Every wedding I shoot is special in its own unique way, and October 2016 saw me thrilled to attend a heart-warming ceremony and celebration at stunning The Barn at Roundhurst. Considering it was October 15th the weather was wonderful, perfect for showing off the bride’s gorgeous dress and the groom’s stylish outfit without the need for bulky waterproofs and coats!
Mellow fruitfulness on a beautiful autumn day
The happy couple were Hannah and John, and their wedding and reception were both held at one of the venue’s lovely converted barns. Roundhurst is also a working farm, which adds extra charm to an already wonderful place. The barn complex dates back to the 1600s, and it’s set like a mellow old jewel within 250 acres of green, rolling Sussex countryside, a stone’s throw from the pretty, bustling towns of Haslemere and Midhurst.
Featuring six stylish bedrooms, each one different and each packed with personality and character, the barn complex is one of the loveliest venues I’ve shot, a classic Sussex countryside scene clustered around a sheltered courtyard.
A wonderfully quirky Yorkshire theme
The couple are from Yorkshire and there was a quirky Yorkshire theme to the wedding, complete with a sophisticated version of the traditional flat checked and tweed caps for the groom and his ushers, teamed with vivid silky orange bow ties, game bird feather buttonholes, smart collared tweed waistcoats and trousers. And Yorkshire pudding, done to absolute perfection, played a starring role on the wedding menu. And, not to be missed is Roundhurt’s own label wine delightfully named in keeping with the beautiful rural location and the working farm, the Moolot and the Sauvignoink Blanc!
Hannah looked like a dream come true in the most marvellous sleeveless v-neck frock, closely fitted in the bodice and smothered with luscious embroidery. The back of the dress was made from see-through embroidered lace studded with tiny buttons, from where the skirt of the dress flared out into an elegant fishtail complete with yet more embroidery, all in pearly cream. Lovely.
A real working farm adds charm and character
I’m particularly pleased with the images I shot at the working farm part of the venue, which provided the perfect backdrop for the groom’s gentleman farmer-inspired clothing, complete with open sided barns full of fragrant hay, great big machines, hoppers and wooden slatted sheds. Set against the strong, bright autumn sunshine, with friendly cows moseying around in the distance, it was a marvellous setting, a real bucolic haven.
Add the venue’s splendid formal lawned gardens, pretty red brick archways and colourful flowerbeds and it’s easy to see why this is such a popular place to tie the knot. It encloses you with warmth and pleasure, gives you a big hug and sends you away with a big smile on your face – a proper getaway and a genuine feel-good venue if there ever was one.
Sheer luxury in a fabulous bucolic setting
The excellence can be seen in the detail at Roundhurst. They provide a great selection of DVDs to enjoy, the beds in the rooms come with the ultimate in luxurious feather mattress toppers, there’s original artwork everywhere and everything is carefully designed to pamper guests to perfection. Supremely comfortable settees, roaring real fires through the winter, and exceptional catering complete the picture thanks to carefully chosen local produce direct from the farm.
The surrounding countrywide is equally lovely, beyond the venue itself, offering scenic countryside walks, quaint villages and countless historic properties, eye candy at its best. What a place, and what a wedding. As usual I left at the end of a hard but very satisfying day’s work capturing the couple’s celebrations for posterity, feeling uplifted and joyful. That’s why I love much job so much!
If you’d like to find out more about The Barn at Roundhurst, here’s a link to their website.
