A fun and colourful Spring wedding at The Byre at Inchyra
If you’re a regular reader of my blog…or you’re getting married at a Scottish barn venue so have been avidly devouring anything and everything the internet throws up about rustic barn weddings…you’ll know that I am a big fan of the Byre of Inchyra. So, you can imagine how happy I was as I drove over to Perthshire on a sunny April morning to set up for Susie and Ross’ bright and colourful wedding.
Spring wedding with colourful flowers
I love a colourful wedding, but combine that with a spring wedding and I’m in my element. They always feel extra joyous. Possibly because winter can feel neverending and so there’s something wonderful and celebratory when the sun comes out and flowers start to bloom again. I know I’ve been enjoying reminiscing about Susie and Ross’ day whilst I try to ignore the grey skies outside and my muddy garden!
They were spending the whole day at the Byre, which gave us plenty of opportunity to re-purpose flowers, moving them around the venue as needed. Shout out to the Byre’s fab wedding team, and their trusty mini quad bike and trailer which comes in very handy when larger structures need to be moved. I do have to caution that there is always a chance that floral designs can change a wee bit as they are being transported but I’ll always advise ahead of the day and give any tips to keep everything as intact as possible!
Outdoor wedding ceremony at the Byre at Inchyra
Photo by Lianne MacKay
The Byre at Inchyra is a beautiful Scottish barn venue set in the Perthshire countryside. On a sunny day the huge barn doors are thrown open, and post ceremony drinks can be served out on the lawn. Those big old doors are also the first impression guests have of the venue, so we placed a couple of large milk churns in the entrance and filled them with wild arrangements of spring flowers and blossoms. The churns can easily be moved inside if the weather turns, or for the party. Susie and Ross had a very cool and very colourful (of course!) mosaic sign to welcome their guests to the wedding. It tied in so well with their overall wedding scheme and really set the tone for their day.
They held their ceremony in the Walled Garden, under the apple trees which form a natural focal point. Between the trees was a broken arch - two asymmetrical columns - covered in greenery and spring flowers including tulips and Broom. You’ll recognise those yellow flowers if you’ve spent any time up in the hills. The arch, like the trees, framed Ross and Susie as they said their vows and brought some added colour into the garden which hadn’t quite hit its full summery best yet.
Thanks to the Byre at Inchyra team, and their trusty quad, the arch was moved up to the Byre ready for the drinks reception.
Sustainable, Scottish grown flowers
I like to use homegrown, Scottish flowers as much as I possibly can. However due to the time of year some of these wedding flowers were imported. The growing season is just kicking off in April meaning there are some varieties that are just impossible to get in the UK. Susie had requested sunflowers in her bouquet which aren’t normally available in April so those had to be imported in. The rest of her bouquet was made up of seasonal Scottish flowers including bluebells for a wee pop of colour, lilac which smelt amazing and romantic, blousy ranunculus. The final result was vibrant and textured. I finished it off with bright streamer ribbons, a fun addition which helps carry those colours down the white dress.
Susie’s beautiful look was completed by a flower comb, giving another wee pop of colour against her veil. I get a lot of brides thinking they can’t wear anything in their hair if they have a veil. Not the case! You can have a flower comb combined with a veil, or alternatively have a comb or a flower crown you can easily put in yourself once you take the veil out. It’s a great way to release your inner flower child when all the formalities are over!
Ross wore a thistle buttonhole - very traditionally Scottish. We added some mini ranunculus and muscari - a jewel-like, blue hyacinth - to tie in with Susie’s bluebells. He wore a Bonnie Prince Charlie jacket so those bright colours looked fab against the black.
Pops of colour in a barn wedding venue
Photo by Lianne MacKay
In the Byre itself we filled the huge stone troughs - an original feature from back in the Byre’s barn days - with water before putting in floating spring flowers, petals and candles. So simple, but so effective. They are really atmospheric with the twinkly candles and reflections of fairy lights.
Bud vases were dotted about on the round tables. They’re a great way of creating impact without dominating a space. They’re also not too high, tall arrangements need to be carefully planned so they don’t hinder guests chatting across the table.
Susie and Ross’ day is the perfect example of how flowers can add the little extra something to a colourful wedding. With the Walled Garden coming into bloom and the wild flower arrangements there was a real sense of spring and new beginnings throughout the day. The rustic vibes of the Byre only added to the overall effect. Thanks to Lianne MacKay for these beautiful photographs.
If you’re getting married at the Byre and would like some more floral inspiration then take a look at my other Byre at Inchyra blogs, including Jenna and Peter’s bright, summer wedding or if you’re looking for Spring wedding flower inspo take a look at my Spring gallery.