A Winter Wedding at Micklefield Hall, Hertfordshire: A Timber Barn, a Tea Ceremony and Two People Born Lucky
“Do you think you were born lucky?” That was Va’s response when Kilian asked for her number the first time they met. Their winter wedding at Micklefield Hall answered the question pretty well. It had a candlelit barn, a traditional tea ceremony full of laughter and guests who had gone to great lengths to be there. By the end of the night, the dance floor was packed.
Micklefield Hall: a barn wedding venue in Hertfordshire
Micklefield Hall stands on Sarratt Road, just outside Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire and close to the M25. The red-brick house dates from the early to mid 18th century, and beside it is a 17th-century timber-framed barn, weatherboarded outside, with curved braces and great cambered beams inside. Both are Grade II listed.
The barn is the heart of a wedding here. Micklefield has three areas licensed for civil ceremonies, seats up to 200 guests for dinner, and gives couples exclusive use of the house and gardens for the day. Outside there are rose gardens, lawns and a little classical temple looking over a pond, which makes for lovely portraits even in the depths of winter.
A barn ceremony and a traditional tea ceremony
The morning was full of fun. Va laughed her way through the last of her preparations in her veil, and the bridesmaids, all in black, crowded in for a selfie. Then she stepped into a fitted lace gown with long lace sleeves. Kilian was all smiles in a cream dinner jacket and black bow tie.
In the barn, the guests stood as Va walked down an aisle scattered with petals, beneath candle chandeliers hung with greenery. Plenty of phones came out for the vows, and the ring exchange under those old beams was one of our favourite moments. Then came a traditional tea ceremony, with the two of them serving tea, red envelopes changing hands and lots of laughter.
Winter portraits, speeches and a packed dance floor
Winter weddings are always a favourite of ours. Maybe it’s because we got married in winter ourselves, or because we shared a love of snowboarding when we first met. Really, it’s because they bring us back to what a wedding is all about. It’s one day with everyone in your life: the family you were born with, and the one you made along the way.
After a shower of confetti outside the barn doors, we took Va and Kilian down to the temple by the pond. The trees were bare, the sky was grey, and the wind caught her veil at exactly the right moment. Back inside, the youngest guests made short work of the snacks, and one little one wore ear defenders, ready for the party.
The speeches were full of laughter and a few tears, with Va wiping her eyes and Kilian taking the microphone himself. By the time they were done, we’d completely forgotten to ask how he answered her question. After seeing the love on their day, though, it’s safe to say they were both born lucky. Then the band started, the bridesmaids danced with the flower girls, and the barn filled right up.
Why we love a winter wedding at Micklefield Hall
If you’re thinking about Micklefield for your own wedding, here’s our honest take:
- The barn does a lot of the work. Old timber, candlelight and greenery look beautiful in winter, and everyone fits under one roof.
- Ceremony options. With three licensed areas, and outdoor ceremonies on offer too, there’s a real choice of where to say your vows.
- Portraits close by. The temple and pond sit just across the gardens from the barn, so you’re never away from your guests for long.
- It’s all yours. Exclusive use means the house and gardens are reserved for your wedding day.
Planning your own wedding at Micklefield Hall?
We’d love to hear about it. See more of our barn weddings, winter weddings and London wedding photography, or get in touch to check your date.
