Grangefields Wedding Photography
I’ve photographed weddings at various Cripp’s venues over the years and have loved it every time. They put in so much work to make everything feel extra special and the spaces are stunning. So, when I found out they were opening one fifteen minutes from my house I was so excited to get to photograph there. Last month, thanks to the utterly lovely Katy and Oliver, it finally happened!
Grangefields is tucked away in the countryside close to Ashbourne. It’s easy to find on map apps which is important because you don’t want your guests circling the area trying to find the right lane! It’s a simple logistical thing, objectively boring to talk about but actually so important for the day running smootly.
The Ceremony
The ceremony space is a gorgeous redbrick barn with vaulted ceilings. Barns can sometimes be a bit dark, but the huge windows throw gorgeous light onto the couple as they say their vows. It would be an amazing winter wedding venue for that same reason - as long as the ceremony happens before sunset you could create something so special with warm white cosy fairy lights and candles in the background.
Here’s how Katy and Oliver set up the barn for their April wedding:
If you’re having a civil ceremony, you’ll be glad to hear that the local registrars are lovely. As a photographer, it’s always a bit nerve-wracking working at a new venue and not being sure where you’ll be allowed to stand so I was super chuffed that they were happy for me to stand up by the front. While the room is beautiful from a guest’s point of view, for the photos, it’s always my preference to be able to capture the connection between the couple as well as the reactions of the guests.
After the ceremony
Then comes the reception! Grangefields has so many lovely spaces where guests can hang out. After Katy and Oliver’s ceremony we headed to the courtyard for confetti, drinks and canapes. There were shady spots for people who needed it and plenty of space to enjoy the unexpected April sunshine.
no one’s favourite bit (the group shots)
The ceremony room would also work perfectly as a space to do group shots and couple photos if you didn’t want or couldn’t head outside. Katy and Oliver’s day was a scorcher, so we didn’t need to. Taking a photo with all the wedding guests is another thing that can be tricky to navigate at a new venue. Though my work is mostly relaxed and informal, I still do group shots at the couple’s request so it’s up to me to make it work with the location we have. Ideally it’s somewhere where the sun won’t be too bright on the guests’ faces, where I can be elevated and take the shot from above so it’s easier to get everyone in and close enough to where the action is that we don’t have a tricky time trying to get everyone from a to b. My couples tend to want to spend as much time laughing, hugging and eating canipes with their guests as possible and candid shots are my favourite to take so we all want to keep posed time to a minimum. At Grangefields, setting up this group shot was super-easy. The guests were in the courtyard for the drinks reception anyway so it was simply a case of getting their attention and gathering them while I stood up some steps to get some height.
I chose the other side of the barn for the wedding party shots, with the red brick wall making a great backdrop as well as making it easy for everyone to understand how to stand in a straight line - something that sounds easy until you’re trying to get people to do it for a wedding photo. Herding cats, I tells ye!
the dutch barn
HOLY. MOLY. Grangefield’s dutch barn is some kind of corrugated metal heaven. One wall is lined with windows, with the opposite side offering a contrasting black. The textured silver ceiling has a gentle shimmer, and to the end of the room, you get a view into the kitchen where all sorts of magic is happening (all I’m saying is I’ve never tasted wedding food that good!) Katy and Oliver enlisted the help of a venue dresser who brought in the blossom trees that added the perfect finishing touch. After the food and speeches, they hired a singing waiter to surprise the guests and he almost ripped that silver roof right off the barn! Normally, there’s a bit of a lull in the space between the meal and the party but not on this occasion. Within a few seconds people were dancing on their chairs.
Couple photos
Similarly to group shots, I try not to let the photos of just the couple get in the way of the day. Stealing you away for an hour and a half while the guests wonder if you’ve run off on honeymoon early isn’t my cup of tea. I pick my moments carefully. I’ll get a few towards the end of the drinks reception but actually, I find that often, the best time to head out for ten minutes is between courses or after the speeches. By that stage the couple is usually ready to take a little breather and catch up with each other. We were lucky enough to get the most beautiful sunset at Katy and Oliver’s wedding so dashing out in the early evening was a no-brainer.
party time, excellent
I’m surprised anyone had any energy left to party after the singing waiter experience but Katy and Oliver’s guests made the most of the space into the evening. The dancefloor was inside a smaller building connecting the two barns which meant that it wasn’t overwhelmingly big and the atmosphere was concentrated into the space. For those wanting to chill out and have a proper conversation, the courtyard and Dutch barn were perfect.
If you’re interested in booking me for your wedding at Grangefields I would LOVE to hear from you. As it’s very local to me I offer a discount of £150 off my packages so take a look, browse my other work and drop me a line!