The Wedding of Maria & Tom

A spring wedding with a boho chic vibe for this relaxed, fun-loving couple from Manchester who tied the knot beneath the historic sandstone arch of our Old Railway Bridge.

Following their romantic beachfront engagement at Barafundle Bay on Christmas Eve 2019, Maria & Tom began their search for the perfect barn venue. It had to be private, open and airy with tons of natural light. Of course, after pulling into our driveway and taking in the phenomenal views of our home – the stunning North Wales countryside – their decision was made, without even leaving the car.

A Chilly Beachfront Engagement

It was Christmas Eve 2019, my absolute favourite day of the year.  In honour of a long-standing Christmas Eve tradition, we bundled up and headed off with our dogs to Barafundle Bay for a chilly pre-festivities walk on the sand.

It was truly beautiful. We had the beach to ourselves and the dogs were having the time of their lives. Running off their energy in the sand and barking away happily. As we strolled along, I stopped to take an obligatory photo of the breathtaking view. When I turned back, to my surprise Tom was down on one knee displaying a beautiful diamond ring. It was so unexpected and completely surreal. I said yes (of course!)

As we headed back home, we were desperate to share our news with our families. But unfortunately, Tom’s mum was working until late. I dutifully put my ring back in the box and pretended like nothing had happened while we spent the day with my parents (this was unbearable and near impossible because the excitement was just oozing out of me!). We were finally able to make our announcement later that evening. Needless to say, everyone was ecstatic and the champagne was popped straight away!

The Perfect Venue

We wanted a venue that was light, open and private without being too spread out. We found all this and more in Tower Hill Barns, which had the added bonus of being surrounded by phenomenal views of the stunning Welsh countryside. Even now, I can’t believe how peaceful Tower Hill Barns is, considering it’s so accessible – a true hidden gem.

We went for a spring boho-chic theme, which really suited us as a couple and tied in perfectly with the natural rustic beauty of the venue. We are not from the area and signed up for a two-and-a-half-hour commute when we chose Tower Hil Barns. However, the minute we pulled onto the driveway and got our first glimpse of THB, we looked at each other knowing that it was perfect. There was no debate on this decision! 

The barn setting was exactly what we were looking for and the fact that THB gets so much natural daylight sealed the deal. Dark claustrophobic venues were at the top of our no-pile. The fact that the venue is exclusive was also a nice bonus. We really enjoyed celebrating our big day in privacy, with only our nearest and dearest for company.

Our decision was later reconfirmed by our guests who, as a consequence of our decision, also had to travel a fair distance to attend our wedding. In the end, they all raved about how perfect the day was and understood completely why we chose to share our special day with Tower Hill Barns.

The Ceremony

After having to postpone the wedding multiple times due to COVID-19, we were on edge when the weather turned stormy in the week leading up to the wedding. Thankfully when our big day finally came, the weather gods were smiling down on us. The sun was shining, the wind had stopped, and we were able to have the outdoor wedding we’d been dreaming of beneath the beautiful Old Railway Bridge. 

Walking down the aisle is – I imagine – a nerve-wracking and emotional experience for anyone. But as I walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of ‘A Thousand Years’ by Christina Perri, I could see out of the corner of my eye that not only was my husband-to-be crying, but my brothers too! (Result!).

We wrote our own vows, adding to the emotions of the ceremony. And Tom’s mother read a beautiful heartfelt poem to us. It’s fair to say we all worked hard to ensure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house! It was just perfect, despite our dog Max crying at the exact moment that the registrar asked if anyone knew of any reason that we shouldn’t get married! Although this did make us giggle. Talk about timing!

A Wedding Cake With A Twist

Taking inspiration from our spring, boho chic theme, we decided to continue down a non-traditional route for our wedding cake. Choosing four different flavours for our stunning 4-tiered wedding cake. We included a traditional fruit cake, of course, as well as tiers of lemon, elderflower and coconut and black cherry. It was delicious, but what made it extra special for us was the models of our four fur babies sitting proudly on top!

A Fabulous Wedding Breakfast

Heading into our reception we knew the food was going to be out of this world. We’d attended the food taster experience, which we really enjoyed. It was a great opportunity to get a feel for the (high) standard of the food that THB provides, as well as the perfect opportunity to get a feel for what our wedding day was going to be like – exceptional.

We chose to serve canapés during our drinks reception which went down a treat and without a doubt had a positive impact on our guest experience. The duck filo parcel in particular received rave reviews! Luckily for us, the caring THB staff set a selection of the canapés aside for myself and Tom for when we had a moment together to sit down and enjoy. Otherwise, I think we would have missed out entirely!

Every guest we’ve spoken to has commented that the wedding food was delicious from start to finish, which just filled our hearts with joy. And we have to agree – as expected the wedding breakfast was simply incredible, both the presentation and the taste left nothing to be desired.

Evening Food For All

Our evening food deserves a special mention, we opted for a handmade pizza station. Guests were able to choose three different pizza toppings, which we found great as we were able to have a bit of everything to suit everyone. 

What was even more special for us, was that to our surprise, the THB staff yet again set some aside for us and kept the pizza warm to make sure we had some. This made us feel extremely special. It’s the little things that truly make the day!

The First Dance

As the weather was on our side, we thought it would be rude not to take full advantage and have our first dance as a married couple on the terrace. We danced to ‘Space’ by Biffy Clyro with our friends and family surrounding us – it was truly magical. 

Having said that…I do use the term ‘danced’ loosely as I could barely move in my dress. So it was more of a gentle sway from side to side! Either way, it was definitely memorable as halfway through, my garter came sliding off in front of everyone. I’m told it was very entertaining for our guests, although I found it highly embarrassing! It’s definitely a moment I will never live down or forget!

Our band, The Ashmore Brothers were brilliant! While the evening was in full flow, the band got Tom up on the stage to sing a couple of songs which our guests enjoyed immensely. To top off his performance and truly bring all Tom’s rockstar fantasies to life, the bridal party took it upon themselves to throw him in the air (move aside boys💪), another moment he and I will never forget!

Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom

The only thing I would do differently is to make the day 48 hours, instead of 24! The day went so quickly, I wish we could do it all over again.

My advice to future couples is to just enjoy everything. You only do this once, and you want to take every little thing in! Keep receipts and collect a few mementoes on the day to look back on in the future.

When the big day finally does come; don’t let it be overtaken by stress. The day goes so quickly so spend time with your new spouse, family and friends. It’s easier said than done, but you really don’t need to worry. The staff at Tower Hill Barns are so well-versed when it comes to the running of the day.

Ooh, and more importanlty…GET A PIÑATA! As part of our wedding planning, we were racking our brains for something unique that would bring everyone together on the day. So what did we decide to do? A piñata of course! It was a real highlight that brought our guests together.

Heading for more real #THBWeddings