Hollie & Marc – 23rd August 2022
Rustic Countryside Wedding in Throcking
Milling Barn is a beautiful, romantic wedding venue set in the Hertfordshire countryside. This recently renovated 17th Century barn is full of character and charm, and the surrounding fields provide a fantastic backdrop for couple portraits.
Hollie got ready with her mum and bridesmaids in the bridal suite at Milling Barn which overlooks vast expanses of farmland. It’s the perfect place to be pampered before walking down the aisle. I used the natural light coming from the large windows with a long lens to create beautiful portraits of the bride and her family before the ceremony. The round mirrors and metallic surfaces are great compositional devices to help frame the subjects and create interesting reflections.
The ceremony was heartfelt and emotional and both Hollie and Marc shed a tear when they saw each other for the first time. Friends and family smiled as the couple said their vows and exchanged rings before making their way to the gardens to enjoy the gorgeous summer sunshine.
I decided to photograph the family in front of the Oak Barn to create a clean, dark background whilst using the doors to frame the subjects. The guests lined up underneath the pretty floral archway to throw confetti over the couple before they made their way to the Dairy Barn for a delicious three course wedding breakfast.
Following the meal, Hollie’s dad, Marc and his best friend gave funny and heartfelt speeches before everyone made their way outside to enjoy the last of the sunshine. I took this opportunity to get some couple pictures in the back field whilst the light was low and soft. One of my favourite shots was of Marc carrying Hollie’s heels as they walked back to the barn!
The couple enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife before the guests got on the dancefloor to dance the night away. I’d spotted some fairy lights around the floral arch, so I made sure to take the bride and groom outside for some nighttime shots before I left. If you’re looking for a Milling Barn wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you!
Best Spots for Wedding Photos at Milling Barn
Floral Arch
The floral arch leading to the door of the Dairy Barn can be used throughout the day to get great photos. After the ceremony, guests can line up either side of the tunnel to throw confetti and the arch frames the subjects beautifully. I also like to shoot through the arch whilst getting candid shots of guests during the wedding reception to introduce foreground elements and add depth. One of my favourite times to use the arch is at night. If you use a long lens and low aperture, the fairy lights blur in the background to create beautiful bokeh. I usually expose for the ambient light and use either video light or off camera flash to light the couple when setting up this shot.
Oak Barn
This recently renovated 18th century barn is now licensed for civil weddings and it’s a beautiful, rustic venue to exchange vows. The room can seat up to 144 guests so it’s great for weddings of all sizes. One thing to note is the front of the barn can get very dark so I’d recommend speaking to your co-ordinator to ensure the shutters are open on the day of your wedding. Before the barn was set up for weddings, I used to use it as a backdrop for group and couple portraits, especially when the sun is out and you need to work in the shade.
Tree & Swing
Opposite the entrance to Milling Barn, there’s a large tree and swing hanging from one of the branches. I used the tree to create the shot at the top of this page. It’s also a great spot to get candid shots in the evening. You often find kids cant wait to climb the tree or try out the swing so it’s perfect for capturing natural moments. This spot could also work really well for nighttime pictures. You can create some amazing compositions if you light the tree with off camera flash and coloured gels whilst highlighting the couple with a video light.
Fields
There’s a vast expanse of countryside to the back of the wedding venue. I tend to save this place for couple pictures at sunset because there’s very little shade and it’s quite difficult to control the light. In the shot below, I kept my mirrorless cameras low to the ground and used the grass to frame the couple. If you’re hoping to have a similar photo on your wedding day, remember the long grass is made into hay bails in August so you have to pick the right time of year. You could always recreate this shot for an engagement shoot or post wedding session.
Road
The rural road leading up to the venue is very quiet and can be a great spot for portraits when the sun is setting. The trees either side tend to block the sun so it’s worth walking with the couple to find the best light. In the shot below, I love the way the trees frame the couple and the foreground is thrown into shade which draws your eye back to the bride and groom.
Bridal Suite
The suite is hidden between lots of timber clad buildings which are great for controlling the light and creating interesting compositions by using leading lines as a graphic element. This spot is perfect for photographs of the bride and bridesmaids before the ceremony as they’re hidden from guests.
Getting Married in Rural Hertfordshire Venue
There are lots of things to consider when choosing your dream wedding venue and it’s all about deciding which elements are most important to you. Here are some of my favourite things about having a wedding at Milling Barn:
- Everything’s in one place! – As a wedding photographer, one of the things that helps the big day run as smoothly as possible is keeping travel time to a minimum. There are dedicate spaces for the bridal party and groomsmen to get ready (without the chance of bumping into each other) which means you can relax and take your time in the morning knowing your other half won’t get stuck in traffic!
- Accommodation – There’s also accommodation for 16 people, including a honeymoon suite, so your friends and family won’t have to travel home at the end of the night.
- Location – Situated in Throcking in Buntingford, Milling Barn is set in the heart of the Hertfordshire countryside and easily accessible from Bedfordshire, Essex and Cambridgeshire.
If you’re looking for a Milling Barn wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you!