When things don’t always go to plan
The weather can often be the biggest hurdle when planning an outdoor wedding — especially here in the UK, where even a beautiful spring forecast can change overnight. This was certainly the case Matilda & Johns wonderful wedding we flowered in May 2025 at the stunning Cherry Barn.
The couple had originally dreamed of holding their ceremony outside in the meadow, surrounded by fresh spring greenery and open skies. However, in the days leading up to the wedding, the weather turned unsettled, bringing squally rain showers and strong winds. Rather than panic, the bride made the wise decision to secure a clear marquee as a backup plan.
The rain didn’t spoil the day
Although the marquee couldn’t be positioned in the meadow itself, Cherry Barn has a perfect space adjacent to the main barn where it could be safely installed. The result was a beautifully sheltered ceremony space that still felt light, airy, and connected to the surrounding landscape — and most importantly, kept everyone comfortably undercover while the weather did its thing outside.
Fortunately, the bride had already hired a beautiful rustic wooden-framed arch for the ceremony, which meant we could simply reposition it inside the clear marquee on the morning of the wedding. Once in place, we dressed it with the flowers and foliage from the original meadow design, allowing the look and feel of the outdoor ceremony to carry through seamlessly. The chairs were carefully arranged beneath the shelter of the marquee, and our floor-based, meadow-style aisle flowers were placed at the ends of the rows, creating the feeling of walking through soft, natural planting. To frame the ceremony space itself, two large milk churn arrangements were positioned on either side of where the couple would stand — adding height, texture, and a gentle sense of occasion while still keeping that relaxed countryside atmosphere.
Florals by Alex Ball - Flowers in Rye, seasonal flowers in June
Because we had already discussed repurposing the aisle flowers and milk churn arrangements for the indoor barn reception, everything had been designed with flexibility in mind — which meant the transition was seamless and stress-free. After the ceremony, the meadow-style aisle flowers were carefully moved into the barn and reimagined as a wildflower meadow in front of the stage, creating a beautiful, natural focal point for the evening celebrations. The milk churn arrangements were repositioned at the entrance to welcome guests into the reception space, carrying the ceremony’s atmosphere through into the next part of the day.
The round tables had already been thoughtfully set with soft LED lamps and delicate bud vases, ready for guests to arrive. Meanwhile, we turned our attention to the barn’s large hanging wheel, dressing it generously with trailing foliage and suspended flowers. This became the main floral feature above the top table — a romantic, garden-inspired canopy that drew the eye and anchored the space around the bride and groom.
On this particular wedding, the couple had also chosen to work with wedding planner Natasha Spencer Events — and in this instance, it made a real difference to how smoothly the day unfolded. We worked closely together throughout the setup, making sure everything was carefully secured and thoughtfully positioned in case the blustery weather returned. Having an experienced planner on hand created a calm, organised atmosphere behind the scenes, allowing everyone to focus on creating a beautiful experience for the couple and their guests. I’d happily work with Natasha again, and I think it also helped that I know Cherry Barn and its surroundings so well, which meant we could make confident decisions quickly and adapt the plans with ease. Luckily as it so often happens in this country the wind dropped and the sun made an appearance, and all was good at the end of the day, Photo credit Sarahrookphotography
The Sun Came out Eventually