We have covered too many charming wedding venues to count and UK-based real wedding couple Ronja and John knocked us for six with theirs. For their summer wedding they chose the picture book-pretty Airbnb Lyne House in Kidlington in the heart of Oxfordshire. They tied the knot in an immensely intimate garden ceremony in front of an ethereal flower arch packed with bright blooms. Ronja looked sensationally stylish in her liquid satin wedding dress which she styled with a scene-stealing shrug and beautifully sentimental jewels. Their effortlessly chic outdoor reception included a wedding cake alternative that looked too pretty to eat. Their Airbnb wedding was captured by Clearly Wild Photography and it included sparkler and sunset-lit moments, so it enchanted from start to finish. Let's go.
So, let's begin by introducing you to our fabulous newlyweds. German beauty Ronja is from Paderborn while Jon hails from Llandrindod Wells in Wales. Today, they call Oxford in the UK home.
The couple met a few weeks after Ronja moved to the UK to work as an au pair. The stars aligned and they met in Surrey while Jon was in the army. They hit it off immediately. "We instantly got along and laughed and chatted for hours on end. We have barely spent a day apart since."
Here's a swoon-inducing proposal story. To pop the question, Jon recreated a very special holiday. It was a romantic replica of their first mini-trip to London, which was they first time said "I love you". "We stayed in the same hotel and went to a little French restaurant followed by a walk in front of Buckingham Palace. He proposed behind the memorial overlooking the river."
Their wedding day was bright and soaked in colour. Ronja explains: "I wanted to plan everything myself as I had a very specific vision. It HAD to be colourful and intimate. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and like themselves!"
Immensely intimate it was as 25 of their nearest and dearest gathered at the luxurious guesthouse on August 6th, 2022. The sun shone bright bathing their special day in an fairytale glow.
When it comes to wedding planning, picking a theme that is stylish and personal to you is no easy task but for Ronja and Jon they knew exactly how they wanted their big day to look and feel. When asked about what inspired their wedding aesthetic, Ronja shares: "Our positive and colourful personalities and the fact that we have such a multicultural family and friend circle and couldn’t bare a traditional wedding."
The 17th-century property boasts idyllic grounds which are very private and after setting eyes on the peaceful garden the couple knew they had to say 'I do' there. The incredibly welcoming owners sealed the deal. For their outdoor ceremony, the couple exchanged vows in front of an ethereal floral display arch draped with sheer cloth with blooms exploding from one side in an array of vivid shades.
Ronja's bridal look utterly dazzled us. She opted for an organza-trimmed satin wedding gown which shone in the light so beautifully and she elevated her wedding wardrobe to new heights of chicness with her organza shrug adorned with sweet frills. She added seriously sentimental jewels, a pearl necklace and diamond and pearl drop earrings which were handed down through generations that she got from her mum.
Ronja did her own makeup and she looked superbly radiant, she also had sweet floral hair pins dappled in her hair. Jon exuded summery sauveness in his linen two-piece suit which included a double-breasted waistcoat which he accessorised with a light blue shirt, a colourful floral tie and a boutonnière of punchy-hued blooms. Sweetly, their best friend Matt acted as their celebrant.
Amongst their ceremony music playlist was a perennially popular hit, Ronja walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles. Could there have been a more perfect track for their sun-soaked ceremony?
Who else is thinking they definitely borrowed the Irish Child of Prague wedding tradition with the beyond-wonderful weather they had?
Stepped in history, the property is bursting at the seams with delightful old touches including wall carvings and there are tonnes of simply stunning spots for wedding photos.
One of Ronja's most treasured moments from her wedding day was her father's speech. Awwwww.
Sunset-shaded flowers bloomed in the reception space which were held in glass vases with rustic wooden display stands.
A sweet feature that the couple adored was asking their guests to write them notes and take instax polaroids for them. The messages and memories captured were so special to go through the day after.
It's not up for debate, there is something so magical about kicking off the evening celebrations with a sparkler photo and the couple were ready on that front.
It was having their nearest and dearest with them to mark every moment of their wedding experience that made it so special. "Having our closet family staying at the venue with us and making it a wedding weekend having dinner together everyone decorating together and taking the stress away by making it a family experience."
Macaroons are one of our most-adored wedding cake alternatives. Not only did they have a tower of the romantic and feminine sweet treats, their best friend also made them an edible flower-dappled tiered wedding cake which also looked too pretty to eat.
The couple helped create a wonderful party atmosphere by ensuring there was plenty of Abba music to boogie to, Ronja explains. Those looking for first dance song inspiration will likely want to take a leaf out of their book as they chose Lucky by Jason Mraz.
Sharing her words of wedding planning wisdom, Ronja stresses "Do it for YOU! Do not let others tell you what you should do or how it should be, it is your day. If your choice is traditional or untraditional, do not let family or friends change your mind. We look back at our day and would not change a single thing!"
For their honeymoon, they continued their Airbnb adventures as they travelled to Montenegro and Albania in the Balkans and spent no longer than three days in one place. "We booked Airbnbs and enjoyed different foods and culture! Montenegro is certainly our favorite country to visit since then it has so much to offer and the kindest people!"
Congratulations Ronja and Jon on your charming wedding day, thank you for sharing it with One Fab Day and thank you to Clearly Wild Photography for the images which were so exquisitely captured.
Tying the knot abroad? Check out our extensive archive of Real Destination Weddings and check out One Fab Day's Instagram for more inspiration.