Abbie+Ed: Sustainable DIY wedding at Bridge House Barn, Leicester

Eco-friendly wedding planning at Bridge House Barn.

Abbie and Ed’s wedding day took place at the lovely Leicestershire wedding venue, Bridge House Barn, near Kibworth, in May 2025.

Despite a grey and drizzly start to the day, the weather picked up just as Abbie and Ed headed out for their beautiful outdoor ceremony at 12:30pm, almost as if they had planned it that way!

This lovely couple had planned a sustainable wedding, incorporating lots of personal DIY touches to make it their own and I loved the whole relaxed feeling of their wedding day.

I caught up with Abbie after the wedding to gather her thoughts all on things sustainable wedding planning, and how you too can create a DIY wedding that works for you. As an eco-friendly wedding videographer who also had a DIY wedding that was as sustainable as possible, I really enjoyed hearing what she had to say and I’m sure you will too!

How would you describe your wedding?

Cosy, family-feel, relaxed.

Did you have a theme?

Not really! We had the venue, the flowers (I'd picked some sentimental ones), and the family tartan, so we just tied everything to those. 

Why did you choose your venue?

Ed was certain he wanted an outside wedding, and had driven past Bridge House Barn every week between work and his parents, so he had that in his head. Now we live near his work, and frequently drive past. We loved the rustic feel and the closeness of his friends and family, especially as all of my side of the guest list were travelling in!

Outfits - What did you choose and why did you choose them?

Ed found his suit in a local tailor in Stamford called Paul Richman. It was the first one he tried on and loved it (this is a theme with us, we typically only spoke to one supplier and fell in love, I put it down to good research on my part).

My dress took a bit longer, and I really tried to find a second-hand dress in the first instance but didn't find anything that felt right. I wanted something comfortable and whimsical. In the end the girls at Lineys sorted me out! The hardest part was a huge alteration to turn the big train into a floor length dress thorough a 14point ballroom bustle! Thanks Karen Kay! 

What about the outfits of your ‘I do’ crew?

In running with my attempt to keep the wedding as sustainable as possible, I encouraged my bridesmaids to get their dresses from Vinted. They each had a different colour (which I allocated based on the colours they usually wear) and I told them to find something that they felt comfortable in and might wear again. One has worn dresses maybe twice in her life, so she had a lovely jumpsuit. It was slightly nerve-wracking as I only saw them all together on the day, but it worked out wonderfully in the end. 

What accessories and shoes did you wear?

All of my jewellery came from small businesses on Etsy. I was hoping to wear my mum's wedding pearls but they didn't work with the dress in the end. My shoes came all the way from Australia in my Great-Aunt's suitcase! I fell in love with them and couldn't find anything like them in the UK. She saved me a lot in customs and import fees!

Ed wore a watch that I gifted him on the morning, it was inscribed with the wedding date and 'for all time' - very cringe. He also had cufflinks that were a gift from Paul Richman, little RAF planes as a nod to his job. His shoes were his pride and joy, again from Paul Richman, brown with hints of blue. 

What advice would you give to other couples planning their DIY style wedding?

It's your day. Nobody else's. Just do what feels right. We were so concerned about overconsumption and Ed not loving being the centre of attention, so we kept things small and intimate, trying not to buy things that we wouldn't use again or didn't need. 

I also did my own makeup as I'm not a full coverage girl, you'll read everywhere that photos and videos will look rubbish if you don't have a full face. Ignore them, do what you're comfortable with. 

Is there anything you would have changed?

There were a couple of snagging points, but nothing we'd change!

What do you remember most from your wedding day?

We loved the time we set aside to take a breath together. We had our legal ceremony the day before the wedding day, with just our witnesses present, so we were both much more relaxed on the day. We did a first look, went for a little walk during the afternoon, and had half choreographed our first dance. These gave us little opportunities to really just focus on each other and remember why we were there. 

Did anything funny or unusual happen?

Oh gosh, probably the rain? I didn't know that it was anywhere near as bad as it had been, but it poured all morning. Our guests were huddled under shelter until 15minutes before the outside ceremony was due to start! It was then lovely all day, and lots of people got sunburned. Other than that, and a couple of drunken guests, it actually ran very smoothly. 

Thoughts on your wedding films?

We were so grateful for them. I nearly didn't do it, and we booked Laura fairly last minute. But I'd say it's an essential. Having footage of all of our nearest and dearest on our special day will be something to treasure forever. It helps that they're beautiful. Everyone looked natural and relaxed, and it was nice to see some bits of the day that we weren't around for.

What was your favourite part of your wedding film?

We've loved watching our first dance back, as we had no idea what was happening at the time! But I honestly, it's hard to pick a favourite part. Every second is a precious memory to look back on. 

Why would you recommend Laura Baker Productions to others?

1000% YES! we already have! 

Looking for a Bridge House Barn wedding videographer?

Then look no further! I have filmed at the lovely Leicestershire wedding venue Bridge House Barn a number of times and I absolutely love this stunning venue. The outdoor venue space and the beautiful backdrops make this venue stand out, plus the sunsets are always epic here!

I am an eco-friendly wedding videographer making wedding videos for couples having more sustainable weddings. All my wedding films are powered by renewable energy, I travel to your venue in my electric car, and I even plant a tree to celebrate your wedding day too!

If this is sounding right up your street, check out my eco-friendly wedding films here, my wedding film packages and pricing here, or say hello below to see if I’m available on your wedding date.