A rustic yet modern celebration full of love, laughter & late autumn romance.

Vision & inspiration

I was always drawn to a rustic, yet modern theme – something relaxed and natural, but with soft and romantic details to bring it all to life. Like many brides, most of my inspiration came from Pinterest and Instagram, but I also trusted my instincts. I always say “if it feels like you, that’s when you know you’ve nailed the vision.”

The venue

Mickleton Hills Farm provided the perfect canvas for our rustic and modern theme. It’s a beautifully restored barn with character in every corner. It felt laidback and welcoming, just like us. And we loved that we could choose our own suppliers to create the look and feel we wanted.

We also felt connected to the venue in some sense. Ari and I lived in Chipping Campden – the neighbouring village to Mickleton – for one year after finishing Uni, so it already felt familiar and special to us. And having Ari’s mum and stepdad just five minutes down the road made it even better!

Another big draw was the ‘extended weekend’ hire. We had the venue from Thursday to Sunday, ensuring we had plenty of time to set up and soak it all in with our loved ones. On Friday evening, we had a relaxed dinner at local Italian restaurant, Da Luigi, with 20 of our nearest and dearest. And on Sunday, after the wedding, we enjoyed brunch at local Café & Brasserie Huxleys. It wasn’t just the time we had at the venue that sold it, it was also the on-site accommodation. They offered four beautiful, newly-built cottages sleeping up to 12 guests, which meant our families could stay with us. The owners, Sammy and David, were incredible too – so supportive and helpful throughout the entire process, from holding an initial consultation with them right the way through to managing on the day.

We viewed a few venues, but Mickleton Hills Farm immediately gave us that ‘this is it’ feeling. So my advice? Trust your gut!

Fashion

I wore a Sassi Holford gown from Love Bridal Boutique. Classic, modern and elegant, but most importantly comfortable! The bridesmaids wore dresses from Pretty Little Thing’s Molly-Mae collection (I’m a big fan!).

Ari and the groomsmen wore navy suits with black ties – a timeless look that worked so well against the autumnal backdrop.

My hair was styled half-up-half-down with soft curls for that effortless, romantic feel. And my makeup was soft glam. My hairstylist, Carla, suggested hair extensions to achieve the look I had in mind, and it was worth every penny. Trust your experts – they’re your visionaries!

Decor & details

We had 90 guests during the day and an additional 10 in the evening. The barn was dressed with 22 long wooden trestle tables, styled with clusters of dried grasses and a mix of blush and terracotta blooms, which looked incredible against the rustic stone walls.

Our stationery was designed by KST co-founder and the very talented @biglittleideas. Her hand-lettered calligraphy – from invitations to place cards and signage – not only added a personal touch but is also made the occasion that much more thoughtful and authentic. Her styling tied in perfectly with our soft pink, nude and white palette, setting the tone for a day that felt elegant yet warm.

Cocktail hour featured two of our favourites – Pornstar Martini (mine) and Espresso Martini (Ari’s) – from @tappdcocktails. The venue staff mixed and served ready for the guests to enjoy. Another personal touch.

Decor-wise, we kept things simple but impactful. Hanging lanterns, soft candles, napkins from Ikea, baskets of flip-flops for tired dancing feet, and even a little refreshment basket in the loos. It was about balancing budget with vision, picking where to splurge (like florals) and where to keep things practical and clever.

Speaking of florals – Wizz and Wild absolutely nailed the brief. Issy created the most beautiful seasonal designs using late-autumn blooms in blush, nudes, peaches, and whites, mixed with dried grasses and pampas. The moongate installation was a true showstopper. The bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, and flower girl baskets all tied everything together – romantic, boho-chic, and perfectly us.

The day itself

After two Covid-related postponement’s (we were originally due to marry in June 2020, then March 2021), our big day finally happened on Saturday 6 November 2021. But it was worth the wait!

Ari got ready in one of the cottages with his groomsmen, enjoying drinks together while the girls and I had a morning of pampering. The photographer, David Christopher, captured every little detail so beautifully.

Our legal ceremony was at 3pm with the Gloucestershire Registration Service, accompanied by live piano music from Louis Coupe. We streamed the ceremony for family abroad, which was so important to us. Walking into the barn and seeing everyone there was magical.

Afterwards, guests enjoyed Peroni, prosecco, and posh nibbles during the reception, before heading in for our wedding breakfast at 5pm. Speeches happened during starters (a choice I’d highly recommend – it breaks up the meal and keeps the energy flowing).

The evening kicked off with cocktails and our cake cutting, followed by our first dance to Paolo Nutini at 7.30pm, complete with biodegradable confetti cannons set off by our nieces! From there, the party really began thanks to live music from Eddie and the Murphy’s, followed by DJ Graeme Smith from Wedding Jam, who took us through to midnight with a special set of Greek music to honour Ari’s Cypriot heritage.

Food has always been a big part of our lives, so we made sure guests were well-fed! We love the sharing board concept, so the feast was true ‘mezze’ style with starters including a selection of breads, a board of dips, baked lemon feta, lamb kofta & falafel, oil dips and olives. Mains included chicken & halloumi skewers, batata hara (spicy potatoes), roasted Mediterranean vegetables, and salad. And for dessert guests were able to help them selves to a bit of strawberry eton mess, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate & orange mousse and baklava.

And the food didn’t stop there. We had a cheeseboard from our caterers Kemp & Kemp and fresh pizza (by the slice) courtesy of the Wedding Pizza Company. It was relaxed, delicious, and exactly what we wanted.

Advice from one bride to another!

If I learned anything during the whole wedding process, it’s this: trust the process. Our plans were tested when Covid struck just three months before our original date, but in the end, it made the wedding even more perfect – it was exactly how it was meant to be.

We did have a morning curveball. A fire broke out in the venue owners’ house (on-site!) at 4am. David, being fire-trained, managed to sort it himself, and I had absolutely no idea until later. It did temporarily knock out the WiFi, which almost affected our livestream, but the team handled it brilliantly. Proof that even when things go wrong, they can be fixed – and your guests will never know!

For me, planning our wedding was a pure joy. I’m naturally organised, so I loved every second of it, but I know how overwhelming it can feel if you don’t have the time or headspace. That’s where KST was born. I adore love, I adore details, and so planning weddings is my dream job. Two little ones later, it’s finally the right time for me to launch this business, and I can’t wait to help other couples create their dream day too.

Love Becks xx

Big shoutout to:

@big.littleideas
@mickletonhillsfarm
@wizzandwild
@davidcphotography
@bridalhairbycarlavincent
@kempandkempfood
@weddingpizzaco
@tappdcocktails
@holliescakehouse
@rachaelclairebridalmakeup
@prestigehirebristol
@louiscoupe
@alexrobinson_films
@eddieandthemurphysband
@wedding.jam
@valleyfurniturehire