A Beautiful Summer Wedding at Somersbury Barn: Abi & John

There are some wedding days that just feel full of joy from the moment you arrive.

Abi and John’s beautiful summer wedding at Somersbury Barn in Surrey was absolutely one of them.

It was a glorious summer’s day, surrounded by the Surrey countryside, with their family and friends gathered together to celebrate not only Abi and John, but the wonderful blended family they have created together.

And for me, that was exactly what their ceremony needed to be about.

Not simply two people getting married.

A family coming together.

A Luxury Surrey Wedding at Somersbury Barn

Tucked away in the Surrey countryside in Ewhurst, Somersbury Barn is one of those wedding venues that manages to feel luxurious without ever feeling overly formal.

Surrounded by 30 acres of ancient oak trees, wildflower meadows, apple orchards and willow trees, it has the feeling of a private countryside escape.

The venue itself is full of character. Its beautifully restored ancient oak barn has soaring open beams, a vaulted ceiling, enormous timber framed windows and views out across a wildflower meadow.

There is also a beautiful Victorian glasshouse, a tipi and plenty of outdoor space, which makes the venue particularly lovely for a summer wedding like Abi and John’s.

What I really love about Somersbury is that the luxury comes from the setting, the details and the feeling of the place.

It is relaxed, considered and completely charming.

The venue also has a wonderful emphasis on its Surrey surroundings, working with local caterers and artisans, locally grown seasonal flowers and produce sourced from the surrounding area.

On a beautiful summer’s day, it really is quite special.

Creating a Wedding Ceremony for a Blended Family

When I first spoke to Abi and John, it was clear that their ceremony needed to celebrate something bigger than the two of them.

Their children are a huge part of their story.

One of the wonderful things about having a celebrant led wedding ceremony is the freedom it gives us to create something that reflects the family you actually are.

There is no template.

For Abi and John, we found ways to bring their children into the ceremony so that they weren't simply watching Mum and Dad get married.

They were part of it.

And I think that distinction is incredibly important when creating a wedding ceremony for a blended family.

A wedding can be an extraordinary opportunity to acknowledge the life that already exists around a couple. The history, the children, the people they love and everything that has brought them to this particular moment.

The ceremony should honour all of it. A sand blending ceremony is perfect for that!

Abi and John blending sand with their children during their blended family wedding ceremony at Somersbury Barn in Surrey

The Perfect Balance of Tears and Laughter

I always say that the best wedding ceremonies should feel like the people they are celebrating.

Abi and John’s did.

There was emotion, but it wasn't overly sentimental.

There was plenty of laughter, but never at the expense of the significance of the moment.

And there was an enormous amount of love in the room.

That balance of tears and laughter is something I care deeply about when writing a ceremony. I want your guests to recognise you in it. I want them to laugh because the stories are genuinely funny and become emotional because the words actually mean something.

Most importantly, I want the two people standing beside me to be able to forget about everyone watching and simply enjoy what is happening.

Abi later left the loveliest review:

“Wow! We couldn’t be happier that Kathryn was such an integral part of our wedding day. From start to finish she made us feel at ease, was good fun and helped us make the ceremony so personal and special for us both and our kids. She had great ideas for incorporating our blended family and really helped us create something magical, with the perfect balance of tears and laughter!”

She went on to say that they had received so many lovely messages from friends and family afterwards about just how touching and personal the ceremony had been.

For me, that's everything.

When guests come up to me after a ceremony and tell me how personal it felt, or ask how long I have known the couple, I know we've created what we set out to create.

You can also read more Love Celebrants Google reviews from couples whose ceremonies I've had the privilege of creating.

Each member of the family had different colour sand to represent them. They them put the sand together in the ‘Perfectly blended’ glass - as a gorgeous reminder of the day they offically joined together as a ‘Blended Family’

Why Somersbury Barn Is Perfect for a Summer Wedding

There is something particularly beautiful about a countryside wedding in the summer.

At Somersbury Barn, you have wildflower meadows, established trees and acres of private Surrey countryside surrounding you, before moving into that incredible oak barn for dinner and dancing.

The barn can accommodate up to 120 guests and its huge timber framed windows allow the countryside to remain part of the experience even when everyone moves inside.

For couples who want something more intimate, the Victorian glasshouse offers another beautiful space within the grounds.

It feels quintessentially English, but with a relaxed, contemporary edge.

And that combination works particularly well for couples who want a luxury Surrey wedding that still feels warm, personal and completely their own.

John and Abi read their personal vows during their wedding ceremony at Somersbury Barn, Surrey

A Wedding Ceremony That Celebrates Your Whole Family

Abi and John’s wedding was a lovely reminder that a ceremony doesn't have to follow a traditional formula.

Particularly when two families are becoming one.

There are so many thoughtful ways children can be included in a wedding ceremony, from readings and promises to symbolic moments or something completely unique to your family.

It doesn't need to feel forced or overly formal.

It simply needs to feel like you.

Because ultimately, that is what a brilliant celebrant led ceremony should do.

It should take all the people, stories, laughter, history and love that already exist and turn them into a moment that could belong to nobody else.

And on a beautiful summer’s day at Somersbury Barn, surrounded by everyone they loved, that is exactly what Abi and John did.

Wedding celebrant Kathryn B Wilson conducting a Humanist wedding ceremony at Somersbury Barn, Surrey

Kathryn B Wilson is the founder of Love Celebrants, a Humanist wedding celebrant, broadcaster and wedding commentator creating luxury, bespoke wedding ceremonies across London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, the UK and internationally.