High Barn, Eden Hall Estate

Solo shooter - Jo Greenfield: Photo and Highlight Film - film below.

On a sunny, calm and quiet Saturday morning I drove up to High Barn on the Eden Hall Estate. The clue is very much in the name. A barn that’s really high up in the cumbrian fells. It was such a stunning setting for Kaia and Stu’s wedding day. They were having a topsy turvy day and the kinda day I have grown to love over the past two years.

Starting at 11.30am was a celebrant led ceremony in the woods led by Birds and Bees Celebrant. It was stunning. Hay bales formed the seating for their 50 guests. It was styled beautifully and simply by Emma from Emma Jane events and Katie from Forage and foliage.

The bridal party got ready in High barn and the grooms party got ready at another one of eden hall’s properties down by the river. The house was buzzing with music, dancing, laughter and such a chilled vibe. It was lovely. The bridal party wore a forest green colour, dresses for the girls and a green tweed suit for the brides man. Kaia herself wore the most stunning Jesus Pieruo dress with huge shoulders and Pockets. Incredible!

Almost time for the ceremony and an emotional one it was indeed. Kaia walked down the aisle to the best song ever. No romantic instrumental, no harps or singer. No, she waked down the aisle to a song Neil Frances - music sounds better with you….that was upbeat, crazy but meant something to the pair of them and something that Kaia said would distract the guests long enough to ensure the focus wasn’t solely on her big walk.

By far one of my fave shots on a wedding day is the confetti shot. From the faces of the couple to the faces and positions that the guests chucking the stuff get into, there’s no denying that it makes a great photo. This day was no exception. When Kaia’s bridesman tried to chuck the basket of left over confetti as part of a group shot, it went horribly and hilariously wrong….

After their small ceremony of 50 I took them both off for some photos in the woods and down to the lodge near the river. Mainly to give them some time to themselves as after their meal they were inviting another 150 guests for an afternoon sesh. I knew that as soon as those guests started to arrive from 4pm that I wouldn’t have any chance of getting any more couple shots after that point.

So into the tipi we went… and feast we did. Speeches followed and they were just lovely. The tipi was styled beautifully and Kaia had hand made all her candle and wax melt favours herself. She started doing this as a hobby in lockdown and decided to do them for her own wedding. I’m so glad because hands down they are the most beautiful smelling candles I’ve ever smelt. So much so, we may be working together in the future!

Meal over and done with and the afternoon guests started to arrive. Most headed straight to the cocktail bar and games area. Stu had bought this game which by the sound of it had caused a few arguments in the wedding planning. Safe to say it was a hit and for the rest of the day Stu could be found beating everybody he tried to challenge. There was also Jenga and another throwing game which seemed to descend into violence as the evening went on.

Kaia had written in her booking form that she absolutely must be thrown in the air on her wedding day to my horror. I wasn’t quite on board with this new trend and I’d only just got got my business up and running again after two years of you know what. The last thing I wanted was a law suit on me for a damaged bride wanting a photo. Anyway, Kaia was persistent and so it happened. It didn’t go to plan, infact it went horribly wrong but It made a fabulous photo. Moving swiftly on to the night doo….