When Becky & Fraser booked me, as a photographer I was super excited to shoot at the Wedding Barn at Old Hall. They told me all about their literary and autumnal vibe and I knew it was going to be a wedding I loved! If you know me, you’d probably hear me bang on about how much I love barn weddings! I’m also a big book worm and I couldn’t wait to see their DIY literary decor! Keep reading to see it in all it’s glory!
Wedding Barn at Old Hall: a quaint barn wedding venue in Suffolk
I’ve photographed a lot of weddings in Suffolk, but The Wedding Barn at Old Hall was a venue I hadn’t really heard of before. Turns out it is a hidden gem that recently got restored to it’s former glory! Tucked away in the Suffolk countryside, it’s just outside of Steeple Bumpstead. The barn is a grade II listed building, and in winter turns into a cute Christmas shop! Therefore, weddings are limited to the summer months here.
More on this to come, but first, bridal prep!
The dress of dreams
I spent the morning with Becky and her girl gang in a super adorable little cottage they’d rented on Airbnb. If you need somewhere to get ready for your wedding and don’t want to use a hotel, a rental is such a good option. You can find tons of photo friendly options and then use it as a honeymoon suite for the night!
We need to spend a second talking about Becky’s dress! I near enough swooned when I saw it.. and then I spotted her shoes too!
The Essence dress from Bodice and Bustle is tulle with pearls and sequins embroidered into it! Effortless AND romantic! Becky’s pearl heels were from Charlotte Mills and just matched so perfectly! A real knock out look!
We had a super relaxed morning in the cottage and Becky’s Aunt did her hair. I don’t know how but I always luck out with having the most relaxed couples. I guess you attract your own vibe!
Cosy barn wedding ceremony
As I crossed the threshold into the Wedding Barn at Old Hall, it took my breath away. I was expecting great things as I knew August Hope Flowers and Anthology Vintage Hire were doing the decor/florals and I’ve worked with both of them tons. But WOW did they excel themselves! Their beautiful work, alongside the backdrop just made it the cosiest set up. Fairy lights, small trees as a ceremony backdrop, and hanging florals to die for!
I’d already been warned that Fraser was a crier.. so I was ready and waiting for an emotional ceremony. But even within the opening sentence I was ready to cry!
Becky’s other aunt was the celebrant for the day so their whole ceremony was incredibly personal. This cute pair had also written their own vows – there were definitely wet eyes in the room!
Literary DIY wedding decorations & boho vibes
These two had clearly spent a long time creating their decorations and thinking through the theme. They had so many cute ideas including a fabric banner, typewritten name tags and a gorgeous wooden ‘guest book’. I’ve not seen anything like this before but it worked so well!
Fun wedding party group shots
After the ceremony and confetti, the drinks started flowing and we took some time aside to do some group shots. Becky & Fraser were up for having some fun and we spent some time doing some group shots with their bridal party and groomsmen.
I LOVE how these bridal party shots turned out – the drive way with the colours of these dresses gives off such autumnal vibes.
Speeches outside
I haven’t really seen this before but speeches happened outside! Most always tend to happen sat down around the wedding breakfast, but I loved this idea! It was much more informal and just added an interesting visual element with the gorgeous barn in the background.
Wedding Barn at Old Hall’s cosy barn reception space
The barn is fairly intimate and Becky and Fraser had chosen a small guest list to really have a relaxing and fun day. Two rows of tables were set up for dinner, with a separate sweetheart table just for Becky and Fraser. This is such a good idea if you want to spend some time with your new spouse. It sounds silly, but it can be hard to have your own time together on your wedding day. Your wedding portraits are also a great opportunity to do this.
Golden hour wedding portraits
It was a bit of a mixed weather day so sadly we didn’t get an amazing sunset. However, we still got a little bit of golden hour so headed outdoors for some wedding portraits. There is a meadow in front of the barn which was a perfect spot to start at. It’s also got this beautiful shepherds hut, which I also used for bridal party photos.
We only needed to spend a quick 10 minutes outside getting these. My aim is never to take you away from the action for too long. You should be having fun partying!
I also really love to get to know all my couples and build that connection before the day. It’s so important! There won’t be any awkwardness here, just good vibes and giggles. Most of my couples (and their guests) tell me I just felt like an old family friend – exactly my sneaky plan!
One of my absolute favourite photos from this wedding is this one! Talk about an incredible dance floor space. Large enough but at the same time cosy as heck because of the barn vibes and fairy lights. Just absolutely beautiful!
Thank you Becky and Fraser for having me along for a super fun day! If you’re getting married at the Wedding Barn at Old Hall and are looking for a fun and laidback photographer, look no further! Get in touch now and we can chat through your wedding!
Dream team suppliers:
Venue – Wedding Barn at Old Hall
Decor & Hire – Anthology Vintage Hire
Florals – Augusta Hope
Wedding Co-Ordinator – Weddings by Filiz
Celebrant – Carol Cranfield
