Hanbury Barns is a relaxed countryside wedding venue in the heart of the National Forest, combining beautifully restored red-brick barns with open fields, a lake, courtyard and outdoor ceremony pavilion.
What I particularly like about Hanbury is that it gives a wedding plenty of character without dictating what the day has to look like. You can marry beneath the exposed beams of the ceremony barn or outside overlooking the water, then move naturally into the courtyard, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations without spending the day travelling between different parts of a large estate.
I have photographed real weddings at Hanbury Barns, so I know how the venue actually works on a wedding day: where the light falls inside the ceremony barn, how quickly we can organise confetti, where to take family groups without blocking the drinks reception and which areas around the lake and fields work best when we only have a short time for portraits.
As a handpicked supplier for Best Day Ever Venues, my approach is to use that familiarity to make the photography easier, not more complicated. I will guide you when it helps, keep things organised when they need to be organised, and otherwise allow you to get on with enjoying your wedding.
***** "Samantha was amazing from start to finish. She captured every moment of our day just as we’d asked for. Our photos are of an exceptional standard and we would highly recommend Samantha Lowe Photography!"
Kyle & Ellie, Hanbury Barns
***** "We both hate our photos being taken and Samantha takes natural photos in the moment, most of the time without us even knowing she was nearby with her camera. This means we have so many lovely photos with real smiles instead of just posed ones."
Nicole & Oliver, Hanbury Barns
There is a lot packed into Hanbury without the venue ever feeling sprawling. The different spaces give each part of the wedding its own atmosphere, while remaining close enough together for the day to feel easy and sociable.
The red-brick ceremony barn has exposed timber beams and plenty of character, while the outdoor pavilion gives you a completely different option beside the lake. It means the venue works beautifully whether you want the warmth of a barn ceremony or something open-air.
The courtyard sits naturally at the centre of the celebration. After the ceremony it quickly fills with hugs, drinks, confetti and conversations, which makes it a particularly good place for the relaxed, unscripted photographs that often become favourites.
You do not have to disappear for an hour to find somewhere beautiful for photographs. Water, countryside, planting and open skies are all close by, giving us variety without turning portraits into an expedition.
One of Hanbury’s biggest strengths is having two very different ceremony options.
The ceremony barn has a warm red-brick interior, exposed timbers and plenty of natural light. It feels unmistakably like a barn wedding, but the space is light enough that the photographs do not become dark or heavy.
For couples hoping to marry outside, the pavilion overlooks the lake and surrounding countryside. An outdoor ceremony gives the photographs more landscape and movement, while the water and open sky create a completely different feel from the barn.
I never assume that an outdoor ceremony will definitely happen until the day itself. British weather has other ideas sometimes, so I photograph Hanbury weddings with both possibilities in mind and adapt quickly if the plan changes.
Rather than treating the photography as a separate event happening alongside your wedding, I work around the natural rhythm of the venue and the people in it.
The quieter part of the morning gives me time to photograph the people, details and anticipation before everything speeds up. I am looking for more than makeup and dresses: parents popping in, friends helping each other, gifts being opened and the little changes in atmosphere as the ceremony gets closer.
Whether you marry inside or beside the lake, my priority is the people. I photograph the entrance, reactions, vows and wider setting, but I am also watching what is happening around you: nervous glances, parents watching from the seats and the laughter that happens when something does not go quite to plan.
After the ceremony I want you back with your guests quickly. I organise confetti and essential family photographs efficiently, then step back and concentrate on the hugs, conversations and moments happening around the courtyard.
We can use the lake, fields and surrounding countryside for a short portrait session during the drinks reception, then head outside again later if the light becomes particularly beautiful. The two sessions can feel completely different without either taking much time away from the wedding.
Having plenty of photograph locations is useful, but you do not need to visit every one of them. I choose locations according to the light, weather, season and what is actually happening on your wedding day.
For most couples, around fifteen to twenty minutes during the drinks reception is plenty for the first set of portraits. We can walk towards the water and countryside, create a varied set of photographs and have you back with your guests without the drinks reception disappearing.
If we get beautiful evening light, dramatic skies or a particularly good sunset later, we can spend another few minutes outside. Those photographs often have a completely different atmosphere from the earlier portraits.
You do not need to spend hours posing for photographs
I use short portrait sessions and simple guidance, so you get beautiful photographs without feeling as though a large part of your wedding disappeared into a photoshoot.
Hanbury gives us several good options for family and wedding-party photographs, which means I can choose somewhere appropriate rather than forcing everyone into the same location regardless of the weather or light.
I recommend keeping the planned family list fairly short. Around eight to twelve groups is normally enough to make sure the important combinations are covered without turning your drinks reception into a long queue of formal photographs.
I will organise those photographs clearly and quickly so your family do not have to work out where to stand or who should be next.
Read my guide to planning wedding group photographs
Every wedding is different, but some of the places I regularly look towards include:
Sometimes the most dramatic photograph comes from a spectacular sky over the fields. On another wedding it may simply be beautiful light falling across a quiet corner of the garden. I would rather respond to what is actually there on the day than recreate exactly the same photographs at every Hanbury wedding.
Knowing the venue helps, but knowing how to photograph people matters even more.
I have more than a decade of wedding experience and have photographed real weddings at Hanbury Barns, so I arrive already understanding how the venue flows and where the useful photography locations are. That means less experimenting at your expense and more time concentrating on what is actually happening.
I also know that plenty of couples do not naturally enjoy having a camera pointed at them. You are not expected to know how to pose or what to do with your hands. I give enough guidance to remove the awkwardness, then allow you to move, talk and interact normally.
Alongside the portraits, I am photographing the people around you, reactions during the ceremony and speeches, the small details you spent months choosing and the fleeting moments you probably did not even realise had happened.
The result is a complete gallery that feels consistent, elegant and personal rather than a collection of isolated highlights.
A handpicked Best Day Ever Venues supplier
I am proud to have been selected as a handpicked supplier for Best Day Ever Venues, including Hanbury Barns.
Your wedding photographs beyond the screen
Selected collections include a professionally designed wedding album, turning the whole story of your Hanbury wedding into something tangible that can be enjoyed long after the online gallery has been delivered.
Yes. Hanbury Barns is an exclusive-use wedding venue, so the venue and its wedding spaces are centred around your celebration for the day.
Yes. Hanbury has an outdoor ceremony pavilion overlooking the lake as well as its indoor ceremony barn, giving you two very different options depending on the plans and weather for your wedding.
The ceremony barn gives you a beautiful indoor option and I keep the photography plan flexible throughout the day. If we get a dry gap, we can make use of it quickly for portraits without the whole schedule becoming stressful.
Yes. Hanbury Barns has onsite guest accommodation as well as a wedding-night suite, with further local accommodation available nearby. Check directly with the venue for the current accommodation options and availability for your date.
Yes. The venue currently offers a no-corkage drinks option, allowing couples to supply their own drinks under the venue’s current terms. It is worth checking the latest package details directly with Hanbury when booking.
I normally recommend around fifteen to twenty minutes during the drinks reception, with the option of another very short session later if the evening light is particularly lovely.
There are several possibilities around the barns, courtyard and grounds. I choose the exact location on the day according to the light, weather and the needs of the people involved rather than committing to one spot months in advance.
If you are planning a wedding at Hanbury Barns and would like photography that feels relaxed, natural and beautifully considered, I would love to hear what you have planned.
You do not need to be comfortable in front of the camera. I will help you plan the photography, keep the parts that need organising running smoothly and give you plenty of space to actually enjoy your wedding.
You can also explore Foxtail Barns, The Ashes Barns, Blithfield Lakeside Barns or browse more guides in my Wedding Venues section.