There are some weddings that feel beautifully styled. Then there are weddings that feel completely lived in by the couple themselves. Tash & Adam’s botanical Abbey Farm wedding in Woodhall Spa was very much the second kind.
From the wildflower-inspired details and floral ties, to the emotional speeches, sunshine-filled drinks reception, and the most gloriously giggly bride I’ve ever photographed, every part of the day felt warm, joyful and unmistakably them. It was relaxed in all the right ways, thoughtful without ever feeling staged, and romantic without taking itself too seriously.
And honestly? Abbey Farm was the perfect backdrop for it all.
The beginning
The Meeting
Tash & Adam’s story starts long before wedding planning spreadsheets and floral moodboards entered the chat. They met at secondary school and sixth form, becoming good friends before eventually getting together at 18.
Nine years later, after what they described as “nine happy/bonkers years”, they finally tied the knot surrounded by the people who know them best.
The Engagement
Adam planned a hiking trip to Buxton in the middle of December, despite a string of family emergencies almost causing them to cancel. Tash was suspicious about exactly none of this.
On the morning of the proposal, Adam was apparently jittery through breakfast while sideways rain and fog battered the windows outside. Still, they headed out anyway.
When they reached the hill Adam had planned to propose on, visibility had vanished completely thanks to the weather deciding to audition for a disaster film. So halfway up the hill, soaked and freezing, Adam abandoned the original plan and asked anyway.
Tash’s first response?
“You can’t just ask that.”
Then the ring came out. Reality hit. And thankfully… she said yes. Fuelled by adrenaline and excitement, they still made it to the summit afterwards.
Wedding Planning
Tash & Adam's top wedding planning advice:
“Marry your best friend! And then try not to panic about choosing all the perfect details. Make sure you've got some good foundations like your venue and photographer, then enjoy all the fun of piecing everything else together.”
For more tips and tricks, take a look at my Wedding Planning inspiration posts. Or if you're at the very beginning of your wedding planning journey, my Ultimate Wedding Guide has helped so many of my clients plan their special days.
Wedding at Abbey Farm
Getting Ready Moments
Meet Adam
The morning started with my assistant photographer David heading over to Petwood Hotel to spend some time with the guys before the ceremony. The vibe was calm, relaxed, and quietly excited. Exactly how a wedding morning should feel.
Adam’s look suited the overall botanical styling of the day perfectly. Soft neutral tailoring paired with floral details created something that felt effortlessly summery without losing elegance. The leafy Paul Smith shirt became one of my favourite little details from the whole wedding.
If you've seen any of my previous Real Wedding Stories, you'll know I always start with the guys first because they get ready a lot quicker (sorry girls, it's true!) and it's much easier for them to take their jacket off again and relax if they want to!
Adam wore Reiss, paired with a Paul Smith shirt and Liberty fabric ties from Van Buck. Groomsmen suits were from Moss Bros.
Meet Tash
Meanwhile over in Tetney, the girls’ morning was already full of laughter by the time I arrived. And when I say Tash giggled all day, I mean all day. She radiated pure happiness from start to finish.
Everything about the bridal styling felt soft, romantic and natural. Warm peach tones, wild florals, flowing textures and relaxed curls made the entire morning feel like stepping into a countryside fairytale.
One of my favourite details from the whole wedding was hidden inside Tash’s dress. For her “something old”, her dad had gifted her an Æthelred coin he’d found metal detecting before the wedding. Her Auntie Jo hand-stitched a delicate embroidered pouch into the lining of the dress to keep it safe.
One of my favourite details from the whole wedding was hidden inside Tash’s dress. For her “something old”, her dad had gifted her an Æthelred coin he’d found metal detecting before the wedding. Her Auntie Jo hand-stitched a delicate embroidered pouch into the lining of the dress to keep it safe.
Beautiful. Slightly chaotic. Hugely sentimental. Exactly the kind of detail people remember forever.
Hair & beauty shout-outs:
Hair by Sarah Sage
Make-up by Steph & Michaela from Baer
Dress from Coates Couture
Flowers by Catkin
The Ceremony
Tash & Adam chose an outdoor ceremony at Abbey Farm Weddings and the weather absolutely delivered for them.
Bright sunshine, soft summer warmth and willow trees swaying around the ceremony space made everything feel incredibly peaceful and intimate despite having all their favourite people gathered together.
Their floral arch framed the ceremony beautifully, packed full of natural greenery and meadow-inspired blooms that looked as though they’d simply grown there organically.
One of the loveliest things about Abbey Farm is how flexible the venue is for weather. The outdoor ceremony setting is stunning, but there’s also a gorgeous barn ceremony option available if needed. Thankfully for Tash & Adam, the Lincolnshire skies behaved themselves.
The whole ceremony felt heartfelt, emotional and quietly joyful from start to finish.
Cocktail Hour
“We chose Abbey Farm because it’s just the most stunning setting; the grounds and buildings look completely idyllic.”
And honestly? They weren’t wrong.
After the ceremony, guests spilled out across the grounds for drinks, canapés, garden games and sunshine. The atmosphere felt incredibly relaxed all afternoon. No rushing. No awkward formalities. Just people genuinely enjoying being together.
Abbey Farm works brilliantly for this kind of wedding because guests naturally flow between the gardens, lawns and barns without ever feeling boxed into one space.
The canapés from Black Peppermint disappeared rapidly, which is usually a strong sign from wedding guests who’ve been running entirely on prosecco and adrenaline since midday.
There was also some extremely competitive giant Jenga happening, which always feels like a strangely accurate test of family dynamics.
Family Photos
Family photos can sometimes feel like the “admin section” of a wedding day, but this bunch made them an absolute dream.
The sunshine stayed bright without becoming too harsh, everybody was in brilliant spirits, and we managed to work through the group list smoothly while still keeping things relaxed and natural.
The bridesmaids’ dresses looked incredible together too. Floaty, floral and completely in keeping with the botanical woodland vibe of the day.
Also, I need to publicly acknowledge how much joy Tash brought to every single group photo. I genuinely don’t think she stopped smiling once.
Wedding Breakfast
Inside the barn, the styling continued the same soft meadow-inspired atmosphere from the rest of the day.
Long banquet tables were filled with delicate florals, warm candlelight, layered textures and soft peach-and-green details that made the whole room feel welcoming and intimate without losing the grandeur of the space.
The exposed oak beams and fairy lights inside Abbey Farm always photograph beautifully, especially once speeches begin and the room settles into that warm post-ceremony glow.
“We wanted everything to feel very natural and wild. Like it had been pulled from a fairytale in the middle of a forest, meadow or cottage garden.”
Mission accomplished, Tash!
Guests chose between pea croquette with herby new potatoes, baby gem & fennel, smoky gnocchi with romesco sauce and roasted peppers, and roasted chicken with fondant potato and seasonal vegetables. (I can confirm the chicken was excellent.)
The speeches followed dinner and perfectly matched the atmosphere of the rest of the day: emotional, funny and full of genuine affection. Tash’s dad, Adam, and best man Oli all absolutely smashed it.
Newlywed Photoshoot
Golden hour at Abbey Farm deserves its own fan club!
As the evening light softened across the fields, we headed out for some quiet newlywed portraits while guests relaxed back at the venue. The entire place glows beautifully at sunset, especially around the willow trees and open meadows.
This ended up being one of those photoshoots that felt less like “posing” and more like giving Tash & Adam a chance to breathe together for five minutes.
There was dancing in fields. Fence climbing. Constant laughter. Several moments where Tash dissolved into giggles halfway through kissing Adam. Absolute chaos in the best possible way.
And then suddenly the sun dipped lower and everything turned gold.
Those warm summer evenings are exactly why I always encourage couples to sneak out for ten or fifteen minutes during golden hour if possible. The light becomes softer, guests are relaxed, and couples finally get a quiet moment together after the whirlwind of the day.
Cake cut
Their cake from Cakes by Zoe Lincoln looked almost too pretty to cut into. Almost. And Tash and Adam were having such a good time, that they almost forgot there was a cake to cut until I reminded them!
First dance
The evening atmosphere inside the barn became even cosier once the fairy lights kicked in properly, and the stone walls gave everything a warm, intimate glow ready for the first dance.
“We thought the song feels very twinkly and magic.”
Honestly, that description sums up the entire wedding perfectly.
Reception
Once the band started, the calm romantic energy immediately transformed into full dancefloor chaos.
Pesky Alligators absolutely brought the energy all evening and guests fully committed to the assignment. Sore feet the next day were apparently unavoidable.
The shots and pizza slices made their way through the madness like guests of honour, and that was that!
The dancefloor was constantly full! And that's something you rarely see happen at weddings. Even I made it into the photos having a dance with the bride! Everyone was up all night, even the grandparents had a little dance off to the side!
Exactly what a wedding should be.
Wedding Photography at Abbey Farm
As a wedding photographer, I have the privilege of spending my days exploring some of the most gorgeous venues with the most amazing teams of wedding staff. Abbey Farm Weddings genuinely is one of those venues that stays with you.
The entire place feels peaceful from the moment you arrive. The combination of rustic oak barns, open countryside, willow trees, meadow surroundings and beautifully maintained grounds gives couples so much flexibility throughout the day without ever losing that relaxed countryside atmosphere.
It also photographs beautifully in every direction. Whether you want soft golden hour portraits in the fields, outdoor ceremony photos surrounded by nature, cosy barn receptions, or relaxed drinks reception candids across the lawns, Abbey Farm gives you space to create a wedding day that feels personal rather than overly structured.
For couples planning a relaxed, nature-inspired wedding in Lincolnshire, it’s an absolute gem.
