A Photographer’s Dream Venue
I’ve been to a few barn wedding venues during my career taking photos of happy couples, and I LOVE them because they offer plenty of space for brides and grooms to really personalise their big day, as well as provide stylish and rustic atmosphere for impactful photographs. Owen House Barn is one of these fantastic places and one which was firmly on my wedding venue bucket list.
Owen House Barn has so much going for it. Not only is it set on a working farm that is family-run and set in beautiful countryside vistas, but it is particularly appealing to wedding photographers because the owner used to be a photography lecturer himself before buying and renovating the barn. Knowing that wedding photos are one of the most Here, and lasting elements of the day, Owen House Barn features an area called ‘The Shooting Gallery’.
Here, couples can go with their photographer and make use of a series of interesting backdrops including star cloths, rustic doors, plants and light and dark wooden panelling. There’s also a massive white wall which is perfect for image projections. Not only that but there are also lots of props like wooden stepladders, crates and churns to play with.
With all of this to take advantage of, you can imagine how excited I was when Stephen and Jonathan booked me to do their wedding photography at Owen House Barn! I met the grooms at The Gay Wedding Show which was the first one they had visited as part of their wedding plans. I was also the first wedding photographer they had spoken to and since they have told me that they picked me because my ‘stand out personality was a vibe’ and that the sample circus-themed wedding I showed them (See Tom & John at Gisburne Park) also vibed with them through the styling and colours – even though they weren’t fully sure what direction they were going to take at that point. From then, we were all set for an amazing day and I couldn’t wait!
The Sheds at Owen House Wedding Barn
I’ve already mentioned ‘The Shooting Gallery’ at the wedding barn, but the other spaces at Jonathan and Stephen’s venue are versatile and thoughtful as well as named with a hint of fun and a nod to this family farm. There’s ‘The Tool Shed’ breakfast room which goes with the accommodation, ‘The Baa-BER Shed’ for grooms and the groom prep and ‘The Birds and the Bees’ Suite where couples can spend QUALITY TIME together after their busy day. 😉
Jonathan and Stephen’s day started in ‘The Beauty Shed’ complete with salon chairs, soft seating and a prosecco fridge. They got ready with their groomsmaids and Nimra Butt the makeup artist. Nimra and I have done several weddings together….MORE?
The grooms’ suits were bespoke creations by Etch, featuring teal velvet blazers paired with black three-piece dinner suits. They wanted something special for their colour day, and the teal colour added a distinctive touch.
‘Super’ Wedding Concepts
While the couple got ready, it was all hands on deck to set up the wedding barn to match the grooms’ vision. When planning their wedding, Jonathan & Stephen’s top priority was to ensure that everyone had an unforgettable experience filled with laughter and joy. From the smallest details like the table centrepieces to the grandest elements, they aimed to make every aspect of their day unique and interactive. They wanted their wedding guests to walk away with big smiles and lasting memories with every element being a reflection of their tastes and personalities.
The top table was set up in front of ‘J&S’ light-up letters and personalised Neon Signs with quotes from Harry Potter and A.A. Milne on either side. Each table was themed with their favourite superheroes and villains with a cake as the centrepiece. They also provided a fish bowl full of Lego for their guests to get creative with and enjoy.
Some of the features were included for touching reasons and to pay tribute to family members who are no longer with us. The owl ring bearer, in particular, was a heartfelt nod to Stephen’s older sister, Gillian, who loved owls.
The Ceremony
Once the grooms were ready and down the aisle, their wedding ceremony, officiated by Nikki, was intentionally simple yet deeply meaningful. Nikki did an amazing job of telling Jonathan and Stephen’s love story in her unique way, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The intimate and personal nature of the ceremony set the tone for the rest of the day.
The highlight of the ceremony was definitely the barn owl flying across the room to deliver the rings. Not something I see every day either!
Fun, Cake, Fun, Fun, Cake!
The fun truly began at the drinks reception with cocktails, Pimms, and a selection of canapés. To make the day truly unique and reinforce those ‘big smiles’, the pair incorporated fun elements like dodgems and Crazy 9s mini golf. Their motto was all about making memories, and these additions certainly helped us achieve that. The wedding guests enjoyed the dodgems, mini golf, and the smart booth for fun photos.
The speeches during the wedding breakfast were a mix of heartfelt and humorous moments, with toasts to absent friends and family, and plenty of jokes. The food and free bar were a hit, adding to the festive atmosphere where guests were surrounded by cake characters like Spiderman, Iron Man and The Hulk.
Jonathan and Stephen truly lived by their save-the-date message: “If you like cake, save the date.” With 10 cakes plus the wedding cake AND individual character superhero cake pops, it was ensured that there was plenty of sweet indulgence. After all, you can never have too much cake, right?
Unforgettable Surprises
The dodgems brought out the inner child in all of the wedding guests, with everyone chasing each other in fits of laughter. The Crazy 9s mini golf was also a huge hit, creating a sense of nostalgia and fun. The couple miraculously managed to keep most of the day’s details a secret from their friend and family, which meant that the surprises kept on coming, making the day even more special and a unique wedding experience.
On the day, I was also surprised when Stephen mentioned they also bought 20 smoke flares to include in fun photos with their squad. It was a day that kept on giving at an amazing venue made for photographers. It truly made me feel like a kid in a sweet shop!
Show Me Love
Instead of a traditional first dance, the DJ, Andy Murphy, got all the guests onto the dance floor for a group picture, kicking off the party with “Show Me Love” by Robin S. It was an energetic and fun start to the evening’s festivities. It was the grooms’ way of getting everyone up and moving, as they didn’t want to do a first dance themselves and be the centre of attention.
GET IN TOUCH
If you’re after your Owen House Wedding Photographer for your big day, then please get in touch! I’d love to hear about your wedding planning and we can discuss everything from my coverage options and style of natural photography to providing your wedding album. You can browse my website for further details on the services I offer to fit in with your perfect wedding.
