Summer Wedding at Barns & Yard at Hanley Hall

I love being a Worcestershire wedding photographer, particularly because I am lucky enough to have wedding venues like Barns & Yard right on my doorstep – literally it’s a 20 minute car ride from me. How amazing is that!

As a Barns & Yard wedding photographer, I’m usually over at the venue at least once every year so I’ve been able to get to know the spaces really well within it. This luxury barn wedding venue is overlooking the Malvern Hills and makes a fantastic location for a wedding. It’s in the countryside but has really good transport links and there’s a lovely pub nearby where you guests can stay – The Swan. It has amazing food!

Barns & Yard consists of a Tudor barn and a series of cottages that have been restored in a modern and neutral style. You can hire as many of them as you like depending on the size of your wedding party. They also all overlook a courtyard which can be made private for those all important first look moments.

I was so excited to return here for the gorgeous Emily & Michael’s wedding, who always knew they’d marry here when the hill Michael proposed to Emily on – was in perfect sight from the wedding venues grounds! How perfect!

Bridal Prep at the Farm

Emily always knew she’d want to get ready for her wedding at her family home. Surrounded by her family but also her animals who mean everything to her from Misty and Stormy her Border Collies to Nelly the pony! We managed to get photos of her with all of them, and with her Dad’s beloved red tractor too. It was such a relaxed and chilled morning, Emily wanted posing kept to the minimum so pretty much every photo was taken without any kind of prompt, it was only at the end we did a few portraits. I always ask my wedding couples what their preferences are in regards to levels of posing prior to their wedding day so they’re very comfortable when their wedding photos are taken. There was also a really lovely moment with Emily and her Nanny where they did a little first look through the doors and it was so perfect.

Wedding Ceremonies at Barns & Yard

For wedding ceremonies, there are four spaces you can choose from at Barns & Yard. The first of these spaces is The Cartshed, which is probably the most popular space for cooler weather. It’s a barn like style but filled with natural light so it doesn’t feel too dark with gorgeous beams throughout. This is where Emily & Michael chose to have their wedding ceremony.

For their wedding ceremony E&M wanted to incorporate their dogs where possible, so they were the ring bearers and came running down the aisle at the start of the ceremony and were up front and centre in the aisle for photos. They were both so well behaved and I couldn’t stopped photographing them!

Private vows on the jetty

For this wedding, the couple wanted to have private personalised vows. So after their confetti photo at the willow arch, we went to the jetty by the lake for them to have private vows together with just the videographer and I watching on. It was such a special, personal moment and the way their dogs watched from the bridge was so cute. After their private vows we took a couple of photos of them as a couple as they headed back to cocktail hour but the bride and groom decided they would prefer to get a longer set of couple portraits at golden hour.

Cocktail hour on the lawn at Barns & Yard

I LOVE cocktail hour alongside the lake. It makes for the most beautiful backdrop and all your guests have space to spread out and catch up. This point of the wedding day is where I love to weave in and out of guests to capture natural emotion and moments as they happen.

Wedding Reception in the Threshing Barn

When it comes to food, Barns & Yard, they provide a list of different caterers so you can choose the wedding menu that works for you. For this wedding, the couple chose to have an afternoon tea which was well received on a very hot summer’s wedding. Ahead of food arriving, they had their speeches so the photograph’s would include their clean tables and also the speakers could enjoy their meals without the pre-speeches jitters!

Golden Hour

As the couple decided to have all their couple portraits taken at golden hour, rather than being split into two smaller sessions across the day, we took a little more time out to ensure they got lots of different locations which meant something to them from the lakeside to the golden fields overlooking the Malvern Hills. All the while their guests were sitting outside enjoying the last of the sunshine and playing lawn games. Emily’s dress has so much volume and movement so of course, we got a few of her running around to get that swishy effect of her wedding dress!

Wedding Evening Reception

The couple chose not to have a formal cake cut and instead spent that extra time with family and friends before they were called to the dancefloor. It was such a fun wedding dancefloor and I LOVED it when the DJ played ‘where the h*ll is my husband’ as all the couples who were heading towards engagement all got up and started dancing and miming along which made for amazing candids! Maybe one day they can share them at their own wedding?

Barns & Yard Wedding Photographer

If you’re thinking of having your wedding at Barns & Yard and are looking for an experienced Barns & Yard wedding photographer to capture your day with beautiful natural wedding photos then feel free to get in touch. You can learn more about the wedding venue on the dedicated Barns & Yard wedding page I’ve created, view my wedding portfolio or enquire now!