09 Oct Upwaltham Barns Wedding Film West Sussex – Hayley and Ian
Upwaltham Barns is a lovely family-run and exclusive-hire wedding venue located in West Sussex. Nestled in the beautiful South Downs, between Petworth and Chichester, the venue can be easily found along the A285 and is surrounded by spectacular countryside.
When I had chatted previously with the bride and groom, Haley and Ian, they had said they knew immediately that Upwaltham Barns was the venue for them, and it was easy to see why.
This barn wedding venue has been lovingly restored and thoughtfully designed to allow seamless movement between the different areas throughout the day, with open and covered areas suit all weather conditions.
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Highlights Film
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Venue
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Venue. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Venue Exterior. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
When I arrived and started to explore the venue, I met one of the friendly owners, Nicola, who was busy putting the final touches to the ceremony room. I had arrived before the bride Haley, so was there to capture her arrival at the venue. Haley rocked-up in style in her Volkswagen Campervan.
Upwaltham Barn Wedding Venue Map
Map of Upwaltham Barns. Image Credit: Upwaltham Barns
I absolutely love this illustrated map of Upwaltham Barns! The traditional U-shape layout of the barn means that all the significant areas of the day are within easy reach. Here’s how the spaces are typically utilised for a wedding:
- Jasmine Cottage: Pre-wedding preparation space and couple’s accommodation
- East Barn: Ceremony room
- Stable Bar & Courtyard: Reception drinks area
- South Barn: Wedding Breakfast & evening reception
- Moroccan Snug & Hidden Garden: Other breakout areas for drinks
- Wildflower meadow & fields: Photos and video opportunities
Jasmine Cottage Bridal Preparations
Jasmine Cottage at Upwaltham Barns. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
Jasmine Cottage is a lovely light venue for getting ready with your bridal party and for spending the first night together as a married couple. There was plenty of space for Haley and her 5 bridesmaids to get ready before the ceremony.
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Ceremony
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Ceremony. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
The East Barn is where the wedding ceremony takes place, and is a gorgeous space with high ceilings and large windows with views out to the surrounding fields. After a beer in the sunshine, Ian and the wedding guests made their way to the East Barn to await Hayley’s arrival.
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Ceremony. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
The wedding ceremony was emotional and funny, with the couple interreacting with their friends and family, which I always love. A string duo entertained the guests with modern songs during the signing and throughout the wedding breakfast. After the ceremony, the guests gathered for a confetti line outside the South Barn.
Upwaltham Barns Couple’s Shoot
Upwaltham Barns Couples Shoot. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
The photographer Hayley Rose and I, took Hayley and Ian for a stroll across the meadow. The venue has some lovely opportunities for photos and video with amazing backdrops of the venue and the South Downs.
Upwaltham Barns Drinks Reception
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Reception. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
During the wedding reception, guests mingled across the Courtyard and Stable Bar. There are also many nice spots to have your formal family photos without going too far. It was a beautifully sunny day for Hayley and Ian’s wedding, but even if it had been raining, there are plenty of lovely sheltered spaces. Something that is crucial when getting married in the U.K.!
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Breakfast
Upwaltham Barns Wedding Breakfast. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
The wedding breakfast was held in the South Barn — another incredible space with high ceilings and exposed beams and brick. Hayley and Ian had their speeches in between their main course and dessert, as they had planned a surprise for their guests during the dessert. Singing waiters! They were a lot of fun and got the entire room up and dancing.
Upwaltham Barns First Dance
Upwaltham Barns First Dance. Image Credit: Catherine Luther
After cutting their cake in the Courtyard, Hayley and Ian had their first dance in the South Barn. Their guests eagerly joined them on the dancefloor which kickstarted the evening party with 90s music and glow sticks.
West Sussex Wedding Videographer
Upwaltham Barns is a really special wedding venue in West Sussex that can accommodate intimate weddings through to large receptions of up to 170 in the evening. The layout of Upwaltham Barns makes it super close and convenient to move around the different areas throughout the day and I love that it’s family-run with a particular focus on sustainability.
Although there’s no accommodation onsite for guests, the venue has put together a list of local accommodation options starting from just 2.9 miles away.
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