Last September I was invited to do Robert and Georgia’s wedding photography at Shustoke Barn, a beautiful wedding venue nestled in the Warwickshire countryside near Coleshill.
I first joined Georgia and her family at the hairdressers Heads of Coleshill. Its rustic wood panel walls, bespoke lights and positivity signs combined to create a very homely and friendly feel. Everyone was at ease and smiling, and I had a great time capturing the first few hours of the wedding day.
I’ve been a Wedding Photographer at Shustoke Barn before, and the venue always more than lives up to its reputation. The 18th century red brick barn is gorgeous, both externally and internally, and you can’t help but immerse yourself in the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The civil ceremony took place in the barn under an elevated timber ceiling with plenty of daylight flooding in through the large windows. White rose, eucalyptus and thistle flower arrangements decorated the aisle, and Georgia looked stunning as she walked over the flagstones with her father to join her husband-to-be. There were many happy tears as the couple said their vows and exchanged rings – a beautiful pair from G H Moore & Son, a jeweller in Birmingham.
With the register signed, the newlyweds went outside to be greeted by flurries of petal confetti. The private courtyard offered the perfect setting for a large group photo. Ancient olive trees and large gothic-style arched glass and timber doors provided a wonderfully rustic and contemporary backdrop for traditional friend and family photos.
One of my favourite parts of doing wedding photography at Shustoke Barn was the newlywed photoshoot. While the guests were entertained with outdoor games and steel pan music, I found an exciting array of backdrops: circular windows, a barn door with blue skies reflected in the panes and a variety of red brick walls and lush green hedges. With all these locations to choose from it was clear why wedding photography at Shustoke Barn is so popular with couples and photographers alike. My favourite setting, however, was the nearby wheat field. Quiet and secluded, it was the perfect opportunity for a landscape photography session. It was a pleasure to photograph Georgia and Robert in such a striking location.
The barn is used for every part of the wedding day and when we returned it had been transformed into a reception area. The table names were a series of beaches and coastlines Robert and Georgia had visited over the years including Oak Street beach on the shore of Lake Michigan and Myrtos beach in Greece. Each place name was labelled with an individual Polaroid photo, and the wedding cake was stunning: elegant white icing adorned with white roses and green foliage.
As evening came I couldn’t resist returning to the wheat field for one last newlywed photoshoot in the fading sunlight. The skies were steeped in rich blue and orange hues, teetering on the edge of night. It was a very memorable shoot and was definitely a highlight of my time doing wedding photography at Shustoke Barn.
As the day drew to an end I enjoyed photographing the cutting of the cake, guests roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fire pits and the couple’s first dance.
Thank you to Robert and Georgia for inviting me to photograph your big day. You made my time being a Wedding Photographer at Shustoke Barn very special, and I wish you both all the happiness in the world for the future.
