THE HALL BARNS WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Freya and Alex tied the knot at The Hall Barns, a charming wedding venue located on the picturesque Prestwold Estate in Leicestershire. This was my first time photographing a wedding at The Hall Barns, and from the couple’s plans, I knew it was going to be a fun celebration with a unique twist!
BRIDE GETTING READY AT LAUNDRY COTTAGE
My day began with some early shots of The Hall Barns wedding venue, nestled within the picturesque Prestwold Estate in Leicestershire. Arriving ahead of time means the venue is peaceful and quiet, allowing me to capture the intricate decor and all the beautiful wedding details without distractions. (Scroll down to the bottom of the page for some stunning venue photos!)
After capturing the venue, I headed over to the Laundry Cottage accommodation where Freya and her family were getting ready. Just a short stroll from The Hall Barns, it’s an ideal spot for a relaxed, intimate wedding morning preparation.
When I arrived, Freya was midway through her bridal makeup. After exchanging warm hellos, I started capturing the calm, joyful atmosphere of the morning. Before long, Freya was dressed in her wedding gown and hopping onto a golf cart, ready to make her way to The Hall Barns for their beautiful Leicestershire wedding ceremony.
WALKING DOWN THE AISLE
The image above is one of my favourites from Freya and Alex’s wedding day at The Hall Barns, capturing the tender glance between Freya and her dad just before their emotional walk down the aisle.
I especially love when couples lock eyes at the end of the aisle. Too often, nerves take over, and brides walk with their heads down, avoiding smiles or eye contact. But not Freya—she walked with confidence, head held high, smiling brightly, and looking directly at Alex as she reached the aisle’s end. It was a truly beautiful, heartfelt moment—perfectly captured with my documentary wedding photography style.
THE WEDDING CEREMONY AT HALL BARNS
The wedding ceremony at The Hall Barns took place in the charming Crew Yard, providing a beautiful and intimate setting for Freya and Alex’s heartfelt vows. Following tradition with the Leicester registrars, the witnesses were invited to stand at the front during the ceremony, ensuring they truly ‘witnessed’ the couple exchanging their legal vows.
Freya and Alex chose to keep their ceremony short and sweet, focusing on what mattered most—celebrating with family and friends. With the formalities completed swiftly, they were free to enjoy the rest of their special day at this stunning Leicestershire wedding venue.
Capturing these genuine, unscripted moments is at the heart of my documentary wedding photography approach. The intimate setting and emotional atmosphere made for some truly memorable wedding ceremony photos that tell the real story of Freya and Alex’s day.
THE WEDDING SPEECHES AT THE HALL BARNS
After the ceremony at The Hall Barns, guests enjoyed canapés, drinks, and a few fun garden games before we all moved inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
One of the things I love about The Hall Barns wedding venue is its relaxed and intimate atmosphere. It’s not your typical traditional venue—it’s cozy and perfectly suited for weddings of 50-75 guests, allowing couples to personalise their day, including the menu. Freya and Alex embraced this by opting for a delicious meat feast featuring homemade sausage rolls, pork steaks, and crackling—an incredible spread that perfectly matched their style.
Staying true to their laid-back vibe, the speeches were simple and heartfelt. Instead of a long lineup, it was just Alex and Freya’s best friend, Bethan, sharing meaningful words—no embarrassing stories, just genuine thank-yous and touching memories.
Capturing these authentic, candid moments during the speeches and reception is what makes my documentary wedding photography so rewarding.
THE FIRST DANCE AND A SURPRISE!
I had been given a heads-up about a surprise performance during the evening entertainment—and that Freya and Alex’s “first dance” was actually just the setup for something truly special!
As they began their first dance, the music suddenly paused, and in walked Heidi Wurst. She was absolutely brilliant, bringing boundless energy and laughter to the evening. I honestly can’t remember the last time I witnessed so many guests in stitches at a wedding!
It was the perfect way to kick off the night, and you can see all the fun captured in the main gallery below—another highlight of this unforgettable Hall Barns wedding captured through my documentary wedding photography style.
I absolutely loved photographing Freya and Alex’s wedding at The Hall Barns, a beautiful and intimate Leicestershire wedding venue ideal for relaxed wedding photography. What made their day truly special was their focus on celebrating with family and friends rather than spending hours on traditional posed family photos. They wanted their images to be authentic—capturing the genuine, candid moments that tell the real story of their wedding day.
It was a joy to deliver natural, heartfelt images through my signature documentary wedding photography style, reflecting the love and connection of the day.
A huge shoutout to the talented wedding suppliers in Leicestershire who helped bring Freya and Alex’s vision to life! You’ll find links to all of them below, following the full gallery.
SOME KIND WORDS FROM FREYA & ALEX
Andy was excellent from start to finish - quickly letting us know we had made the right choice! He got every detail about us as a couple, and made sure to shoot our day exactly how we would want it.
Thanks so much Andy, we both really appreciate everything you’ve done to make sure we remember our day forever
HOW ABOUT SOME MORE HALL BARNS WEDDING PHOTOS?
I HOPE YOU LIKED THESE HALL BARNS AT PRESTWOLD WEDDING PHOTOS?
Are you looking for a Hall Barns Wedding Photographer and are interested in my Relaxed, Natural & Documentary Wedding Photography?
Please take a look at my approach to Wedding Photography and contact me to check availability.
You may want to explore the blogs somemore, have a look at some wedding photography slideshows & photofilms or my wedding hints and tips.
You can also keep up with my Instagram channel for more wedding and personal photos.
WEDDING FRIENDS WHO ROCKED THIS WEDDING
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Haley-Marie - https://www.instagram.com/haleymarie_mua/
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Hair Design by Tanya - https://www.weddinghairdesignbytanya.com
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Gill @ Daisy and Fox - https://daisyandfox.co.uk
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George @ Two.Eight.One - https://www.twoeightone.co.uk
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Heidi Wurst - https://www.instagram.com/heidiwurst/
THE HALL BARNS AT PRESTWOLD WEDDING VENUE PHOTOS, LOCATION AND INFORMATION
From The Hall Barns At Prestwold Web-site:
“The Hall Barns is a unique wedding venue, combining the charm of a 19th century rustic barn with the beauty of a country estate.
We’ve carefully renovated this historic barn building to create a wedding venue with real character. The gorgeous grounds of the Prestwold Estate and the Leicestershire countryside each offer a spectacular backdrop, making it an ideal venue for spring and summer weddings.
If you’re looking for that wow factor, you’re sure to find it at The Hall Barns.
This versatile venue is ideal for civil ceremonies, wedding lunches, and receptions, with room for up to 70 wedding guests or 150 partygoers.”
Address - The Hall Barns at Prestwold, Prestwold Lane, Loughborough LE12 5ST
Contact Info - https://www.thehallbarns.com | Tel: 01509 880236 | enquiries@thehallbarns.com