This was one of the weddings in my diary for last year that I was super excited about! Photographing a Barn on the Bay wedding had been on my work bucket list. It is such a stunning venue, and despite it being October, meaning we didn’t get to the beach, it was amazing. Alice & Chris’ wedding was also smack bang in the middle of a storm that hit the east coast that week. However, it goes to show, it really doesn’t matter what it’s like outside if inside is lovely, and you’ve got the vibes.
Barn on the Bay wedding venue in Northumberland
Barn on the Bay, is as the name suggests a lovely barn wedding venue right on the coast in Northumberland. It’s tucked just behind Druridge Bay, and sells itself as the venue that has it all. It’s not wrong.. coastal views, the beach, glamping, a huge main barn.
In summer, you can have a ceremony on the dunes, overlooking the stunning bay. On a sunny day I honestly can’t imagine a nicer place to get married. You can then also do beach photos (yay)!
The wedding venue also has 2 barns for weddings. Calico, for smaller weddings or elopements, and the Cow Shed which is their main barn venue. A lot of barn venues can feel very samey, but this one stands out. It reminds me a barn you’d find out in the wild west in America. The decor is going for cool rather than too rustic. There’s a beautiful bar set up, cosy seats and fire pits inside, and it’s a huge space for plenty of guests.
Bridal prep in the Calico Barn
Anyway, back to Chris and Alice’s wedding in October! As I arrived, the winds were so strong it was tough to even open my car door. So, I was slightly nervous about how the day would go. But, as a seasoned pro I know theres always options to work with, even if weather doesn’t go to plan.
I headed straight into the Calico Barn to say hi to the bridal gang and start capturing Alice getting ready. Everyone was super relaxed and just having a lovely time – what you want for your bridal prep! Alice had a beautiful lace dress from Sisters of Grace (my favourite), and the colour scheme was beautiful. Think a mixture of deep, rich tones of autumn, but which all still felt bright and colourful together.
Alice & Chris weren’t so bothered about traditions, and saw each other as they were getting ready, partly to do the hand over of the guest of honour, Loki their golden retriever. Which also meant I got one of my favourite candid photos of the day. Alice still in her PJ’s, cuddling Chris and both looking gloriously happy.
Barn on the Bay wedding ceremony in the Cow Shed
The Cow Shed looked absolutely beautiful for Alice and Chris’ wedding ceremony. They had a ribbon backdrop from the EnchantedDreamer, and matching ribbons tied on the seats. That’s one of my favourite trends I’ve seen this year – it’s such a good way of adding colour.
The ceremony was officiated by a family friend, and included a lovely handfasting. It also included on of the best pranks I’ve ever seen at a wedding. Earlier in the morning, I’d walked into the Cow Shed and found one of the bridesmaids sellotaping the ring boxes to the bottom of 2 chairs. Intrigued, I asked what was going on, and then kept my mouth shut for later on. Midway through the ceremony, the best man was asked for the rings. He looked shocked and claimed he had never been given them. I’ve never seen panic on someone’s face like that. So, after a minute or so of everyone panicking about these lost rings … everyone was asked to look under their seats. And there they were! 2 unsuspecting guests brought them up. Definitely a trick I would like to see again!
As soon as Alice and Chris walked back down the aisle together, we got straight outside to get the confetti done while the weather was holding out. It was blustery, but we managed it!
A relaxed wedding reception in the Cow Shed
The Cow Shed has a lovely indoor bar and plenty of comfy seats if the weather isn’t nice. You would not have known it was blowing a hooley outside!
Everyone was in fab spirits at this wedding and Chris & Alice really brought the energy for the whole day. That makes my job so much easier. I can only work with the energy you give, so if you trust in me and bring all the good vibes we can capture some magic! I decided to do group shots and some portraits inside rather than getting anything windblown outside. The dining setup was so cute, it was the perfect backdrop! We even managed to get some shots with the ultimate good boy, Loki.
Alice and Chris had said they didn’t want too many formal shots, which I absolutely love. It means we didn’t have to be away from the action for too long, and 5 minutes was plenty for some lush couples photos.
Cosy wedding breakfast setup at Barn on the Bay wedding venue
Alices’ Dad kicked off the speeches by doing his at the bar, keeping with the more relaxed attitude of the day. Then, everyone moved across for their dinner and a few more toasts. The tables were so cosy – candle lit, with homemade vases that the girls made on the hen do, and those colourful ribbons on chairs.
Alpacas and a stunning wedding sunset at Barn on the Bay
One of the sells of Barn on the Bay is that they have alpacas! I’d also been keeping an eye on the light during dinner (typical wedding photographer behaviour), and the sunset was unbelievable. Alice was super excited to see the alpacas, so we dashed out, fed them, and then got some portraits before the sun vanished.
You can see how windy it still was, but we couldn’t let that sunset go through a try!
First dance, a Lion King rendition & a wild ceilidh
It was now party time! I knew it was going to be a good one as the whole day had been so fun. After the first dance, Alices’ Dad sprang up with a surprise rendition of a song from the Lion King! It’s my favourite Disney film, and clearly quite a few of the guests’ as it went down a treat!
After, the band stepped on to the stage, and introduced the main entertainment – a full blown ceilidh. It was one of my first and I honestly thought I was going to get knocked over. Trying to get the best shots, while trying to get out of the way in time is quite a feat. I ended up stood on a chair on the edge of the dancefloor, trying to get photos from there for a while. I would definitely recommend a ceilidh if you want a full dancefloor! You’ll be pleased to hear, I survived (as did my kit).
Relaxed Barn on the Bay wedding photography
What a day! I had such a blast with Alice and Chris photographing their Barn on the Bay wedding. It really does go to show, it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. Bring the energy and that’s enough. Sadly the Barn on the Bay closes during winter which is a shame as it is such a good venue for a autumn wedding. I would love to be back to shoot a summer wedding there on the beach – putting that out into the universe now 🙂 If you’re having a Barn on the Bay wedding and are still looking for a relaxed and fun wedding photographer, drop me a message. I’d love to hear all about your plans!
