Kelly & Adam's Country Garden Wedding

Anyone planning a summer wedding inevitably hopes, dreams and crosses their fingers for one thing above all others – a blue sky brimming with sunshine – which isn’t an easy ask thanks to our unpredictable British climate. With their date set for June 29, 2019, Hessle couple Kelly Boynton and Adam Barnes were no exception to this rule.

But they didn’t quite expect the treat they actually received when the big day arrived – only the hottest day of the year with temperatures climbing well into the 30s!

“It was absolutely glorious, we were so fortunate,” laughed Kelly. “Blazing sunshine from sunrise to sunset. And with it being one of the longest days it was light until around 10.30pm so it felt like a lovely garden party on a hot summer night.”

Their chosen venue perfectly suited the weather conditions, too. Nobody really wants to be cooped up inside on a beautiful summer’s day, and a marquee in the grounds of the West Carlton Country Guest House, in Aldbrough, created the ideal indoor-yet-outdoor environment for the couple’s celebration.

Kelly explained how she reached her decision: “We’d looked at a few venues, but hadn’t heard of West Carlton. Sophie at Village Farm Marquees suggested it so we went along, and knew straight away that it was perfect.

“We loved both the property and the grounds, the whole setting is stunning and the location was very accessible for all our guests. Caroline and Tim at West Carlton are great, they are very thorough and do their best to capture your vision.”

The couple were equally as impressed with the Village Farm Marquees service. “The team were just brilliant throughout. Sophie helped us design the best layout so we could fit in an entrance, a bar area, a dining section and the dancefloor,” said Kelly. “And we were able to roll up the sides of the marquee thanks to the gorgeous weather.

“Nothing was too big for Village Farm to deal with. The communication was excellent, they were always there if we had a question, and they liaised directly with West Carlton so everything ran really smoothly.”

Country garden theme



A former farmhouse dating back to 1720 surrounded by two acres of picturesque grounds, the sensitively renovated West Carlton guesthouse is licensed to host formal marriage ceremonies inside the property. This means couples can hold all parts of their celebration in one place, avoiding the need to travel between sites or complete the formalities on a different day. Owner Caroline Maltas explained: “Two rooms in the house are licensed for the formal marriage ceremonies so the celebration can take place in the garden or the marquee, wherever the couple wishes, then they can pop into the house to make the legal declaration.”

Kelly and Adam chose to hold a full service in the delightful gardens, bathed in sunshine, including sharing their vows and rings in the presence of all 99 guests and covering the legalities privately indoors. Kelly added: “We really wanted our guests to enjoy themselves as if they were at a big garden party, and everyone said it was such a fun and relaxed day.”

Kelly planned the marquee furnishings and décor along a ‘country garden’ theme with help from stylist Sophisticated Shindigs and florist On the Button. Banquet-style trestle tables were adorned with flower boxes built by a carpenter friend and hand-stained by Kelly, and the florist created a series of floral hoops suspended behind the top table. Fortunately, Kelly’s huge dress proved sufficiently cool despite the soaring heat thanks to its lightweight hooped skirt and low-cut sleeveless design.

The bride and groom were attended by no less than nine bridesmaids, flower girls and page boys, with the girls wearing dresses in a sophisticated ‘cloudy blue’ hue. Kelly laughed: “We decided to go all out as we’re only doing it once!”

Now aged 37 and 38 respectively, Kelly and Adam first met back in 2001 when they both worked for Prestige Recruitment Specialists in Hull. Initial plans to marry in 2008 were put on hold as the couple raised their daughter and settled into family life, until Adam surprised Kelly in 2017 with a proposal during a trip to Ibiza to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Adam still works at Prestige, having climbed the ladder to become a company director, while Kelly is in internal sales at Hull firm Donaldson Filtration.

Hot summer’s night

An acoustic quartet provided background music during the afternoon, and popular band The Silver Circle made sure the dance floor was buzzing later in the evening. And the dance floor also provided Kelly with one of her favourite moments of the whole day. She said: “The first dance was unforgettable. Adam totally got his groove on! He was strutting his funky stuff to the Hannah Grace’s cover version of Praise You. It was all captured on our wedding video too.”

Another of the bride’s standout memories was walking down the aisle with her dad, and seeing Adam waiting for her. “I was pretty tearful,” she added. “The whole day seemed so effortless, every part of it was wonderful.”

The Little Farm Caterer provided a sit-down two-course meal of a hot carvery with potatoes and salad, followed by the wedding cake (Victoria sponge with cream and strawberries) for dessert, while guests were able to snack on a hog roast throughout the evening.

“Jo King from The Little Farm was great,” Kelly added. “We first spoke 22 months before the wedding and then again one week before. I had no worries at all, she immediately picked up on what we wanted and was really laid back, nothing was too much trouble.”

Outdoor tables and soft shepherd’s lighting coupled with the Mediterranean evening temperatures meant the party continued outside as well as within the marquee well into the night. As the last guests departed, the wedding group were able to head straight to their comfortable beds for some well-earned rest in West Carlton’s nine luxurious rooms.

Memories to treasure

West Carlton owner Caroline admits this was one of her all-time favourite celebrations. She said: “Kelly and Adam are just the best. We loved every minute, the weather, the atmosphere, the people, it was such an awesome day. And I’ll never forget the first dance, Adam was hilarious!”

Sophie Marsden, Events and Marketing Coordinator at Village Farm Marquees, said: “This was one of those days that sticks with you for a long time. It was a joy to see Kelly and Adam’s plans come together in such an amazing celebration and I think we all counted our lucky stars that the weather was simply so perfect.”

Photos courtesy of M and G Photographic

Wedding Dress and Designer – Tanzanita by Sophia Tolli supplied by Coates Couture Bridal, Grimsby

Suit Designer – Peter Posh Formal Suit supplied by Coates Couture Bridal, Grimsby

Florist – On the Button Flowers, Bainton

Make-Up Artist – Creative Make-up by Carla, Bridlington

Hairdresser – Dexter’s, Driffield

DJ/Entertainment – Jonny Kramer, and The Silver Circle band

Stylist – Sophisticated Shindigs

Wedding Rings – Ernest Jones

Caterer – The Little Farm Caterer

Wedding Cake – Tiers and Celebrations, Hull

Photographer – M and G Photographic

Videographer – Popping the Bubble Productions // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ld9P1li2ak