A Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle – Melissa & Stephen

A Summer Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle

If you are looking for a wedding venue that feels genuinely different, The Old Hay Barn in Birtle is certainly one to consider. Hidden away in the countryside, yet only around 12 miles from Manchester city centre, this 300-year-old barn combines original sandstone walls, exposed timber and rural character with far-reaching views across the surrounding landscape.

Melissa and Stephen made the most of everything this wonderfully quirky venue has to offer. Their summer celebration included a traditional country church ceremony, confetti, guests travelling in a converted sheep trailer, a particularly memorable entrance on a telehandler, singing waiters and even a visit from the farm’s resident donkeys.

It was certainly not a wedding that followed a predictable formula, which is exactly what made it so much fun to photograph.

A Country Church Wedding at St John The Baptist Church

Melissa and Stephen began their wedding celebrations at St John The Baptist Church, a traditional country church located just a few minutes from The Old Hay Barn.

As guests arrived and filled the church, there was a lovely sense of anticipation. The ceremony itself was full of laughter and joy, creating exactly the relaxed atmosphere that would continue throughout the rest of the day.

One particularly special moment came as Melissa walked down the aisle.

As she made her way towards Stephen, she paused to say hello to her Nana. It was such a simple and spontaneous interaction, but also one of those moments that instantly becomes an important part of the story.

Weddings are often at their best when couples allow moments like these to happen naturally. They cannot be planned or recreated, which is exactly what makes them so meaningful to photograph.

The ceremony continued with plenty of smiles from both Melissa and Stephen, surrounded by the people closest to them.

Confetti Outside the Church

Once the ceremony was complete, everyone gathered outside the church ready to celebrate.

Melissa and Stephen emerged as newlyweds into a brilliant flurry of confetti. Guests lined the pathway outside, creating the perfect tunnel as the couple walked through to cheers and applause.

Confetti photographs are always some of the most energetic images from a wedding day. There is movement everywhere, guests are laughing and couples rarely know exactly what is about to hit them.

For Melissa and Stephen, it was the perfect way to begin the celebrations before everyone made their way to their Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle.

Of course, transport to the reception was anything but conventional.

Arriving at The Old Hay Barn in Style

Guests were ferried from the church to the venue in a converted sheep trailer, complete with bunting and hay bales for seating.

It immediately set the tone for what was coming next.

Rather than formal wedding transport, everyone climbed aboard and enjoyed the short journey through the countryside together. It was fun, completely suited to the setting and gave guests something to talk about before they had even arrived.

Melissa and Stephen had their own entrance planned.

Waiting at the bottom of the lane was a Chesterfield sofa positioned on a telehandler. The newlyweds took their seats before being driven up towards their waiting guests.

It was certainly one of the more memorable wedding entrances I have photographed.

Everyone was waiting with drinks in hand as Melissa and Stephen appeared up the lane on their rather unconventional wedding vehicle. The reaction was exactly what they had hoped for.

For couples who want their day to feel relaxed and a little different, a Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle gives you plenty of freedom to inject your own personality into the celebration.

Drinks Overlooking the Countryside

With everyone safely transported to the farm, guests settled into the drinks reception.

The Old Hay Barn occupies a fantastic rural position, surrounded by more than 50 acres of countryside in the Pennine hills. The views stretch across the surrounding landscape and provide a wonderful backdrop for a summer wedding.

Guests could enjoy a drink outside while taking in the scenery and catching up with friends and family.

The venue feels wonderfully removed from the city despite Manchester being relatively close by. That balance makes it particularly appealing for couples who want a countryside wedding without asking guests to travel hours into the middle of nowhere.

There is also a fully licensed horseshoe bar, while spaces including the farmyard and Shippon provide couples with different options for their celebrations.

A Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle feels informal in the best possible way. Guests can move around, explore and enjoy the countryside rather than feeling restricted to one reception room throughout the day.

Wedding Portraits Around the Farm

While guests continued enjoying their drinks, I took Melissa and Stephen away for a short wander around the farm.

This is where the venue really comes into its own from a photography perspective.

Instead of manicured hotel grounds, you have genuine working farm buildings, old stone walls, agricultural features and acres of countryside.

We made use of the rustic farm buildings before stopping around some of the antique tractors. These added plenty of character to the photographs and felt completely appropriate for the setting.

We then headed into the venue’s secret garden.

The change in scenery gave us something completely different without having to venture far from the reception. It also gave Melissa and Stephen a few minutes together away from everyone else.

I always try to keep couple portraits relaxed. The aim is not to disappear for hours while guests are waiting. A short walk, a bit of conversation and some great surroundings are usually all that is needed.

The variety of backgrounds is another reason a Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle works so well for couples who want photographs with character rather than something overly polished.

Wedding Breakfast in the Rustic Barn

Guests were eventually called inside the historic barn for the wedding breakfast.

The Old Hay Barn dates back around 300 years and still retains its original sandstone walls. Natural timber and exposed beams give the room genuine character rather than attempting to recreate a rustic style.

The barn once served its original agricultural purpose, storing hay brought in by horse and cart before changing farming methods eventually made the building redundant. Today it has been given a completely new lease of life as an intimate event space.

Its large open layout also gives couples flexibility when it comes to seating, styling, dining and dancing.

Melissa and Stephen’s guests settled down to a delicious roast dinner, exactly the kind of comforting meal that works perfectly in a rustic barn setting.

Afterwards, an impressive selection of decadent cakes appeared, ensuring nobody was going hungry.

Everything about the meal felt sociable and relaxed, perfectly matching the rest of the day.

A Surprise From the Singing Waiters

Just when everyone thought they knew how the wedding breakfast was going, things took an unexpected turn.

One of the waiters suddenly fell over, dropping spoons and creating a scene in the middle of the room.

For a few seconds there was genuine concern. Guests began moving towards him to help, wondering what had happened.

Then out came the microphone. The whole thing had been a setup.

Within moments, the waiter was singing and the atmosphere in the barn completely changed. Surprise quickly turned into laughter before guests started joining in themselves.

Soon people were out of their seats, singing along and dancing between the tables. It was brilliant.

Singing waiters work particularly well when guests have absolutely no idea they are coming, and judging by the reactions around the room, Melissa and Stephen had managed to keep the secret very well.

It created some fantastic candid photographs and gave the afternoon a huge injection of energy.

This was another moment that summed up their Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle perfectly. Nothing felt overly formal and everyone was encouraged to get involved.

An Evening With Some Very Special Guests

As evening guests began arriving, the celebrations returned outside.

Rather than rushing immediately into the next formal part of the day, Melissa and Stephen spent time chatting with their friends and enjoying the farm surroundings.

Then three particularly popular guests arrived. The farm’s resident donkeys made an appearance wearing their special hats. Understandably, they immediately attracted plenty of attention.

Guests gathered around to meet them, take photographs and enjoy another slightly unexpected element of the day.

Having animals around the venue is part of the charm of The Old Hay Barn. This is still very much a countryside setting, and that authenticity is what gives the place so much personality.

For couples who love the idea of a relaxed rural celebration, a Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle offers something that a more conventional wedding venue simply cannot replicate.

First Dance and Evening Celebrations

As daylight began to fade, everyone returned to the barn ready for the evening party.

Melissa and Stephen took to the dance floor for their first dance, surrounded by family and friends.

After a few moments together, guests quickly joined them and the dance floor began to fill.

The rustic interior takes on a completely different character in the evening. The exposed timber, stone walls and warm lighting create a cosy atmosphere that feels perfect for a party.

After a day that had already included church celebrations, a sheep trailer, telehandler entrance, singing waiters and donkeys in hats, it seemed only right that the evening continued with plenty of laughter.

Why Choose The Old Hay Barn Birtle for Your Wedding?

The Old Hay Barn is an excellent choice for couples who want something rustic, informal and full of personality.

Located at Castle Hill Farm in Birtle, the venue sits within more than 50 acres of countryside and enjoys views across seven shires. Despite the peaceful Pennine setting, it is only around 12 miles from Manchester city centre.

The 300-year-old barn retains original sandstone walls, natural timber and exposed beams, giving couples an authentic rustic setting that can be styled to suit their own ideas.

There is plenty of flexibility too. Celebrations can make use of the barn, farmyard, Shippon and outdoor spaces, while food vans, marquees and wigwams can also form part of the day depending on your plans.

The venue even has its own Bunkhouse in the middle of the working farm, providing a cosy option for staying on site after the celebrations.

For couples who would rather create a wedding around their personalities than follow a traditional hotel format, a Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle offers plenty of scope to do things differently.

Contact The Old Hay Barn Birtle

The Old Hay Barn, Castle Hill Farm, Birtle, Bury, Lancashire. BL9 6UL

Telephone: 0161 706 1319

Website: https://theoldhaybarnbirtle.co.uk

Email: hello@theoldhaybarnbirtle.co.uk

Instagram: @theoldhaybarnbirtle

Final Thoughts

Melissa and Stephen’s summer wedding was packed with personality from beginning to end.

Their joyful ceremony at St John The Baptist Church was followed by one of the most entertaining journeys to a reception I have seen, with guests travelling by sheep trailer and the newlyweds making their entrance on a Chesterfield sofa carried by a telehandler.

Add countryside views, antique tractors, singing waiters, donkeys wearing hats and a barn full of friends and family, and you have all the ingredients for a wedding nobody was going to forget in a hurry.

Most importantly, the day felt like Melissa and Stephen.

Their Wedding At The Old Hay Barn Birtle was relaxed, funny, personal and full of genuine moments, exactly the kind of wedding that is an absolute pleasure to photograph.

If you enjoyed this wedding blog, I’d love to hear all about your wedding plans! Please check out my About Me page for information about who I am and why I do this with my life. Then if you like the sound of everything simply get in touch via the Contact page.