If you’re looking for rustic charm, then a barn wedding venue might be the best option for you! As a Hertfordshire based photographer, I’ve worked at lots of venues in the area and some of my favourites, without a doubt, are the beautiful barns that are nestled around the county.
Barn wedding venues are ideal if you’re looking for a relaxed, informal day in beautiful surroundings. Many Barn wedding venues are situated in rural areas and so have plenty of gorgeous grounds and secluded spots for photographs.
In this blog post I’ve collated just a few of my favourites to help you in your search for Barn Wedding venues in Hertfordshire.
8. Tewin Bury Farm Hotel
As one of the most popular and booked out venues in the county, Tewin Bury Farm had to make my list! Tewin Bury Farm can cater to any kind of wedding, from big celebrations with lots of guests to smaller, more intimate gatherings. The venue is nestled in the Hertforshire Countryside, actually only a stones throw from where I live. I know the ground well and have often taken country walks through the nearby footpath, so I know just how beautiful the grounds and surrounding area are.
One of the great things about Tewin Bury Farm is the accommodation. As a 4 star hotel, there is plenty of space for you and your guests to stay and enjoy the revelries, with only a short walk (or perhaps a stagger!) back to your room!
The light over Tewin Bury Farm on a summer evening is gorgeous and I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to photograph a number of weddings there!
7. Milling Barn
The Milling Barn at Bluntswood Hall has lots to offer couples looking for the ideal Barn wedding venue in Hertfordshire. Located in the small village of Throcking and with panoramic countryside views, this lovely venue is a great option. The Milling Barn is large and with it’s mezannine level adds something a little different to the look and feel of the space. Getting married at Milling Barn, you have the advantage of having several lovely spaces that you can use for your ceremony, including the Dairy Barn, or if you prefer something a little more whimsical, an outdoor ceremony in the forest!
With accommodation on site, and a dedicated bridal getting ready room, there’s plenty of reasons to love this venue! You can see plenty more from previous weddings I’ve photographed at Milling Barn here.
6. Redcoats Barn
A beautiful Barn venue in Hertfordshire is the Redcoats Barn at Redcoats Farmhouse Hotel and Restaurant. A fabulous new addition to what is a gorgeous restaurant and hotel with incredible food. The 18th Century barn was recently converted to a stunning wedding venue which can seat up to 140 for a wedding breakfast and ceremony. The gardens and surrounding countryside are stunning for photographs. The recent restoration also created 15 stunning bedrooms, which along with an additional 12 in the farmhouse provides a great number of rooms for you and your friends and family to enjoy after the celebrations have concluded.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to eat at the Redcoats restaurant, I would highly recommend it, regardless of whether you are getting married there or not! It’s absolutely delicious and I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy several meals and an afternoon tea there in the past!
5. Essendon Country Club
A stunning barn situated on a golf course in the Hertfordshire countryside, Essendon Country Club is a lovely spot to say I do. The venue is situated on 400 acres, and you can explore them in your own private golf buggy when it’s time for us to head out for your couples photos (I think the golf buggy is a photo op in itself!). I love the 16th Century Barn which has the added benfit of large windows – unusual for a barn venue.
4. Alswick Barn
The Barn at Alswick is an absolutely gem of a venue! Close by to the village of Buntingford, and set in the grounds of the stunning Tudor Mansion Alswick Hall. This is a fabulous little venue with so much potential to give you full flexibility for your wedding celebrations.
One of my favourite things about the Barn at Alswick is how bright and light it is. I mentioned before how unusual it is to have a light and airy barn, as they are not traditionally built with large windows! This barn has been restored beautifully though and the inside is to light and airy that it really has a modern edge. There is a small and private dressing area for the final bridal preparations, and a lovely snug area where guests can relax a little if they choose to.
As well as this a recent addition to the venue are several fabulous glamping tents! This provides some accommodation for you and your guests to relax in the evening and stay overnight, so you don’t miss a minute of partying!
One of my favourite things about the Alswick Barn though, are the incredible gardens that surround the main House. You have access to the garden for photos on the day, and believe me, they provide an incredible backdrop for stunning pictures. The gardens are impeccably maintained, with hidden woodland walks and even a greenhouse and palm trees!
3. Micklefield Hall
The Great Barn at Micklefield Hall is one of my favourite Hertfordshire Barn venues, with so many gorgeous spots. The country house itself is stunning, particularly in the spring with backdrops of blossom and wisteria. The Great Barn is listed and has beams which date back to the 15th Century. There are plenty of quirky features at this venue, including a cloistered walkway, and a French fountain, as well as a stunning setting for an outdoor ceremony around a lake. This exclusive use venue is absolutely beautiful and one I would highly recommend.
2. Coltsfoot Country Retreat
One of my absolute favourite local barn venues in Hertfordshire and somewhere I have worked countless times is Coltsfoot Country Retreat. With 360 countryside in every direction and unparalleled views of rolling countryside, couples are spoilt for choice at this lovely venue.
With resident alpacas, plenty of accommodation, incredible food and attentive staff who literally cannot do enough for you, this venue is really something special. It has an intimate feel, which many barns do not, and is exclusively yours on the day of the wedding. You can have the feel of an outdoor wedding in any weathers with the purpose built marquee area, which has underfloor heating and is also perfect as an evening chillout zone. There’s also a dedicated bar and stunning bridal suite, there is so much to love about this Hertfordshire Barn venue.
Coltsfoot is undergoing some renovations in 2020 to expose more of the stunning beams of the barn and open the space out, and I cannot wait to see how it looks once completed!
Take a look here to see more weddings I’ve captured at Coltsfoot.
1. Henry Moore Studios and Gardens
If you’re looking for something a little quirky, along with your barn venue, look no further than the stunning Henry Moore Foundation. Located in Perry Green, not far from Bishop’s Stortford, this venue is home to countless, priceless pieces of work by the famous 20th Century sculptor and artist. The venue serves as a centre for education and learning to teach an inspire people about Henry Moore’s life and work, but it also has a stunning aisled barn which is available for weddings.
Ceremonies can be held in the aisled barn, with receptions taking place there too, or you can choose to celebrate with a reception outdoors in a marquee or tipi.
One of my favourite things about this venue is the number of opportunities for photos that it holds. Not only can you explore the immediate grounds of the venue to see gorgeous sculptures and artworks, but take a short walk across a field (minding your step to miss the sheep!) and you can be a part of the artwork with incredible vistas including the giant reclining figure sculpture. At sunset, this is really a sight to behold!
The Henry Moore Foundation only hold a small number of weddings each year, so there is also an element of exclusivity to this gorgeous venue.
You can see more weddings I photographed at the Henry Moore Foundation here.
I hope you enjoyed my own personal round up of the top Barn Wedding Venues in Hertfordshire! If you’re planning your wedding and would like to chat more about your photography, I would love to hear from you! You can drop me a line here, or check out more of my work here.