Feb 11, 2026 | May 2012
Summer Wedding at Combe Manor Barns, Berkshire
There are some wedding days that feel instantly joyful from the moment you arrive, and E&C’s July celebration at Combe Manor Barns was exactly that! Sunshine, laughter, great food, great music and a venue that feels tucked away from the world in the very best way. It was the kind of day that reminds me why I love photographing weddings so much.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, character-filled barn wedding venue in Berkshire, Combe Manor Barns is one that deserves a spot high on your list!
The barns were filled with soft summer colours and personal touches, but the beauty of this venue is that it doesn’t need much dressing. The rustic textures, open spaces and surrounding greenery create a naturally romantic setting, so even simple décor looks incredible. One of the biggest appeals of the venue is the flexibility it offers. As a dry-hire space, couples have the freedom to choose their own suppliers and style the barns exactly how they like. It’s perfect for couples who want a wedding that feels truly personal rather than a one-size-fits-all package.
Another lovely aspect is the relaxed setup. Many couples have access to the venue in the days leading up to the wedding, which means décor can be added slowly and without stress. It creates a much calmer build-up to the day itself and gives couples time to really enjoy the experience.
The layout also works beautifully for photography. The indoor and outdoor spaces flow naturally into each other, so guests can explore while still feeling part of the celebration, and there are plenty of spots for relaxed portraits without disappearing for too long.
From the ceremony through to the dance floor, Emma and Callum’s wedding had a wonderfully easygoing feel. Guests mingled in the courtyard, drinks in hand, while the summer sun lit up the barns and the surrounding countryside. A joy from start to fininh!
Planning your own Combe Manor Barns wedding
If you’re dreaming of a Berkshire barn wedding with lots of flexibility and a peaceful countryside setting, Combe Manor Barns is a fantastic choice. And if you’re looking for a photographer who focuses on real moments, natural light and colourful, joyful storytelling, I’d love to hear about your plans!!
Jan 4, 2026 | May 2012
Why Clock Barn in Whitchurch is the Perfect Wedding Venue (And Why I Love Being Their Recommended Photographer!)
As a Hampshire based wedding photographer, I’ve had the total privilege of shooting at many incredible venues, but there’s one that consistently stands out: Clock Barn in Whitchurch. Having worked there extensively over the last ten years, I thought it was about time I put together all of my hints and tips to make the day run as smoothly as possible; plus I’d love to show anyone considering booking it why it’s definitely the best and most beautiful venue around!
Firstly, let’s start with the prep room. Everything is onsite and close together, making it super easy and convenient to get ready in close proximity to your partner but without being seen. The prep room is spacious and with lots of mirrors, plus they’ve even added hooks on the wall to be able to hang your outfits up for some really lovely photos. I’ve also seen the delicious breakfast you can request – perfect for starting a very busy day full of energy!
I always ask my couples to pop together a little pile of anything they’d like photographed, like jewellery/an invite/perfume etc, and I’ll get a nice photo of everything together when I arrive. There’s a wicker basket in the prep room so they can gather everything together in there and I’ll be able to easily find everything if they are busy getting ready when I arrive. Another tip is to take all of the labels, stickers and plastic covers off the dresses and hang them up on the wall; this keeps everything out the way and looking nice for photos too. I ask my brides to tell me if they would prefer for the dress to be kept hidden all morning though as I wouldn’t want to ruin that surprise!
One of the best bits about the prep room is that there is another private room off to the side; ideal for the bride to put her dress on! One of my favourite parts of the day is capturing the reactions of family members and the bridesmaids seeing the bride for the first time – it’s always a very special and emotional moment.
Of course, we must not forget the boys. There’s a lovely second prep room for them as well, plus the path outside is the perfect backdrop for popping on button holes and grabbing some nice photos of the guys.
There are so many gorgeous ways to style the main barn and you can choose a multitude of ways to configure the ceremony. The most popular way tends to be with the registrar at the dance floor end (which is also my preference as the light is best this way) but you can also opt to have the registrar by the bar end or even have the chairs in a semicircle to the side.
You can even opt to have the ceremony in the snug room or the dance floor area for those smaller, more intimate weddings where you’d like your guests to feel closer to you.
Did you know that you can now choose to have your ceremony outside at Clock Barn? Either in the garden by the Farm House or in the paddock out the back – absolutely perfect for those who love the great outdoors and love feeling closer to nature.
During the ceremony I stand next to the registrar to capture the people walking down the aisle, and to be able to also photograph your partner waiting patiently for you to arrive. Wonderfully, my cameras are silent to I’m happy to report you’ll barely notice me there and I won’t distract you from the important words being said to each other.
Once the ceremony is over, CONFETTI! Another of my favourite parts of the day. I’ll organise everyone outside in two lines, to give you a good old confetti soaking as you come outside and join everyone.
Top tip – the bigger the pieces of confetti, the better! Tiny flakes of lavendar tend to look like flies which nobody wants, so big, fat petals or better yet, biodegradable paper balls look the best! I also recommend getting lots, so however much you think you need, whack another 50% in there. If you want to save a bit of money, there’s no real need to pay for confetti cones or bags, just get it all poured out in baskets and ask the bridal party to pass it around for everyone to grab a handful.
After the confetti, it’s time for the candids! This is one of my favourite times at a wedding – it’s when everyone is most excited, with their prosecco or cocktail in their hand, hugging and congratulating you both. I spend a good 45 minutes, getting lots and lots of wonderful natural moments of your guests mingling, chatting and just having the BEST time. These types of photos will also make up the vast majority of your gallery.
When you’re ready, it’s time for your couple shots! At Clock Barn, we’re totally spoiled for choice with places to go – so here are some of Zahra & Joe’s photos to give you an idea of what you can expect. My favourite places are the country road outside, the clock itself (iconic!), the willow tree and the flowers outside the farm house. I also love the paddock – the sun sets out there so I tend to save this area for your evening sunset shots!
Here’s a few more for Helen & Sam.
For the family formal photos, I love to give a mix of formal and informal, so that I can make sure they are to everyone’s taste. For example, I’ll always take a ‘neat and tidy’ photo first, then get everyone in closer for a cuddly photo to make it extra lovely and natural looking.
After the family photos, we can do some bridal party photos, and can of course have some fun with these!
Before everyone goes in for dinner, I’ll spend a little time photographing the room and all of those gorgeous details that make the dining room truly unique to you.
At Clock Barn you can choose to have your speeches either before or after dinner. There are definitely pros and cons to both – before dinner gets them out of the way in case anyone is super nervous, however then there’s a danger of them running too long and affecting the food. After dinner keeps the speakers waiting a little longer, however I find then the guests are more relaxed with happy, full tummies and, having had more bubbles, tend to enjoy them even more.
Have you seen at Clock Barn you can opt to have the ‘surprise’ course? Guests absolutely love it and I in turn love photographing their faces when they see it!
Spring and summer weddings bring my favourite bit – the evening sunset photos. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a golden hour with gorgeous low, soft light to shoot in; plus it’s often a great chance for the two of you to sneak off together and take a breather and let it all sink in. Why not stick a couple of bottles of cheap fizz in the boot of the car for a champagne op photo! (Spoiler – it doesn’t have to be actual champagne!)
Of course not every wedding has to have a cake – some people don’t fancy it or some have doughtnuts or brownies or some go all out and have a huge, spectacular one! Whatever floats your boat, there are absolutely no rules so why not have fun with it.
And then we have the party! A band, a DJ or both, this is often the part people look forward to the most. If budget allows, I really recommend booking a DJ or musician who offers full day packages, to play your music as you walk down the aisle and during the drinks reception and meal as this makes the day flow together so much more smoothly.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope this is helpful! I’f you’d like to chat to me about photographing your wedding at Clock Barn or anywhere else for that matter, please feel free to get in touch here.
Dec 12, 2025 | May 2012
There is something totally magical about a winter wedding at Clock Barn in Whitchurch. Whether you’re planning a cosy November celebration, a twinkly December wedding or something beautifully crisp in January or February, Clock Barn comes alive in the colder months. The warm wooden beams, the soft fairy lights and the glow from the barn’s natural textures all work together to create the most gorgeous, intimate atmosphere and the kind of day that feels like a big, joyful celebration from start to finish.
One of the most important things to consider when booking a winter wedding, is the light. Light is one of the biggest things to plan around for a winter wedding; days are shorter, and the sun sets much earlier, so if you’re dreaming of outdoor photos in Clock Barn’s gardens, I always recommend booking your ceremony no later that 1pm. This gives us the best chance to use the grounds, the barn exterior and the gorgeous little nooks around the venue before it gets too dark. Twilight ceremonies can look dreamy, but just be aware that it may be too dark (and too cold!) for many outdoor photos afterwards.
If your wedding lands around Halloween, decide early how much you want to embrace the theme. Are you going full spooky? Or are you thinking more along the lines of autumnal pumpkins, rich colours and seasonal warmth?
For December weddings, you get the fun decision of how Christmassy you want to go. Some couples go all-in with Christmas trees, baubles and festive décor on the tables whilst others prefer the softer winter vibe with twinkly fairy lights, warm candles and natural greenery. One of the best things about December weddings though? Nothing gets people onto the dance floor quicker than a bit of Mariah or Slade!
Consider offering your guests seasonal canapes and warm drinks during the reception. Mulled wine, warm apple cider or even hot chocolate always goes down a treat and keeps everyone cosy whilst we pop outside for photos.
One of the best things about Clock Barn is that winter weather really doesn’t limit us for the family photos. Even if it rains, there are loads of beautiful, sheltered places for us to capture these special moments.
If we’re lucky enough to get outside for the family photos, there are planty of pretty paved areas to stand and not risk getting muddy such as in front of the bench in the front garden.
There’s also the huge tree out the back near the Farm House, which, even when bare in winter, offers a surprising amount of shelter and absorbs a lot of light drizzle. Believe it or not it was actually lightly raining during these photos below and I don’t think anyone would be able to tell!
Another of my favourite spots is the Black Barn just down the road, which offers lots of shelter and looks really cool and fun for photos:
Because it can be chilly, I really recommend keeping group photos simple and minimal so we get through them quickly and so nobody freezes!
Clock Barn is full of lovely textures and colours even in winter. The bushes along the road outside stay green all year round, giving us something fresh and vibrant in your photos. And there are loads of pretty little corners; rustic walls, arches, pathways and pockets of light.
We often get an early golden hour in the winter, so keep an eye out for soft, yummy, golden light just before you head into dinner.
If cosiness is your top priority, consider banquet-style dining. Long tables bring guests closer together, add warmth to the room and feel incredibly inviting on a winter evening. Ultimately, fairy lights overhead with long tables and candles are perfect for a warm winter atmosphere.
Winter weddings at Clock Barn are seriously special. The venue feels warm, intimate and full of character; perfect for couples who want a day that feels relaxed, seasonal and beautifully atmospheric. Whether you go full festive, opt for candlelit elegance or embrace the moodiness of winter weather, your day will look incredible.
And if you need someone who knows exactly where the best winter spots, dry corners and sneaky sun patches are — I’ve got you. Let’s make some magic! Feel free to contact me here.
Jul 21, 2025 | May 2012
I’ve been lucky enough to shoot nearly 750 weddings over the years, so naturally I’ve met and worked with just about everyone in the wedding industry in Hampshire and the surrounding areas. I thought it would be useful for me to put together a list of my absolute favs – everyone here I’ve worked with many times and adore, and know that you will too.
Hair & Make-up Artists:
Lisa Virgo Make Up Artist
Tori at Riot Hairdressing
These are instagram handles:
@hair_by_ella and @laurenscriven_makeupartist (fabulous twin duo set!)
@rachelsmithhairdressing & @madeupweddingmakeup
Florists:
Vanessa Jayne Design
Little Lillies
Willow & Wisps
White Horse Flower Co
Wild Rose
Hale & Hound
All day Host/Toastmaster/Planners
Dean John
Mrs Toast Master
Belissimo
Stecey Page Weddings
Caterers
Vanilla
The Little Kitchen Co
Ginger
DJs
Dean John (Dean is my favourite DJ and host to work with, mention me and he’ll offer you a special 20% discount, subject to T&Cs)
Hampshire Event DJs
Your DJ
Videographers:
A note on videographers – the below are my absolute favourite to work with (particularly Dan who’s the first link) however if you decide to book someone not listed below, please let me know who you’re thinking of booking just before you do. I have unfortunately worked with a few videographers over the years who have not given my clients the best experience, so would hate for one of my couples to accidentially book any of them again. If you could give me a heads up that would be wonderful and I’ll check it’s not one of the ones to be avoided.
Wedding Highlight Videos
Sylvestris Fims
Blush Wedding Films
Spice Wedding Films
Loved Up Films
Bands/Music:
The Boppers
The Deloreans
Claire sax player
Simon piano player
Cakes:
Reilly Cakes
Sarah Lou
Cake Buds
Lighting/styling:
Luminique
Love with Letters
Misc:
Wedding day dog sitting – pupsandhoundsweddings.com (Claire kindly offers my clients a special 10% off discount! When booking, please quote weddingpup10 and my name)
Content creator – @thesocialceremony (On insta)
Confetti – Flutter Darlings
Lawn games – Hampshire Games
