A couple kiss in a garden lit by golden evening light

Shan and Ashley chose brand-new venue Moat Hall Barns for their scorching, sunny May wedding, and what a day they had!

The grade 2 listed barn has been lovingly restored by owners Amy and Ben, with exposed beams and rustic brickwork providing a lovely backdrop, and the option of the mezzanine-level Hayloft for ceremonies in addition to the lakeside, which was the spot Ashley and Shan opted for on their brilliantly sunny wedding day. I was delighted to be one of the first photographers to shoot at Moat Hall (with Ash and Shan’s big day taking place just a week after the venue’s first ever wedding), as not only do I love a barn wedding, but this venue is only five minutes away from my home, situated just outside the village of Annscroft, near Shrewsbury, and there are some lovely spots for couples and their guests to enjoy in this rural location.

As a dry-hire venue, couples are free to style the barns however they wish, and Shan and Ash opted for a boho vibe, with soft pampas grass and muted sage linens setting the tone. I love the personalised neon sign they brought to hang behind their sweetheart table in the Top Barn, proudly proclaiming their married name!

I spent some time in the morning with both bride Shan, her bridesmaids and two sweet flower girls - the couple’s young daughter and her cousin (who are absolute BFFs!), and groom Ashley and his groomsmen, as they got ready for the day ahead in different locations in central Shrewsbury before heading out to Moat Hall.

The couple’s daughter walked down the aisle hand-in-hand with Shan, to meet an emotional Ash at the wooden gazebo by the venue’s lake. After their exchange of vows and rings, and sealing their marriage with a kiss, the couple’s friends and family showered them with confetti, congratulations and plenty of hugs. A relaxed afternoon in the sun was enjoyed by all, with lawn games and a bouncy castle keeping little ones (and some big kids too!) busy. Groom Ash (who is also known as The Mindsweeper) is a champion wrestler and he and the guys broke out the leaps and flips on the bouncy castle in a rare few minutes when it was free of children (the couple’s daughter barely stopped bouncing all day - I wish I had half that kind of energy!).

The couple opted for a fish and chip van to feed their guests, followed by ice cream, which were perfect choices for the super sunny day. Ash and Shan made a really fun wrestling-style entrance into their reception, (high fives all round!) with Shan donning a denim jacket her sister had personalised along with cute heart-shaped sunglasses and Ash looking suave in his black attire and shades. After a few speeches in the barn I stole the couple away for some photographs down on the little jetty by the lake, and as the sun dropped below the horizon we were treated to a beautiful golden hour too.

Rather than a couple’s first dance, Shan and Ash chose to mix things up and have a daddy-daughter dance as the first of the evening, with Ash twirling his beloved little girl around the floor before other fathers and daughters joined them - a deeply sweet moment. After some more dancefloor action the couple and their guests ventured out into the night for a sparkler exit to round off a fantastic day of celebrations.

Supplier shout-out:

  • Bridal party hair: Jenny Spoon

  • Bridal party make-up: Creations by Charlotte

  • Bride’s dress: Madeline Gardner gown from Lucy Alexander Bridal in Stafford

  • DJ: Layton at LDJ Events

 
A flat-lay image of wedding details, including invitations, a ring box, dried flowers, perfume and jewellry.
A couple's wedding rings sit inside a wooden heart-shaped box.
Monochrome image of bride Shan having make-up applied on the morning of her wedding.
A bridesmaid has make-up applied on the wedding morning.
A flowergirl has her hair curled on the wedding morning.
Bride Shan receives flowers from her husband-to-be on the morning of their wedding.
Bride Shan reads a card attached to a bouquet of flowers on her wedding day.
Groom Ash does up an orange tie as he dresses for his wedding.
A man wearing a black shirt and orange tie and braces holds a dried flower boutonniere.
Groom Ash pins a boutonniere onto the lapel of his father's jacket.
Groom Ash, wearing a dark suit and orange tie, adjusts his cufflinks as he dresses for his wedding.
Groom Ash pins a dried flower buttonhole onto his best man's jacket lapel.
Groom Ash laughs with his three groomsmen as they get ready together for his wedding.
Two groomsmen wearing grey checked jackets and sage green ties pour drinks into pint glasses.
A groom and his three friends raise their glasses in a toast on the wedding morning.
After getting dressed for a wedding, the groom and his four groomsmen laugh at the camera.
A bride's white wedding shoes sit atop the long lacy train of her gown.
A bridesmaid in a sparkly sage green dress does up the buttons on the back of the bride's wedding dress.
A bride with long dark hair holds a dried flower wedding bouquet whilst standing in front of a window.
A brunette bride shows off the back of her wedding dress as she stands by a window.
A bride's young daughter sits in the bride's lap to have her hair arranged.
Two young flowergirls in white dresses sit together on the morning of a wedding.
Bride Shan smiles with her three bridesmaids, all dressed in long sage green dresses with dried flower bouquets.
A bride in a wedding gown laughs with three bridesmaids wearing sparkly sage green dresses.
Groom Ash and his three groomsmen walk through the yard at Moat Hall Barns in Shropshire.
A groom walks through a rustic farmyard at Shropshire wedding venue Moat Hall Barns.
Four friends laugh as they walk through a farmyard on their way to a wedding at Moat Hall Barns.
A groom wearing a dark suit and sunglasses stands in front of a brick wall.
Close-up detail of a dried flower boutonniere pinned to the dark suit jacket of a groom.
A wooden chair bears a label hanging from green ribbon to reserve the seat for the mother of the bride.
A bridemaid in a sparkly sage green dress holds the hand of a young flowergirl dressed in white as they walk down the aisle.
Groom Ash sheds a tear as he sees his bride and young daughter walking down the aisle towards him.
Bride Shan holds the hand of her young daughter, wearing a flowergirls' white dress, as they walk down the aisle together.
A groom in a dark suit exchanges rings with his bride at the lakeside gazebo at Moat Hall Barns.
A couple exchange rings during their wedding ceremony at Moat Hall Barns, in the lakeside gazebo.
The bride's parents watch as a couple exchange wedding vows in a sunny outdoor ceremony.
The groom's mother and young niece watch the couple exchange rings during a lakeside wedding ceremony.
Groom Ash reads personalised vows during his wedding ceremony at Moat Hall Barns's lakeside gazebo.
A bridesmaid wearing a sequined sage green gown watched as the couple exchange vows during an outdoor lakeside wedding ceremony.
Monochrome image of a couple exchanging personalised vows during a lakeside wedding ceremony.
Bride Shan reads personalised wedding vows to her groom Ash during a lakeside ceremony in Shropshire.
A young flower girl smiles as she watches a wedding ceremony.
A newly-wed couple share a kiss underneath the wooden lakeside gazebo at Moat Hall Barns in Shropshire.
Wide-angle view of a couple's first kiss at the lakeside gazebo at Shropshire wedding venue Moat Hall Barns.
A newly-wed couple smile at each other as they sign the marriage register under the lakeside gazebo at Moat Hall Barns.
Bride Shan and groom Ash's mothers sign their marriage register as witnesses following the wedding ceremony.
Personalised confetti cones hold brightly-coloured petals.
Groom Ash raises his arm in the air as he walks hand in hand with his new wife while guests toss confetti over the couple.
Two young flowergirls throw confetti over a newly-married couple.
A newly-wed couple hold hands with their young daughter as they walk together after the wedding ceremony.
A male family member hugs the bride following an outdoor wedding ceremony.
Groom Ash hugs a friend dressed in a blue checked suit after an outdoor wedding ceremony at Moat Hall Barns.
The bride and her sister hug after an outdoor wedding ceremony.
Family members smile at a young baby wearing a sunhat.
A bridesmaid in a sparkly green dress smiles at her baby in a candid photo.
A groom wearing a dark suit and sunglasses holds a drink in a champagne flute during an outdoor wedding reception.
A female wedding guest clasps her hands in delight as she talks to a bridesmaid during the reception.
Wedding guests smile and chat whilst seated at a picnic table during an outdoor wedding reception.
A make guest wearing sunglasses and a blue suit hugs groom Ash while a female guest in an orange dress watches.
A groomsman in a grey checked jacket sits on the grass, holding a young baby on his lap.
A group of male wedding guests laugh and chat together during the drinks reception.
Wedding guests enjoy the June sunshine during an outdoor drinks reception.
Two young wedding guests jump on a bouncy castle.
A young girl wearing a white flowergirl dress jumps on a green bouncy castle.
A male wedding guest does a somersault on a green bouncy castle.
A man wearing a grey suit plays a lawn game with two young flower girls in white dresses.
Bride Shan stands surrounded by her bridesmaids and flower girls in the gardens at Moat Hall Barns.
Two young flowergirls stand together in front of a garden wall topped with purple flowers.
A dark-haired bride wearing a wedding dress with a long lacy train stands in a garden among her bridesmaids, dressed in sequined sage green gowns.
Groom Ash and his groomsmen pose for a formal portrait in the gardens at Moat Hall Barns.
Groom Ash smiles at his groomsmen in a garden portrait.
Monochrome image of a groom and his three groomsmen, all wearing sunglasses.
A groom and his groomsmen strike a silly pose in the gardens at Shropshire wedding venue Moat Hall Barns.
Groom Ash holds his young daughter on his hip as they smile at each other.
A newly-wed couple hold their young daughter between them for a wedding day portrait in a shady garden.
A couple both lean in to kiss their young daughter on her cheeks during a wedding portrait.
A brunette bride in a wedding gown holds her young daughter on her hip as both smile at the camera.
A dark-haired bride wearing a wedding dress kisses her young daughter in a garden.
A couple and their young daughter cuddle together during wedding portraits in a shady garden.
A groom holds his new wife's waist as they stand together in a Shropshire garden.
Couple Ash and Shan sit together in the sunny garden at Moat Hall Barns, with the bride's wedding dress train spread wide.
A newly-wed couple smile at each other, framed by purple flowers in the foreground.
Detail of a couple's hands to show their wedding rings on the day of their marriage.
A bride and groom in wedding attire kiss in front of a small brick building with a dark green door.
Male wedding guests jump and flip on a green bouncy castle.
A man wearing a dark suit and orange tie holds the hands of a young girl in a white dress as they jump together on a green bouncy castle.
A groom and his three groomsmen jump together on a green bouncy castle.
A group of friends lift the groom into the air.
A wedding guest in a purple floral dress plays a lawn game during a wedding reception outdoors.
A man wearing a pale pink shirt and pink floral patterned suit laughs with friends during a wedding reception.
A couple play a lawn game during Ash and Shan's outdoor wedding reception.
Two men wearing matching straw hats stand facing a lake.
A man dressed in a kilt and black jacket feeds his young grandchild an ice cream.
A woman wearing a cream jacket is served fish and chips from a van at a wedding reception.
A flowergirl sits on her grandfather's shoulders to order from a fish and chip van.
A neon sign mounted against a brick wall spells out the name of the newly-married couple at a wedding reception.
The Top Barn at Shropshire wedding venue Moat Hall Barns is set up with long tables for a wedding reception.
Details of table decor at a wedding reception, including a knotted sage green napkin, name card and personalised cookie.
View of the Top Barn at Moat Hall Barns, dressed for a wedding reception with long tables and a neon sign.
A cream fabric table runner, vases of dried grasses and candles decorate tables for a wedding reception.
A circular acrylic sign and cream fabric runner decorate a table at a wedding reception.
Bride Shan and groom Ash hold their hands in the air as they make a dramatic entrance into their wedding reception.
A bride wearing heart-shaped sunglasses and a denim jacket over her wedding dress gives guests a high five.
The bride's mother and grandmother give a speech during a wedding reception.
Wedding guests smile as they listen to speeches after the wedding breakfast.
A man dressed in a grey checked suit jacket and sage green tie gives a best man speech during a wedding reception.
Groom Ash laughs during his best man's speech.
Bride Shan laughs during her new husband's speech in their wedding reception.
A female relative smiles during the wedding reception.
A groom dressed in a dark suit and orange tie and braces points a finger and smiles as he makes a speech.
A couple dressed in wedding attire stand together on a wooden jetty overlooking a lake, underneath a blue sky.
A groom bends his new wife backwards into a dip as he kisses her on a wooden jetty.
A groom dips his bride into a kiss on a lakeside wooden jetty.
A couple hold each other in a wedding portrait taken at the lake in the grounds of Moat Hall Barns near Shrewsbury.
A couple stand with their arms wrapped around each other's waist, looking out across a lake in Shropshire.
A brunette bride wears a personalised denim jacket over her wedding dress, whilst standing near a lake.
A couple and their daughter smile at the camera for a lakeside portrait on the jetty at Moat Hall Barns.
A newly-wed couple hold their daughter's hands and swing her in the air next to a lake.
A flowergirl is swung into the air by her parents, whilst standing on a wooden jetty in front of a lake.
A flowergirl and her cousin, wearing white dresses, strike a pose on a wooden lakeside jetty.
Two flowergirls, wearing white dresses and matching sunglasses, hug each other in front of the lake at Moat Hall Barns in Shropshire.
A baby sits between two flowergirls, while one puts sunglasses on the baby's face.
Two flowergirls wearing white dresses fuss and kiss a baby whilst sitting on a wooden jetty near a lake.
A bride wearing a denim jacket over her wedding dress leans in to kiss the groom, lit by Golden Hour light.
A dark-haired bride wearing a wedding dress and denim jacket holds hands with a groom wearing a dark suit in a garden during Golden Hour.
A couple kiss in a garden lit by golden evening light.
A groom lifts his dark-haired bride up as he kisses her under golden evening light.
A three-tier wedding cake is decorated with ivory buttercream, flakes of gold leaf and dried grasses.
Bride Shan and groom Ash cut their three-tiered wedding cake.
Groom Ash holds his young daughter in his arms as they dance together.
A bridesmaid in a sage green dress dances with her father at a wedding reception in Moat Hall Barns.
Two men dance with their young daughters on their shoulders.
Male wedding guests strike air guitar poses as they dance during the evening reception.
A man in a maroon suit dances with his daughter during a wedding reception.
A flowergirl twirls her white dress as she dances during a wedding reception.
A young girl wearing a floaty white dress twirls around on a dancefloor in a barn venue.
A woman wearing a green patterned dress strikes a pose on the dancefloor at Moat Hall Barns.
A man wearing a burgundy suit dances enthusiastically during a Moat Hall Barns wedding reception.
A bride and groom dance the macarena with their wedding guests.
A bride wearing a denim jacket dances with her groom at their evening wedding reception.
A bride wearing heart-shaped sunglasses and a denim jacket over her wedding dress dances the macarena.
A groom wearing a dark suit, sunglasses and orange tie dances the macarena.
Three male friends strike a pose on the dancefloor at Moat Hall Barns in Shropshire.
Bride Shan dances at her wedding reception at Moat Hall Barns, near Shrewsbury,
Wedding guests hold lit sparklers around a newly-wed couple in the evening.
Monochrome image of a sparkler exit for bride Shan and groom Ash.
A couple kiss whilst illuminated by sparklers on the evening of their wedding.
A couple stand at night under the wooden gazebo by the lake at Moat Hall Barns, lit by fairy lights.