Stratton Court Barn, Bicester, Oxfordshire
Stratton Court Barn Wedding Photographer
Natural and relaxed wedding photography at Stratton Court Barn
As a recommended wedding photographer at Stratton Court Barn, I am always pleased to be back at this family run wedding venue near Bicester in Oxfordshire. What I particularly love about Stratton Court Barn is its flexibility. No two weddings need to look or feel the same here. There are different spaces for your ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations, along with the courtyard, gardens, woodland and surrounding countryside.
For me though, a wedding venue really comes alive when it is full of people. My approach to wedding photography is natural and relaxed, so I spend most of the day photographing what is actually happening. The hugs, laughter, conversations and reactions, along with all those little moments you might not even notice at the time. Stratton Court Barn works brilliantly for that.
Set in the Oxfordshire countryside near Bicester, Stratton Court Barn has a lovely rural feel without everything being spread too far apart. There are several choices for your wedding ceremony, including the Barn and The Byre, as well as outdoor options in the courtyard, Rose Garden and woodland.
That flexibility continues throughout the rest of the wedding. Couples can choose how they use the different spaces and really make the venue their own, rather than feeling that every wedding has to follow exactly the same format.
I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy photographing weddings here so much.
Getting ready and staying at Stratton Court Barn
There is a dedicated bridal room tucked into the eaves of the venue, giving you and your wedding party your own space to get ready on the morning of the wedding. For larger wedding parties, the downstairs Stables Lounge gives everyone a little more room while still keeping everything together at the venue.
There is also Granary Cottage in the grounds, a two storey, two bedroom cottage with its own living space and kitchen downstairs and two double bedrooms upstairs. It can be booked for the night of your wedding, so when the last song has finished, you don't have far to go.
Having everything close by is one of the things that works so well at Stratton Court Barn. From the excitement of getting ready in the morning to heading back to the cottage at the end of the night, everything happens in one place.
A ceremony that feels like yours
One of the lovely things about planning a Stratton Court Barn wedding is having a choice of where to hold your ceremony.
The Barn and The Byre provide indoor options, while the courtyard, Rose Garden and woodland give couples the choice of taking the ceremony outside. Whichever space you choose, my approach to photographing it remains the same. I work quietly and look for what is happening around you as well as the big moments at the front.
It might be your partner's expression as you arrive, your parents watching the two of you, a bridesmaid trying not to cry or somebody laughing halfway through the vows.
While you're concentrating on each other, I'm watching everything else too.
Confetti, drinks and everyone together in the courtyard
The courtyard is one of my favourite parts of Stratton Court Barn. ,After the ceremony, I usually give my couples a few moments together while I get everyone outside ready for the confetti. The courtyard works really well for this, with the venue itself creating a great backdrop as you make your way through everyone.
And then it is time for a drink.
Weddings are one of those rare occasions when you manage to get so many of your favourite people together. There will be family members who haven't seen each other for years, friends from completely different parts of your lives meeting for the first time and plenty of people with a lot of catching up to do. The courtyard is a great space for exactly that.
While you're having a drink and talking to everyone, I can move around quietly photographing the hugs, conversations, laughter and all the things happening between the photographs you know I'm taking.
That's the part I love.
The Byre
I have to admit, I love The Byre.
It is an impressive room for a wedding breakfast, with beautiful natural light coming through the windows from the courtyard.
And then there are those chandeliers.
I love them. If my house were remotely big enough, I would happily have one myself!
The Byre looks beautiful dressed for a wedding breakfast and gives everyone plenty of space to sit together for the meal and speeches.
Once everyone is seated, there is always plenty going on. Reactions during the speeches, conversations between tables, laughter and sometimes a few tears. I am looking for all of it rather than concentrating solely on whoever happens to have the microphone.
Natural wedding photography at Stratton Court Barn
I want the season to be part of your photographs too. Spring greens, summer evenings and autumn colour all give us something different to work with.
The same applies to family photographs. I choose where we take them according to the light on the day rather than deciding weeks beforehand that everyone needs to stand in one particular spot. And we won't spend ages doing them.
We'll get the photographs that matter, have a laugh while we're doing them and then get you back to everyone.
Chasing the evening light
If you've looked through my wedding photography before, you'll probably know how much I love good evening light.
Stratton Court Barn's rural setting and elevated position give us a lovely clear skyline. Depending on the time of year, the sun can fall across the surrounding fields and down the drive.
I keep an eye on the light throughout the day, so you don't have to.
If I can see that we're going to get something lovely, I'll come and find you. We might disappear for ten minutes, enjoy a little bit of quiet together and make the most of it before heading straight back to the party.
And if the weather has other ideas, the different rooms and spaces around Stratton Court Barn give us plenty of flexibility. I can adapt where we take photographs without it becoming a big part of your day or keeping you away from everyone.
WHEN THE EVENING GETS GOING
One of the things I like about Stratton Court Barn is that the flexibility doesn't stop after dinner.
Couples can use the space beside the bar for their dance floor, continue celebrations in the Barn or use The Byre. I have also seen couples bring games into the evening, giving guests something else to get involved with between trips to the dance floor.
There is a fire pit tucked into the corner of the courtyard too, giving everyone another place to gather as the evening draws in. By this point in the day everyone has usually relaxed completely. Shoes might have disappeared, ties have loosened and the dance floor is getting busier.
That's when I just let everyone get on with enjoying themselves and photograph what happens.
Looking for a Stratton Court Barn wedding photographer?
If you are planning your wedding at Stratton Court Barn and want your photography to feel natural and relaxed, I would love to hear what you have planned.
Most of your wedding day will be photographed as it happens. We'll still make time for the family photographs that matter to you and some relaxed photographs of the two of you, but neither needs to take over the day.
You won't spend hours disappearing from your wedding for photographs. I'd much rather you were back in the courtyard with a drink, laughing with all your favourite people while I photograph it.
If that sounds like the way you want to remember your Stratton Court Barn wedding, get in touch and tell me about your plans.