Announcements

Jack Barnes – Rachel Smith
THERE was an autumnal theme to the wedding at the Haybarn at High House Farm, Matfen, of Rachel Smith and Jack Barnes.
Candlelit pumpkins carved with hearts and the couple’s names decorated the tables, and dried hops tied with scarlet organza festooned the venue.
Tables at the reception were also named after autumnal items, with designs cross-stitched by the bride’s mother.
The bride was Rachel Smith, daughter of Michael Smith, of Haltwhistle, and Joan Smith, of Hexham.
A former pupil of Hexham's Queen Elizabeth High School, she gained a degree in drama, theatre and television studies at King Alfred’s College, Winchester, before gaining a PGCE in post compulsory education and training at Birmingham City University.
She is now a lecturer in adult education for offenders in the Midlands and is a member of the Acting Out drama group.
The bridegroom was Jack Barnes, son of Roger and Jacqueline Barnes, of Lincolnshire. He attended the Queen Elizabeth Royal Free Grammar School at Spalding, and works at Lion Picture Framing Supplies Ltd.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a couture dress with a skirt of pearl-coloured raw silk with swags of green woollen Scottish tweed over the top.
The outfit also featured a steel boned corset of the tweed, with a pearl silk overlay laced at the back with scarlet ribbons.
Her ivory Casablanca veil had a scalloped edge and was embroidered with beads and crystals.
Her bouquet comprised autumnal colours with yellow freesia, purple lisianthus, red ranuculus, orange and red euphorbia, rose hips, rosemary and ivy with a single yellow rose in memory of her maternal grandmother.
The bridesmaids were the bride’s friends Jane Adcock, Laura Clennell and Suzie Beard, who wore scarlet dresses and carried long stemmed sunflowers hand tied with scarlet organza.
The best man was the bridegroom’s friend and former flat mate Adam Vincent, while the ushers were the bridegroom’s brother Charles Barnes and his schoolfriend Kris Carters.
Music for the ceremony included One hand, One Heart from West Side Story, Bron-yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin, Angie by Bert Jansch, Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix, What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstong and Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson.
The reception took place at High House Farm Brewery, where a specially brewed beer, the Barnes Brew, was on tap and guests enjoyed the wedding cake, made by the bride.
Music was provided by The Promise.
The couple spent their honeymoon skiing in Lapland.