Hazel Gap Barn Wedding with Bride Arriving by Kit Car

Brides don't come much cooler than Emily, who nails her arrival in a kit car, leather jacket, aviators and headscarf. Underneath, her classic Sassi Holford gown makes a beautiful contrast and perfectly complements the gorgeous Hazel Gap Barn, one of RMW's recommended venues, which has all the features of a traditional barn - think exposed bricks, high ceilings and wooden beams - but is enough of a blank canvas to allow couples to stamp their mark. Emily and Andy chose to keep their décor natural, with breath-taking floral and foliage displays dominating their day. With sunshine and beaming smiles thrown in for good measure, this is the perfect summer celebration.

Hazel Gap Barn Wedding Venue

Emily & Andy: We originally went to look at Shustoke Farm Barns, another of the Cripps venues. It was absolutely stunning and we fell in love with it, but unfortunately, they were booked out for what seemed like years. However, they told us they were in the process of renovating a new venue in Nottinghamshire: Hazel Gap Barn. We went to visit the site, loved the look of the drawings, and took the risk to book a venue that was only half finished. Our punt completely paid off. Hazel Gap Barn looked fabulous on the day, with our minimalist yet elegant colour palette of white, grey and copper, set off by green foliage. The striking look of the venue meant we only needed flowers, foliage and a few candles and lanterns to finish it off. Rebecca Caddell from Floral Deco put together our breath-taking flowers, whilst Save The Date Event Stylist took care of all the small details and ensured we didn’t have to worry about setting up the venue – or clearing everything away the next day.

Sassi Holford Wedding Dress

I wore a Sassi Holford wedding gown, which I bought from Courtyard Bridal Boutique. I was a little nervous about dress shopping, having had a less than positive experience at another bridal shop; however, the team at Courtyard were so warm, welcoming and accommodating that I immediately felt at ease. I knew that I wanted a classic style without too much fuss, and although I didn’t have the immediate 'this is the one’ feeling, every time I saw my dress I loved it just a little bit more. I was so worried when I made my final decision that I had made the wrong choice, but I followed all the advice I was given to stop searching and, on the day, knew without a doubt that I had made the right choice for me. For my arrival at the venue, I added aviators, a headscarf and a leather jacket to my ensemble, alongside Valentino Rockstud heels which I had wanted forever.

Advice for Brides-To-Be

Although it’s a cliché, the best piece of advice I’d give is that it really is your day. Don’t worry about what anyone else has done or not done. Go with your gut and plan a day that is meaningful and reflects you and your partner. If you keep that in mind, you really can’t go wrong. Oh, and remember not to sweat the small stuff! It can be so easy to get wrapped up in small details but, on the day, I promise you won’t notice.

Music for Signing of Register: Acoustic trio version of Natasha Bedingfield’s 'Unwritten', accompanied by a guitar and cello

Emily and Andy's big day at Hazel Gap Barn is classic meets cool in the best possible way. We seriously love the bride's accessories; the contrast between edgy leather jacket and classic feminine gown just seems to work, every time. And hands up who wants to arrive by kit car at their wedding? That will be all of us, then.