The start of spring has an energy all of its own, a joyful optimism as the world bursts back to life and in our countryside setting we are lucky to witness this glorious reawakening first hand. From the incredible displays of tulips in our landscaped gardens to the beautiful blossom adorning trees and the glorious sound of birds filling the air – we have to admit, our West Sussex wedding venue looks pretty spectacular during spring.
Although even with minimal additions a spring wedding at Southend Barns is breath-taking, this time of year offers incredible scope for the imagination when it comes to seasonal wedding décor. To help give your wedding planning a kick start, our team has come up with some of our favourite wedding trends for spring. Keep reading to find out more…
What a Wonderful World
Spring really is an enchanting time of year at Southend Barns. Our gardeners work tirelessly to ensure every inch of our wedding venue is absolutely beautiful all year round, but there is just something about the gardens springing to life once more which fills us with delight.
If you want to make the most of our stunning surroundings then why not consider our Secret Garden for your wedding ceremony? Positioned between our alpaca’s field and the pretty flint wall of our Dairy Barn, The Secret Garden features an elegant pergola at the end of a sweeping aisle. Lined with chic stone benches and edged with beds bursting with seasonal flowers, The Secret Garden makes an enchanting setting for your outdoor wedding ceremony.
To add a personal touch, many couples like to decorate the pergola with floral displays. From circular structures clad with flowers to cascades of greenery entwined round the wooden beams, whether your aesthetic is maximalist or more refined, The Secret Garden offers a beautiful backdrop to your spring wedding day.
She Comes in Colours
Bursting with optimism, spring is a gorgeous time to use beautiful colour in your wedding day styling. Classic options include pretty pastels in pinks and yellows, but why not embrace the unexpected with a day dedicated to beautiful blues or be inspired by the blossoming spring gardens and add a splash of colour with vibrant corals, pretty lilac and bright, sunny yellow.
Both wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses can also take gorgeous inspiration from this time of year. From embroidered wedding dresses featuring cascades of appliqué flowers to the subtle hint of a floral design in a lace overlay, this fresh trend allows you to go as big – or small – as you want.
If your dream wedding gown is sleek and minimal but you’d still like to include spring florals, then bridesmaid dresses are a great way to inject the trend into your wedding styling. From tonally printed silk gowns to mismatched floral dresses, there is something to suit every taste and level of formality.
Drip, Drip, Drop Little April Showers
Our spring weather is known to be a little unpredictable – it’s part of what gives us such glorious lush countryside. As a wedding venue in the South of England we are prepared for any eventuality and have ensured that, inside or out, our venue can be enjoyed to the full no matter the weather!
Our Collecting Yard enjoys views across our central landscaped garden and is completely sheltered from the elements with glass screens, heaters and a central fire pit. From the frostiest of winter’s night to the height of summer, our Collecting Yard provides an ideal space to enjoy the outdoors in the most comfortable way possible.
An unexpected benefit of a rain shower on your wedding day is some absolutely glorious photo opportunities! If the heavens open, it is all hands on deck to provide our brides and grooms shelter from the elements. In fact, some of the most romantic wedding pictures we have seen have stemmed from a rainy walk under our umbrella tunnel to the Dairy Barn.
Spring Wedding Styling
A wedding trend we are currently in love with is the use of blossom filled branches to form incredible sculptural centrepieces. Whether used alone for minimalist cool, or in collaboration with decadent floral arrangements, this great wedding styling option adds height and interest to any centrepiece.
If you are at a loss with where to start with your wedding day styling, then did you know that we offer a range of styling selections? Each of our five styling options – including our new fairy light ceiling installations – has been carefully tailored to complement the beauty of our barns in the best possible way.
Perfect for a spring wedding, Champagne Rose combines the sweetest pink and white silk flowers with chic copper touches and sleek tapered candles. Wild & Green is also a stunning option for spring wedding styling featuring swathes of luscious greenery offset by rustic twine, glass and fragrant herbs. Each of our styling selections can be used alone or adapted to incorporate additional wedding décor elements.
Find out about all our Styling Selections here.
Food Glorious Food
From spring greens to classic roast lamb, spring food offers a mouth-watering selection of flavours, perfect for a dreamy wedding breakfast.
Our Roots Kitchen Garden is the source of many of our seasonal ingredients including our herbs and lots of our vegetables. Our focus at Roots has always been about using incredible quality ingredients to create delectable dishes. By growing as much as we can onsite we are able to offer the delicious, authentic flavours that only garden to table can provide.
From our Roots Allotment Vegetable Salad to our Sussex Wild Mushroom, Leek and Toasted Pumpkin Seed Tortellini and of course the spring classic Overnight Shoulder of Lamb, served with a rosemary and cranberry glaze, roasted new potatoes, crushed pea and mint salad and delicious allotment vegetables. Our Southend Barns wedding day menu packs a punch in innovative seasonal dishes with something for every couple and their guests to enjoy.
For more seasonal styling ideas click here.
Photo credits: Adorlee Weddings, Ruby Roux Photography, Helen Cawte Photography, Emma Hare Photography
