One of my favourite weddings from 2023's packed season was this glorious summer celebration at Brookfield Barn in West Sussex. The beautiful barn wedding venue can be found a short distance from Horsham and Crawley, and is also easily reachable from the bigger metropolises of Brighton, Portsmouth, and London. Featuring a large rustic barn, a lake (by which you can also have an outdoor wedding ceremony), and acres of grounds, this venue has everything you'd want for a celebration in the English countryside.
And this lovely venue was where the even lovelier Ellie and Jack tied the knot in August, on a scorching hot day full of laughter and fun, recreating scenes from Taylor Swift's Wildest Dreams video, top-tier dance floor action, and some seriously good gluten free pizza! Brookfield Barn wedding photographer.
I'd been looking forward to shooting a wedding at Brookfield Barn since Ellie and Jack booked me, as it looked like such a lush venue! It did not disappoint when I arrived and began shooting in the bridal prep room - full of natural light, which is so useful for both your wedding photographer and your makeup artist!
There was a lovely relaxed vibe as the bridal party got ready, with the bride remaining unflappable even when a strap on her dress broke and had to be carefully stitched back into place. After that followed a series of first looks with close family and friends, who all gave fab reactions for the camera - and can you blame them; Ellie looked stunning!!
The couple opted for an outdoor wedding ceremony by the barn's lake, which is such a romantic spot to get hitched - and that day, a VERY HOT one! Fortunately, the large gazebo provided shelter from the sun's burning rays, for both the sake of the bride and groom's comfort AND the evenness of the photos!
A family friend conducted the ceremony, which was personalised with readings and songs, as well as the bride and groom's individual vows to one another.
After tying the knot, Ellie and Jack's guests lined up in front of the venue to shower them in confetti, before we made use of the lakeside gazebo's shelter for family photos, and everyone chilled out in the sunshine with some delicious canapés and bubbly!
Brookfield Barn has lots of great spaces for couples and their guests to relax during the wedding reception, with outdoor seating and tables overlooking the lake, as well as a large cool indoor lounge with a bar. One feature of the venue that I loved was the balcony/terrace that wrapped the whole way around, and which all the rooms opened up onto, giving so much versatility and bringing all the spaces together. As a photographer, it was also really helpful for quickly dashing from one place to another!
Ellie and Jack decorated Brookfield Barn's main space with flowing, romantic white drapes, fairy lights, and rustic floral and wooden centrepieces. It all suited the venue perfectly, and I loved the personal touches they added to each table, detailing their history as a couple.
After a delicious meal, the speeches began, which were full of laughter, anecdotes, and perfectly encapsulated the day.
While all the guests went to relax, we took the opportunity of the bright sun retreating to go and take some couple portraits in the extensive grounds. Having been battling a bit of a cold and fever, I GREATLY enjoyed the breezy joyride on a golf cart to get there, as well as a lie down in the cool grass - though it was a fight to get out of it; I could have happily stayed there for hours!!
Having donned her sister's comfy pink Crocs, Ellie dared a sprint though the grass à la Taylor Swift in her Wildest Dreams video, though in my feverish state, it took me a little while to recall the reference, and asked if she meant Theresa May and her youthful races through fields of wheat. This is probably the only time in history the two have been confused...
Putting that cringey confusion aside - Brookfield Barn is blessed with SO MANY beautiful photo spots, and we picked the perfect time to make the most of them, as the sun began to set and the sky became a perfect medley of blues, pinks, and purples.
When we arrived back at the barn, the groom's Navy colleagues made a traditional saber arch for them to pass through, and we used the last of the daylight to take some photos on the venue's dramatic steps.
Inside, the couple cut their wedding cake with a sword (ALWAYS superior to a knife, just for sheer drama!) and got the dancing underway.
This was one party that did not disappoint, with the guests truly throwing some shapes and giving me plenty to photograph! The purple uplighters and the fairy lights were also perfect for some trippy shutter drag shots.
After an hour or so of dance floor magic, I ventured outside to where the venue's built-in pizza ovens (!!!) were cooking up a storm, and was delighted to discover they had some gluten free dough! I opted to top it with chorizo and little spicy peppers and it was a DELICIOUS ending to such a lovely day.
So, in summary:
Lush venue
Perfect field to recreate Taylor Swift music videos in
Top notch pizza!
I mean, do you need any more reasons to consider this as your perfect Sussex barn wedding venue?!
I'd love to work as a wedding photographer at Brookfield Barn again, so if I'm the photographer you've dreamt of in your wildest dreams, you'd better run towards the little button below and get in touch to see if I'm free on your date!
The amazing wedding suppliers who made Ellie and Jack's big day come together were...
Photographer: Queen Bea Photography
Videographer: Chris Bennett Films
Florist: Labour Of Love Flowers Arundel
Make up and hair: Suzanne Dusek Hair & Makeup
Venue décor: To Have and to Hire
DJ/band/singers: The After Party Band
Stationery: Daisy Dots
Bridesmaid outfits: Maids to Measure
Groomsmen/best man outfits: Moss Bros
Bride's outfit: Ronald Joyce at Anya Bridal
Bride's shoes: Russell and Bromley