Photographing this gorgeous wedding at the Hall Barns was one of the highlights of my year as a wedding photographer from Nottingham.
It had all the elements that, in my opinion, make for a great wedding, and they are in no particular order 1) lots of outdoor space, 2) having children present and 3) ample time for the reception. All these things come together to make being a Hall Barns wedding photographer a great experience, and it shows in the photos because there were so many cool moments to find.
The Hall Barns had been on my radar for a while, with it being a relatively new rustic barn wedding venue on the same estate as one of my favourite venues, Prestwood Hall, I had been looking forward to this wedding.
Becci and Ian’s ceremony, speeches and dancing all took place in the barn area, and it was cool that the barn became a central gathering place for the day. Their reception took place in the spacious grounds of the venue, which lay host to a variety of garden games including badminton and cricket.
Allowing guests to enjoy the grounds for around two hours before the wedding breakfast meant that my couple received loads of wedding photos at the Hall Barns that highlighted their guests having a blast.
The drinks reception is a largely unplanned part of the day (link to wedding planning tips). I don’t stage or pose anything during a wedding day, so it helps to have a good amount of time to seek out interesting moments to photograph.
Breaking from the traditional flow of things, speeches were held in the barn before the wedding breakfast. I loved that Becci gave a speech; bride speeches are a bit of a rarity.
During the wedding breakfast, I took one of my favourite shots. Earlier, I had noticed a large painting of a woman on horseback and I thought that it would be really cool to include it in a photo, but it just needed a ‘moment’, something to tie everything together. While I was having something to eat, the bride’s daughter came and sat below the painting, and the colours of her dress matched those of the women in the painting. I got my camera back out and started shooting.
It’s photos like this that sum up what I love about weddings. I had no idea I’d take a quirky photo of an important member of the family like that when I arrived. Capturing unique moments that are interesting to my couple is what matters most to me.
Their wedding at the Hall Barns ended with a live band playing in the barn, pizza and more games!
About the Hall Barns Wedding Venue
The Hall Barns is A rustic barn wedding venue in Leicestershire. Set in the stunning grounds of the Prestwold estate, the Hall Barns is perfect if you are planning a less traditional wedding and want a relaxed atmosphere.
Originally built in 1889, The Hall Barns has been lovingly renovated to provide an exclusive and amazing rural space for wedding celebrations, with room for up to 70 wedding guests or 150 partygoers.
There are loads of outdoor spaces in the gardens to provide a secluded place to party as well as to take photographs. Couples can choose to get married under the barn or have a celebrant-led service outside or even a church wedding (St Andrew’s Church is less than a five-minute walk away). Guests can even stay in bell tents on site.
If you loved these wedding photos from the Hall Barns, I could be the right photographer for you.
I photograph weddings in Leicestershire and throughout the UK.
If you are planning a bash like this, Hall Barns wedding and want a wedding photographer with a relaxed approach, get in touch!