Our First Year of Owning a Wedding Venue

Our First Year of Owning a Wedding Venue

After our first full year of operating Blackbrook Barns, we’ve learned more than any business plan, checklist, or Pinterest board could have prepared us for. If you’re curious what the experience is like from the inside, here are the five lessons we’ve learned.

Our Team Is Our Biggest Asset

If there’s one thing this year has proven, it’s that a venue is only as strong as the people running it. Beautiful buildings and stunning grounds might attract couples, but it’s the staff - the managers, coordinators, cleaners, bar team, setup crew, and behind-the-scenes heroes who truly shape the wedding experience.

This year taught us the power of investing in training, celebrating wins, and creating a culture where everyone feels valued. When your team feels supported, they show up with energy, pride, and genuine care and couples feel it instantly.

The moments couples rave about most often come from something a team member did without being asked: calming a nervous bride, finding a lost buttonhole, transforming a room quicker than seems humanly possible. A great team doesn’t just run a venue, they bring it to life.

Our Preferred Supplier List Is Priceless

We knew having suppliers would be important and useful, but we as a team we all agree how essential a trusted list is. Photographers, florists, planners, caterers, DJs - these are the people who shape the couple’s experience as much as the venue itself. We are so lucky to have an incredible florist and venue dresser (@perfectdayweddingflowers) based onsite at Blackbrook Barns but in addition we’ve curated a directory of brilliant suppliers who we trust, communicate well and share our values which makes everything run smoothly. Click here to see who’s on the dream team list

We’ve learned the value of nurturing these relationships like gold.

People Remember How You Made Them Feel

In the words of Maya Angelo and personally one of my all-time favourite quotes “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Yes, the barn beams are beautiful. Yes, the olive trees are gorgeous. But at the end of the night, what couples rave about most is the experience.

Did they feel taken care of? Did someone anticipate a need before it became a problem? Did they feel relaxed, excited, and supported?

We’ve learned that providing an exceptional experience is just as important as providing a beautiful space. Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures that become the biggest memories.

Flexibility Isn’t Optional

We quickly learned that every couple come with a unique vision and set of priorities. Some want fairy lights and floral arches; others want smoke machines and a disco ball. A few want to rewrite the rulebook entirely.

Being flexible (not just with décor) but with communication, timelines, and expectations has been the key to making both our couples and our team feel supported.

The more adaptable your venue is, the more your couples will shine.

Weather Will Keep You Humble

It doesn’t matter how many weather apps you check or how confidently you reassure yourself: weather will surprise you – after all it is England.

We always, always have a Plan B (and sometimes a Plan C). Covered outdoor spaces, efficient indoor flip-arounds, umbrellas in bulk, and a calm “we’ve got this” attitude have ensured all wedding days run smoothly, and the photographs are still incredible. Prepare so thoroughly for bad weather that the couple barely notices it happened.

Things Always Work Out

Sometimes things will happen that no human could have predicted.

A bridesmaid will faint because she only ate a Tic Tac for breakfast.
The best man will lose the rings… and find them in his own pocket.
A guest will bring their uninvited dog.
A confetti cannon will go off at completely the wrong moment (RIP, three-tier cake).

And you know what? It’s fine. It always works out.

We embrace these moments with a smile, a toolkit, and a “we’ve seen worse” attitude. The couples never remember the hiccup, only how quickly it was handled.

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