Maddie and Dan met at the University of Portsmouth after they both joined the Ski Society. “We got chatting and became friends. I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but he was persistent. Thankfully, he didn’t give up, because before long I found myself falling for him too!” Dan proposed during a road trip from the UK to Southern Italy in his Porsche 911. “We planned to drive through France, Switzerland and Germany before arriving at Lake Como,” Maddie tells us. “I had a feeling a proposal might happen because in the weeks leading up to the trip, Dan kept dropping hints! As I turned to admire the sunset at Lake Como, Dan was down on one knee asking, ‘Will you marry me?’ It was a perfectly timed surprise.” The couple knew they wanted a barn wedding. “We’d visited a few venues before The Tithe Barn, but they weren’t quite right. We were looking for something that combined rustic character with a modern, elegant feel,” Maddie tells us. “The moment we walked into The Tithe Barn, we knew we’d found exactly what we were looking for. It had all the charm of a traditional barn, but with a beautifully modern interior, stunning oak beams and tall ceilings. It gave us that sense of grandeur while still feeling relaxed and full of character.” The surrounding grounds were perfect for an outdoor drinks reception. “The Milking Parlour was a feature we loved,” Maddie says. “It was the perfect space to spend the morning getting ready with my bridesmaids before the celebrations began.” The couple wanted to embrace the natural beauty of The Tithe Barn and complement what was already there. “Our colour palette was inspired by soft coral tones, with blush pink, baby pink, soft orange, cream and warm neutrals creating a fresh, romantic feel,” Maddie says. “I’ve always loved bright, statement florals, so we wanted sustainable flowers that would really pop against the barn’s light, airy interior without feeling overpowering. Many of the arrangements were used to line the aisle during our ceremony and repurposed for the reception.” One of Maddie and Dan’s favourite styling decisions was the lighting. “Every time we visited The Tithe Barn, we’d seen couples choose classic fairylights draped across the ceiling, and while they looked beautiful, we wanted to do something different,” Maddie says. “We opted for large statement festoon lights stretching across the full height of the barn. They created such an incredible atmosphere, especially as the evening drew in, and ended up being one of the features guests commented on the most.” The couple made sure their guests were well fed and had a great selection of drinks throughout the “Our incredible florist, Someflower, brought our vision to life, creating stunning arrangements that added warmth and colour throughout the venue. Working alongside To Have & To Hire, who supplied our styling and décor, everything came together beautifully and felt completely in keeping with the space.” - Maddie and Dan 26
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