Clock Barn
Popular all-in-one north hampshire venue with accommodation
I've always got a spring in my step when know I've got a day ahead of me photographing a wedding at Clock Barn. This beautifully presented, self-contained cluster of buildings and grounds is one of Hampshire's most popular wedding venues for a reason. Situated just off the A34 to the north of the county, between Hampshire and Whitchurch and within easy reach of the M3, M4 and A303, it has wedding couples coming from far and wide to make it theirs for the day.
The beauty of an all-in-one venue like Clock Barn is that once you've cruised down the long drive which sweeps through rolling north-Hampshire countryside you know that's it - you've got everything in once place and ready to go. Along with a range of on-site accommodation options you've got an enormous and immaculate preparation suite with separate dressing room and purpose-built hair and make-up stations, and further ante-rooms for others to get ready without any risk of separate sides of the wedding party seeing each other before the big reveal.
The barn itself is obviously the main attraction - a huge timber-framed building which can see action throughout the day as a ceremony space, dining hall and later in the evening as the party kicks off. Alongside the central barn you have further reception rooms offering spaces to chill out through the drinks reception and again later in the evening. And then through those huge barn doors you step out into the grounds which are such a big sell, and which tick a whole bunch of boxes on the photo front. Wildflower meadows, orchards, formal landscaped and terraced gardens which an abundance of flowers and colour throughout the year, outdoor pizza oven, and over on the other side the lovely courtyard area in the middle of the various other buildings and rooms which can all be yours for the day.
One of the things I really love about photographing a Clock Barn wedding is that I never feel for a moment like I'm repeating myself on the photo front for my couples: there is literally so much to work with that you can bring something new to the party every time, and find all those locations which really suit the couple and the conditions on the day. It's all about the weddings at Clock Barn and that really comes across from the first moment you set eyes on it.
OVERVIEW:
Wedding guests approach the Barn down one of two long driveways, coming either from Whitchurch or directly off the A34. While they get to enjoy the formal gardens and ante-rooms before the ceremony the wedding party is tucked away from prying eyes on the opposite site of the central courtyard in the recently refurbished dressing rooms. Other wedding party members can make make use of smaller rooms to get ready in the main barn, or in one of the many accommodation rooms if they are staying on site.
The main barn is the most popular option for ceremonies - a beautiful, oak-beamed building which also doubles as the dining room later in the day (turned around while your guests are otherwise occupied in other rooms and outside during the drinks reception). Alternatively, the paddock offers a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space in the sunnier Summer months.
Throughout the course of the day the action flows from room to room. A huge advantage at this particular venue with the number of spaces on offer is that any setting up for the next part of the day, whether it be the band, photo booth or drinks stations, can all take place out of sight. Later in the evening the gardens can once again come into play as the massive outdoor pizza oven comes into play - always a popular way to keep your hardest-partying guests fed as the night descends.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:
More locations than you can shake a stick at, from literally right outside the barn doors - just a short step into the formal landscaped gardens and the wilder scenery of the paddocks beyond, right out into the further reaches of the estate for more adventurous couples looking to strike out that bit further (a great opportunity to capture on of those iconic photographs of the couple with the long drive disappearing into the distance). On the accommodation side of the barn, away from the spaces where most of your guests will be spending their time, you've got the wonderful courtyard with flowers, trees, farmhouse and stable blocks as your backdrop and a further series of garden spaces - perfect if you prefer to have your portrait session with a little more privacy.
Even if the weather decides not to play ball, the indoor spaces across the estate - the accommodation suites, main barn and side rooms, offer a dryer and more comfortable option. Having everything right on the doorstep also means that even if you do have to get a little more creative with your couple portraits and seize little moments as they present themselves, you can literally just snatch them a minute or two at a time, without having to tear yourself away from the rest of the celebrations.
