Top tips for your wedding photos at Bassmead Manor Barns

At Bassmead, we’re passionate about helping every couple make the most of their wedding day – and we know just how much thoughtful photography and videography can help capture those magical moments forever. That’s why we love working with trusted professionals like Two-D Photography & Video, who know our venue beautifully and consistently create heartfelt, timeless memories for our couples.

In this guest blog, the talented Two-D team share their expert tips on how to make the most of your wedding at Bassmead – from the best photo spots to planning your timeline for perfect golden-hour shots. Whether you’re newly engaged or deep into wedding prep, their insight is well worth a read.

 

Real Talk: Tips for making the most of your Bassmead Manor Barns wedding

(From Photographers/Videographers who have shot a lot of them)!

We’ve been lucky enough to shoot more weddings at Bassmead Manor Barns than we can count as one of their recommended suppliers, and it’s one of our all-time favourites! It’s one of those rare venues that seems to have it all. Both rustic and modern, incredible staff, fairy lights, the best scotch eggs on the planet, fantastic flow – and it somehow manages to be both ridiculously beautiful and effortlessly relaxed.

We’re Dan and Sarah of Two-d Photography and Video. If you’re reading this blog, planning your wedding at Bassmead (great choice), here are a few gentle tips from our humble point of view – nothing stressful or overwhelming, just little things that make the day run even smoother and the photos feel a bit more epic.

 

 

1. Don’t stress over style – Bassmead is already a bit of a showstopper!

We’ve seen some awesome styling here – bold colours, muted tones, floral explosions, neon signs, and the thing is, anything works. We love to see personality, but even when couples go super minimal, it still looks amazing. Between the fairy lights against the timber and that signature pop of Bassmead that seems to flatter every colour palette, you really don’t need to go overboard to make things look jazzy.

 

 

2. Bring confetti. Bring MORE, and make it biodegradable paper.

Most of our couples seem to love a good confetti shot. If that’s you, we can’t stress this enough: Go big on the confetti. Get the biodegradable paper kind (it hangs in the air like pastel snow), forego the paper packets, whack it in a basket and don’t skimp on the handfuls. If you’re getting married outside in the Thatch Bower, then go for dried petal confetti. The confetti tunnel at Bassmead is pretty iconic – it’s that first proper moment of celebration after the ceremony, guests LOVE it, and the photos are always full of movement, laughter, and JOY!

 

 

3. Keep the Prep Area (Upstairs!) Tidy — Future You Will Thank You

Bassmead has a designated hair and makeup room downstairs – complete with mirrors, lights, and newly fitted wardrobes as storage space. It’s a game-changer, and we encourage everyone to use it and keep the area that you intend to get dressed in, as clear as possible. In the boudoir, that’s usually upstairs…

Use that downstairs space for all the busy prep energy – bags, cases, snacks, curling tongs, flowers. Then keep the upstairs area as calm and clutter free as possible. That way, when you step into your dress/suit/outfit, the background is clean, the light is perfect, and your photos look polished without even trying. It’s a little detail that makes a big difference.

Another little tip whilst we’re talking boudoir: Pop all of your ‘details’ and accessories up there in the morning for detail photos and to stop you scrambling around looking for things last minute.

 

 

4. Trust your photographer – Golden hour is the one!

We photographers are a little obsessed with light, and Bassmead harnesses some of the dreamiest natural light. But there’s one moment that really gets us every time: golden hour.

The sun usually sets over the orchard and corn fields, and it is the perfect excuse to sneak off together for ten quiet minutes. Not only do you get a breather (a rare moment of calm in the middle of the whirlwind) but the light is soft, warm, and ridiculously flattering. You’ll get those glowy, romantic shots that feel like they belong in a movie.

The best bit – Bassmead is so nicely laid out that you’re never far from anything. Even if you disappear for a short stroll, you’re only ever a minute or two away from the party!

 

 

5. Don’t overthink the photos – The best bits happen naturally.

Bassmead just works. The day flows well, the spaces are pretty photogenic from every angle, whether it’s your nan belly-laughing over canapés, giant Jenga getting too competitive, or your partner’s nervous little smile just before the ceremony.

The best photos aren’t usually the posed ones and it can be so easy to get caught up with the pressures of pinterest. Our favourite bits to capture are the in-between moments: a glance, a squeeze of the hand, confetti kisses, or your mates absolutely losing it to ‘get low’ on the dance floor. Trust your photographer, trust the venue, and try not to worry too much about ticking off a Pinterest-perfect list. Let it unfold.

 

 

6. The venue team are actual ninjas.

We’re not just saying this, but the Bassmead team are proper professionals. They’re calm, warm, super organised, and have a sixth sense for when to step in and when to let the moment breathe. From a photographer’s point of view, this makes everything run like a dream, and from a you point of view, it means less stress, more fun, and an experience that feels really well cared for. We promise we’re not on commission…

 

Wanna see more?

We’ve captured dozens of weddings at Bassmead over the years, and each one has been uniquely brilliant. If you’d like to see more of what we do (and maybe spot a few familiar spots), pop over to our website or drop us a line at [email protected].

 

 

About Two-d Photography

Two-d Photography (aka Dan and Sarah) are a husband and wife team shooting wedding photography and video. Based in Bedfordshire, they’re all about creating an unstuffy, relaxed and real capture of your wedding day.

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