MAY MILLING BARN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY | JOLENE AND ANDY

Aug 28

4 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

A couple embraces under a tree in a sunlit field, surrounded by greenery. The woman wears a floral dress, and the scene evokes romance and warmth.

MAY MILLING BARN WEDDING

Jolene and Andy wanted a relaxed wedding with the focus on family and friends having a great time at Milling Barn in Hertfordshire in the May sunshine.

Jolene's top wedding planning tip is to remember that it is supposed to be fun! "So many people said to me that it is like a full time job to plan a wedding and it felt like work at first because I was planning what I thought a wedding should be. A friend reminded me that it’s our wedding and so we can just do what we want to do - once I realised I could have dinosaurs in my decor and it didn’t have to be serious, I really enjoyed it!"

Sarah Whyte, owner of Purple Kite Photography, sitting on a bridge in Hertford, Hertfordshire

Hi, I'm Sarah!

I love being able to document the raw emotions and excitement of a wedding day and take pride in delivering stunning images that my couples will cherish for a lifetime.

I create a calm and relaxed atmosphere for my clients, ensuring that they feel at ease and enjoy every moment of their day.

Although I'm based in Hertford, I'm not just a Hertfordshire Wedding Photographer. I can travel all over the UK (and beyond) for your Wedding.

A couple embraces, smiling warmly. The woman holds a colourful bouquet. They're in front of a weathered, corrugated metal shed.

Jolene and Andy wanted somewhere to be able to have the ceremony and the reception in the same place. Milling Barn is such a beautiful venue - they loved the wisteria on the outside of the old barn, the swing near the horse field and the grounds were amazing and felt like the perfect choice for them.

Couple in wedding attire sits on a swing under a lush tree, holding a colorful bouquet. Sunlit grassy field with a wooden fence and a sign nearby.

Jolene and Andy’s Wedding Day at Milling Barn

Jolene and her bridesmaids had a chilled morning in the beautiful dressing room at Milling Barn, being pampered by Beth and Saskia before the ceremony.

Jolene's dress, from About a Bride, stood out to her immediately with its stunning embroidered flowers all over. It originally came with separate sleeves to be worn halfway down the arm but the seamstress reworked them to make them attached sleeves. She paired the dress with white trainers, so she could be confortable all day. I'm with her all the way on that one!

Wedding Ceremony in the romantic Oak Barn

An emotional and beautiful ceremony followed in the Oak Barn, lit by candlelight and twinkling fairy lights.

Bride in floral dress holds bouquet, walking down a rustic, flower-decorated aisle with escorted family. Guests watch, barn setting.

Bride and groom exchange rings in a rustic barn setting. Guests observe. Floral decor surrounds them. Warm, joyful atmosphere.

Man in tweed suit places ring on woman's hand with floral dress. Emotional moment in rustic setting, soft lighting, warm ambiance.

Couple kissing in a rustic venue with floral decor and seated guests clapping. Bride wears a floral dress, creating a joyful wedding scene.

A couple smiles at each other in a floral venue, holding hands. Guests clap in the background. Mood is joyful and festive.

Bride and groom walk down a rustic barn aisle. Guests clap; woman holds child. The bride holds a colourful bouquet, creating a joyful mood.

Confetti moment

Bride and groom exit a barn, smiling, as guests throw confetti. The bride wears a floral dress, the groom a tweed suit. Sunny day.

Couple kissing surrounded by cheering guests throwing confetti. Brick building in background. Joyful wedding scene with floral dress details.

Man in suit holding colourful flower bouquet, surrounded by people in festive attire, including a child in a dress. Outdoor setting.

Couple portraits in the stunning Hertfordshire Countryside.

They took some time away from the party to have a quiet moment together, then visited all of their favourite spots in the expansive grounds for some portraits.

A couple embraces joyfully near a rusty metal shed. The woman holds colorful flowers. Green grass and a rural landscape surround them.

Bride and groom pose joyfully under blooming wisteria against a brick wall. Bride holds a colorful bouquet; signs read "Milling Barn" and "Oak Barn."

Bride and groom smiling under a wooden arbour with greenery. Bride holds bouquet; floral dress. Bright, sunny outdoor setting.

A couple stands smiling in a sunny garden by a wooden fence. She holds a flower bouquet, wearing a floral dress; he's in a suit with a boutonniere.

Dinner was in the beautiful Milling Barn which Jolene and Andy had personalised with handmade bunting, lots of fresh flowers and dinosaurs! The wedding speeches were absolute classics - some of the funniest I've ever heard! Plus a few tears too.

Wine bottle and vibrant flowers in glass vases on a wooden table with green fabric. Dinosaurs and rustic decor in a warm, inviting setting.

A woman and a child share a playful moment at a decorated table with flowers and candles, in a lively, rustic setting.

Wooden table with framed photos, playful bunting, and decorative objects against a dark blue wall. Warm, nostalgic atmosphere.

Man in waistcoat gives a speech with microphone, guests smile at a table with colourful flowers, wooden beams in background, festive mood.

Smiling man and woman seated at a festive table with colourful flowers. Warm lighting and blurred background suggest a joyful celebration.

Man in vest gives speech with mic, woman laughs at table with flowers. Rustic wooden beams in background, warm atmosphere.

People laughing at a decorated table with drinks and colourful flowers, set in a wooden room. Warm, joyful atmosphere.

Two children on a staircase, smiling. Girl in blue striped dress, boy in red plaid shirt. Wooden beams and bright lighting in the background.

People in a rustic setting laugh and converse at a table with flowers and drinks. The mood is joyful and relaxed.

Wedding reception in a rustic hall. Guests raise glasses in a toast. Tables are decorated with colourful flowers, creating a joyful atmosphere.

Colourful macaron tower on wood slice, flanked by toy dinosaurs. Bright room with wooden beams and brick wall background. Playful mood.

Entertainment for guests

Before and after dinner there were relaxed drinks in the sunny courtyard outside Milling Barn. Vintage garden games proved a popular distraction for kids and adults alike.

People in suits and dresses socialize in a yard by a wooden building. A man plays ring toss game. Calm and friendly atmosphere.

Two children share a kiss on a wooden deck. Boy in red plaid, girl in blue stripes. Background with festive bunting and wooden fence.

Child in pink dress points while building a giant Jenga tower outside. An adult assists, with a wooden barn in the background.

People mingling outdoors by drink dispensers, one holding a beer, another pouring drink. Bright, sunny setting with umbrellas. Casual mood.

Two children play ring toss outdoors on grass. A boy in a plaid shirt and a girl in a white dress aim for hooks on a wooden board.

Child tosses beanbag at game booth outdoors, observed by three adults. Lush green hedge, colourful targets, and sunny sky in background.

Boy in plaid shirt tosses ring at wooden board game outdoors. A man in a suit with a drink and a toddler in a dress are nearby.

Child in a white dress plays ring toss with adults on a sunny lawn. Wooden board with numbers. People watching, lush garden setting.

Evening Entertainment

Jolene and Andy wanted a DJ that would play all of their favourite tunes, so hired a fabulous Pop Punk & Alternative DJ who put on a fantastic party. The weather was incredible too, so they made the most of time outside chatting to friends and family. For a fun twist on evening snacks they provided a S'mores Bar, an impressive Wedding 'cake' Macaron tower and later served wood fired pizza in the outside kitchen.

A woman in a floral dress roasts marshmallows on an outdoor fire pit with a man in a suit nearby. Jars of marshmallows and a sign visible.

Barrel table with a s'mores setup, including marshmallows in jars, a fire pit, and a sign saying "S'mores Bar always room for more" outdoors.

Woman in green dress roasting marshmallows with a smiling man in a garden setting. Fire pit and marshmallow jars visible.

A couple shares a playful moment, feeding each other a s'more outdoors. The woman wears a floral dress, and the man is in a tweed suit.

A couple dances in a rustic hall as guests watch. She wears a floral dress, he a tweed suit. Warm lighting, happy atmosphere.

Kids in a rustic room admire a colourful macaron tower on a wooden table. Adults nearby, flowers decorate the setting. Warm, lively mood.

Slices of pizza on a wooden board under warm lighting. A pizza oven with a visible fire is in the dim background, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Golden Hour portraits

We were lucky enough to have glorious weather all day, which allowed us a chance to sneak away and capture a few extra portraits in the beautiful golden hour glow.

A couple, smiling and holding hands, walks on a sunny green lawn with lush trees. The woman wears a floral dress; the man is in a suit.

A man and woman dance under a tree in a sunlit garden. She's in a floral dress, and he's in a suit, with greenery and a field behind.

Couple kissing under a leafy archway adorned with string lights. The woman wears a floral dress; the setting is lush and romantic.

WHAT THE COUPLE SAY

"We couldn’t be happier with our experience with Sarah at Purple Kite Photography! From start to finish, she was an absolute dream to work with. She truly listened to what we wanted and captured everything perfectly — and more! One moment that really stood out was when she had already packed up her gear, then suddenly remembered a specific shot we’d discussed earlier. Without hesitation, she got her camera back out and made sure we got it. That level of care and attention to detail is so rare and so appreciated. The final photos are stunning, and we will treasure them forever. If you’re looking for someone who goes above and beyond to capture your special moments, Sarah is the one."

Jolene and Andy

A couple kisses under sunlit greenery next to a brick wall. She wears a floral dress; he has a suit. Lush grass and trees surround them.

THE TEAM

Photographer: Sarah at Purple Kite Photography

Venue: Milling Barn

Dress: About a Bride

Suit: Waterers Menswear

Flowers: Rose and Carter

Hair: Bridal by Saskia

Make-up: Beth Mills

Cake: Mademoiselle Macaron

DJ: The Alt Party Co

Getting Married at Milling Barn

Milling Barn is a stunning barn wedding venue tucked away in the Hertfordshire countryside in Throcking. It’s especially popular with couples who want a laid-back, rural barn vibe with lots of oak beams, great food and plenty of outdoor space to explore.

What I love most about photographing weddings here is:

The charm of the Oak barn for a stunning wedding ceremony
Great backdrops for portraits in every direction
The accommodating team and coordinators – you really can have your day your way
Gorgeous spots for golden hour light

It’s a brilliant venue for natural, documentary-style wedding photography.

Planning Your Wedding at Milling Barn?

If you’re getting married at Milling Barn, Hertfordshire, and are looking for a photographer who’ll help you feel comfortable, relaxed and completely yourselves, I’d love to hear from you.

You can view more of my work or get in touch here: