Saturday the thirteenth of June, two thousand and twenty-seven
Orin & Flint
Harrowgate Barn · Ashdell Valley
Ceremony at three in the walled garden, then one long table, a loud band, and bacon rolls at eleven.
The invitation
Come for the vows, stay for the dancing.
After eleven years, two cities and one very opinionated cat, we are getting married in the valley where we spent our first summer together. The barn sits low in the fields below Ashdell, and in June it is all cow parsley and swifts.
This page holds everything you need: when to arrive, how to get down the lane, what to wear on soft grass, and where to tell us you are coming. Anything it misses, the questions section near the foot probably answers.
Order of the day
From the first glass to the last song
Nothing here is formal. Arrive when it suits you before three, and leave whenever the hill road stops being charming.
- 2:30 pmGates open, coats and gifts to the hay store
- 3:00 pmCeremony in the walled garden
- 3:40 pmDrinks on the lawn, group photographs
- 5:30 pmDinner at one long table in the barn
- 7:15 pmSpeeches, then cake and coffee outside
- 8:30 pmFirst dance, then the band until late
- 11:00 pmLate supper: bacon rolls and soup
- 12:30 amLast song
- 1:00 amCarriages from the top of the lane
Dinner is served promptly at half past five, so the kitchen can turn the barn around for dancing.
Tell us you are comingThe barn, the lane, the beds
Getting yourself into the valley
Harrowgate is a working farm before it is anything else. The last half mile is a single track with passing places, so give yourself a little more time than the map suggests.
Getting there
- ShuttleFrom Ashdell village green at 1:45 and 2:10 pm
- DrivingField parking, firm ground, cars may stay overnight
- By trainAshdell Halt, twelve minutes from the barn by road
- TaxisScarce after midnight — book your return before the day
- Home runShuttle back to the village at 11:30 pm and 1:00 am
Arriving on the day
Follow the hand-painted signs from the cattle grid rather than your phone; the last turning is easy to miss and there is nowhere to reverse.
Staying over
The valley has a handful of inns, farm rooms and shepherd's huts, all within a short drive. We have held a small block of rooms at two of them under the name Flint until the first of March — mention the wedding when you book.
Camping in the top field
If you would rather bring a tent, the top field is yours from Friday afternoon until Sunday noon. There is water, a shower block and absolutely no phone signal.
Sunday morning
Breakfast runs in the barn from nine until eleven for anyone still standing. No need to tell us in advance — just appear.
Notes for guests
Four small things worth knowing
Read these before you pack. They cover almost everything people have asked us so far.
What to wear
Garden formal. The ceremony and drinks are on grass that is rarely completely dry, so block heels or flats will serve you far better than stilettos. Evenings in the valley turn cold quickly — bring a layer.
Gifts
Your presence is genuinely the gift. If you would like to mark the day anyway, we are putting anything given towards a long, slow trip north rather than more things for the flat.
Children
Children are very welcome at the ceremony and dinner. From half past eight the barn gets loud and late, so we have set the evening aside for grown-ups.
An unplugged ceremony
Phones and cameras away until the vows are done, please. Afterwards, photograph everything — we would love to see the day through your eyes.
Guest questions
Everything else you have asked us
If your question is not here, add it to the message box on the RSVP form and we will answer it directly.
Is the ceremony indoors or outside?
Outside, in the walled garden beside the barn. It is sheltered on three sides, and the seats are set on flat stone rather than grass.
What happens if it rains?
The whole ceremony moves inside the barn, which is already dressed and warm. We will decide by noon on the day and let you know through this page, so check before you set off.
What time should we actually arrive?
Between half past two and ten to three. The registrar starts on time at three, and the garden gate is closed once the music begins.
Can we bring a plus-one?
The number of seats we can offer is printed on your invitation, and the RSVP form will only let you confirm that many. The barn licence caps us at sixty-eight for dinner, which is the only reason we cannot be more generous.
I have a dietary requirement — where do I say so?
In the dietary field on the RSVP form. Every course has a vegetarian version as standard; allergies, intolerances and anything else go straight to the kitchen as written.
Is there somewhere to leave a bag or change shoes?
Yes. The hay store next to the barn doors takes coats, bags and spare shoes all day, and there is a mirror and a bench in there for repairs.
Will there be anything for people who do not drink?
Plenty. Alongside the wine there is a full non-alcoholic list — pressed apple from the next farm, bitter sodas, and proper coffee running until the band stops.
Can we request a song?
Please do. There is a line for it on the RSVP form, and the band has promised to learn the three most requested. Anything else goes to the playlist after midnight.
Replies by 1 March 2027
Will you come?
One form per invitation, please. If plans change afterwards, send it again — we will take the most recent reply.