Can I have a favourite wedding venue? Does one in fact exist, as it’s very much dependent on the day itself I guess. However, Anton & Katherine’s winter wedding at Barnsley House has to tick a lot of boxes. Due to it’s beautiful garden Barnsley House is a wedding venue that has traditionally catered more for summer weddings, and who wouldn’t want to spend time out on the lawn drinking Pimms on a fine summers evening. By definition winter weddings have a very different feel, yet the intimate nature of this boutique hotel means Barnsley House with it’s roaring fires and rustic charms is also the perfect match for a December wedding.
With around 70 guests in total and many coming from overseas, Anton & Katherine made a weekend of it, with entertainment the previous night and rooms for guests to enjoy over the entire wedding weekend. All this adds to the relaxed feel of the day, with guests being familiar in their surroundings and no one rushing to the church at the last minute still fixing their tie!
The church in Barnsley is perfectly suited for a wedding ceremony as it’s within strolling distance of Barnsley House itself. It’s not however so convenient if you live in London and need to attend the services regularly running up to the big day ;-) None the less, Anton & Katherine put in the leg work here, which also meant we had the opportunity to take some Engagement Photos at Barnsley House earlier in the year, utilising the gardens before the weather turned. This also meant there wasn’t such high importance placed on couple photos during the wedding day itself, leaving Anton & Katherine more time to spend with guests and me to document the day. I did still sneak in a few posed photos though, hopefully worth the slight onset of hypothermia Katherine may have suffered!
So without further ado, here are a few of my favourites from Anton & Katherine’s fabulous winter wedding at Barnsley House.
The moment Katherine’s sister noticed her other bridesmaid in the room. It’s a good hiding place, but you’ll have seen I did in fact spot you earlier.
Katherine’s mum and sister look on, before shortly strangling her (see below).
I rather liked the textures and layers created here with Katherine’s beautiful backless wedding dress, so photographed it. Unknowingly, later in the evening her dress would be scrunched up with this a distant memory, whilst she went wild on the dance floor!
Never one for just a single shoe shot, I had to move them (see below)…..although has to be said I rather like the original ‘in-situ’ shot above too.
This is the sort of smile you get as a photographer when you pop up from behind a mirror to surprise clients. It’s all in a days work as a discrete, barely noticeable, ninja like photographer – well except for this occasion maybe :-) Below is the photo I was actually looking to take at the time.
Ohh the wedding dress label is being cut out, it’s an exciting time.
Is this my favourite photo from the day? Maybe. It’s such a simple frame, showing a calm moment in amongst the chaos.
And ‘The Dress’, I’m a bloke and even I like that dress.
Barnsley Church with festive mistletoe hung above the gate.
A quick group photo whilst we still have some light.
Anyone who’s read my blog previously may have seen you’re only allowed to photograph weddings at St Mary’s church Barnsley from the back. It’s a little more limiting, but as long as the couple turn to face one another during the vows I can still capture great moments such as this.
This photo so makes me smile, I can’t work out if Katherine is uncomfortable or cold? Oddly I only took one frame, why I have no idea, as this really should’t have been a final photo, I’m sure I could have worked the scene better!
Anyhow all that aside, what I like best about this photo is the random inclusion of Anton’s smile which peeps into frame top right! :-)
Guests made their way on foot to Barnsley House from the church, whilst Katherine and Anton came in the wedding car.
Okay, 3 photos, all kinda similar, but all a little different. I cant make my mid up – can you?
With Christmas shortly upon us, Barnsley House was decorated accordingly. I like to include a touch of this in the photos too, so the Christmas tree helped to frame the shot.
Simple napkin ties with Mistletoe – a great touch for a Christmas wedding.
A or B? I liked the ‘back of dress shot’ which was why I took it originally. Katherine then happened to turn around which was a bonus.
WOW. What a ring :-)
I do indeed take group shots, for those that ask. I even let guests take them over my shoulder – or in this case, right next to me.
How cool is this, sparklers for the entrance of the bride and groom.
No idea what this was all about…….. anyone?
I like this photo, yet not entirely sure if it works or not? There’s something about it….but I can’t quite put my finger on what would improve it.
Shy……
….not so shy!
With Russian wedding guests (and Anton being Russian), there was a sudden chant coming from the folks of his home country. Apparently it meant – “KISS”. I love little traditions like this.
The cheese wedding cake, beautifully presented by the fine hands of Natalie from Barnsley House.
After dinner drinks are served.
I think someone may have had a few dance lessons?
I love the treatment Katherine’s wedding dress receives by the end of the evening.
If you are thinking of having a winter wedding at Barnsley House, please contact me for a chat, I’d love to hear from you and be part of your wedding day.