Sometimes, all you want is…
The Barefoot Essentials
For the couple who want to skip the ballroom drama and wed their favourite person, in the wild. Nevermind ‘budget-conscious’… this is intentional and romantic, without compromise, just all the essentials.
White Raven Ceremonies has gathered a handpicked circle of our absolute favourite suppliers and beautiful wild venues. Together, we are here to help your wedding dream take wing - giving you all of the magic, completely worry-free.
Barefoot Essential Tiers
This includes:
A nature based ceremony bespoke to the two of you and up to 40 guests,
Our internationally published, multi-award winning photographer to capture your ceremony,
Our highly talented makeup artist who will work with you on site, ahead of your ceremony, enhancing all of your beautiful, natural features (see make up artist tier package in case you want that little bit extra)
Our magical florist who will create either a bespoke hand-tied bouquet or head wreath with seasonal flowers to suit your wild, whimsical look.
You can have as many meetings with me as necessary to build your personal ceremony
An 8 strand silk handfasting cord created by myself
I facilitate your meeting with our florist, photographer and make up artist to discuss your personal requirements that fit within the Barefoot Essentials framework.
Once a date is agreed with all suppliers (our ‘Barefoot team’ is subcontracted to White Raven Ceremonies). A contract of agreement will be sent to you for signing and together with your 50% deposit your special date is safely secured.
Please remember to book your date for the legals with a local register office. If you book a simple 2+2 you are looking at around £190
The Barefoot Essentials is only for the Sussex area, travel expenses will be charged seperately for distances of over 35 miles from Brighton. If your ceremony is early in the morning or in the evening, accomodation may need to be arranged for all of the team apart from the florist.
This includes:
Just the two of you
Your bespoke nature based ceremony
Our fabulous photographer
Our magical makeup artist
A pretty hand-tied bouquet or head wreath of seasonal flowers.
All of the Barefoot Essentials Core elements apply
This includes:
All of the Barefoot Essentials core package plus:
A luxurious wedding cake for up to 40 people, made to order by our wonderfully creative wedding cake designer
Wild Venues
Our first venue is Wild Heart Hill. Nestled in the South Downs Nature Reserve, the site includes a beautiful woodland, a ‘secret glade’ with a covered area (just in case the weather turns a bit damp), as well as a breathtaking ceremony arch made from 650 year old oak. Wild Heart Hill also has a small, relaxed camp site that you can glamp or camp in to make your special day truly wild.
To set up, hold your ceremony and enjoy relaxed, post-ceremony photos this venue will cost you just £10 per person for up to 40 guests.
There is also a woodland dining area for small receptions at a small additional fee. This can be discussed with the venue.
White Raven will happily facilitate a visit to the venue for you to have a look around, discuss your requirements and meet with the owner, Josephine Lavelle
Makeup
Relaxed, effortless bridal beauty for couples planning a romantic wedding with the ‘Barefoot Essentials’. A soft glam look with lightweight makeup that enhances your natural features and lets your personality shine through.
What’s Included:
Skin preparation
Soft glam bridal makeup
Optional natural individual lashes
45-60 minute on-site appointment
No trial included
Add on:
Airbrush Upgrade +£20
Pre-wedding bridal trial +£30 (Travel charges may apply)
The most beautiful look is the one that still feels like you.
Cakes
Embrace the laid-back elegance of your Barefoot Essentials wedding with a celebratory cake that tastes as pure as it looks. Available in classic flavours such as lemon, chocolate or vanilla. Also available as gluten and/or dairy free. These beautiful, locally made cakes pair artisnal craft with fresh natural ingredients to compliment your organic, effortless style.
This is all included within the Barefoot Essential Celebration package. The single tier cake has the option of small cupcakes alongside. Should you require any further additions, this can be discussed with our fabulous wedding cake designer and will incur additional charges.
Flowers
A beautifully curated seasonal, hand-tied bouquet or headwreath, either delicate or bougie, the choice is yours. Hand-picked to capture the whimsical magic of the moment, these local, seasonal blooms will bring an earthy, elegant and effortlessly beautiful touch to your day.
This is included within all three of the Barefoot Essentials packages.
Meet Your Barefoot Essentials Team
Meet the my trusted ‘Barefoot Team’
I am a storyteller for the soul seekers, the barefoot runners and the rule breakers.
At Thorn & Found Photography, I create cinematic, documentary-style imagery that captures more than moments, I capture energy, spirit and connection. Drawn to the raw, the untamed and the deeply authentic, I seek out the fleeting glances, weathered hands, windswept details and unspoken emotions that make your story uniquely yours.
My approach is intentional and instinctive. I photograph with passion, creating visual narratives that feel alive long after the day has passed. Every image becomes part of a digital heirloom; a gallery designed not simply to be viewed, but to be felt.
For those who dance beneath moonlit skies, honour old traditions, forge new ones and walk their own path, I am here to preserve your story as art so that every time you return to your photographs, you don’t just remember the day, you relive it.
Hi, I’m Ray,
I’m a theatrical hair and media makeup artist, and I’m passionate about helping people feel like the most authentic, confident version of themselves. My work sits at the crossroads of soft romance and bold self-expression. I love creating makeup that feels personal, intentional and true to the individual wearing it.
As the makeup artist behind Barefoot Essentials, I bring together creativity, inclusivity and a love of natural beauty. I believe beauty has no single mould, and I’m passionate about creating a welcoming space where people of all backgrounds, skin tones and styles feel seen and celebrated.
Whether you’re dreaming of soft, glowing bridal makeup or something a little more alternative and unique, my goal is to enhance your natural features while creating a calm, relaxed and enjoyable experience from start to finish. I believe everyone deserves to feel beautiful, celebrated and completely themselves on their wedding day.
Hi, I’m Daisy, a passionate wedding cake designer dedicated to creating beautiful, bespoke cakes that become a memorable part of your special day.
I believe your wedding cake should be more than just a dessert—it should be a reflection of your style, personality, and love story. From elegant timeless designs to modern statement pieces, every cake is carefully handcrafted to complement your wedding and create a stunning centrepiece for your celebration.
Working closely with each couple, I take the time to understand your vision, colour palette, venue, and theme, ensuring every detail is thoughtfully considered. Each cake is freshly baked using quality ingredients and finished with the care and attention that such an important occasion deserves.
My aim is to make the process enjoyable and stress-free, guiding you from the initial consultation through to the final delivery and setup, so you can focus on enjoying your wedding day.
There is nothing more rewarding than creating a cake that brings people together and becomes part of the memories you will treasure for years to come.
Beautifully designed. Expertly crafted. Made with love for your perfect day.
Hello, I’m Jose, and I have the privilege of caring for a very special piece of land.
Nestled in the rolling South Downs near Findon, Wild Heart Hill is far more than a venue. It is an ancient hillside where stories have been unfolding for thousands of years. Beneath your feet lie traces of the Neolithic world, with Stone Age flint mines, ancient burial mounds, and pathways once walked by our ancestors. This landscape has witnessed countless seasons, generations, and celebrations.
Today, Wild Heart Hill is a place where nature and history exist in harmony. Wildflowers dance in the breeze, woodland glades offer moments of quiet wonder, bees hum among the blossoms, and birds of prey soar overhead against endless skies.
It is a place of magic and possibility.
Exchange your vows beneath our enchanting archway. Discover our secret field, wander paths hand in hand, and celebrate with family and friends in our wild dining space beneath trees. For those who wish to linger a little longer, camping beneath a starlit sky allows the celebration to continue.
Wild Heart Hill is for couples who dream of something different; a place that feels timeless, romantic, and deeply connected to the natural world. A place where love stories become part of a much older story.
We would be delighted to welcome you here and share the magic of our little hillside with you.
At Bloomin' Great we believe in spreading joy through flowers and this extends to your magical day. Bring your ‘Barefoot Dream’ to life with whimsical seasonal florals. We specialise in relaxed, natural and effortless bouquets or flower crowns designed for the carefree Barefoot Essentials romantic.
Based in Shoreham by Sea, as an independent florist, we take pride in the creativity and originality in our arrangements with our passion for flowers shining through each creation and into your special day.
I have long believed that it is unfair for couples to begin their marriage in debt due to the high cost of weddings these days. If you are able to afford the sumptious stately mansions and the price tag that comes with that, that is really absolutely fabulous. I have seen the financial stress a wedding can place on a relationship and so set about to see what I could do to relieve that as much as possible. I know Barefoot Essentials will not be every couple’s cup of tea but equally, I know many couple’s that would grab it with both hands.
If you want to know a bit more about me check out my Why Me page