A wedding with a true personal touch 

Now usually with our wedding blogs, we tend to talk to the bride about the experience of her big day, and the groom unfortunately doesn’t get much of a look-in! But on this occasion, we will follow the lead of a couple who created a unique day that truly reflected their personalities, their love for one another, and their strong sense of family, and let John Haw tell his wonderful story.

Robin Hood-inspired proposal

Born and bred in Beverley, East Yorkshire, John Haw, 31, and Sam Young, 32, were struck by Cupid’s arrow during a night out on the town back in 2014. By Christmas that year, they moved in together, and just under four years later, John, who works for his family’s business Kutchenhaus on Beverley’s Toll Gavel, was planning his proposal.

He said: “I decided to take Sam for a weekend away to Hawes, as she would hopefully be agreeing to become Mrs Haw!

“I love the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and there’s a famous scene where he bathes in a beautiful waterfall,” John explained. “I knew I wanted to propose to Sam at that waterfall, which is Hadraw Force in the Yorkshire Dales. It was a stunning setting and thankfully she said yes.”

John and Sam, who works as a tutor at Wyke College in Hull, set about searching for a venue for their celebration, knowing they wanted something that would tick all the boxes – unique and individual, exclusive use for the whole weekend, an attractive outdoor space, and an accessible location that was at the same time out in the countryside.

“We found Barff House in Brandesburton online and it was the first place we viewed,” said John. “We both knew straight away that it would take some beating, and later that day we contacted Katy, the owner, and asked if we could book. She offered us July 13, 2019, and we snapped her hand off.”

Next stop was to find a marquee provider. John said: “Katy at Barff House put us in touch with Village Farm Marquees. Everyone was so easy to work with, there was no need to look anywhere else. Chrysta and Tony knew everything we’d want to ask before we asked it!

“There were lots of options to choose from and they were so helpful, responsive and full of advice. Everything was on time and nothing was too much trouble.”

Rain, rain go away!

The couple chose to cover off all the legalities at Beverley register office a few days beforehand, as it was important to them that their actual celebration would take place outdoors, in the beautiful gardens at Barff House. Anyone concerned about the typically inclement nature of our British weather needn’t worry, as the versatile venue’s barn offers a beautiful space for an indoor ceremony away from Mother Nature’s elements if required.

John said: “The ceremony was due to start at 2pm, and it rained during the morning. We had to rush the chairs inside, then make a decision as to whether we’d go ahead with the outdoor service. Thankfully the rain stopped so we quickly set everything up outside again!”

Another key choice was their celebrant, Penelope Jayne, who specialises in providing the ultimate personalised service for the couples she works with. Penny explained how she’d come to meet John and Sam, and the approach she takes to shaping the perfect ceremony: “I’m an independent celebrant, I’m not affiliated to any faith. Katy at Barff House recommended me to John and Sam, who knew they wanted a very individual ceremony rather than a standard, off the peg one.

“They are such a wonderful, friendly couple, who are passionate about the things that are important to them. They wanted their family to be engaged, so I gave them lots of options for how they could create a really personal, individualised service.

“I came up with a bespoke script to ensure the ceremony was truly about and for them, and they wrote their own vows. They included a ‘black and tan’ ritual, where the bride and groom drink a mixture of stout and pale ale to symbolise the joining of their families, and their young nieces and nephews did ink fingerprints on their wedding certificate as well as reading a poem they had written.”

Penny can be booked anything from two years to a month in advance, but ensures she only hosts one celebration a day so each couple has her full focus. A registrar for many years, she became a celebrant in 2016 and says many people are still not aware that celebrant services exist, something that was echoed in the feedback from some of John and Sam’s 100 guests, who didn’t realise there was so much choice and flexibility on offer for a wedding celebration.

Penny added: “More and more couples are thinking about what they want to say and where, and who to involve. Some like to include their pets – I’ve hosted ceremonies that include donkeys and even a pet snake!

“Some couples stay with you for a lifetime, and John and Sam are definitely one of my favourites.”

John added: “I was keen to write my own vows, although Sam was a bit worried about it. We had no idea what the other would say. I’m not a soppy bloke so it was quite hard, but it was brilliant.”

A special venue

John was supported by three best men – brothers Robbie and Mike and young nephew Charlie. Sam, who sparkled in a white sleeveless gown, was attended by sister Kelly and nieces Phoebe and Emily, all wearing navy dresses, plus toddler nephews Griff and Finn fulfilled their roles as cheeky page boys.

Guests enjoyed a few comedy moments as the ceremony paused for interruption by tractor, an aeroplane and a paraglider, and afterwards were seated in the beautifully decorated marquee, including specially designed light and foliage boxes, for the reception. Smokin’ Blues provided delicious canapes including ‘mac n cheese’ balls’ and jerk chicken, then sharing platters laden with ox cheek, belly pork and smoked brisket with chips and coleslaw, and burritos during the evening. Dessert took the form of a ‘bake-off’ table in the barn, with guests contributing their own home-made offerings.

John and Sam accepted Katy’s recommendation of tipples for the tables from local vineyard, Laurel Vines, in Aike near Driffield. “We tried to go as local as possible when choosing our suppliers, including where the food and wine were sourced,” John explained. Katy also ensured local beers were on the bar too, including Wold Top and Great Newsome. The confetti was also home-made by Katy, from flowers growing in the Barff House garden.

Everyone moved into the barn for the entertainment, and pop band the Summer Knights kept the dancefloor rocking until midnight. The newlyweds stayed in the romantic Shepherd’s Hut, while close family retired to the lovely cottage in the Barff House grounds. The setting, with its lovingly restored barn, gardens, and pretty woodland complete with a fire pit and hay bale seating, as well as the on-site accommodation available, were all part of the package that charmed John and Sam.

Katy Brierley, owner of Barff House, said of the wedding: “I absolutely loved it! John and Sam were so relaxed, it was such a wonderful day. They’d seen a video of my son’s wedding here and wanted something similar. It was so easy to work with them, I think we were all very much in tune with each other.”

Barff House hosts a handful of weddings each year, and has just a couple of openings available for 2020, so anyone interested in this exclusive venue is advised to contact Katy quicksmart!

The best day of your life

“It’s meant to be best day of your life, and it really was,” said John. “Picking out one favourite moment is really hard. I loved the ceremony, and the food. Everything was spot on, it was such a relaxed atmosphere with everyone just having a good time.

“We were very fortunate that all the suppliers were available, and they were all so easy to work with. They understand that you just want to enjoy your day and it’s their job to help make that happen, they were all really passionate about it.”

The couple departed for a ‘mini-moon’ to Cornwall the following week, and are now planning a full-scale honeymoon to New Zealand in 2020.

Chrysta Newman, Co-director of Village Farm Marquees, said: “Barff House is a very special venue, and this was a very special wedding. The personal touches really made the difference and I’m sure John and Sam as well as all their guests will cherish their memories for a very long time.”

Photos courtesy of Inspire Images

SUPPLIERS

Celebrant – Penelope Jayne

Suit designer – Suits Direct

Florist – Sue Haigh at Flower Style, in Beverley

DJ/entertainment – The Summer Knights

Caterer – Smokin’ Blues

Wedding cake – Friend made a Pavlova