Snowy Winter Wedding at Foxtail Barns in Staffordshire
Foxtail Barns is a wonderful wedding venue in the North of England. The Staffordshire countryside creates a sense of luxury and the timeless location of Consall Hall Gardens Estate provides an historical setting. Just when I didn’t think this stunning venue and gorgeous wedding day could get any better, the snowflakes started to fall. A soft, perfectly white carpet of snow made this wedding day especially magical. Foxtail Barns is a complete wedding venue set in the same grounds as the incredible Tawny Hotel. It creates a luxury venue where the wedding ceremony, reception, wedding breakfast and dancing are all in one location, on one level.
Foxtail Barns Wedding Venue for a Perfect Wedding with Family and Friends
Reanne and Vince wanted a relaxed day to celebrate their love with family and friends. The attention to the tiniest detail and importance of making every guest feel truly welcome was paramount. It was wonderful to see lots of children playing and having fun at a wedding. Each child was entertained with a personal box of treats, right down to the detail of including their preferred toy dinosaur. Not any dinosaur; their favourite dinosaur.
So you can imagine how important it was that the flowers for this wedding were just right. Reanne wanted a small, delicate bouquet to complement her petite frame and incredible dress. Wanting colours to be soft, romantic and muted, our couple chose whites with warm toffee and caramel tones, perfect for the colours of Foxtail Barns in Winter. The Groomsmen chose elegant pocket square florals to match their tuxedos, in the same toffee and caramel colour theme. The bridesmaid dresses were the most stunning colours of teal, sage green and burnt orange, working so well with the flowers and the venue. Soft foliage of eucalyptus and olive carried the theme from the beautiful invitations by Botanical Grace Studio to the floral designs beautifully.
Foxtail Barns Wedding Flower Inspiration
Reanne’s incredible dress from Elegance Bridal Gowns was a total showstopper - stunning and elegant with beautiful details. The Bridal bouquet is always a favourite to create. It’s the starting point, the most important feature, and creates the inspiration for all the other floral designs. Reanne wanted small and delicate so extra special blooms were chosen. The fluffy, ethereal petals of white Ranunculus, rich luxurious Toffee roses, soft pillowy Cappuccino roses, sweet Brownie, Faldo Apricot and White Lisianthus, butterfly Ranunculus and perfect white scented Sweet Peas to create delicate movement. Olive foliage with its unique colour and texture created the frame. Trailing silk ribbons in complementary toffee and soft creams created a gentle flowing accent. Until the snowy conditions froze those lovely ribbons and a quick change to neat ivory grosgrain ribbon provided the ideal finish for such a beautiful white Winter wedding.
The bridesmaid bouquets were similar in style and colour, typical for our wonderful bride who has always, always put everyone else before herself. Sarah and Alison from Touched Hair and Beauty and Sophie from Sophie Brows and Bridal made sure everyone was looking and feeling their sparkling best for a brilliant day.
My favourite design was a little flower wand for Thea. This needed to be pretty, yet robust! Roses, Waxflower and ribbons created the right amount of texture and movement, whilst I could still be confident it would survive the necessary delighted waving, throwing and bashing. As soon as little Thea had her flower wand in her hands, the day was on!
“For most women, a wedding gown represents far more than just a dress - it’s the embodiment of a DREAM”
Foxtail Barns Wedding Ceremony in the Orangery
Although the ceremony room at Foxtail Barns is stunningly romantic without any additional decoration, the opportunity to frame our couple with a broken arch of foliage and florals created amazing photographs. Foliage crept along the walls and mirrors and baskets of flowers at the base of the installation created a natural, luxurious feeling. Candlelight added to the romance.
The aisle was framed with tall, opulent arrangements and white Tibet rose petals were scattered down the aisle: so romantic.
Reanne and Vince exchanged the most beautiful vows, along with some heart-warming funny moments and a wonderful reading, reminding us to be a good partner, not just marry the right partner. Weddings bring everyone together to share the best of emotions and this one brought all the feels. So much love and joy! That dress! Oh, my days, simply stunning! The Groomsmen classically elegant in blacktie and the bridesmaids looked so beautiful. Cris Lowis, the most friendly, relaxed and natural story-telling wedding photographer from Stafford, captured the day perfectly. I am so grateful to Cris for taking additional time to photograph all the flowers. The means the world to us florists. Thank you, Cris.
“THE ART OF MARRIAGE
Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens.
A good marriage must be created. In marriage the little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say “I love you” at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through the years.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives.
It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humour.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow old.
It is a common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and the obligation is reciprocal.
It is not only marrying the right partner; it is being the right partner.”
Wedding details – the magic created from all the planning
After the ceremony, guests were treated to wonderful music by award-winning musician Ben from Indiana Band. This was a lovely time for everyone to relax whilst the happy couple had some wonderful photographs captured in the beautiful snowfall.
My favourite of Cris’s images were the family shots including two excited dogs who were so happy to be part of the celebrations. The Consall Hall Gardens Estate creates the most stunning backdrops for wedding photographs. I think Cris must have made some brave life choices to get these incredible images on such a snowy day - boy were they worth it though!
The day was also perfectly captured by Michael Cartner videographer creating the most wonderful memories and a truly beautiful highlight video that brings tears of joy every time. I can’t recommend having a videographer enough - you really do only get one chance at this.
Foxtail Barns Wedding Reception in the Party Barn
The wedding breakfast tables were decorated with olive and eucalyptus foliage, luxurious Dorchester white roses and Waxflower. Pillars of flowers framed the LOVE letters and the tall opulent floral centrepieces created an additional photo opportunity for guests. The magnificent cheese tower from the Cheshire Cheese Company, on a personalised board, looked stunning with fresh flowers, foliage and fruit. Everyone had a wonderful night with the brilliant Indiana band, some magical night time photography, that epic sparkler kiss and even pizza. What more could you wish for?
What a setting for the celebration of a lifetime! What a dance floor! What a crowd! Reanne and Vince, your day was everything. Thank you for inviting me to play a little part in the magic. Wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness together.
If you’re planning a wedding at Foxtail Barns and would like some help with your flowers, please get in contact to arrange a consultation. I can’t wait to hear all your dreams and plans.
Love,
Diane x
