Lucy & Nick

Lucy really wanted to get married near her childhood home in rural Oxfordshire, and also wanted the day to have that home-away-from-home feeling. Fulwell House, available on Airbnb, was exactly what she was looking for: An exclusive use large house with six bedrooms, and a giant kitchen perfect for entertaining, with the real selling point being the beautiful one acre flat lawn at the front of the house and the picturesque Oxfordshire countryside surrounding the wider gardens. The perfect setting for a marquee wedding. 

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The Airbnb owners were open to the idea of a wedding from the very start, and enjoyed the idea of their second home being used for such a happy celebration. The perfectly flat lawn in otherwise rolling hill countryside was intriguing, and we later learnt that it was once the grounds of an ancient monastery. (And that the owner's father had banished some very keen Time Team producers from his land a couple of decades ago!) It was with a slightly uneasy feeling I watched the marquee pegs get sunk into the ground, but whatever was buried under there could not have disapproved, because this Airbnb wedding flowed perfectly from start to finish!

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The ceremony was held at the very pretty church in Steeple Aston, Oxfordshire, and the weather gods were also incredibly kind, lending warmth but no overt heat nor rain on this July day. From church, guests made their way back to the marquee at the Airbnb, where cold rosé, Champagne, canapés, vintage lawn games and a roaming mariachi band greeted them on arrival.  Lucy & Nick eased off for some beautiful portraits with Lucy [Noble] in and around the barn outbuildings when guests were being seated, before being announced into the marquee to the accompaniment of very big cheers. 

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The sharing platters were there for guests to nibble on while speeches took place, including a very funny speech sweepstake, before a traditionally plated main course was served, and all rounded off with generous portions of the wedding cake being served, with lashings of pouring cream and plump berries, as dessert.

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As we eased into party time, we'd decided to actually make use of the reveal-curtain, making for the most hilariously brilliant photo (see above) before the first dance started. And then it was a proper party, with the food van Goujon Monkey providing much-needed salt and energy in the form of chicken goujons and fries. 

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Between dancing, diving in and out of the Photo Booth and admiring the sun setting; the evening went by in a blink, and soon it was 1am and time for guests to head back to their own local Airbnbs, following the driveway we'd prettily lit by a plethora of lanterns up towards the main road, for a few hours sleep, before coming back for a hog roast style casual lunch the following day. 

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This Airbnb wedding in Oxfordshire gave all those vibes Lucy and Nick were after: That home-away-from-home feeling, with a big house for family to share, the opportunity to host for three days, and a big space perfect for a marquee. A little mention here to Lucy's parents too, who are wonderful people with very large hearts, and the most perfect hosts. 

 

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