Stone Barn

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Evening Reception

The Bull Hotel

Post-Wedding Brunch

Our Wedding

Like so many modern love stories, it all started with a swipe right… Although we were both living in Switzerland already, we quickly realised we’d both lived in Bristol at exactly the same time several years ago. It’s entirely possible our paths unknowingly crossed out-and-about during those times… who knows what our younger selves would have thought of each other! Our first date and proposal Our first date was a hike up a local mountain, which was a suitably steep choice from Thomas and we were both trying to hide from the other how hard we were finding it, whilst Tom talked the entire way up! The date lasted all day long, finishing with a sunset flammkuchen and beer at the lake before Nicole got the train back to Basel. Within a few weeks, we went on our first ski weekend together to The Capra Hotel in Saas Fee, and it was by then we both knew we had found someone special. That same gorgeous hotel in a snowy mountain ski resort would later be Tom’s choice of proposal almost exactly two years later! Our adventure so far Since being together, we have continued to make the most of living in Switzerland – getting outdoors and enjoying the incredible scenery! We consider ourselves very lucky that our weekends are usually spent cycling, hiking, skiing or enjoying a beer down by the lake. Last year, we finally moved in together in Zug in central Switzerland, with a jungle of house plants and more bikes than you can count. In the summer, we love nothing more than a barbeque on our balcony or to wander down to the lake for a dip! Our special day We are so thrilled to share our special day with all of our family and friends at such a spectacular location in the Cotswolds. Thank you so much for joining us – we really hope you have a blast!

Our Story

Picture taken hours after the proposal atThe Capra Hotel in Saas Fee, Switzerland (A capra is a type of alpine goat, in case you were wondering!)

STONE BARN

Our wedding will be held in the beautiful Stone Barn located in the quintessential English Cotswolds

Order of Ceremony

12:45 Groom arrives ﻿13:00&nbsp;Guests arrivePlease note, no drinks will be served before the ceremony 13:15 All guests seated / Bride arrives outside 13:30&nbsp;Ceremony 14:00&nbsp;Reception 15:45 Bell rings for Feast 16:00 Wedding Feast 18:30&nbsp;Speeches &amp; Dessert 19:30 Evening guests arrive 20:00 Sparklers and Cake 20:30&nbsp;First dance 21:30&nbsp;Evening food 01:00&nbsp;Music stops 01:30&nbsp;Carriages no later than 1:30 amGuests will need to pre-book taxis well in advance

SUNDAY 10:00 All cars to be collected from Stone Barn car park 11:00*–14:30 Optional post-wedding brunch at The Bull Hotel at Fairford*Function room available from 11 am, but alcoholic drinks can only be served from 12 noon

We recommend you book your accommodation as soon as possible.There are lots of options to suit all budgets within a 10–15 mile radius on <a href="https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?label=gog235jc-1DCAEoggI46AdIM1gDaCyIAQGYAQm4AQfIAQzYAQPoAQGIAgGoAgO4Aui1ma0GwAIB0gIkYTU2M2UzMmItZTBkMS00NjJlLThmMTQtNzU3NzFhYWNlYWMy2AIE4AIB&amp;sid=493c36bc660da38c5656d7156e03103f&amp;aid=397594&amp;ss=Cheltenham+GL54+3RF%2C+UK&amp;ssne=Palma+de+Mallorca&amp;ssne_untouched=Palma+de+Mallorca&amp;lang=en-gb&amp;sb=1&amp;src_elem=sb&amp;dest_id=ChIJ0bAihIw6cUgRBoVtyeJOpZ8&amp;dest_type=region&amp;place_id=ChIJ0bAihIw6cUgRBoVtyeJOpZ8&amp;latitude=51.8025977&amp;longitude=-1.7588213&amp;ac_position=0&amp;ac_click_type=g&amp;ac_langcode=en-gb&amp;ac_suggestion_list_length=1&amp;search_selected=true&amp;search_pageview_id=766a49f4ac7a019b&amp;ac_meta=IAAoAjIFZW4tZ2I%3D&amp;checkin=2024-11-29&amp;checkout=2024-12-01&amp;group_adults=2&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_children=0&amp;sb_travel_purpose=leisure&amp;order=price#map_closed" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Booking.com</a> and <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/s/Cheltenham-GL54-3RF--UK/homes?tab_id=home_tab&amp;refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&amp;flexible_trip_lengths%5B%5D=one_week&amp;monthly_start_date=2024-02-01&amp;monthly_length=3&amp;price_filter_input_type=2&amp;channel=EXPLORE&amp;date_picker_type=calendar&amp;checkin=2024-11-29&amp;checkout=2024-12-01&amp;adults=2&amp;source=structured_search_input_header&amp;search_type=filter_change" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AirBnB</a>.

FULLY BOOKED FOR THE WEDDING PARTY

The New Inn

6 miles to Stone Barn

Travelodge Cirencester

8 miles to Stone Barn

9 miles to Stone Barn

Premier Inn Cirencester

11 miles to Stone Barn

De Vere Cotswold Water Park

12 miles to Stone Barn

Cowley Manor Experimental

FREE camping is available at Stone Barn, including access to indoor toilets. Bring your tent or campervan and brave the English weather! 0 miles to Stone Barn

Camping at Stone Barn

More Accommodation Options

Accommodation

The adventures of Nicole & Thomas

Bikes, hikes, skis, pizza and beer(90% selfies during bike rides) You can click on each picture to view full size

Photos

Q & A

Directions

Printable leaflet with directions

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zbVtLmdKWDuhwoqwQ5JatREi1hpkxmAN/view?usp=sharing" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> for a downloadable leaflet with further information of the directions to and from Stone Barn (GL54 3RF). We highly recommend downloading and printing this leaflet to show your Taxi driver on the day. Please note that we have promised to keep all&nbsp;late-night wedding traffic away from the village of Aldsworth. It is on&nbsp;this condition that Stone Barn is allowed to operate and we need your&nbsp;help to do this.&nbsp;Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Airports

For those flying in from abroad, Bristol Airport is perfectly located. You can take a train to Cheltenham from Bristol Temple Meads but the best option is to hire a car and explore the local roads. 62 miles to Stone Barn

Bristol Airport

58 miles to Stone Barn

Birmingham Airport

Trains

19 miles to Stone Barn

Cheltenham Spa Station

25 miles to Stone Barn

Swindon Station

Driving

There is parking for over 100 cars at Stone Barn. You can leave your car overnight, but these must be collected by 10 am on Sunday morning. If driving home after 11 pm, please remember to turn RIGHT at the end of Stone Barn drive to avoid the village of Aldsworth.

Bicycle

We would be delighted if anyone chooses to arrive by bicycle! Directions are the same as if you were travelling by car but&nbsp;remember to still avoid Aldsworth if travelling after 11 pm.&nbsp;We&nbsp;can provide secure storage for your bicycle inside the barn.

Taxis

Guests should pre-book taxis well in advance and for departure no later than 1 am. Taxis should be informed and reminded to avoid the village of Aldsworth after 11 pm when travelling to and from Stone Barn.

Downloadable list of local Taxis

Byeways Taxi

Cirencester Taxis 247

OPH Taxis

Reliance Taxis

Taxi 247 Cirencester

1st Taxi 

Chedworth Travel

The Shire Taxi

Charlie's Travel Taxi

Travel

Our wedding bits and bobs

His and hers bicycles... I'm sure no one is surprised to see bicycles at Thomas' wedding! However, they aren't actually Tom's bikes, although he played a huge part in getting them both here today. The vintage bicycles belong to Nicole's parents - Edward and Marjolein. The bicycle with the big beautiful basket is a Dutch-style bicycle from an English brand, Pashley, and belonged to Marjolein, Nicole's Mum, who would ride it to-and-from Nan &amp; Grandad's house virtually every day when they were young (see picture). The Springfield was custom built for Ed back in 1978, when they were living in Haarlem in The Netherlands - where he met Marjolein! The bike has been hanging on the basement wall for the last 30 years, but this year has been lovingly restored to its former glory by Ed and Thomas together. Thomas and Nicole hope that a love of bicycles will continue to be passed down generations, now these incredible bikes are as good as new once more.

Vintage bicycles

Nicole is half Dutch on her Mum's side (Marjolein). Marjolein sadly died in 2011, but her sisters, Pauline and Colette, have kindly given Nicole &amp; Thomas some bridal wedding clogs as a memory of Nicole's Dutch heritage. In the Netherlands, the custom of a hopeful groom carving his future bride wedding clogs is very old. The story goes that fisherman would spend all winter delicately carving intricate designs into wooden clogs. As he set sail with the fishing fleet in the Spring, he would give the clogs to his girl at the quay, replacing the verbal marriage proposal. If she said yes, she would be wearing the clogs as he sailed back into the harbour, and up until the wedding day. If she said no, sadly the clogs would probably end up in the fire. After the wedding, the clogs were hung on the wall as a lifelong talisman, too beautiful to wear outside. Nicole &amp; Thomas' wedding clogs were carved by a Dutch man called Ed Greuze (pictured), who was delighted to hear his clogs were for an English couple living in Switzerland. Below, you can see pictures of the making of the clogs.

Dutch Wedding Clogs

The tradition of hanging bells around cows’ necks dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe. The cowbells allow farmers to locate their wandering cattle by following the unique sound of each bell in the mountains and forests. Larger, more ornately decorated bells are worn by cows during ceremonial parades and festivals, and given as presents for important celebrations, such as weddings. Listen out for the beautiful tone as you get called for our Wedding Feast!

Swiss Cow Bell

What do Nicole &amp; Thomas love just as much as cycling? Of course, it's the mountains and SKIING! These incredible wooden skis from c.1948 are another piece of Switzerland that we are bringing to our wedding. We cannot wait to see you all sign our skis, and for us to hang these on the wall of our future house one day, a beautiful memory of our special day celebrating together.

Vintage skis

Bits & Bobs

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Honeymoon Fund

All we hope is that you are able to join our celebration. Should you wish to give us a gift, we would really appreciate a contribution towards our honeymoon. We have decided to go on an adventure to Japan in May 2025, where we hope to explore the local culture, ride bikes (of course!), eat delicious food, and relax in onsens (with or without monkey companions). The bullet trains 'shinkansen' may even be enough to convince Tom to get on public transport... You can make your contribution <a href="https://paypal.me/nicoleant" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a>,We are so grateful x