Huntsmill Farm Weddings

Buckinghamshire stone barn wedding venue

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Top tips -‘How much does a wedding cake cost?’

May 26, 2020 by Huntsmill Farm

By, Cherry Tree Cakerie.

I know, I get it. Even for the laid-back among us, wedding planning can leave you a little tense can’t it? I was fortunate that being a PA with a penchant for spreadsheets had its benefits when planning my own big day, but one thing I definitely wasn’t prepared for was the budgeting. I mean, how did we know how much all these things should cost?

Photo: Hannah Hall

So off I went online to search for budget advice but there sure is a difference between a high-end luxury affair and a DIY ‘do’ so reading about average costs didn’t really help. At the end of the day, only you can place value on what’s really important for your big day. Where you place your budget is your prerogative and you will be happy to forgo things that aren’t on your must-have list to make way for those most meaningful to you and if that means spending thousands on a designer wedding dress but hand making your own table decorations to balance the budget then that’s all good!

This brings me conveniently to wedding cakes. As a bespoke cake designer, I’m one of those annoying people who just can’t give you a final price straight away. Yes, I know how irritating it is but, as my product is designed uniquely for you, it will completely depend on the size, finish and level of detail required to create your dream cake. What I can do however is give an insight into what goes into making a wedding cake so that when you do come to planning, you will have a better understanding of what it entails and realise that a professionally made wedding cake is more than just the ingredients it’s made from…

Photo: Nicola Dawson

Take your store cupboard essentials

I’m not talking flour and eggs here, I’m going back to the business basics. Quite a few bakers are small businesses who are home-based but there are still the monthly outgoings such as insurance, utilities, website hosting, accountant fees (aka the boring stuff), and wedding fairs, styled shoots and marketing costs etc., all of which exit the bank account whether we’re baking or not, low season or high season.

Weigh up the ingredients

When it comes to responding to your initial enquiry, it’s not just me firing back a generic email. My service to you starts here and it’s my job to guide you with the options available and make you feel as informed and confident in your decision as you can be.

The enquiry, consultation and tasting stage is just as an important part of the process as actually making your cake and I take time and effort to make it an easy and enjoyable experience for my couples. Let’s add in the baking and preparation of your tasters (which can take a whole day!), not to mention the clean and tidy-up of the house before you arrive for your consultation, and it’s quite an investment of time dedicated to your wedding cake experience from the word go.

Preheat the oven

So this is where it starts to heat up (boom tish!). You loved the tasters, we got on like a house on fire and most importantly, my work speaks to you and you’re confident that I can create your cake of dreams. Hurrah! 

Now I get down to the exciting stage of researching and designing your cake. A colour sketch of the design wings its way to you along with a quotation; cue excitement and a resounding yes and we’re on to the practicalities of your contract and invoice. You pay your deposit to secure your date and off you go, another fab supplier under your belt. All this and I’ve not even lined a cake tin yet!

Prepare the ingredients

A wafer paper or sugar rose can take around an hour to make with each petal hand cut, coloured, veined and shaped into a spectacular lifelike bloom. Eight roses later and you’ve done a day’s work so preparing in advance is a must and you can appreciate just how much time goes into making beautiful decorations and, as such, the investment required is going to be reflective of that. Along with sourcing and procuring equipment and supplies, being prepared means I’ll have everything ready to go when it comes to adding the final flourishes to your cake.

Bake!

To give you an idea, making a simple 3-tier wedding cake will take a minimum of three full days, which includes baking (using quality ingredients, free range eggs and real butter), torting (that’s cutting each cake into layers), filling them with Swiss meringue buttercream, trimming, crumb coating each tier with a layer of Belgian chocolate ganache, covering with top quality Swiss fondant and finally, stacking and decorating. Let’s not forget to mention the washing up element of this whole process…it’s perpetual!

And serve…

If you’ve ever seen Driving Miss Daisy then you’ll appreciate how slow I actually drive with a wedding cake on board. The delivery stage of the process is possibly the most stressful part and not a worry I’d wish to impose on anyone who isn’t well-versed in carrying delicate cargo. Also, for some cakes, I will actually transport them in separate tiers so they will require time to stack and decorate at your venue. 

The secret ingredients

No, I’m not talking about a top-secret blend of herbs and spices, I’m referring to the magic ingredients. The ‘je ne sais quoi’ that makes your wedding cake special. If you’re looking for a cake from me then it will be because you like my style, creativity and ability to turn your ideas into reality with skills that I have spent years developing and perfecting. Add in a huge glug of passion for creating beautiful works of edible art, a kilo of patience and a warm, personalised service and you’ve got a recipe for a showstopping wedding cake.

The last crumb…

Hopefully this blog has given you a better understanding of the process and skills that go into making a wedding cake and that you’re not just paying for ingredients but a huge amount of time and skill. If your wedding cake is important to you then investing in a quality, professional cake designer should probably make it on to the must-have list too!

Photography by Nicola Dawson Photography

If you would like a chat with Charlene from Cherry Tree Cakerie, please visit her website for more details.

Filed Under: Tips and advice Tagged With: top tips, wedding barn, wedding blog, Wedding cakes, wedding day, wedding flowers, Wedding Ideas

Top tips – ‘Your Guide To Digital Invitations’

May 19, 2020 by Huntsmill Farm

By, Made by Wood and Wood.

 

Digital wedding invitations are becoming increasingly commonplace for engaged couples. There are more services than ever before which offer digital design and distribution services. Some of these incorporate reminders to guests and all of which allow you to send your invitations to multiple people at a lower cost than printing and posting physical invitations.

In this guide we look at the pros, cons and secrets of digital-only invitations.

 

What is a digital wedding invitation?

Ultimately, this is pretty straightforward, but it’s an invitation (and/or save the date) to your wedding which is sent digitally. This is, more often than not, sent over email as it’s easier to store and find when it’s needed, unlike other methods, such as social media messaging.

What are the key advantages of digital wedding invitations?

  • Cost saving
  • They are easy to mass send and track
  • You can include direct links to phone numbers, addresses and navigation apps which can help avoid long descriptions of how to find venues
  • Animation can be included more easily
  • You can include video elements
  • There are an increasing range of designs and capabilities

What are the key disadvantages of digital wedding invitations?

  • They are likely to feel less personal
  • Compatibility might be an issue across email providers
  • Your guests don’t get the excitement of receiving your invitation through the post, opening it and displaying it in their homes. This may mean they don’t get so much excitement in the build-up to your big day
  • You don’t get the beauty or specialness of printed finishes and details
  • Due to high email volumes, the invite could be missed (or even fall into junk)
  • They can be easily deleted
  • If your wedding is in a low signal area, advantageous elements like clickable navigation links become redundant
  • Compatibility across devices can mean that animations on opening don’t work as successfully as hoped
  • Less ‘stick on fridge moments’ so you may find some guests ‘misplace’ the invite and may even forget about your big day

Will printed wedding invitations become obsolete?

We certainly hope not! Even though digital-only invitations are becoming increasingly popular, we don’t think this will mean the end of printed wedding invitations altogether. For many, the advantages of going digital-only will be a big driver in following this route, but for others, the personal feel will be too important and as such, will still want to send printed versions to their guests.

How do digital invitations arrive?

It’s normally over email, and in lots of cases, when the email is opened up, there is a simple animation of an envelope opening and the invite sliding out and displaying. This can feel REALLY old school, which is mainly down to email servers and often compatibility issues with mobile phone users too; whereby compatibility reduces the flexibility and quality of what can be achieved, as most providers adhere to the lowest common denominator. However, it does allow the invitee to RSVP directly via the email or a link within the email pretty quickly. But there is, of course, the risk that it’s opened and then forgotten about soon after, unlike a printed invitation which is likely to be seen again and again around the invitee’s house.

Is there a sweet spot?

Yes! Digital invitations which can also be printed, are ideal for those guests who you think might miss the invitation or the older generation who might not be on email or regular users of it. If you’re looking to keep costs down then avoiding gold foil finishes, embossing or other special production techniques on the printed versions will help to keep the printing costs down, but it does give you the flexibility to invite people to your wedding in the way you think its most appropriate for them. It’s worth noting though that if you want both your print and digital invitations to look the same, this will limit the number of the designs available.

So what’s right for me?

For many, a mixture of digital and print will be best. There is a big cost saving advantage with digital invitations, and these can be especially useful when inviting people who are abroad, who may travel regularly without a permanent address or if you’re currently living abroad and returning to a home nation where most of your guests still reside. If you can find a design which has both a digital option you can send over email and a printed option too, you’re in luck!

How do I know if something I’ve seen is printed or digital, or both?

Most good designers of invitations will be explicit in their description that the design is intended for printing or digital output. However, in the case of many, it will be possible to do both. So whilst some designers might not give an option for both, it’s always worth asking if they would be able to make a digital version too.

All good stationery companies will be open and friendly when it comes to enquiries about their designs, and we always welcome anyone who’d like to take our printed invitations and have a digital version, and vice versa.

We hope this guide helps you understand some of the pros and cons of digital invitations, but if you’ve got any questions, let us know by sending us an email!

Best wishes,
Chloe & Tom

Filed Under: Tips and advice Tagged With: top tips, wedding barn, wedding blog, Wedding cakes, wedding day, wedding flowers, Wedding Ideas

Meet our team – Louis

May 15, 2020 by Huntsmill Farm

Everyone I’d like you to meet Louis! He has worked at Huntsmill for nearly 2 years – originally helping Henry set up for the celebrations and working behind the bar. Louis only started working full time after graduating in Economics from Leicester University in February. He plays a more behind the scenes role by running the venue day to day alongside side Henry, this is a really important role as he is always helping and supporting the whole Huntsmill team to operate all weddings smoothly. In between studying Louis has travelled around South- East Asia, Iceland and North America. The next trip on the agenda is travelling from London to Singapore all on land! What you might not know about Louis is he really dislikes dark chocolate and is generally really bad at being lazy. This completely makes sense as he is no stranger in getting his hands dirty and working hard to ensure a wedding day goes perfectly to plan!

Photo: Daniel Atkinson

Let’s get personal!

Tell us about yourself

Hey my name is Louis, and I live down the road in Buckingham. I have known everyone at Huntsmill for a few years now and I’ve finally convinced them to employ me full time! I like to spend my spare time having a drink with friends and rock climbing (the best combination, but maybe not simultaneously).

Who is your celebrity crush?

Any ginger female actress. Also, Maria Sharapova.

What three items would you take with you on a desert island?

If I was being sensible: a boat (included with oars), map & compass. If not, it would probably be beer, music and a book.

If you could be someone else for the day, who would you be and why?

The Queen. Who doesn’t want to know what goes on behind the scenes?  

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My rendition of spaghetti bolognese is basically the only reason I’ve ever managed to get a girlfriend so that has to be a winner.

What are your pet peeves?

Leaving the ice scoop at the bottom of the ice bucket!!

If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?

I don’t really ever stop eating, so I suppose a clean and slightly taller pig?

Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?

I would want someone like Chris Hemsworth or Jason Momoa. But more accurately I think Andrew Garfield.

Do you have a claim to fame?

My auntie is best friends with Matt Smith (Doctor Who), if that counts.

What’s your drink of choice?

Pretty much anything from Blackpit Brewery.

Photo: Hannah Hall

Let’s talk weddings!

How/why did you become a venue coordinator?

I have helped Henry out with odd bits & pieces for a couple of years, and he floated the idea that I could be more useful if I was here all the time. I’ve worked behind bars since I was 15 so, to me, it made sense to take control of the bar in-house. I’m not very good at sitting down all day, so getting stuff done out and about is well suited for me.

What advice would you give someone planning the bar for their wedding?

Offer a nice range of drinks – the days of just having prosecco on arrival and table wine are long gone. If you like Gin? Have a Gin station! If you like beer? Get a keg!

What are your top three tips to couples planning their wedding?

  1. Include games and bits for guests to get involved with
  2. don’t focus too much on it ‘looking’ perfect
  3. making sure there is always enough alcohol.

What are your wedding day do’s and don’ts?

Definitely take advantage of all that alcohol you have kindly provided. Definitely don’t be an angry drunk!

What wedding trends are you loving right now?

I’m a big fan of the use of foliage and bespoke rustic wood.

Who is your dream celebrity wedding couple?

Do Ruth & Henry count? They’re basically famous.

What’s your favourite wedding blog to read?

This one!

What’s your favourite part about working in the wedding industry?

Definitely the people. Everyone from the groom, to the photographer, to your great-nan who doesn’t approve of the loud music is appreciated on a wedding day.

If you were getting married now what would your wedding day look like?

Now this is extremely controversial – I don’t ever want to get married! If I was forced to it would be extremely laid back and it would ensure everyone gets involved.

Why do you think couples should choose Huntsmill Farm?

It is a family-run, sustainable and welcoming local business which does things right. You don’t find many employers like that anymore.

If you’d like to meet Louis then you can book a viewing of Huntsmill Farm here and if you’d like to get in touch then visit our contact page here.

Filed Under: Meet our team Tagged With: Wedding Ideas

Top tips – ‘Favourite spring wedding dishes’

April 28, 2020 by Huntsmill Farm

By, Dimblebee Catering.

 

A Spring wedding provides the opportunity for a creative, seasonal and beautifully curated menu, with all the amazing and fresh produce this season has to offer. We believe that choosing the right food and drink options are essential to pulling together your vision for your perfect wedding day. Getting married in Spring, you have an opportunity to play around with bright flowers, pastel colours and the light flavours for which the season is known for. Some of the ingredients that feature in our Spring dishes include asparagus, watercress, melon, apricots, lavender and mint. A particularly popular choice for canapés at this time of year tend to be our salmon options, which are not only deliciously light and seasonal but are beautifully presented with colourful garnishing to match the time of year.

Here at Dimblebee Catering our chefs work closely with you to create a bespoke menu especially for your wedding day. Some of our most popular menu choices for this season tend to centre around a lighter starter option, for example our gorgeous cured salmon dish accompanied by gin and dill, pink grapefruit, caper berry and orange brioche from our plated menu, is always a popular choice for this time of year. Another particular favourite is our mixed heritage tomato, buffalo mozzarella and caprese salad. For Spring, our chefs and couples particularly love to pair a starter such as those above, with a delicious seasonal main, such as our rump of lamb option or our pan fried medallion of beef with wild mushrooms and leek and potato rosti.  Some of our lighter mains can also be served as sharing options, including our stunning salmon fillet accompanied by Israeli couscous and a herb pesto.

For dessert, our Dimblebee’s Eton Messy, is always a winner. A large Eton Mess is served alongside Pimms soaked fresh strawberries and mint cream, a delightful dessert choice for the season and a definite nod to the summer to come! It is one of our most popular dessert choices and is a fun and creative way to round up your beautiful spring menu. To finish the evening, we absolutely love our famous Dimblebee Catering Porkpie and Cheese Table for our couples, we think it is the perfect way to conclude a gorgeous Spring menu!

Filed Under: Tips and advice Tagged With: top tips, wedding barn, wedding blog, Wedding cakes, wedding day, wedding flowers, Wedding Ideas

Top 10 wedding venue styling ideas and tips

April 24, 2020 by Huntsmill Farm

Our wedding barn is a classic blank canvas which gives any bride the opportunity to create their very own dream wedding. There are so many amazing touches you can add to make it personal to you, from a tradition colour scheme, to a really bright modern floral display. We have chosen 10 of our favourite wedding venue styling ideas and tips that will transform the space, with lots of DIY ideas to keep the costs down.

From modern light up giant letters, photo wall displays, floral installations to vintage tractors, the hardest thing any bride has to do is make decisions on which decorations to choose from.

 

1. Floral Installation Displays

(Photo: Chloe Ely. Flowers: Willow and Thyme)

An easy way to totally transform a ceremony room is with a floral arch or display. One of our favourite parts of the wedding build up is watching the florists create their amazing arrangements. Our florists always create the brides vision with beautiful seasonal arrangements and unique special touches. Why not push the boundaries and create a room which no one has done before and your guests will never forget!

 

2. Table Features

(Photo: Chloe Ely)

It’s always exciting when you find out where you will be sitting for the wedding breakfast and then take a pew to discover the details on your table in front of you. You will always find a charming little flower display and maybe some handmade treats or alcohol. It’s handy to offer a favour to your guests which they can either eat or drink at the time or fit into their pockets or purse as a memory of the day.

 

3. Coloured Glass

(Photo: Damien Vickers)

You might be super organised and have a wedding table display mood board or Pinterest page you’re constantly updating with some amazing ideas – which is great and makes life so much easier for the pre-wedding build up. One of our all-time favourite table design ideas is mismatched jewel toned glass which brightens up a table instantly! They work really well with beautiful table flowers and copper rustic tones. If you wanted to add an extra relaxed vibe you can miss match the flowers in little colourful pots. You can find these vintage style pots in all sorts of different shapes and sizes in charity shops, flea markets or eBay.

 

4. Table Plans

(Photo: Jane Morgan)

There are so many different types of table plan designs you can choose from. You can opt for keeping in the same theme as your table layouts, whether it be what countries you have visited, your favourite animals or different types of trees, the world really is your oyster when it comes to the design. Some brides opt for illustrators to help with writing the plan out beautifully and others prefer them printed neatly.  It is always fun to be part of the creative side of the wedding so if someone in your family has lovely handwriting you can always ask them to help out.

 

5. Wedding Cakes

(Photo: Hannah hall. Cake: Cherry Tree Cakerie)

Some cake designers have a signature style and don’t like to copy cakes, we would advise to find a bakery who are happy to create your own vision for the special day. Wedding cakes can also add up depending on how big you go, another option which can be fun is a tables laden with sweets, cake pop’s, macarons, doughnuts, cupcakes and fruit skewers. Displays like these are visually exciting as well as providing dessert for your guests. Pots of fresh herbs, garlands and confetti on the table can make it a beautiful focal point for your reception room.

 

6. Lighting

(Photo: Cat Lane)

Chandeliers, hanging lights and fairy lights can add height and texture to a room. You can create the display as a focal point with hanging flowers, bunting or paper lanterns to add a bit of colour.

 

7. Floral Hoops

(Photo: Alex Tenters)

Floral hoops are such a great way to fill a bare space in somewhere like a barn, you can add flowers, ribbons, signs or lights to create a handmade or professional styled look. You can also hang them in the centre of the room as statement décor pieces which are incredible eye-catching.

 

8. Big Letters and Balloons

(Photo: Nikki’s Moments)

Balloon installations are amazing to bring simple space to life. You can also incorporate them into centrepieces, top table decoration and wedding photos, choosing from words such as, ‘Love’, ‘Mr & Mrs’, ‘Hooray’, ‘your new name’ or even ‘Last Fling’.  They are becoming more and more popular and we love it!

 

9. Small Detail – Nickie from Little Orchard Vintage Hire Small Detail ideas

(Photo: Chloe Ely)

Whatever the scheme for your event, I would always advise a continuation throughout all the small detail as well. Obviously colours offer this with your bridesmaids dresses, stationary, candles and table decor, but also consider the free standing elements. Whether it’s a cake display, an easel with your table plan, wedding signage, or a lounge set seating area, I always recommend including some of your flowers as an installation on these items. Either on the corner of a sign or frame, a small bud vase at the foot of an easel, or a lantern or two. This not only carries your colour scheme throughout, but it also ‘grounds’ free standing pieces avoiding a visual randomness of ad hoc items around your venue.

 

10. Quirky Extras

(Photo: Roo Stain)

Why not change up the day even more with something a bit different! Most couples opt for a vintage or classic car but it is always a bit more fun with a tuk tuk, tractor, horse and cart or even a little friend to walk along side.

(Photo: Cat Lane)

Filed Under: Tips and advice Tagged With: top tips, wedding barn, wedding blog, wedding day, wedding flowers, Wedding Ideas

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