Jodie and Ian’s wedding at Blithfield Lakeside Barns was full of beautiful lakeside views, soft florals, elegant drapes and personal details. Their day included a ceremony space created with drapes and flowers, a surprise appearance from Domino the horse in cardboard cutout form, changeable weather, floating veil photographs and an evening celebration where everyone got involved.
Blithfield Lakeside Barns suited Jodie and Ian beautifully. It gave them the views they loved, the accommodation they wanted and the space for the kind of wedding day they had imagined.
Their day had so many personal elements, from the way they styled the barn for the ceremony to the animal-inspired details, meaningful table names and surprise cardboard cutout of Jodie’s horse, Domino. It was full of character and it reflected them as a couple in a way that felt relaxed, fun and completely their own.
Jodie and Ian after Ian’s Easter Sunday proposal.
"We met at work, at the University of Birmingham. We’d been there a few years before our paths eventually crossed.
Ian proposed on Easter Sunday. He did an Easter egg hunt for me around the house, and once I found the last egg got down on one knee! Two of a girl’s favourite things, diamonds and chocolate!"
"We absolutely loved Blithfield. We had quite a wishlist, containing things such as beautiful views, the bar and dance floor in the same room, and accommodation onsite. Blithfield had all of this and more.
The views of the lake were breathtaking. The first time we viewed it, we knew it was the venue for us."
The lakeside setting is such a big part of what makes Blithfield feel special. It gives the day space to breathe, and even when the weather changes, the views across the water create a beautiful backdrop for photographs.
"We loved the look of the wedding barn and always knew we wanted plenty of flowers. Because the barn is an open, single-room venue, we wanted to design a distinct, intimate space for our ceremony.
By placing drapes in the centre of the room, we created an aisle that guided guests towards the beautiful view. When the drapes were taken away after the ceremony, it transformed the venue, giving the illusion that our reception was taking place in a brand-new room."
The effect worked beautifully. The drapes softened the ceremony space and gave it a more intimate feel, before the barn opened up again for the wedding breakfast and evening celebration.
"We loved the accommodation and space available. Ian got ready in the cottages, and I got ready in the lodges. They were situated far enough away from each other that we had plenty of space without risking seeing each other.
Other than when Ian snuck past the lodges undetected to leave the venue to complete a nearby Parkrun the morning of the wedding whilst I was getting ready.
There was plenty of space for our family, bridesmaids and groomsmen, and there were some lovely spaces for photos. On the night before the wedding, the wedding party and friends gathered at the cottages for a pre-wedding dinner. It was lovely!"
Having those separate spaces works so well at Blithfield. It means both sides of the wedding morning can unfold nearby, but without the risk of accidentally seeing each other before the ceremony.
Champagne cheers with the bridesmaids before the ceremony.
An emotional first look with Dad at the lodges.
Personalised alcopops for the groomsmen after parkrun
The labels were excellent. The flavour, apparently, less so.
I have photographed lots of personal touches at weddings, but I had never seen a life-size cardboard cutout of a horse waiting at the end of the aisle before. Domino is Jodie’s horse, and he is a huge part of her life, so it felt very right that he still found a way to be part of the day.
"I have owned my horse, Domino, for 20 years. He is my number one, sorry Ian! However, he is quite a live wire, and I didn’t fancy the stress of having him running around on our wedding day.
The life-size cardboard cutout of Domino was a surprise from my parents. I didn’t know he was there until I started walking down the aisle."
"We made sure our animals were included in the day despite them not being there, Domino our horse and Pringle our cat. They even had cocktails named after them.
Our tables were named after meaningful people and places in our lives including our first home, lost grandparents and Popworld!"
These are the kind of details that make a wedding feel completely personal. They are not just decorative choices, they tell your guests something about who you are and what matters to you.
"There is one word we wanted to be used to describe our wedding, and that was party!"
That energy really came through in the evening. Everyone got involved, the dance floor was full, and the DJ and saxophone helped create the kind of celebration Jodie and Ian had imagined.
"The weather was very changeable, and extremely windy. The weather just became part of our day. Ian joked that the weather was as changeable as my moods.
Sam, you did an excellent job of making sure we had beautiful photos in all the weathers, floating veil shots, moody skylines and even a bit of sunshine!"
Wind can be challenging on a wedding day, but it can also create the most beautiful movement in photographs. Jodie’s veil gave us some gorgeous moments, and the changing skies over the lake added so much atmosphere to their portraits.
"The whole day was incredible, and we enjoyed every minute. Our top three memories were:
1. Seeing each other at the end of the aisle for the first time.
2. The immense party we had in the evening. Everyone got involved and it was fantastic!
3. Jodie slipping on her dress in the first dance and falling over!"
Those are the moments that make a wedding gallery feel alive. The emotional parts matter, of course, but so do the funny, unexpected parts that become part of the story for years afterwards.
Ian seeing Jodie at the end of the aisle.
The incredible party.
A first dance moment to laugh about forever.
Jodie and Ian each chose a favourite photograph from the day, and I love that their choices show two different sides of the wedding. Jodie’s favourite was personal and full of character, while Ian’s favourite was all about the people they shared the day with.
"My favourite photograph has to be the one of me, Ian and cardboard Domino and Pringle. My animals mean so much to me, so having a picture with them on our special day really meant a lot, especially as some people see the picture and think Domino was actually there.
Ian’s favourite photo is the large group shot with everyone in who we shared our day with."
Jodie’s favourite photograph with Ian, cardboard Domino and cardboard Pringle.
Ian’s favourite photograph with everyone who shared the day.
"We love your style of photography. You take candid pictures which really capture the moment, but also was amazing at creating couple photographs which didn’t feel awkward to take. We also bonded over our love for horses!"
That balance is always something I want couples to feel on the day. I want the natural moments to be captured as they happen, but I also know how important it is to have portraits that feel flattering, timeless and gently guided without feeling stiff.
"We added a marquee at the side of the main venue, so guests had somewhere to be during the drinks reception. This was helpful with the weather being so changeable and created extra space for the wedding photos to be taken inside."
It is a really helpful tip for couples planning a Blithfield wedding, particularly if you are getting married at a time of year when you may need a little more flexibility with the weather.
Blithfield Lakeside Barns is a beautiful Staffordshire wedding venue with so many lovely options for photographs, from the lakeside views and open barn space to the cottages, lodges, marquee area and countryside surroundings.
If you are planning your own wedding at Blithfield Lakeside Barns, Jodie and Ian’s wedding is a lovely example of how the space can be styled in a way that feels personal, practical and full of atmosphere. Their use of drapes and flowers created a distinct ceremony area, while the marquee gave guests somewhere sheltered during the drinks reception and added extra flexibility for photographs.
If you would like relaxed, natural and elegant photographs that capture the atmosphere of your day, from the quiet morning moments to the full dance floor, I would love to hear more about your plans.
Venue: Blithfield Lakeside Barns
Florist: Sorella Florist
Décor: Finishing Touches Décor
Camper van: Here Comes The Ride
Catering: Ridgeway Caterers
Videographer: Phantom Photography
DJ and saxophone: Chamberlain Events
Hair: Bridal Hair by Michelle Jewess
Make-up: Callie-Jo MUA