Our Top 10 Wedding Planning Tips for Newly Engaged Couples
The Wardette Studio
Our top Wedding Planning Tips...
Getting engaged is exciting, emotional and, if we’re honest, at times a little overwhelming. One minute you’re celebrating, the next you’re wondering where on earth to start. From choosing a wedding venue to thinking about guest numbers, food, music and how the day will actually feel, there’s a lot to consider.
At The Barns at Redcoats, a barn countryside wedding venue in North Hertfordshire, we’ve supported hundreds of weddings over the years. From intimate celebrations to full weekend weddings, church ceremonies followed by barn receptions, and relaxed outdoor weddings just outside Hitchin, no two days have ever been the same. That experience has taught us what really matters when it comes to planning a wedding that feels personal, calm and genuinely joyful.
We’re not here to tell you what your wedding should look like. This isn’t a checklist or a rigid rulebook. Instead, this guide is a collection of thoughtful advice from our wedding team, shaped by years of working alongside couples planning barn weddings, countryside weddings and destination-style celebrations just 25 miles from London.
Whether you’re at the very beginning of your wedding planning journey, searching for a barn wedding venue in Hertfordshire, or simply looking for inspiration on how to plan a day that feels like you, we hope these tips help you feel more confident, excited and supported as you start shaping your wedding plans.
Barn weddings are at their best when they reflect you.
Your Wedding, Your Way.
One of the things we love most about what we do is that no two weddings here ever look the same. Over the years, we’ve hosted incredible one-day celebrations, intimate weddings with just closest family, full weekend takeovers, and church ceremonies followed by relaxed evenings in the Barns. Some couples want everything in one place, others love mixing tradition with something more informal later on. All of it works here.
That’s because flexibility sits at the heart of The Barns at Redcoats. We genuinely enjoy new ideas, creative flair and personal touches, and if something feels important to you, we’ll always explore how to make it happen. There’s no fixed template, no “this is how it’s done here”. Instead, there’s space to shape a day (or weekend) that feels like yours, supported by a team who know how to make those ideas run smoothly.
If you’re at the start of planning, our advice is simple: choose a venue that gives you options, not restrictions. The freedom to adapt your day is what makes it memorable.
Sally Forder for Binky Nixon Photography
Binky Nixon Photography
If you feel comfortable on your first visit, trust that feeling.
Choose a Venue That Feels Like Home.
Your wedding venue shouldn’t feel intimidating. It should feel welcoming, warm and somewhere you can actually relax. For many couples, The Barns feels familiar from the moment they arrive, and that’s no accident.
Yes, the setting helps. Historic oak beams, countryside views, characterful spaces that feel lived in rather than staged. But it’s also about the people. We take time to get to know you properly, understand what matters most, and support you throughout the entire journey, not just on the wedding day itself.
From planning meetings to menu tastings, from final walk-throughs to the morning after, care and attention run through everything we do. We’re not a wedding machine turning over dates. Every couple matters here, and that shows in the way we communicate, plan and deliver.
If a venue feels calm, reassuring and genuinely supportive from the outset, it usually means you’re in safe hands.
Experience Counts More Than You Think.
Choose a venue team you can trust to handle the unexpected.
Weddings bring together a lot of moving parts, and this is where experience really counts. Our team has supported hundreds of weddings, which means we’ve seen just about everything. What runs seamlessly, what needs extra thought, and how to quietly step in if something needs adjusting on the day.
That experience isn’t about control. It’s about reassurance. Knowing there’s a calm, capable team behind the scenes allows you to relax and be present. You don’t need to worry about timings slipping, guests drifting or plans changing slightly. We’ve got it covered.
When couples tell us afterwards that they felt able to fully enjoy their day, that’s always the biggest compliment. So our advice is this: trust the professionals you choose. The right team will make everything feel effortless, even when a lot is happening behind the scenes.
The Wardette Studio
If You’re Choosing The Barns, Food Probably Matters. A Lot.
Treat food as one of the main experiences of your wedding day, not just a box to tick.
If you’re considering The Barns at Redcoats, there’s a good chance you’re a food lover. And that matters. Food is one of the few parts of a wedding that every single guest experiences in the same way, and it’s often what people talk about long after the day itself.
Here, food isn’t an add-on or an afterthought. Our menus are built around seasonality, flavour and quality, using produce from local farmers, trusted suppliers and our own growing no-dig garden. Whether it’s a relaxed banquet under the beams, a summer BBQ on the lawn, a refined three-course wedding breakfast, or late-night feasting to keep the dance floor going, everything is cooked with care and intention by our Farmhouse kitchen team.
We invite our couples to seasonal tasting evenings so you can explore menus, ask questions and really shape the food around your day. Some couples go bold and indulgent, others keep things beautifully simple, but the focus is always the same. Food that feels generous, thoughtful and genuinely delicious.
Seasonality plays a big part too. Spring / Summer menus feel fresh and vibrant, lending itself to outdoor feasting and sharing plates. Autumn/ Winter menus brings warmth and comfort... its all about rich flavours and candlelit dining under the magic of the beams. Letting the time of year guide your menu not only makes practical sense, it adds another layer of meaning to the celebration.
There’s no single right way to do wedding food. The important thing is choosing a venue that takes it seriously, gives you options, and supports your vision, whether that’s refined dining, relaxed sharing, or something in between.
The Wardette Studio
Decide what matters to you visually, then let the space do the rest.
Styling Should Feel Like You.
Some couples arrive with a clear creative vision, colour palettes, textures, florals and lighting mapped out in detail. Others fall in love with the rustic charm of the Barns and choose to let the building speak for itself. Both approaches work beautifully.
The key is knowing that you don’t have to over-style a space like this unless you want to. The beams, the grain store, the surrounding countryside and the warmth of the buildings already creates an atmosphere. Anything you add should enhance that, not compete with it.
Our advice is to focus on what feels meaningful to you. Whether that’s bold installations, soft seasonal flowers or keeping things simple and understated, the best styling choices always feel personal rather than forced.
Bubear Photography
Think About the Whole Day, Not Just the Ceremony.
Plan the flow of the day from hello to goodbye.
A wedding isn’t just one moment. It’s a full experience. From the first welcome drink to the last goodbye at the end of the night.
Think about how your guests arrive, where they gather, how the day unfolds. Welcome drinks on the lawn, cocktails in the bar, golden hour outside, dinner under the beams, dancing into the night. These transitions matter and they shape how the day feels.
At The Barns, the spaces are designed to move naturally from one part of the day to the next. Our team helps you think about pacing, atmosphere and energy so nothing feels rushed or disjointed. When the whole day flows, everyone relaxes into it.
Build in Space to Breathe.
Give yourselves moments away from the crowd.
Weddings are joyful, emotional and full on. That’s why it’s important to build in moments of calm. Time to step outside, walk the countryside, take those beautiful photographs, or simply take a breath together.
The setting here lends itself perfectly to that. Quiet corners, open fields, countryside paths and spaces where you can pause without disappearing completely. Whether it’s ten minutes together after the ceremony or a gentle wander while guests enjoy drinks, those moments often become the most treasured.
Your day doesn’t need to be constant noise to be memorable.
Be mindful, but don’t overcomplicate it.
Small Choices Can Make a Big Difference.
Sustainability doesn’t have to mean sacrifice. Small decisions can have a big impact. Biodegradable confetti, seasonal menus, locally sourced flowers, fewer wasted elements and thoughtful re-use across the day.
We support couples who want to make considered choices without losing the sense of celebration. Whether that’s through food, styling or logistics, it’s about balance. Do what feels right for you and let those small decisions quietly add meaning.
Entertainment Is Where Personality Really Shines.
Choose moments that surprise and delight your guests.
This is where weddings really come alive. We’ve seen mariachi bands appear mid-afternoon, whisky and tequila shots served on trolleys, acoustic sets during cocktail hour, sax players alongside DJs, surprise Irish bands in the Cowshed Bar, drag queens leading the dance floor, fire entertainment and spontaneous moments that no one expected but everyone remembers.
There are no rules here. Entertainment doesn’t have to mean a traditional band and first dance if that’s not you. Think about what would make your guests smile, laugh or talk about your wedding for years to come.
Those unexpected touches often become the heart of the celebration.
Erica Hawkins Photography
Sally Forder for Binky Nixon Photography
Sally Forder for Binky Nixon Photography
Olegs Samsonovs Photography
Sarah Max Photography
Lean on the Team and Come and Meet Us.
Ask questions early and trust the people around you.
Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, especially at the start. That’s why having a team who are open, approachable and genuinely invested makes such a difference.
We encourage couples to come to our Open Days, book viewings, ask questions and get a feel for how we work. There’s no pressure, just honest conversations and support. Whether you’re newly engaged or further along in planning, we’re always happy to help you explore ideas, timings and possibilities.
You don’t need to have everything figured out. That’s what we’re here for.
The Wardette Studio
The Wardette Studio
