The Wedding of Bethan & Thomas

An exquisite autumnal wedding for North Wales couple who were keen to go relaxed and rustic at Tower Hill Barns

Bethan and Thomas married in a gorgeous outdoor ceremony in the autumn

We had chosen a rustic theme for our wedding, which was perfect for us considering the beautiful venue that Tower Hill Barns offers–relaxed, rustic, and wholesome. We also subtly tied Lord of the Rings into our décor; as it meant a lot to Thomas. We did handmade decorations: a wooden pallet itinerary by the front door, wooden accessories for tables, pictures of us from when we first met that I paired with the Lord of the Rings font for the invitations, and also the stationery (which was a surprise on the day for Thomas)!

Behind the scenes with Bethan & Thomas for their outdoor wedding:

I was lucky enough to get to stay the night before in the farmhouse with my bridesmaids, where we just relaxed and caught up with one another (with lots of excitement and giggles). Fast forward 12 hours and I was woken up by the girls blasting ‘White Wedding’ by Billy Idol! It felt only right to dance and sing our hearts out in my room in our pyjamas. It was the perfect start to the day!

Once we had breakfast, we moved over to the bridal prep room in the venue, where one of my nearest and dearest started styling our hair, followed by the amazing Lizzie who painted our faces! Everyone was so relaxed, and it was the perfect morning. We popped the fizz and took each moment in!

Not long after, our lovely photographer Dan asked me to hold my dress over the balcony on the outside deck and to strike a pose! So outside we went, until the next minute, I see in the corner of my eye that Thomas’ shoes were walking out of the main door! So I shouted down to Dan to tell him, but in the meantime, I managed to pick my gorgeous (and very heavy) wedding dress from the bannister and ran back into the room. I can assure you; I have never run so quickly in my life!

Luckily, we were able to do our first dance outside (thanks to lovely autumnal weather). Despite limited dancing skills, no practice, and a lot of nerves, we knew we were in it together which meant it was a beautiful, shared moment. We got through the dance, we didn’t fall over, and it gave us special memories and even better wedding photos!

A Rustic Outdoor Ceremony

It was 2 pm on a lovely autumnal day in September and as we were lining up ready to walk the aisle, I felt a moment of pure bliss. I took a deep breath and thought ‘right girls, here we go. Time to get married!’ I knew I was in safe hands with the THB team, and all my worries went out the window as the music started.

Everyone laughed and got slightly emotional during the vows, which were amazing and completely perfect. My entrance music – a song from the Hobbit (Thomas’ favourite movie) – was a total surprise for him. And as my dad handed me over to Thomas after we’d walked down the aisle together, he turned and punched the sky shouting ‘YES!’, which made the moment unforgettable (thank you Dad!).

Wedding Food & Bespoke Mr & Mrs Cocktails

The Food Taster experience put us in great stead for choosing our three-course wedding breakfast. We had the Chicken Liver Pate for starters, accompanied by caramelised onion puree, onion chutney, and crispy shallots. And I can confirm, it went down a real treat with our guests. For mains, we had heard that the Tower Hill Barns’ Fish and Chips were notoriously good and we definitely were not disappointed.

Finally, we went with the White chocolate and Baileys Cheesecake for dessert. It had a smooth texture and was a decadent way to finish our meal. Our guests absolutely raved about every single course, which filled us with joy! Later in the evening, we opted to serve gourmet Buttermilk Chicken and Beef burgers with chips, and Mushroom and Halloumi burgers. There was something for everyone and the perfect way to finish off the evening and soak up the alcohol. We really did get the best of both worlds with our food choices, and if we had to do it over, we’d choose the same again.

The Groom’s drink of choice was none other than a Long Island Iced Tea, of course, and for the Bride’s, I had chosen a Bramble which looked fantastic and tasted even better! This special touch was so thoughtful because not only were they our favourite drinks, but our guests still talk about them too.

A Rustic, Semi-Naked Wedding Cake

Emz Cakes completely outdid themselves with a three-tiered semi-naked cake that was a perfect accompaniment to our rustic theme. Delicious, non-traditional tiers of salted caramel, chocolate, and lemon were displayed on the THB wooden rustic barrel in the main barn, on top of a wooden log.

The Photographer & Videographer

Thomas knew Dan, so it was probably one of the easiest decisions we had to make as a soon-to-be-married couple. Dan’s work was exactly what we wanted. It was relaxed and nothing felt like too much work; we didn’t have to pose too much as Dan managed to get candid pictures, and he was extremely fun to be around. He made everyone feel at ease in front of the camera. There are so many gorgeous wedding photo spots at THB, having the venue nestled in the stunning Welsh countryside really was a bonus. The wedding photos came out perfectly, and they will last a lifetime, just like the incredible moments and memories of our very special day.

The Engagement + Honeymoon

Now then, the engagement really was a surprise! I was so taken aback by it. It was Christmas Morning and Thomas said he had forgotten a present which he apparently hadn’t had time to wrap. So, he told me to close my eyes and when I opened them, he was down on one knee with the ring and box in his hand! It was the perfect moment, just the two of us, and a moment I will never forget.

For our honeymoon, we went to Crete the next day (which was slightly stressful) but also perfect timing – a little escape as we were in our own bubble together and could celebrate!

Heading for more real #THBWeddings