Today I'm going to be telling you a little bit about our venue.

Court Farm is a 16th Century farmhouse set in ten acres of grounds. A lovingly restored farm house just outside of Bath, it's an absolutely beautiful, contemporary (yet rustic), comfortable home and business. I feel deadly excited to spend my wedding weekend there. The extended farm house has enough space for both of our families to be able to spend a joyous long weekend together. My family don't really 'do' quiet and reflective, we're a pretty rowdy bunch, but I'm looking forward to some personal (hungover) moments together the day after.

On the day of our wedding the outdoor space will be the main attraction. A marquee is going to be attached to the back of the barn to extend out to a dining area, leaving the main barn space free for dancing and a bar. This is were all my hard crafty work comes in. In my head it's decked out in all the Pinterest ideas ever (and looks good) but what is it that Coco Chanel said..."simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance". I will need to channel some Chanel where decorating is concerned or I might get a bit carried away. Or not, haha.

I still haven't written a concise guest list yet, for some reason this is the task that has completely baffled me. It's not as if I don't know the names of all our friends and family, I just can't seem to get them down on paper. I'll have to bite the bullet soon because Autumn is fast approaching and I want to make a start on save the dates and invitations before the year is out.

For a few weeks my head was filled with chair panic. How many chairs do I need? Will I need extras? What if my sisters all fall in love the week before the wedding and I don't have enough?! What if at the last minute fifteen people can't make it and I have wasted money on too many chairs?! And then I had an epiphany. Benches! Aaahh I feel so smug just thinking about it now. Each bench will seat four, but one more bum squashed up on each bench or one less bum won't be a problem. I'm also hoping that benches will give the meal a more relaxed feel.

So now a question...Does a wedding need entertainment other than music, food and drink? I've seen so many coconut shies, croquet sets and other games at weddings recently. But do I need to keep guests entertained?

One thing I would like to do is set up a small outdoor movie area. Like a little chill out corner with pillows and blankets and snacks. Probably with no sound so it's not so unsociable. Robin bought me a super 8mm camera for Christmas a few years back and I have never used it, I was saving the film for a special occasion. So maybe, and I've not actually run this past Robin yet, we could forgo an engagement shoot and make an engagement video instead. And have it playing at the wedding? I'm not sure if that's narcissistic (I'm not sure if the whole idea of a wedding is narcissistic) but I like it anyway. Has anyone else done this? Then maybe, if the weather holds up, we could have a proper family outdoor movie evening on Sunday night.

I looked into getting married at a little local cinema where you could have a personal film playing on the screen before the ceremony, and all the guests sit in the audience while you get up on stage to say your vows. And then best of all, a huge confetti canon goes off as you walk back down the aisle as man and wife. A CONFETTI CANON!! I couldn't love this anymore, but unfortunately this is one thing that doesn't fit our budget. At first it's so hard to get unachievable quotes for things you would love to have. Thankfully it hasn't happened too much for us. And the party afterwards is far more important than spending all our money on the ceremony.

In the end we decided to book the smallest most intimate room at the registry office in Bath. We are mega cringers and I get the feeling that if we had to stand up in front of everyone we know to say our 'I do's' we'd feel silly and embarrassed and end up laughing instead of taking it seriously. So there will be fourteen people including Robin and myself. Our Mums, Dads, Sisters, Robin's Brother and Best Man will be the only ones joining us for the 'wedding'. Then all back to the farm to start the party (and a confetti canon?? Hint hint).

Court Farm is pretty much a blank canvas, a fantastic luxury canvas, but blank nonetheless. We aren't restricted to caterers, colour schemes, drinks menus or anything else. It was the very first place we looked at in rainy dreary February and it was so beautiful we didn't want to look anywhere else, If it was that perfect in grey old February I can't wait to see it in mid August! There is field space for guests to camp and a large fire pit (I have a bit of a special idea up my sleeve involving the fire). Robin's Dad and his partner have visited the venue with us but the rest of our family have only seen photographs. I can't wait for everyone to see it!!

Time seems to be moving so quickly. I can't believe that my next post will be published the day before our one year count down! Yikes!!

Summer xxx