A Wedding Their Way: Jen & Lee’s Lakeside Celebration at Barnacles
Wedding Date: 15th August 2026
Happy Couple: Jen & Lee
Type of Wedding: Wedding Reception Venue – Outsourced Self-Catering
A Celebration That Felt Completely Their Own
For Jen and Lee, their wedding was all about creating a celebration that felt personal to them. They wanted to move away from some of the more traditional elements and instead create a day filled with the people, details and moments that meant the most.
Barnacles became part of not just one, but both days of their wedding celebrations.
After legally marrying at the registry office on Friday, Jen and Lee enjoyed an intimate meal with their closest family in The Cow Shed at Barnacles.
It was a lovely way to mark their legal ceremony before returning the following evening for their main wedding celebration in our lakeside Bedouin Tent.
Doing Things Their Way
With the legal formalities completed the day before, Saturday gave Jen and Lee the freedom to shape their celebration exactly as they wanted.
Their evening began at 5pm, with Jen and Lee arriving together so they could personally greet their guests and be part of the celebrations from the very beginning.
Later, Jen’s dad took on the very special role of celebrant as the couple shared their own heartfelt vows surrounded by family and friends.
Without the time constraints or legal requirements of the previous day, they were able to make the moment entirely their own – something that became one of the most memorable parts of their celebration.
Food, Music & Personal Touches
Rather than following a traditional wedding-day format, Jen and Lee selected the elements that mattered most to them.
A woodfired pizza van and ice cream van provided the food, while live music and garden games added to the celebrations throughout the evening.
Guests could spend time together, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and move between the Bedouin Tent and outdoor areas as the evening unfolded.
The couple also put their own twist on another wedding tradition – the first dance. Rather than dancing while everyone watched at the beginning of the evening, they chose a last dance instead. At the end of an incredible night, they found each other again on the dance floor for one final moment together.
Bringing Their Personality to the Bedouin Tent
One of the most memorable elements of Jen and Lee’s wedding was how they styled the Bedouin Tent.
As plant lovers, they knew they wanted greenery to play a big part in the look of their celebration rather than opting for traditional wedding flowers.
Their solution was wonderfully personal – they transported around 60 plants from their own home to Barnacles, filling the Bedouin Tent with beautiful greenery.
Small baby plants were also placed in glass jars around the tables, each accompanied by a handwritten message and given to guests to take home as a keepsake.
It was a lovely example of how the Bedouin Tent can be transformed to reflect each couple’s individual style and vision.
A Beautiful Lakeside Setting
Set beside the lake, the Bedouin Tent provided a beautiful backdrop for Jen and Lee’s celebration, combining an impressive setting with the warm and welcoming atmosphere they wanted for their day.
One of the things that makes the space so special is how it can be transformed to suit each couple’s vision. From elegant wedding styling and beautiful floral displays to something completely personal, the Bedouin Tent offers a striking setting that can be dressed and styled in so many different ways.
For Jen and Lee, that meant filling the tent with greenery and personal touches, creating a setting that felt unmistakably theirs.
Guests could move between the beautifully dressed tent and the surrounding outdoor space, enjoying the lakeside setting, garden games and live music throughout the evening.
As daylight faded, the fairy lights began to glow and the Bedouin Tent took on another atmosphere entirely, creating a beautiful setting for everyone to come together and dance into the night.
Jen described it perfectly:
“It had a wonderful intimacy to it and felt special without ever feeling formal or overwhelming.”
Support Every Step of the Way
A huge part of Jen and Lee’s experience was the support they received from our Wedding & Events Manager, Chantelle, and the Barnacles team.
From the planning stages through to the celebration itself, Chantelle worked closely with the couple to understand the wedding they wanted to create and help bring their ideas together.
Jen said:
“She understood exactly what we were trying to create, embraced all of our ideas and never made us feel that we needed to fit into a particular idea of what a wedding should look like.”
On the evening itself, Chantelle and the team took care of everything happening behind the scenes, allowing Jen and Lee to concentrate on what mattered – celebrating with their family and friends.
“I remember saying to people during the evening that everything felt so easy that I was almost a guest at my own wedding!”
For us, there couldn’t be a lovelier compliment.
A Wedding Weekend to Remember
From an intimate family meal in The Cow Shed on Friday to their lakeside wedding celebration on Saturday, Jen and Lee created a weekend filled with thoughtful details and memorable moments.
The Bedouin Tent was transformed with their own greenery, their favourite people gathered together, live music filled the venue and, as evening fell, the fairy lights provided the backdrop for a night of celebration and dancing.
As Jen told us:
“It was full of love and laughter, brought together people of all ages, and gave us memories we’ll carry with us for a lifetime.”
And when asked if they would change anything?
“We honestly wouldn’t change a thing.”
We loved being part of Jen and Lee’s wedding celebrations and seeing their individual vision brought to life at Barnacles.
Create Your Wedding at Barnacles
Every couple has their own vision for their wedding, and our lakeside Bedouin Tent provides a beautiful and versatile setting in which to bring it to life.
With its picturesque lakeside location, atmospheric lighting and generous indoor and outdoor spaces, the venue can be transformed to suit your chosen style – from elegant and beautifully dressed celebrations to something completely individual to you.
With the support of our experienced Events Team, you can choose the details that make your celebration special and create a wedding that feels unmistakably yours.
Start Planning Your Celebration
If you’re looking for a distinctive lakeside setting for your wedding celebration, we’d love to show you around the Bedouin Tent and discuss your ideas.
Get in touch with our Events Team to arrange a viewing and start planning your celebration at Barnacles.
Ready to take the next step?
Submit a wedding enquiry form and our dedicated wedding manager will be in touch shortly to help you start planning your perfect day.