There are some weddings where every part of the day feels completely and unapologetically them. This beautiful spring wedding at The Barn at Redcoats, just outside Hitchin, was exactly that.
The couple filled their day with personal touches from start to finish. The bride’s brother led the ceremony. A game of rock, paper, scissors decided who would say their vows first. Their beloved dog made a special appearance (doggy tux and all!) and guests took part in a game of pass the parcel during the speeches. Every part of the day reflected their personalities and the people they love most.
If you’re planning your own wedding at The Barn at Redcoats, this blog should give you a little glimpse into what a wedding day at this beautiful Hertfordshire venue can look like.
Bridal Preparations At Home In Hitchin
The day began at the bride’s parents’ home, where her parents and best friends gathered for a relaxed morning of final preparations.
Bridal prep is always one of my favourite parts of the day. I love watching the excitement slowly build as the morning unfolds. From the moment I arrived, there was such a lovely atmosphere. Laughter filled the house. Stories from years gone by were shared. Friends reminisced about growing up together, spending time at the family home and memories of late nights out.
The morning became even more special with two beautiful first looks. The first was with the bride’s dad. The second was with her bridesmaids. Both were filled with so much emotion, excitement and anticipation for the day ahead.
A Celebrant-Led Ceremony at The Barn at Redcoats
The ceremony was held inside the beautiful ceremony space at The Barn at Redcoats and was one of the most personal ceremonies I’ve had the privilege of photographing.
Rather than having a registrar conduct the ceremony, the couple chose to have the bride’s brother lead proceedings as their celebrant. It made the whole ceremony feel incredibly meaningful and intimate, with stories, memories and personal touches woven throughout.
Of course, knowing how competitive they both are, there was only one way to decide who would say their vows first.
Rock. Paper. Scissors.
They settled it with a quick game before sharing their vows, much to the delight of their guests. It was one of those wonderfully unexpected moments that had everyone laughing before the emotions kicked in. The ceremony was completed with the couple’s mums taking the role of ringbearers. It’s moments like these that remind me that weddings don’t have to follow a traditional formula. The best weddings are always the ones that feel authentically like you.
Couple Portraits at The Barn at Redcoats
The grounds at The Barn at Redcoats offer so many beautiful spots for wedding photographs, especially in spring when blossom appears throughout the gardens and the surrounding landscape bursts into life. We explored the gardens, stopped by the farmhouse and, of course, made the most of the venue’s stunning Grade II listed barn. Full of character and history, the barn creates the perfect backdrop for wedding portraits.
One very special guest joined us for part of the portraits too… the couple’s gorgeous dog. One of the lovely things about The Barn at Redcoats is its dog-friendly approach to both weddings and the on-site accommodation. This allowed their four-legged family member to be part of some of the day’s most important moments before heading back for a well-earned nap while the celebrations continued.
I absolutely love it when couples include their dogs in their wedding day. Not only does it make the photographs feel even more personal, but it also ensures such an important member of the family gets to be part of the memories too.
After the ceremony, we wandered through the grounds together and created a collection of relaxed couple portraits before guests made their way into the wedding breakfast.
Later in the day, the groom swapped his military uniform for a more relaxed suit and we headed back outside for a second set of portraits. I absolutely loved this idea. The outfit change completely transformed the feel of the photographs and gave us the opportunity to create a lovely mix of both formal and relaxed portraits throughout the day.
Military Wedding Traditions at The Barn at Redcoats
One of the standout moments of the day came shortly after the ceremony. Cake cut time!
Instead of using a traditional cake knife, the couple used the groom’s ceremonial military sword.
It’s not something you see at every wedding and it made for such a memorable moment. The guests absolutely loved it and it was a brilliant way to incorporate the groom’s career into the celebrations.
Thoughtful Wedding Details
One of my favourite details from the day was the flowers.
Rather than creating separate floral centrepieces for the wedding breakfast, the bridal party bouquets were used. The wonderful venue staff carefully dismantled the bouqets after the ceremony. They transformed them into individual single-stem rose vases for the tables.
Not only did they look beautiful, but it was such a thoughtful way to ensure the flowers continued to be enjoyed throughout the entire day.
Wedding Speeches With a Twist
Just when guests thought the speeches couldn’t get any better, they somehow did.
Alongside speeches from the groom, father of the bride and best people, the bride also stood up to share a speech of her own.
There were plenty of laughs and some emotional moments. Touching video messages from grandparents who were unable to attend the wedding in person was so special.
Then came one final surprise. To finish the speeches, the bride announced a game of pass the parcel for all of the guests.
I can honestly say it’s not something I’ve seen before at a wedding and it was an absolute hit! Watching guests of all ages get involved brought so much energy and laughter to the room. It perfectly reflected the fun-loving personalities of the couple.
Why I Love Weddings at The Barn at Redcoats
The Barn at Redcoats is such a wonderful wedding venue because it manages to feel both relaxed and elegant at the same time.
The beautiful countryside setting, historic wooden barn and gorgeous grounds make it a dream venue to photograph!
What I loved most about this particular wedding wasn’t just the venue itself, but how the couple made the day completely their own. From rock, paper, scissors during the ceremony to pass the parcel during the speeches. Every decision reflected their personalities and the people they love most.
Looking for a The Barn at Redcoats Wedding Photographer?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Barn at Redcoats and are looking for a photographer who’ll capture all of the big moments alongside the little in-between memories that make your day unique, I’d love to hear more about your plans. Get in touch here!
Venue – The Barn at Redcoats, Hitchin
Photography – The Corbett Creative Photography
Content Creator – Katie Graves
Hair Stylist – Lexie Tempany (@hairbylexie_)
Makeup Artist – Rosie Holland (@makeup_byrosiex)
Wedding Dress – Butterworths Bridal
Live Band – Turning Pages
Ceremony Singer – Sara Brady
