Image by Eve Dunlop

 

Many couples begin their wedding planning with the venue. It’s a great place to start and really sets the tone, theme and of course the date for the big event. It can be a time consuming and sometimes stressful process finding the right setting, which is why I am over the moon to introduce you to Stone Barn today.

Set in the beautiful Cotswolds, this flexible and rustic barn venue is just glorious. Think roaring fires, delicious simple BBQ cuisine and impeccable service. Plus the blank canvas allows you to totally make your mark and transform the space for your own style.

 

 

Could you firstly tell WWW readers a little bit about Stone Barn?

 

Stone Barn is a lovely old Cotswold stone barn, magnificently-isolated in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds countryside. The barn was originally used as a farm building and is still nestled amongst stunning farmland.

It is now an elegant simple wedding venue; with flag stone floors and an open fire place. The barn is candle lit during ceremonies and has a civil ceremony licence so people can get married on site.

Attached to the original barn building are Dutch Barns  which are used as the Dining Area, and contains (we are pretty sure!) Britain’s largest barbecue. The Dutch Barns are split-level and have corrugated iron, polished concrete and sawn oak floors, and the view overlooks the spectacular, rolling Cotswold Hills with not another building in sight.

 

What do you love most about hosting weddings?

 

We love that each wedding at Stone Barn is completely unique. Starting with the barn as the blank canvas, we try to make each event as personal and unique as possible – allowing couples to pick and choose from a selection of decorations including fire pits and flares, candles packages and lighting the dramatic indoor fire. They are also welcome to set up photo booths, cake and sweet tables and decorate the barn as much or little as they like!

They can also choose from our large menu choice and they even have a wide selection of recommended, local suppliers should they need help finding those too!

 

 

Image by Eve Dunlop

 

Could you tell us how Stone Barn was founded?

 

The barn is run by the Cripps Barn Group team who have over 20 years’ experience in running weddings and events. It is a small family-run business and the owners got married in the original barn, Cripps Barn.

The company now own 4 barns in total: Cripps Barn, Stone Barn, Shustoke Farm Barns and they opened  their latest barn, Healey Barn, in June 2015.

 

Image by Frankee Victoria Photography

 

How does the planning process work for your couples?

 

Before couples choose Stone Barn, they can use our fantastic online quote system. This allows them to plug in the details of their wedding and get a really good idea of how much it will all come to so they can then budget accordingly.

We set couples up with an online quotation which they can change as many or little times as they like before their wedding. This shows the breakdown of every cost including food and drink choices, the decorations, staffing and even down to the napkins they have chosen!

We arrange a Planning Meeting with each couple 6 months before their wedding to talk through everything in much detail with them, and don’t ask for final choices and numbers until 5 weeks before their wedding. So we are pretty flexible!

 

Image by Frankee Victoria Photography

 

Tell us about a typical wedding day. What’s involved for the venue?

 

Each couple have a dedicated Wedding Coordinator running their whole day, and a Bar Manager who manages until close at 12.30am.

The couple can come and set up from 9am, although our host of our experienced staff are there to set up all the tables and the ceremony room etc. in the morning. The only thing the couple need to do is hang any decorations they might want.

The large indoor fire will also be lit – and over 100 candles throughout the venue – creating a magically romantic atmosphere for the couple and their guests.

If the couple have chosen something to be cooked on our BBQ this is lit in the morning – and we are pretty sure it is Britain’s largest indoor barbecue!

After the ceremony, our waitresses and bar staff will serve canapés and drinks to the guests on the lawn and terrace or, if the weather isn’t great, by the roaring fire in the stone barn and on the mezzanine bar area – where guests can watch our chefs preparing their meal in our open plan kitchen.

Our team will then serve the wedding breakfast – Stone Barn is known for our whole BBQ’d lambs, sirloin steak bricks and butterflied legs of lamb. Alternatively couples can choose from our Rotisserie options including chicken with a cream and tarragon sauce, whole suckling pig with roast apples or even Gressingham duck with wine and blackcurrant sauce.  We only use the best ingredients and serve it simply – generally in a feast style on boards and in bowls to the centre of the tables. Some of our options can even be carved by guests at the tables!

Whilst the meal takes place we prepare the old stone barn for dancing – so there is no waiting around for the DJ/band to set up! Guests can then party the night away in the candle lit barn until 12.30am.

 

Image by Rob Tarren Photography

 

 

What do you aim to achieve for your clients?

 

We aim for each wedding to be unique and personal to the couple.  With a dedicated team on Wedding Coordinators responding to each request, question and query within hours we aim to make the planning process fun and easy – not stressful!

…and our testimonials prove we are doing something right!

 

Image by Rob Tarren Photography

 

What makes your service different from other venues?

 

We are not a stately home, we are not a hotel – we a barn! But not a creaking old barn all falling apart – but a cosy, candle lit, romantic barn. We have a whole ceiling of fairy lights, a dramatic open fire place and views of the rolling Cotswold hillside.

Because we are not restricted by rules and regulations that most hotels and stately homes have – each wedding can be tailored to suit the desires of each couple. Whether they are having an intimate wedding of 40 guests or a lavish affair of 200 – the barn lends itself to each couple and their wishes perfectly. Like we said, we are a blank canvas for them to paint their perfect day on!

 

Image by Rob Tarren Photography

 

Could you tell us some information about your packages/prices?

 

We do not have set packages or prices – couples can work with our extensive decoration list, menus and drink options to help stick within their budgets. Our online quote system helps couples to get a really good idea of the cost of their wedding –  it allows them to plug in the details of their wedding including guest number, food choice, drinks etc. and get a really good idea of how much it will all come to so they can then budget accordingly.

Certain months (November) have discounted barn hire to help people with a tighter budget!

 

Image by Rob Tarren Photography

 

Do you have any tips for couples in selecting their wedding venue?

 

Don’t get caught up in a venue that is not flexible. Remember – it is your big day! Many venues treat weddings like a conveyor belt of events – we try to do the exact opposite!

 

Image by Frankee Victoria Photography

 

Are you seeing any trends for the year ahead?

 

We offer vintage crockery as an option at Stone Barn and this is creeping back in we feel, with more and more couples choosing this to bring something a little different to their wedding. They can choose to have the full works, or just the vintage champagne saucers for their reception or stunning tea cups for their tea and coffee.

 

Image by Frankee Victoria Photography

 

Can you give us a teaser about what you are working on now?

 

We are looking forward to the new shelter and our first outdoor wedding.

 

 

 

 

How can we get in touch with you?

 

enquiries@crippsstonebarn.com

01285721909

www.crippsstonebarn.com

@TheStoneBarn

Facebook: StoneBarn

 

A sensational spot to host your wedding indeed.

Thanks so much to Stone Barn for sharing all about their special service today xo Lou

 

*This is a sponsored post*