Stratton Court Barn Wedding Photographer - Emma and Simon

An outdoor wedding at an Oxfordshire rustic barn location

We photographed the lovely Stratton Court Barn Wedding of Emma and Simon, on a sunny September day in 2019. It is always a priviledge to photograph at this lovely Oxfordshire barn location; not least in that it is just three miles from our Bicester home! Stratton Court Barn is a gorgeous rustic location to host a wedding. Set in the Oxfordshire countryside, but convenient also for Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, Stratton Court is a sole use wedding venue, fully licenced for wedding ceremonies. As well as the large ceremony room, that can seat 90 guests, there is also a separate bar and lounge area for the wedding guests to have a drink, and of course for the post wedding dancing. When you add in the dedicated bridal preparation room and the lovely gardens and fields surrounding the venue, Stratton Court really is a perfect place to get married in Oxfordshire.

For Emma and Simon’s big day, the weather gods smiled on them, and they were able to have their wedding ceremony and their wedding breakfast outside on the courtyard of the barn. We know Emma and Simon well, as friends, whom we got to know at a local pub. In addition Ness (one of Emma’s bridesmaids) and Sean, who run the wonderful Chilterns pub The Blackwood Arms, are also good friends, who gave us good advice when we ran a pub several years ago. Emma’s other bridesmaid Louise we also know well (she also runs a pub; the Red Lion, Penn!)

As usual, Sam’s day started with bride and bridesmade preparation at Emma and Simon’s home. In my case, I was with Simon and his best man at a Turkish barbers in Bicester! (I made a mental note never to have my ears and nose waxed - ouch!).

I arrived at Stratton Court with Simon to photograph his family and guests arriving. Sam arrived with Emma and the bridesmaids. I photographed the ceremony from the front and to the side, including the part when the couple have to step in side to do the legal part of the ceremony (due to the arcane licencing laws in the UK). Sam as normal was stationed at the back of proceeding, to be in pole position for the first kiss photo and the couples recessional.

Karin, the wonderful wedding co-ordinator at Stratton Court Barn and her team did a great job of ensuring Emma and Simon’s guests were well supplied with drinks and canapes. After a few group photos in the nice garden area, we joined the wedding party for a wonderful ourdoor sit down meal. The courtyard at Stratton Court Barn is perfect for an outdoor wedding breakfast. After some amusing speeches, the bride and groom enjoyed mingling with their guests in the summer evening sun, before the partying and dancing started. As always, we stayed well into the evening to capture the dancing, as well as a sparkler run.

Thanks so much to Emma and Simon for having us along, and also to Karin and her team, whom we always enjoy working with.

Here is a selection of some of our documentary wedding photos from the day.

If you are looking for an Oxfordshire wedding barn location then Stratton Court Barn should be at the top of your list. And, if you would like a husband and wife team of wedding photographers to photograph your Oxfordshire wedding, we would love to hear from you! You can contact us by clicking the button below.