Barns at Redcoats ( The Farmhouse at Redcoats) is a really popular wedding venue here in Hertfordshire and for good reason. The Grade II listed barns provide a stylishly rustic interior which is set against scenic countryside surroundings. These combine to make for a beautiful (and very photogenic!) place to say “I do”. The staff team here are fab and always throw the most memorable wedding days. It is always lovely to work with them when I come to Redcoats armed with my cameras!
Phillippa and Matt chose me to photograph their wedding at Redcoats having seen some of my previous work at the venue and because they wanted a photographer who had experience of winter weddings. They needed a wedding photographer that could record the story of their special day using the darker winter conditions to enhance the photos rather having it than inhibit them. This is something that I specialise in.
Barns at Redcoats Wedding Photographer
It was a crisp and cool December morning and I started the day with Phillippa in the warmth of the cosy Farmhouse Hotel at Redcoats. Phillippa was joined by her best friend and her mum and the ladies enjoyed a relaxing morning having their hair and makeup done with a few sips of prosecco. It was lovely to meet Cosmina who was doing the ladies makeup.
Before long Stephanie Rose arrived with Phillippa’s flowers. As usual the floristry was absolutely gorgeous. She had made Phillippa a wintery bouquet with rich greens, winter berries, roses, and sprigs of fir. Bride, Phillippa was delighted with them! They were the perfect flowers for a wedding at Christmas time. I really love how the greens contrast the reds in the photos.
Experienced Hertfordshire Wedding Photographer
Meanwhile, outside the boys were arriving so I popped downstairs to the courtyard with my camera. Groom, Matt was catching up with family members whilst his best man retrieved their button hole flowers from inside the venue. The boys were already in their suits. A very stylish three piece affair in royal blue tweed with a deep red cravat and handkerchief (matching the red in Phillippa’s flowers perfectly). The guys all looked very stylish in their suits (suits from Mr Mackys in Stevenage) but it would be the couple’s son who would steal the show looking very handsome matching his dad in his smaller version!
Professional Toastmaster John Ashmele was on hand to oversee the day’s proceedings and he was there from the get-go ready to help the couple however they needed. His first assignment being to help the guys to put on their button hole corsage flowers on correctly!
Before we knew it it was nearly time for the wedding to start. Following those last minute make up and hair touch-ups, Phillippa descended the stairs whilst her son waited for her at the bottom, excited to see mum looking like a princess. Phillippa looked beautiful in a floor length chiffon wedding dress with lace details, long sleeves and a v-neckline.
Storytelling Wedding Photography in Hertfordshire
With the registrars set up and ready the guests all stood and Groom Matt eagerly awaiting his bride for the ceremony to began. Wedding musician, Cara Beard’s, voice sored as she played an acoustic set to accompany the entrance of the bridal party which was led by the bridesmaid then followed by Phillippa who walked down the aisle on the arm of her very proud son.
The ceremony took place in the warmth of the Redcoats barn, romantically lit with festoon bulbs and decorated with more beautiful festive floral arrangements. Phillippa and Matt made their vows with their son by their side who undertook his duty as ring bearer perfectly too.
After the ceremony the staff at Redcoats served reception drinks and yummy canapes to everyone. It was pretty chilly outside and the couple sensibly asked me if I could take the family groups photos they wanted inside rather than out. I quickly set up some portable studio flash in the barn This equipment is always super useful to have especially at this darker time of year and when you need to take photos inside. Toastmaster John Ashmele made my job easier by organising the guests who were required for the photos. We had them done in no time at all allowing everyone to get on with enjoying the day!
The main barn was set up ready for the wedding breakfast. The tables looked beautiful complete with wintery floral centrepieces, name cards and table numbers with delicate illustrations of holly, sweet favours in traditional paper bags, and hessian name places for the bride and groom. Their two tiered wedding cake sat atop rustic log slices and was adorned with matching florals and a set of wooden figurines of the family.
I made sure to capture lots of lovely candid images as the guests enjoyed the afternoon before it was time for the wedding breakfast to be served. Then everyone enjoyed a delicious three course meal provided by the excellent chefs at Redcoats. The food service was accompanied by another beautiful live acoustic performance by Cara.
Candid Wedding Photography in Hertfordshire
After the meal the toastmaster introduced the speeches which were moving, funny and heartfelt. The bride and groom’s son even chipped in with some words of encouragement for his mum and dad which made for some very memorable moments.
After the speeches Phillippa and Matt snuck away with me for five minutes to grab a photo beneath the hotel’s staircase. This is a really unique spot and a great place for a romantic wedding day photo. The sun had long set by this time (gone by 4PM in December) giving me the opportunity to use the flash lighting to creative effect again, something that I love to do at winter weddings.
DJ Mike Readings kicked off the evening’s festivities with the couple’s first dance, then Phillippa and Matt quickly found themselves surrounded by their family and friends who were inching to bust some moves! It is a treat to record the full wedding day in photos and to be there right the way through for the dance floor action like this.
Congratulations to Phillippa and Matt and thank you for letting me photograph the story of your perfect wedding day at Redcoats!
If you are planning on getting married at the Barns at Redcoats, or at a wedding venue somewhere further afield, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to chat to me about how we can capture lots and lots of beautiful photos of your wedding!
More Redcoats weddings on the blog!
