Real Wedding at Oxleaze: Jess & Ryan’s Relaxed Country Garden Celebration
Sage green, colourful florals and a beautifully relaxed atmosphere came together for Jess and Ryan’s unforgettable wedding at Oxleaze Barn.
For Jess and Ryan, choosing their wedding venue wasn't about finding somewhere grand or overly formal. They wanted somewhere that simply felt like them, relaxed, beautiful and somewhere all their favourite people could come together and celebrate.
From meeting as students at the University of Worcester to a romantic proposal in Rome seven years later, their story eventually brought them to the Cotswolds and Oxleaze Barn for a beautiful country garden-inspired wedding.
And, in their own words, the day was:
“Unforgettable, perfect and beautiful.”
From Worcester to Rome
Jess and Ryan's story began at the University of Worcester, where they were both studying. Their relationship grew from the time they spent together at university, and seven years later, Ryan decided it was time for the next chapter.
During a holiday to Rome, Ryan surprised Jess by proposing.
It was the perfect setting for such a special moment and turned an already memorable trip into somewhere they would always associate with the beginning of their wedding story.
Then came the exciting task of finding somewhere to say I do...
Finding a Wedding Venue That Felt Like Them
When Jess and Ryan began searching for their wedding venue, they weren't looking for somewhere overly formal.
Instead, their wish list was centred around how they wanted their wedding to feel.
“Somewhere that felt like us. Somewhere that we felt relaxed and where our guests would feel comfortable too.”
It was also really important to them that everyone could celebrate together. Rather than having lots of separate rooms where guests could become spread out, Jess and Ryan wanted their friends and family to be able to enjoy the atmosphere together throughout the day.
And that's where Oxleaze came in.
“Oxleaze was perfect. We wanted everything all in one place... We wanted all our guests together to enjoy the atmosphere.”
They also loved the fact that the Barn and surrounding grounds provided such a beautiful backdrop that they wouldn't need to completely transform the space with decorations.
First Impressions of Oxleaze
From their first visit, Jess and Ryan could imagine themselves getting married here.
“On first impression the venue was stunning and the staff were absolutely fantastic. They were able to answer all our questions and made us feel very welcomed.”
Most importantly, Oxleaze had the relaxed countryside feel they'd been searching for.
Sometimes choosing a wedding venue involves spreadsheets, comparisons and endless discussions.
And sometimes, you walk through the doors and can simply picture yourselves getting married there.
A Relaxed Country Garden Wedding
When it came to styling their day, Jess and Ryan took inspiration from Oxleaze itself rather than trying to transform the space.
Their theme was relaxed country garden, with natural details chosen to complement the character of the Barn.
Rustic twine featured within their table décor, while beautiful florals from Grace & Ivy added colour without taking away from the natural surroundings.
“We tried to ensure that our décor choices matched the beauty of the Barn, rather than competing with it.”
And we think that's such a lovely approach to wedding styling.
Sage Green, Pinks & Oranges
Jess and Ryan always knew that sage green would feature in their wedding colour palette.
The addition of pinks and oranges came partly from the subtle pink tones within the Main Barn itself, and the finished combination worked beautifully with the surrounding countryside.
“We loved how our flowers felt like they were part of the Barn and not just an addition.”
The result was soft, colourful and natural, exactly the relaxed country garden feeling they had envisioned.
The Moment Everything Became Real
After all the planning, emails, decisions and anticipation, Jess and Ryan's favourite moment was wonderfully simple:
Seeing each other for the first time.
“After all the planning and anticipation, seeing each other for the first time on the day made everything feel real.”
It was a moment they'd imagined countless times in the lead-up to the wedding, but the reality was even more special than they had expected.
A Very Special Surprise for Jess
Not every memorable wedding moment can be planned.
One particularly lovely surprise for Jess came in the form of handwritten notes from all of her pupils, wishing the newlyweds luck.
“I wasn't expecting them at all and it was such a lovely, personal surprise.”
Having something from her class with her on such an important day made the gesture particularly meaningful – and the notes are now something Jess can treasure long after the wedding.
Planning Their Wedding at Oxleaze
We know wedding planning can sometimes feel like a second job, so one of the biggest compliments we can receive is hearing that we've helped make the process feel easier.
Jess and Ryan described planning their wedding with the Oxleaze team as:
“Easy. Emails were responded to quickly and we never felt embarrassed to ask a silly question.”
And for the record, we firmly believe there's no such thing as a silly wedding question!
Knowing our couples feel comfortable enough to ask us anything is incredibly important. Whether it's a big decision or a tiny detail that's been keeping you awake at night, we'd always rather you ask.
A Wedding Day That Felt Effortless
On the wedding day itself, our aim is for our couples to think as little as possible about what's happening behind the scenes.
There are suppliers arriving, timings being checked, food being prepared and countless little details being taken care of throughout the day – but none of that should become the couple's problem.
And that's exactly what stood out to Jess and Ryan.
“What stood out most was how effortless Oxleaze made the whole day feel.”
With the setting naturally providing such a beautiful backdrop, they could enjoy the Barn without worrying about completely transforming it.
And with the practical details being taken care of around them, Jess and Ryan were free to concentrate on what really mattered, being together, celebrating and spending time with their guests.
Would Jess & Ryan Recommend Oxleaze?
We'll let them answer this one...
“Absolutely! We already have a friend booked for 2027 and other friends considering a 2028 wedding.”
We don't think recommendations come much better than that!
For Jess and Ryan, it wasn't only the Barn that made their experience special.
“The venue itself is beautiful, but the team and the relaxed atmosphere made such a difference to our experience from the first visit right through to the wedding day.”
Knowing their friends have subsequently considered Oxleaze for their own weddings makes that even more special for us.
Jess & Ryan's Advice for Future Couples
After experiencing the whole process themselves, their advice to couples currently planning their wedding is something we wholeheartedly agree with:
“Try not to get too caught up in making everything perfect.”
Instead, Jess and Ryan recommend concentrating on what genuinely matters to the two of you and what will make you and your guests enjoy the day.
“It's so easy to get caught up in all the little details, but on the day you won't notice the things that didn't quite go to plan.”
And perhaps their most important piece of advice?
Take a moment to look around and enjoy it.
After months, sometimes years of planning, the wedding itself passes unbelievably quickly.
Find a moment during the day to stand together, look around at everyone you love and appreciate what you've created.
The tiny details might eventually become a blur.
That feeling won't.
Jess & Ryan's Wonderful Wedding Suppliers
A huge thank you to the brilliant suppliers who helped bring Jess and Ryan's relaxed country garden celebration together:
Photographer: Squib Photography
Florist: Grace & Ivy
Dress Designer: White Canvas
Entertainment: Young Rosie
Hair & Makeup: Lisa Murphy
Catering: Ross & Ross
Venue: Oxleaze Barn
And, of course, a huge thank you to Jess & Ryan for choosing Oxleaze and for sharing their story with us. 🤎
It was a pleasure to be part of such a relaxed and beautiful celebration and to watch all your plans come together.
We wish you both a lifetime of happiness – and hopefully plenty more adventures together, starting with a return trip to Rome!
Dreaming of Your Own Relaxed Cotswold Wedding?
If you're looking for a wedding venue where beautiful countryside, characterful barns and a relaxed atmosphere come together, we'd love to welcome you to Oxleaze.
Come and explore the Barns, wander through the grounds, meet the team and start imagining your own wedding day with us.