RELAXED BARN WEDDING AT SOUTHWOOD HALL // A & L

ROMANTIC RELAXED BARN WEDDING AT SOUTHWOOD HALL IN NORWICH, NORFOLK – AZARA & LIAM

If you love beautiful warm styling and wildflowers then you’ll adore this wintery, relaxed barn wedding!

Azara and Liam got married at the beautiful Southwood Hall, Norwich, Norfolk, in February. It was a crazy wintery wedding, with so much detail in the styling with flowers and candles everywhere. I really connected with these two from the moment they first enquired so I was incredibly excited to be their photographer and celebrate with them.

Getting ready

Azara got ready in the lodge over the way from the barn with her mum and bridesmaids; there was such a happy vibe. Azara presented her girls with super thoughtful gifts once their hair and make-up was finished, though she probably should have done it beforehand because they all had a little cry! She wore a gorgeous dress from Cheshire Bridal Suite and let’s just talk about THOSE SHOES! Well, they were Badgley Mishka and looked so incredible. She then walked the short distance to get to the ceremony.

Liam got ready at the house by the barn with his mum, dad and groomsmen. He wore a suit from Slaters with their ties from TM Lewin – I think we can all agree he looked really dapper. The boys travelled to the ceremony on foot too. Azara got Liam some pretty swanky gifts and also made him howl with laughter with tiny stuffed toy dog (all part of her grand plan to persuade him to let them get a real one some day!).

The ceremony

The ceremony took place in the main barn room in front of the glass doors with the February light shining on them. The area was filled with gorgeous flowers and candles which made it so cosy. The service began with the pair saying personal vows they’d written themselves, and finished with a giant cheer from everyone. It was a wonderful ceremony, full of excited hand squeezes and so much love. Their readings were hilarious and bloomin’ romantic all in equal measure.

After the ceremony, the couple mingled with their guests, which was the perfect time for me to grab some candid photos. Next up, we did some family photos at the speed of light because it was super cold and everyone needed to get inside in the warm stat! While all their guests warmed up indoors over canapés, we got some really special couples photos outdoors by the meadow – Azara and Liam completely smashed it at pretending they weren’t freezing, ha! The weather was all sunshine and blue skies, but don’t let that fool you – the temperature was in the minus numbers!

The reception

Azara and Liam chose to have their wedding at Southwood Hall because it is beautifully cosy in winter and screamed the relaxed, happy vibe they were searching for. Southwood Hall is an old barn with a really unique atmosphere, especially in the main room when the golden sun is setting and the hazy light is shining in over the reception.

For the reception, the couple had organised mini burgers and other cute canapés for their guests – everyone loved it and they were gone in a flash. Everyone was then called in for the wedding breakfast, which was a slap up three course meal. It was absolutely delicious – high five to the catering team for being incredible. They had speeches after the meal, which were really touching….until the best man speech which was just HILARIOUS. Azara was on Take Me Out a few years back before meeting Liam, so they reenacted it with different Liams from different stages of his life. Just FYI, drunk Liam was my personal fave.

The party

After the reception, guests tucked into the sweet table, the wedding cake and had a go in the photobooth. Not long after that the dancefloor was packed from the moment the first dance finished until the very last song.

Azara kindly wrote a blog post with advice for brides planning a winter wedding day – check it out and pick up some tips here!

I loved this wintery Southwood Hall wedding so much. If you’re getting married and looking for a relaxed wedding photographer, get in touch.