I’ve known Big Bopper DJ Shaun Weed for a number of years, and I was absolutely delighted when he asked me to photograph his and Sarah’s Barton Hall wedding day. This is the story of the day.

Barton Hall, near Kettering

Barton Hall, nestled in the picturesque countryside near Kettering, Northamptonshire, provides the perfect backdrop for a dream wedding. The stately home’s history, architecture, and stunning natural surroundings create an unforgettable ambiance that is perfect for couples seeking a memorable wedding day.

Barton Hall offers a range of indoor and outdoor spaces, including the charming Orangery, the grand Great Hall, and the beautifully manicured gardens, each providing a unique setting for your ceremony and reception, whether you’re looking for a small, intimate gathering or a grand celebration.

I’ve performed a few Christmas party photography jobs at Barton Hall, a UK wedding party photography gig for a couple who had been married overseas, and done some commercial photography work for KTV Venue Stylists, but this was my first full wedding at this gorgeous venue on the outskirts of Kettering. I must admit, I was excited about getting to play in the stunning Orangery!

Barton Hall Wedding Day

Bridal Preparations

Sarah and Shaun’s wedding ceremony was scheduled for 1430. Sarah, however, had a large bridal party, including multiple children, so we agreed that I’d arrive at 1100 to cover the preparations. The suite that Sarah had been allocated was absolutely perfect. Spacious, light and with a few nice features to work with.

We got heaps of lovely pictures of everyone getting ready, and the girls were all impeccably behaved.

I popped downstairs to get a few pictures of Shaun and the boys when they arrived, all looking very smart. They headed into the Orangery to finalise seating arrangements, so I grabbed a few shots at the same time.

Back upstairs, Sarah was almost wedding ready. I always love to get shots of the bride being secured into her dress, so we made sure we got a few of them.

And then I grabbed a few pictures of Sarah before she let the rest of her bridal party get a first look.

Sarah’s eldest son, Branden, would have the honour of giving his mum away, and he was close to tears when he first saw her.

With Shaun having had his interview with the registrars and having been safely whisked away to the Orangery, it was Sarah’s turn to make her way downstairs to them. Toastmaster Alan Hodge came to collect her. Naturally, we grabbed some shots of Sarah and Branden on their way down.

The rest of the bridal party were held in the bar area, with everybody else now seated in the Orangery.

Barton Hall Wedding Ceremony

Finally, it was time to get married! The sun was shining, and the light streamed into the beautiful Barton Hall Orangery. It really is a stunning location for a wedding ceremony!

The beautiful ceremony went perfectly, and before we knew it, Sarah and Shaun had become husband and wife!

Big Bopper had organised some spectacular confetti cannons for the confetti walk. Evidently they also doubled up as snooker cues to match their penguin outfits!

With Hodge making it me aware that we only had 45 minutes for the group shots before guests needed to be seated for the wedding breakfast, we cracked on with them straight away. Normally I’d let the bride and groom have a bit of a meet and greet with their guests, but we were up against it a little.

We did have a bit of time to have a quick play with Sarah’s veil, which produced some really lovely stuff.

Barton Hall Wedding Breakfast

And then it was time for the wedding breakfast. Sarah and Shaun elected to eat before the speeches.

Speeches came courtesy of Sarah’s son, Branden, Shaun, Shaun’s brother, Nick, Big Bopper and then Sarah herself. There were plenty of laughs and also a few cringes!

Barton Hall Wedding Room Turnaround

During the room turnaround, we headed outside. Sarah was itching to have a go with the camera, so I gave her a very quick lesson, and away she went! Her son Mackenzie had a go, too.

I noticed we were about to lose the sun, almost certainly for the rest of the day, behind a big bank of cloud on the horizon. I grabbed my portable studio light from the car, and we had a quick play, trying to squeeze more colour out of the sky than was actually there. It wasn’t great, but it was better than nothing.

A few people then asked for pictures, so we put the studio light to use some more. Having lost the sun, we were treated to quite a nice blue hour, which delivered some nice images, especially when combined with the colours of some people’s outfits.

Barton Hall Evening Reception

Live entertainment for the evening was split between the numerous attending Big Bopper DJs and wedding and party band Pure Genius.

The action, though, was kicked off with the cutting of the cake and the first dance. Barton Hall does not employ your average cake knife, however!

We’d spoken about having a play in the Orangery after dark, and Sarah and Shaun had elected to use the smoke grenades included in their wedding photography package in the dark, too.

Finally, we made use of the sparklers that are also included in my wedding photography packages, and then everybody switched to party mode!

It had been an amazing day. Here’s wishing Sarah & Shaun all the very best for many years of health and happiness to come.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR OWN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

If you’ve not already done so, please take a look at my WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES – Karl Drage, Northampton Wedding Photographer.

For more information on what happens when you decide you want me to photograph your wedding, please see: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY by Karl Drage – How I Work

While every wedding is different, there are certain elements which are usually broadly similar. Take a look at a typical wedding day to get a feel for the primarily documentary wedding photography style I’m likely to employ for your big day.

There’s much more work involved in photographing a wedding than just rocking up and taking the pictures. I’ve put together this guide to explain why wedding photography can seem expensive but it’s really not.

I’ve also put together this wedding photography FAQ list and my responses – Questions you should ask a wedding photographer!