Hanbury Barns Wedding Photography

Updated: 08/08/24

Lovingly restored, Hanbury Barns, previously known as Hanbury Wedding Barn, is an amazing place to celebrate your wedding and begin married life! This wedding venue situated in the Staffordshire countryside, in the heart of the National Forest, was the ambitious project of ex-photographer Adrian and his family who decided to buy Parsons Brake Farm which had been neglected for a while and turn it into the fabulous Hanbury Barns, keeping most of the original features. I photographed the very first wedding there a couple of years ago as the brand new wedding venue had just finished phase 1 of its renovation plans and I am a recommended wedding photographer for Hanbury Barns. I’ve since revisited the wedding venue several times to provide my relaxed style of wedding photography services to several couples on their special day and I’m always excited to see the latest changes and additions to this beautiful venue.

Fast forward to summer 2023, Adrian and his family have now moved on to exciting new projects. Hanbury Barns is now part of Ensarb Estates and I was excited to come back recently to see the latest changes, especially to the Party Barn and the relocation of the Pods. More details about it are below.

Everything from the rustic brick barns to the outdoor space has had nice touches added here and there. For example, the Eland barn is the biggest of the three wedding barns, so it took the longest to finish originally. Throughout Hanbury Barns, there are handcrafted light fittings and landscaping which have been designed by the previous owners and often fitted by them! I think this attention to detail truly makes Hanbury Barns feel like a unique wedding venue.

Let me take you on a tour, room by room, to tell you just why Hanbury Barns is the perfect place for your wedding photography as well as a wonderful venue to share your perfect day with your friends and family…

The Dressing Room

Hanbury Barns has a dedicated bridal prep room in a separate building which is the perfect location for brides to get their hair and make-up done and put on their wedding dress. The Dressing Room is spacious and filled with natural light (which will definitely please your make-up artist and photographer). Another appealing aspect of this room for a wedding photographer like myself is that the space is completely painted in a fresh, clean white. This means that there are no bold or clashing colours reflected onto your skin tones which can be an issue when editing photos. That’s something you might not have considered when thinking about wedding photography! On one side of the room, there are 4 high chairs with mirrors and lights for make-up and hair plus a bathroom with a shower. There is also a sitting area with a coffee and tea station or if you prefer, there is a fridge to keep your fizz nicely chilled. To me, it has the look and feel of a luxurious, high-end yet intimate salon and is a pretty special place for any bride to be pampered and start her wedding day.

The Red Barn aka The Ceremony Room

The Red Barn is a stunning ceremony room, ideal for wedding celebrations of all sizes. The clever L-shaped design allows for several configurations which can accommodate both intimate and large gatherings. The mix of red bricks, exposed timber frames and stones on the floor is a combination of materials that gives a classy look, full of rustic charm. It really characterises any Hanbury Barns Photography. The end of the room has an elevated floor to make sure every guest gets a good view of the happy couple wherever they are sitting. Natural light enters from both sides of the room as well as the ceiling which always makes your wedding photographer happy.

Eland Barn

This particular wedding barn was the last one to be added to the Hanbury Barns set-up. The Eland barn is the largest barn in the venue and is used to host the wedding breakfast. The reception room can sit 150 people and has plenty of space whether you want a formal three-course meal or a more laid-back BBQ buffet. Hanbury Barns’ catering partner, Jenkinsons is now the first choice to deliver superb food and amazing service.

There is an impressive large window to let plenty of natural light in. Again, this makes me very happy as a wedding photographer because it means that more time can be spent easily capturing the true emotions and moments with your guests without having to constantly adjust settings on my camera to counter difficult lighting. This fills up a couple’s wedding album with a selection of natural and relaxed photography which is in keeping with my style.

Lots of natural light often means lots of windows, but, at the beginning of the year, the team at Hanbury Barns have relocated all the pods nearer to the pond. This means you’ll mainly see greenery outside and the Pods which were designed to complement the landscape. The car park has been moved out of sight towards the entrance and the side of the barn so you won’t get the view of multiple car bonnets and wheels.

One of the main changes to The Wedding Breakfast Barn I’ve seen this year was the additional greenery on the light fittings. It’s the perfect match with the rustic vibe of the building.

The Woodend Barn and Courtyard

A Hanbury Barns wedding means that you haven’t just got one wedding barn to use for your celebration, you’ve got 3 wedding barns!

The Woodend Barn aka The Party Barn has recently been redecorated and got new furniture. As you walk into the room, you’ll notice a huge olive tree as a centrepiece. The walls have also been repainted grey to fit in with the party vibe and retro lightbulbs are now dangling from the ceiling between the exposed oak beams, adding a touch of magic to the first dance.

There is a set of two large French doors leading to the courtyard, letting more of that handy natural light in – I can’t stress enough how important this can be for excellent and focused photography! Just outside there is a spacious courtyard which is ideal for the drinks reception and it’s also a great place for group photos with your family and wedding guests amongst the magnificent surroundings of this wedding venue.

In the evening the Woodend Barn transforms into the party room and there is the option to have the french doors open to allow easy access to the outside space and give the guests the opportunity to dance the night away under the stars.

Outdoor Ceremony Space

I love photographing ceremonies outdoors and Hanbury Barns is licenced for couples who want to exchange their vows in their outdoor ceremony pavilion overlooking the lake and nearby National Forest. I think giving couples the option to get married like this, in the greenery of the Staffordshire Countryside accompanied by the sounds of local wildlife – birds singing and chirping, bees buzzing – always brings a bit of je ne sais quoi to the celebration and general atmosphere.

The team at Hanbury Barns have Sustainability and Wildlife at the heart of their operations and they are planning to create two dedicated ecological preserves as part of this ethos. These will provide excellent and protected environments for the local bird and amphibian life. In addition to this, the owners have planted new hedgerows for smaller mammals to enjoy and shelter in. Being environmentally conscious in all aspects of the business is something which is growing in the wedding industry and it’s amazing to see that Hanbury Barns is making this a reality, not only investing time and money into the barns themselves but also their natural and magnificent surroundings.

The sleeping Pods

I went back recently to Hanbury Barns to photograph a wedding and I was amazed to see that the team had been busy relocating the pods which used to be near the entrance. The old site is now the car park.

There are now 15 pods, all with en-suite bathrooms in two different locations: The Waterside and The Meadow. All the pods have blackout blinds, seating areas, towels, shower gel and shampoo – handy in case you forget yours.

There are also tea and coffee facilities and you’ll be provided with a light continental breakfast to take away. In other words: Croissants!

The Meadow Pods

You’ll find the nine Quad pods near the main entrance including:

1 Deluxe Pod for the happy couple

1 wheelchair-friendly Pod with a double bed and extra space for wheelchair user

7 Quad Pods with two separate bedrooms.

The Deluxe pod is ideal for the happy couple and has a king-size bed 

Two of the pods are wheelchair friendly with only one bedroom and have wet rooms. There is plenty of space around the bed for navigation.

The seven quad pods have each 2 bedrooms. One with a double and the other one with twin beds. Ideal for a family or 2 couples who don’t mind sharing. 

The Waterside Pods

The six double pods ( including 1 accessible pod) are placed along the lake. They are, in my opinion, the best ones as there is only one bedroom with a double bed and they feel more spacious. Also, who doesn’t like to wake-up by a lake?

Hanbury Barns is a versatile venue and an excellent choice for weddings at any time of the year. You can use the multiple spaces – both indoor and outdoor – in multiple ways. The venue has personal touches everywhere and the team are on hand to help and act as a wedding coordinator if needed. It’s a fabulous place to start married life and if you book this Staffordshire based venue you will have exclusive use and plenty to look forward to!

I’m a wedding photographer based in Manchester and photographing weddings throughout the North West of England. I’m a recommended photographer at Hanbury Barns…

My latest weddings at Hanbury Barns

Check out my Hanbury Barns Portfolio and keep an eye on my blog for updates. There will be many more this year!