Offering a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor spaces – alongside late-night music and camping for guests – it allowed the couple to shape the celebration entirely around them. “The big draw was being able to personalise our day and bring in our own suppliers, while still having in-house support and on-the-day coordination,” says Phil. 
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Colour set the tone. Vibrant florals in saturated shades of orange, pink, purple and yellow ran through the day in loose, meadow-style arrangements that complemented the barn’s character. The character-filled stationery featured Gemma’s artwork, while tables were named after places meaningful to their relationship.“We wanted it feel rustic and relaxed,” she says.
Sustainability was central to their fashion choices. Gemma found her gown second-hand in an Oxfam charity shop, while Phil wore a bespoke bamboo suit. Guests were encouraged to follow a “something old, nothing new, something borrowed, something renewed” brief – embraced wholeheartedly by the bridal party, whose pre-loved dresses added to the joyful spectrum of colour.
Rain may have thwarted plans for an outdoor ceremony but the barn – dressed in blooms and twinkling fairy lights – proved an atmospheric alternative. “It ended up feeling cosy and intimate,” says Gemma. “After our vows, the sun came out and light streamed through the windows, lighting up the whole room. It felt magical.” Having legally married earlier in the week, the couple worked with their celebrant to create a ceremony rich in personality. “We wanted it lighthearted and fun, but also emotional,” says Gemma. They wrote their own vows and sealed letters to one another in a box to open on their first anniversary.
Guests headed outside for drinks and canapés before a sudden downpour sent everyone darting for cover into the hedges. “It made the sunshine even more special when it came back,” says Gemma. Dinner was entirely vegan and inspired by their travels and Phil’s Persian heritage. Dishes included Khoresh Bademjan, lemon rice, tandoori cauliflower, Muhammara with flatbreads and limoncello cheesecake. For the newlyweds, the meal provided a standout moment. “We sat quietly watching all the people we love chatting, laughing and smiling,” says Phil. “It was very special to see everyone enjoying themselves.”
After-dinner entertainment reflected their shared love of darts, with guests competing in a playful knockout game to win free drinks at the honesty bar. Opening the dance floor with a first dance to Islands in the Stream, a live band kept guests dancing before a late-night playlist carried celebrations into the early hours.
For couples currently planning, Gemma offers reassuring advice. “You’ll always feel like you don’t have enough time – but everything comes together," they say. "On the day, you’re so swept up in joy that the little things you worry about beforehand don’t matter. And no one notices them anyway.”
Photography Alex Miller Photography alexmillerweddings.co.uk
Venue Ashridge Great Barn ashridgegreatbarn.co.uk
Dress Coast from Oxfam oxfam.org.uk
Suit King & Allen kingandallen.co.uk
Hair Hair by Hannah instagram.com/hairbyhannahuk
Make-up Briony’s Beauty instagram.com/brionys.beauty
Flowers Howie & the Flowers howieandtheflowers.co.uk
Catering Vegan Junkies veganjunkies.co.uk
Celebrant Julie Ann Latansani latansani.com
Entertainment Vibealicious awmusic.co.uk/vibealicious
Videography Yeti Photo & Film yetiphotoandfilm.co.uk
