One of the best things about being a Sussex wedding photographer is the venues I get to visit. This is definitely the case when I return to shoot Pangdean Barn wedding photography. Pangdean Barn is a beautiful venue in the Sussex South Downs National Park, just minutes away from fashionable Brighton. A working farm in stunning grounds with a fantastic oak framed barn sitting at the heart of it. Built in 1720 the Old Barn has been lovingly restored to make it a beautiful and unique wedding venue that really suited the elegant and laid back style of Julie and Phil’s wedding day. Another reason I love shooting wedding photography at Pangdean Barn is that clients are given exclusive use of the venue meaning that Julie and Phil’s guests could really relax and meander about the venue allowing me to take some great informal shots of everybody enjoying themselves.
On the morning of the wedding I arrived early at the family home in Hassocks so I could get some images of the wedding party as they made their preparations for the day. Everybody was in high spirits and there was a little bubbly on hand to get things started. The wedding party consisted of immediate family and in particular Julie and Phil’s grown up children. Sharing their day with their children was very important to Julie and Phil.
I then shot down to Pangdean Barn to grab a few shots of this fabulous venue before the ceremony started. The ceremony was beautiful and the barn had a lovely romantic and rustic feel. Then everybody enjoyed a drinks reception and as the weather was so bright on this December day I took the chance to get some outside group shots of the wedding party and some portrait shots of Julie and Phil as well.
Next everybody headed back into the barn for a sumptuous wedding breakfast where Julie and Phil received a rapturous welcome from their guests. Now I love a winter wedding and you will see from my images that those clever people at Pangdean Barn clearly do as well. Take a look at how gorgeous the barn looked with the fairy lights across the timber ceiling and the gorgeous handmade white Christmas crackers. The effect was so magical.
After the meal there were some very well received speeches by Julie’s father, by Phil and lastly by best man Steve who kept on swigging from a bottle of gin which was hilarious (it turned out to be filled with water but it certainly kept everybody guessing!)
Whilst Julie, Phil and their guests milled around making the most of their exclusive use of Pangdean Barn I took some lovely group shots set in front of the largest and most beautiful Christmas tree I have ever seen.
Evening entertainment started with a romantic first dance which was sang live with guitar accompaniment. After which Julie and Phil were quickly joined on the dancefloor by their loved ones where many people stayed for the rest of the evening. This was my cue to take my leave but before I did I decided to take one last shot of the courtyard at Pangdean Barn all lit up for the evening with Julie, Phil and their guests all partying away inside. It seemed a fitting image to close the story of their wedding day.
A lovely intimate and elegant wedding for this lovely couple. Congratulations to Julie and Phil for getting married and for allowing me to tell the story of your day. I hope my images will help you relive it again and again for many years to come.
