A Lockdown Update from B&Y

As some of the wedding industry begins to (finally) open their doors again, we have to say we are thoroughly looking forward to further easing of restrictions and the possibility of some weddings beginning to take place.

At the start of lockdown, the team at B&Y, were snowed under in somewhat unusual ‘wedmin.’ However, when the sun emerged, we found ourselves with an unusual amount of time, which we like to think we have used productively (minus a few happy hours spent picnicking in the grounds with delicious food from our suppliers).

We were treated to delicious tacos from A to Zest, very naughty brownies from Paisley Flour, yummy tapas from Martin Lovell, mouth-watering burgers from Rule of Tum and the most beautiful grazing picnic from Sticky Fig.

As we look forward to re-opening our Barns doors, we thought you might like to share some of the fruits of our labour. We hope you love them as much as we do!

Willow Archway

Talk about a statement entrance! Julian and Claire from The Willow Farm were on-site for three-days just before lockdown and used their creative talents to make us the most beautiful living archway in front of the Cartshed. It will be lit underneath with fairy lights for a romantic departure at the end of the night and will be a fantastic feature for photographs and a unique entrance for your guests. We are so pleased with the result – it has already started to grow in beautifully, and we can’t wait to see it in some of our couples photos.

Covid-19 Adjustments

In the same way we have had to make adjustments to our daily lives, we have been preparing the Barns in order to ensure they are fully equipped for when we are able to re-open. In true B&Y style, these necessities will not be unsightly – we like to think they are as quirky and unique as Covid-19 adjustments can be. We have installed a new handwashing station into our trusty troughs – an interesting diversion from their original use as an animal watering station! We’ve also continued with our landscaping to create more areas for couples to use if social distancing becomes the norm.

New Furniture

We have been quietly curating our unique collection of furniture and props since we first opened our doors, however lockdown computer-time has led to a surge in purchases... We have a beautiful Registrars table and matching chairs which we cannot wait to see in use! The Gallery now houses a comfortable selection of chairs and coffee tables. The pictures above don’t do them justice – they are comfy (they have been thoroughly tested by Lisi and Milly during virtual showrounds), stylish and most importantly provide another relaxing space for guests during your day.

New Fences

One of the first things you will notice when you next visit is our sculptural woven fence which looks amazing but also hides any views of cars from the lake and jetty. We sadly had to fell a lovely old walnut tree, however, its trunk has become a piece of natural shaded seating.

 Busy Wildlife

Although many of us feel we missed some of the joy of Spring this year, that didn’t stop nature from carrying on as usual. We have been entertained by a plethora of wildlife action and welcome lots of new babies to our grounds. Above are a few photos of our new additions to make us all smile!

Lockdown Celebrations

Although the Barns have sadly not been witness to our planned 2020 weddings as yet, they have housed a few personal celebrations. Milly worked through her university exams in the peace and tranquillity of the Steading Cottage. As is university tradition, the end of exams were celebrated with a dousing of champagne in the courtyard. We also had a family birthday picnic within the grounds, which may become another lovely option for our wedding couples.

We hope these additions to the Barns have provided some inspiration for your wedding planning. With the new guidelines we are now welcoming viewings and taking bookings for 2022 - please do get in touch for more information!