There’s something so special about exchanging heartfelt vows in a setting where so many special memories have been made. After getting engaged at the bride’s childhood home, Hannah and Lindsay knew that there was no other perfect spot to tie the knot than the place that holds significant meaning to both of them. With stunning views of the countryside, romantic garden florals, and a few disco balls thrown in for fun, their relaxed English backyard wedding was everything they dreamed of and more!
For their marquee ceremony, the couple kept the decor simple, letting the picturesque scenery and their love be the highlight of the day. After their sweet “I dos,” they moved to the Raveningham Barn down the road for an intimate reception. With the help of their trusted vendor team, they pulled off the aesthetic they envisioned using long farmhouse tables filled with romantic garden blooms and greenery, vintage crockery, and gold cutlery. And finally, mirror balls, fairy lights, and soft draping tied the look together and added a whimsical feel to the space.
Wanting to make their big day extra special, the pair’s loved ones helped with some of the DIY wedding details—from the place cards to the guest book. Everything came together so beautifully, and thankfully, Georgia Rachael Photography was there to capture it all. Planning to get married at home? There’s nothing sweeter than hosting a wedding at a spot that holds a special place in both your hearts. Keep scrolling for backyard wedding ideas that will spark inspiration to help you plan the most memorable celebration.
The Couple:
Hannah and Lindsay
The Wedding:
Norwich, United Kingdom
How Their English Backyard Wedding Came To Be
We chose to have the ceremony in the garden of Hannah’s childhood home, where we also got engaged in January 2020. We had canapes, Pimms, and beer served in the garden from our family pub, The Tipsy Cow. The evening reception was held at Raveningham Barn down the road. We chose the barn as it is such a beautiful and intimate setting, as well as a blank canvas that we could work with. Our wedding was so much more beautiful than we ever imagined in every way possible. We were going for an intimate, relaxed English garden style with blush pinks, daisies, gold, and a hint of terracotta, plus a few disco balls thrown in for fun. Our dress code was “black tie/get dressed up to the nines.” Even though it was summer, we loved it. It just looked so lovely having everyone dressed up, and it translated so well in the photos and video.
Doing A First Touch Instead Of A First Look
We didn’t exchange gifts, but we did a “first touch,” which sounds funny. It’s like a first look, but we didn’t see each other. We stood back to back and held hands. We read each other a personal letter. This was such a special moment for us both to have with each other before the ceremony.
Personalizing Their Ceremony With A Ring Warming Ritual
We chose a celebrant wedding to have a more intimate and personal ceremony. Our lovely celebrant India FaceTimed us and provided us with a couple’s questionnaire and individual ones, plus a face-to-face meeting. India felt like an old friend by the end. She helped with many suggestions, one being a “ring warming.” Our wedding bands were tied on a ribbon and passed around to every guest. Each guest got time to say a prayer, blessing, or good thought over the rings. So the rings were “warmed” with love before we gave them to each other. We also had Hannah’s wonderful friend Amber read the poem “You are the Bubbles” by Rachel Bright.
DIY Details Were A Collective Effort From Loved Ones
We created the terracotta place cards with the help of family and friends. Hannah’s brother Douglas created the design of the table plan. Our sister-in-law Katya and friends Jodie and Esther helped create glass guest books. Our friends and family really were a blessing to us in preparation for our wedding.
Advice From The Newlyweds
Our number one piece of advice is to 100% only invite people you genuinely want there—not who your parents want or everyone and anyone’s plus ones. We had fifty-five guests, and it was perfect. Secondly, create a mood board. This helped us see the vision and style of our wedding and how it would all come together. Thirdly, the small, thoughtful details make the day special but don’t get caught up in them. Remember, everyone is there to celebrate you and this new chapter of your lives as a couple. Fourth, use Google spreadsheets for all your vendors to keep track of spending and pay everyone on time. Fifth, have your wedding cake as dessert. This saved us money and avoided waste. Plus our cake was incredible. Sixth, Have an unplugged ceremony. And finally, enjoy it—the planning and the day. Give your phone to a friend and be in the moment as the day goes so quickly.
Hiring A Coordinator Made For A Stress-Free Wedding Day
One of the most important things for us when planning our wedding is that we wanted a stress-free day that flowed as seamlessly as possible. For this, we sourced Emily Andrew Events for day-of coordination. They provided much-needed support before the wedding. No question went unanswered, and they were fantastic on the day. Highly recommend it if you are having a marquee/garden wedding or one not at a traditional wedding venue.
The Wedding Team:
Photography – Georgia Rachael Photography
Event Planning – Emily Andrew Events
Reception Venue – Raveningham Barn
Floral Design – Floral Sistas
Catering – North Norfolk Catering
Cake – Dust with Cocoa
Officiant – India Bel Ceremonies
Live Music – The Joe Ringer Band
Videography – Browns Films
Invitation Design – Gable and Gain
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Boho Beauty Box
Wedding Dress – Hera Couture via Homestead road Bridal
Bridal Accessories – Loeffler Randall
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Coast
Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Apparel – MJ Bale Australia
Groomsmen’s Accessories – Assefs Moree + Kullillaart
Bunting + Lights – Boomting Bunting
Rentals – Events Under Canvas, Array Wedding and Event Hire + The Banqueting Hire
Congratulations to Hannah and Lindsay on their relaxed English backyard wedding. And a big thank you to Georgia Rachael Photography for capturing all the beautiful moments and stunning details they can look back on and cherish for the rest of their lives.
A backyard wedding is a sweet, sentimental, and truly one-of-a-kind way to tie the knot. But keep in mind that it still involves a fair amount of logistics to pull off, so use your team of pros for their expertise to ensure your celebration is stress-free and one for the books!
Their exit was perfect!