In a few words, the Cairn is all things vintage, rustic country, celebrating the outdoors alongside an antique interior with touches of luxury designed for communal comfort and great conversation.
Back in 2010, being a wedding planner hadn't really been part of my "where do you see yourself in five years?" agenda, but then who had ever heard of a tornado in the Dargle? So I took the hint and opened my mind to letting my barn be the space where people commit to something that I really believe in...marriage and the journey that follows. With every wedding, I learn a bit more about decor, flower arranging and how to thankfully leave the catering to the experts! The bonus is that I am enriched by the people I meet, not just the bride and groom and their families, but their friends too.
The Midlands is full of wedding venues, testimony that love and marriage still go together and that there is a place for it in our 21st century lifestyles, and so when deciding what kind of weddings the Cairn and I could offer, I decided to stick with what we are good at... being ourselves! The Cairn and I are farm based, known to spend loads of time mucking about in the busy farmyard, have a soft spot for antiques ( or old things that my husband groans about whenever he sees me bringing home "another piece of rusted junk"), we love making people feel at home, think the yummiest foods are simple and best eaten outside in the sun surrounded by close friends, and with a view that contains a horse or ten. We are seldom known to wear too much bling but do surprise the neighbours by dusting off the fancy rags every now and then and showing off our style!
So if you are looking for an intimate, relaxed wedding in a beautifully kept old farmyard, with delicious, satisfying local food cooked with passion and served with care, on old antique plates or enamelware, and all tinged with warm afternoon Dargle sunlight, then the Cairn and I are exactly what you need.
Our tables are long rectangles of wood and wrought iron, seldom needing more than a dusting of lace or a precious antique vase to add to the occasion, our comfortable chairs are of wood slates and wrought iron ( tried and tested by burly farmers and given the stamp of approval). Our crockery is an assortment of family heirlooms, flea market vintage sales and many hours of searching auction websites, from Royal Albert to Hugenot ceramics and green and cream enamelware from the local Indian trading store. Old oregan and yellowwood dressers serve as backdrops as well as housing all the linens, antique vases and collectibles that are yours to choose from for your decor.
The Cairn can comfortably seat 110 people, can cope with another ten, but more than 120 becomes a tight squeeze reminiscent of last year's jeans, not what one wants to spend the afternoon in!
Back in 2010, being a wedding planner hadn't really been part of my "where do you see yourself in five years?" agenda, but then who had ever heard of a tornado in the Dargle? So I took the hint and opened my mind to letting my barn be the space where people commit to something that I really believe in...marriage and the journey that follows. With every wedding, I learn a bit more about decor, flower arranging and how to thankfully leave the catering to the experts! The bonus is that I am enriched by the people I meet, not just the bride and groom and their families, but their friends too.
The Midlands is full of wedding venues, testimony that love and marriage still go together and that there is a place for it in our 21st century lifestyles, and so when deciding what kind of weddings the Cairn and I could offer, I decided to stick with what we are good at... being ourselves! The Cairn and I are farm based, known to spend loads of time mucking about in the busy farmyard, have a soft spot for antiques ( or old things that my husband groans about whenever he sees me bringing home "another piece of rusted junk"), we love making people feel at home, think the yummiest foods are simple and best eaten outside in the sun surrounded by close friends, and with a view that contains a horse or ten. We are seldom known to wear too much bling but do surprise the neighbours by dusting off the fancy rags every now and then and showing off our style!
So if you are looking for an intimate, relaxed wedding in a beautifully kept old farmyard, with delicious, satisfying local food cooked with passion and served with care, on old antique plates or enamelware, and all tinged with warm afternoon Dargle sunlight, then the Cairn and I are exactly what you need.
Our tables are long rectangles of wood and wrought iron, seldom needing more than a dusting of lace or a precious antique vase to add to the occasion, our comfortable chairs are of wood slates and wrought iron ( tried and tested by burly farmers and given the stamp of approval). Our crockery is an assortment of family heirlooms, flea market vintage sales and many hours of searching auction websites, from Royal Albert to Hugenot ceramics and green and cream enamelware from the local Indian trading store. Old oregan and yellowwood dressers serve as backdrops as well as housing all the linens, antique vases and collectibles that are yours to choose from for your decor.
The Cairn can comfortably seat 110 people, can cope with another ten, but more than 120 becomes a tight squeeze reminiscent of last year's jeans, not what one wants to spend the afternoon in!
