An Elegant Wedding with Party Vibes at Hazel Gap Barn
Ask any Nottingham wedding photographer what their favourite local venue is and a majority will say Hazel Gap Barns. It was ace to photograph Rhian and Matt’s elegant wedding at Hazel Gap Barns. With cork-popping moments, this rustic and relaxed day at Hazel Gap Barn, Nottingham was a tale of two perfect halves and two perfect people coming together to celebrate their love for one another.
My day started with a maze of one-way streets like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz, I was on my way to find Rhian and Matt in secluded parts of the Centre Parcs forest, their home for the weekend. A fun and unique start to any wedding day and a welcomed adventure with some amazing scenery for the pre-wedding bride and groom photography.
From here it was to the stunning Hazel Gap, a beautiful yet alternative Nottingham wedding venue. An impressive and dramatic red brick barn on the Welbeck estate in Nottinghamshire, this unique venue boasts a serene environment away from the rest of the world. It has the most picturesque gardens that make for both some fun and romantic wedding day photography, and that’s exactly what I created for this vibrant couple.
As with any wedding photography, working with the venue and all its wonderful features to create the best photographs is a must. Rhian and Matt’s ceremony room had a dreamy dark vibe in comparison to the light and airy location. Finding the perfect shot was a challenge, but a challenge I liked! In the centre of the room, there was a bright area where the outside light shone in. This created the most beautiful and natural shot and an opportunity of around 2 seconds to get the perfect photographs of the bridal party coming down the aisle!
Using your venue and its natural lighting is what makes your photography yours and these are some of my favourite images that have a nice ‘pop’ to them as the light shines down on the stars of the show and the guests blend into the background.
With the official “I Dos” done it was onto celebrations and party vibes for Rhian and Matt and their guests. Even in late October, it was warm enough (with jackets) for an outdoor drink reception in the picturesque gardens of Hazel Gap Barn. It was from here that I whisked the couple off for some cork popping photography full of romance and fun whilst the autumnal sun still shone down. The rustic vibe of the venue and its surroundings and of course the beautiful couple made for some stunning photographs. The fun continued into the wedding party shots as the sun began to set on this magical day.
There’s no surprise that the evening was just as full of fun and laughter as the day itself and I captured plenty of the antics including a high split move from the groom, with a little help from his friend, and some interesting alternative photobooth shots too! Bowing out gracefully I wandered home with ease to put myself and my camera to bed.
Are you a couple who wants the best of both worlds with a relaxed wedding and an epic party finish? Do you want your vibe and spirit captured perfectly in your photography? If the answer is yes, yes and hell yes then what are you waiting for let’s chat!
Cripps and Co have just opened a new wedding venue in Staffordshire called Thope Garden
Hazel Gap Barn Wedding Photos
What makes Hazel Gap Barn so special?
I had a chat with Emily the Events Manager and I asked her what makes this venue so special and what draws couples to Hazel Gap Barn.
Continuing with my thread of posts on the coolest wedding venues in Nottingham, let’s see why Hazel Gap Barn makes for an amazing barn wedding venue in Nottingham!
It has the ‘WOW’ factor
That was certainly my first impression of this Nottinghamshire barn wedding venue. Sitting on the Welbeck Estate, Hazel Gap Barn is rich with character with its red-brick towers that are bridged by gated courtyard. Inside the barn, ceremonies take place under candlelight so they feel intimate. The grounds are extensive and guests can make use of all the indoor and outdoor space to have a great time wherever they choose and whatever the weather.
Unique food and dining experience
All food is freshly prepared on site on the day of your wedding and its all BBQ/ rotisserie. Plus the food is served on a platter in the center of each table so there’s more of a sharing experience to your wedding breakfast- I can’t think of anywhere else that does this! This venue is definitely for people that love fantastic food as part of their celebration.
What couples love about Hazel Gap Barn
As much as couples love the relaxed but professional experience, they also enjoy the flexibility the venue affords them in the run up to their wedding. Some couples want a completely hands off (DIY) approach to their day. But you might want ideas and inspiration for flowers, décor etc- if that’s you, the guys at Hazel Gap Barn would love to help make planning your wedding as easy as possible.
Things I thought were cool about the venue
I loved the courtyard, it has an Italian vibe to it with a central fountain and lots of tree-lined seating. Plus, there are fire pits- you can’t beat ending the night gathered around a fire! Again, this place oozes character just like the Walled Garden.
Hopefully these Hazel Gap Barn photos have given you a taste of what the place is like but do check it out if you are thinking of having a barn wedding in Nottingham
Note – I’m not ‘in’ with the venue in any way, I just wanted to write this post to help you find the right venue for your wedding celebrations.
More wedding photography from Hazel Gap Barns
I’v shot at Hazel Gap Barn three times at the time of writing andHere’s a selection of photos that I love from two more weddings. Enjoy!
If you want some more inspiration for finding an alternative wedding venue in Nottingham, don’t miss my post on my top venues in Nottingham