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NANNA & LEWIS

Upton Barn and Walled Garden, Devon

A bride and groom share a kiss under a wooden pavilion outside, with lots of plants and potted flowers around them on a sunny day.

Upton Barn and Walled Garden Wedding

A bride in a white dress and a groom in a black suit are holding hands as they walk outside a house during sunset.

Nanna and Lewis’ wedding in Devon

Nanna and Lewis’ wedding at Upton Barn and Walled Garden brought together an outdoor ceremony, evening portraits by the lake and a wedding breakfast that was anything but quiet. Nanna is Danish, and the traditions they included made the meal a big part of the day.

Anyone could stand up and give a speech, so there was plenty going on between courses. When guests stamped their feet, Nanna and Lewis had to get under the table and kiss. If the glasses were clinked with knives, they had to stand on their chairs and kiss instead.

There was another tradition whenever one of them left the room: if Nanna stepped out, the women lined up to kiss Lewis; when Lewis left, the men lined up to kiss Nanna. I loved how these moments brought everyone into the celebrations. Below is their day, from getting ready and the garden ceremony through to the speeches, sunset and dancing.

  • A woman wearing sunglasses and a white dressing gown stands barefoot on a tiled floor in a modern living room with wooden details and neutral-coloured furniture.
  • A white wedding dress is hanging on a window frame with sunlight shining through. Beige high heels are sitting on the floor underneath the dress.
  • A woman wearing a white dress is sitting on a chair in a modern room, tidying her hair while looking in the mirror.
  • A woman wearing a white wedding dress stands next to a window whilst another woman in a light-coloured dress helps do up the back of her gown.
  • Someone wearing a white dress is standing barefoot indoors, with a garter showing and clothes and other things scattered on the floor.
  • Three women in dresses are standing by a window, with two of them helping the one in the middle with her dress, as if they’re getting ready for a wedding. Sunlight comes through the window behind them.
  • Four women are indoors, including a bride in a white dress. They’re laughing and looking at something on a mobile together, and one of them is holding a drink.
  • A woman wearing a white wedding dress is standing in front of a tall mirror, holding a fan. You can see part of another person next to her.
  • A woman wearing a white wedding dress stands while another woman helps her fix her veil in a modern, softly lit room that has a round mirror and a wooden dressing table.
  • A bride wearing a white wedding dress is indoors, holding a bunch of flowers and smiling at the camera.
  • Four men dressed in suits are standing together on some stairs indoors, posing for a formal black-and-white photo.
  • Four men wearing suits are standing outside together on a sunny day at what looks like a formal event, maybe a wedding.
  • A bride and groom hug each other inside near large windows, with the bride holding a bouquet in one hand. The black and white photo shows a joyful, intimate moment between them.
  • A bride wearing a white dress is holding a bunch of light pink tulips and standing beside someone in a suit.
  • A bride and groom share a kiss under a wooden pavilion outside, with lots of plants and potted flowers around them on a sunny day.
  • Someone is putting a ring on another person’s finger at a wedding. The picture is in black and white and shows their hands and the ring up close.
  • A bride and groom share a kiss at their outdoor wedding, with someone next to them holding an open book.
  • A bride and groom are walking together outside along a path, going past a small wooden building, surrounded by plants and under a blue sky.
  • A woman wearing a white dress hugs another woman in a floral dress outside on a sunny day. The woman in white is smiling and holding a drink. There are people and parasols in the background.
  • A bride and groom are walking outside a wooden building, whilst their guests, dressed up in formal clothes, stand around talking to each other on a sunny day.
  • There’s a round pond with a fountain in the middle, surrounded by grass, trees, and bushes in a nicely kept park on a clear day.
  • A cosy banqueting hall with wooden ceilings, large windows, and round tables ready for a special occasion. There are fairy lights hanging above and flowers in the centre of each table.
  • A close-up view of a dining table shows everything set up neatly on a wooden surface, with white serviettes, forks, knives, and both empty wine glasses and water glasses.
  • A wooden table in the sunlight has two forks, two knives, three glasses, a folded serviette with a menu on it, and a place card that says “Nanna.”.
  • A group of people, with the bride and groom dressed for their wedding, are smiling and posing together on the steps outside a large building with lots of windows.
  • A woman wearing a light yellow dress and a man in a dark suit are smiling together on stone steps outside a building with large glass doors.
  • Four men wearing suits are standing on the steps outside a building with large windows. Two are in front and two behind them, posing together for a group photo.
  • A bride wearing a white dress and veil kisses a groom dressed in a black suit as they stand on stone steps outside a wooden building with large glass doors.
  • A bride wearing a white dress and veil is smiling as she stands next to a groom in a suit outside a building with large windows and wooden panels.
  • Someone wearing an apron is holding a bowl of food indoors, and the black and white photo is a bit blurry, making it look like they’re moving.
  • A woman wearing a sleeveless dress is gently holding a man’s face and seems to be kissing him under a wooden structure. The photo is in black and white.
  • Four people are sitting around a table. One woman is laughing so hard she covers her face, whilst the others are also smiling and laughing. There’s wine, glasses, and some flowers on the table, making it look like they’re celebrating something together.
  • People at a wedding reception are gathered round a long table covered with flowers in a bright room with wooden walls. Some guests are sitting, whilst others are standing and chatting.
  • A woman wearing a white dress and a man with long hair are hugging and smiling whilst sitting at a dinner table in a cosy, rustic place with warm lighting.
  • Two men dressed up in suits are smiling and talking at a dinner table with food, drinks, and cutlery. The room has warm lighting and a mix of wooden and white walls.
  • People are sitting around a sunlit table with empty plates, used cutlery, wine glasses, a bottle, and some flowers in the middle.
  • A man wearing a white shirt is smiling as he stands outside next to a metal chair. There are some people and trees in the background.
  • A bride in a white dress stands outside with her four bridesmaids, who are wearing light yellow dresses. They’re all smiling and hugging each other.
  • A bride and groom share a kiss while the groom dips the bride, with their happy wedding party smiling and laughing around them in smart clothes outside a building.
  • A groom wearing a black suit leans in to kiss his smiling bride, who’s dressed in a white gown. They’re outside with a house and some trees behind them.
  • A bride in a white dress stands by a pond, with trees and open fields around her under a clear sky.
  • Someone wearing a white dress is running or spinning on the grass outside, with trees and a fence behind them. The picture is in black and white.
  • A bride wearing a white dress and a groom in a black suit are walking together, holding hands on a grassy field, with trees and a wooden fence behind them.
  • A bride in a white dress and a groom in a black suit are standing together outside on some dry grass, with trees and hills in the distance behind them.
video cover image
  • A man is holding up a woman who’s wearing a white dress, and they’re both smiling while standing on a grassy field. There are trees and a fence in the background.
  • A bouquet and a name sign are placed next to the Upton Barn sign, with neatly trimmed bushes and white flowers around them on a sunny day.

Vendors

Venue: Upton Barn and Walled Garden

Caterer: Milkshed Weddings and Events

Hair: Hair from the Heart

Nails: @theas.nails

Cake: Chloe Bakes Ashburton

Photography: Dan Wimble

  • The bride and groom walk into a room together, holding hands. Two people in suits come in behind them, and one of them has a camera. They’re all inside a cosy venue with white walls and wooden beams.
  • Two women wearing white dresses are dancing and having drinks together at an indoor party at night, with fairy lights hanging above them.
  • A group of young adults dressed up for a formal event are dancing and laughing together indoors, while one woman playfully pours a drink over another woman’s head.
  • A woman wearing a white dress and a man dressed in a white shirt and black trousers are walking outside by a wooden building at night, both holding drinks.
  • A woman wearing a green dress and star-shaped glasses is smiling as she holds a vintage rotary telephone, standing inside under a hanging light bulb.
  • Three women wearing fancy dresses are laughing and dancing by a plain wall. One is holding a drink, and another’s hair is flying as she moves. The photo is in black and white.
  • Two blokes wearing shirts with the top buttons undone stand next to each other with their arms round each other at a party, both smiling. In the background, people are chatting and dancing.

Planning your photographs at Upton Barn

At Nanna and Lewis’ wedding, the meal was a big part of the story. Someone could stand up to give a speech at any point, and stamping feet could send the couple under the table for a kiss. I really enjoyed those traditions. If you’re planning something similar, leave room for it in the timetable and let your photographer and caterer know what to expect.

The photographs show a few of the options at Upton Barn and Walled Garden: the barn steps for group pictures, the lake for portraits and the open grass for those evening photographs of Nanna and Lewis walking together. Think about which pictures matter to you, then leave some flexibility for the light and whatever is happening with your guests.

Upton Barn wedding photography questions

Can we have an outdoor ceremony at Upton Barn?

Yes. Nanna and Lewis married outside beneath the arbour in the Walled Garden, as you can see in their ceremony photographs. Upton also has the Cider Barn for indoor ceremonies. You can see both on the venue’s ceremony spaces page and discuss the arrangements for your date with the team.

Where can we have our group photographs and couple portraits?

For this wedding, the steps outside the barn provided a place for the family and wedding party photographs. Nanna and Lewis’ couple pictures also include the lake and the grass with the countryside behind them. Look through those parts of the gallery to see which settings you’re drawn to; the light, weather and size of your groups will help determine what works on your day.

Do all our portraits need to happen straight after the ceremony?

No. This gallery includes photographs of Nanna and Lewis outside the barn as well as a separate set in the evening by the water and on the grass. You can plan a few photographs earlier and leave space for another short outing later. Agree the timing with your photographer around the meal, speeches and evening plans, with some flexibility for the light.

What should we tell our photographer about wedding traditions?

Explain what starts each tradition, what happens next and whether anyone needs to be in on a surprise. At Nanna and Lewis’ wedding, stamping feet and clinking glasses meant different things, and speeches could happen throughout the meal. Sharing details like these beforehand helps your photographer anticipate the moment and the guests’ reactions. Let your caterer know too, so the meal timings can allow for them.

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A group of young adults dressed up for a formal event are dancing and laughing together indoors, while one woman playfully pours a drink over another woman’s head.