Guides for Brides logo
Fairs & Events Planning Tools
A Simple Wedding

A Simple Wedding


Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio
Alison Hargreaves Updated:
8th of March 2023

When Joel first met Anna, through mutual friends, they spent the entire time studiously ignoring each other, until the end of the evening, when Joel asked for Anna’s number – and the rest, as they say, is history.

The couple wanted a low key wedding, and chose a delightful venue, just outside Henley-on-Thames; ‘We didn’t want to have a big hotel wedding – we wanted it to be very intimate, just close friends and family. The Crown has a beautiful thatched barn and garden and is a very warm and relaxed place to get married.’

That low-key, intimate feel informed the whole reception, with simple orchid table decorations and a Mediterranean-style barbecue style menu for the wedding breakfast. In the evening, local Oxfordshire band Subway kept the guests dancing until the early hours with a wide variety of music, including all the happy couple’s favourite songs.

The key to a joyous occasion, Anna is sure, is making sure you do it your way: ‘Don’t fall into the trap of doing things because it’s expected. We made sure that everything we had or did was what we really wanted; it was all to our taste and everyone had a fantastic time!’

Venue: The Crown at Pishill
Bridal Gown: Blossom Bridal
Grooms Suit: Ted Baker
Live Music: Subway
Photography: Lucie Z Photography

Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides Bio

About the author


Alison Hargreaves

Alison has been advising brides, grooms and bridesmaids for more than 25 years. She has an unrivalled knowledge of the British wedding industry and frequently appears on podcasts and expert panels. She regularly attends international wedding conferences to keep the UK at the forefront of wedding planning trends.

Read More

Search for venues & suppliers near you


  • All Locations
  • Overseas