Alcumlow Wedding Barn Photographer
All Season Walled Garden Venue
I’m lucky enough to get to photograph at Alcumlow Wedding Barn quite often. It forms part of my regular rotation of wedding venues in Staffordshire. Its contrast of unique outdoor space and atmospheric Dutch barn sings to me and my photography. The best part about it though; the Spanish courtyard out the back where I love to create loads of wedding photographs whilst also eating the pizza from the onsite pizza oven.
Planning your special day at Alcumlow?
Alcumlow is such a beautiful place which I have photographed so many times. I love returning time and time again so why not drop me message and find out a little more?
Behind the Scenes at Alcumlow
Through the magic of a 360 camera, I’m able to capture behind-the-scenes content on my wedding days to show my current and future couples exactly what it would like for them to have me along at their Alcumlow Barn wedding day
All of these videos and more are captured in the most subtle way making sure to not disrupt the wedding day at all. I feel the connection between a couple and their photographer is a really important factor hence why I wanted to show this part of my work as well. I’m not like every wedding photographer and showing you these behind-the-scenes videos from Alcumlow hopefully helps me to reinforce that statement.
@adamlowndesphotography Wedding Day at Alcumlow Wedding Barn #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #wedding #weddingbts #weddingbehindthescenes #weddingvlog #dayinthelife #weddingtiktok #bts ♬ Chill out BGM (simple) - Hollywood Labo
@adamlowndesphotography Creating atmospheric portraits inside at Alcumlow Wedding Barn near Stoke-on-Trent/Congleton #alcumlow #alcumlowweddingbarn #congleton #stokeontrent #staffordshire #altbride #altwedding #alternativewedding #blackweddingdress #blackwedding #gothwedding #emowedding #barnwedding ♬ original sound - 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺 Lowndes - Photography
@adamlowndesphotography Outdoor wedding ceremony at Alcumlow Wedding Barn just outside of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. #alcumlow #alcumlowweddingbarn #outdoorceremony #insta360 #insta360x4 #bts #btsfootage #weddingvlog #skeletonweddingchapel ♬ original sound - 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗺 Lowndes - Photography
If you are still looking at wedding photographers’ websites and have come to Adam’s website, look no further, you’ve found your photographer!
From our initial meeting with Adam right the way through to our wedding he was approachable, helpful and always happy to offer advice when we weren’t sure about things.We initially met over Zoom and after spending 2 hours chatting we knew he was the best person for the job. Closer to the wedding he came over to our house and we discussed the photos we wanted and the logistics of the day
We couldn’t be more pleased with our photographs, they completely encapsulated the joy of the day.
Jack & Gage
Alcumlow Wedding Barn, 2024
Years of Historic Natural and Architectural Beauty
Alcumlow Wedding Barn is a venue which was on my wedding hit list for far too long. It always feels a little silly when there are amazing wedding venues right on my doorstep in Staffordshire and Cheshire which I’ve not managed to photograph yet. When the time does eventually come though I usually end up shooting the venue more than once which then starts a regular habit of working there.
Based along the A34 opposite Little Moreton Hall and on the outskirts of Congleton, just 25 minutes from my home in Stoke-on-Trent; this handcrafted vision from the owner of Alcumlow Hall Farm is a fairly new venue. Opening its barn doors in the last 10 years it’s managed to marry itself into the strong local network of fantastic wedding venues in and around Staffordshire and Cheshire.
Nested below the ruins of Mow Cop Castle and surrounded by rolling open fields it’s the perfect country wedding venue for couples looking for a more untraditional wedding day.
Hidden behind the quaint Alcumlow Hall Farm shopping barns. This exclusive rustic wedding barn was built from the structure of an old metal Dutch Barn for the cows which used to preside here. Replacing the old wood for new and adding in striking unique features Alcumlow can make your wedding photographs stand out from the crowd with a real rustic look.
Its skeleton wedding chapel appropriately named The White House is atop Alcumlow’s unique features as a wedding venue. A wedding chapel unlike any other with no roof, glass in its windows or bricks in its walls. It looks more like a sculpture than a building and is the most magical way to have an outdoor wedding ceremony in Cheshire. Do bear in mind though due to government guidelines you’ll still need to do the official registry of marriage inside the barn following the service.
Rather than be an empty undecorated shell, the interior of The Dutch Barn has a lovely neutral rustic theme which can look incredible without any decorations added to it. So if you’re looking for a wedding venue in which you don’t need to spend a fortune decorating then Alcumlow is for you. With the decor being so tasteful though you can for sure add your own stamp to it without clashing with the already existing decor. Alcumlow has a great capacity where they can host civil ceremonies of up to 100 guests whilst if a church ceremony is of your vibe then they can fit 120 in. In the evening feel free to invite all of your friends as the capacity skyrockets to a max of 180 wedding guests.
For your wedding breakfast, you can either reach out to a recommended supplier such as Ridgeway Caterers and Wild Garlic Event Catering or explore the modern but traditional angle of Plate Du Jour, Alcumlow’s own catering solution for your big day.
With a perfect amount of space indoors the dance floor can double up as an indoor ceremony area whilst not disrupting your seating plan. The dance floor is also magical as a suspended speaker system lies above your head cranking out your favourite music straight on top of you whilst you have your first dance and subsequent boogies in the barn. Rustic benches around the dance floor coupled with quirky hessian hay bale seating around barrel tables give a great space for those wanting to watch on.
Being surrounded by so many independent suppliers you can really pull on Alcumlow Hall Farm shopping barns for your big day. The onsite Snugbury’s ice cream shop is a favourite which can keep your guests refreshed in those Summer months during the drinks reception.
How an Alcumlow Wedding Day Unfolds
The morning at Alcumlow always starts in The Dressing Room. a multi-level, multi-room massive preparation space for either or both of the couple to use. It has an abundance of space so you can invite all of your extended wedding party to enjoy the morning antics with you. Once you’re ready and the time has come the staff at Alcumlow will collect you and lead you through the main wrought iron gates ready for the ceremony.
You can either get married inside or outside at Alcumlow. Both areas are licensed and uniquely beautiful in their own way. Your wedding ceremony if legal will be conducted by the awesome folk at Your Ceremony. They really are the best registrars I’ve ever worked with and it’s always a pleasure to see them.
After the civil ceremony has ended the couple usually exit then hide out in The Dutch Barn before they are announced and walk through a fantastic confetti tunnel. The drinks reception shortly follows in the courtyard. Drinks are served outside but guests can always wander in the barn for extra options at the bar. The courtyard area at Alcumlow is such a great place for a drinks reception and there is always more than enough space to take family photographs without asking other guests to move.
The staff at Alcumlow will then call your guests into the barn to start sitting them for the wedding breakfast. You will then be announced by the on-the-day coordinator. If you choose to do your wedding speeches before your meal then this leads naturally in or you can save them for after your dessert once everyone is more relaxed.
The Dutch Barn is then transformed with the drop of the sun and the illumination of the thousands of draped fairy lights to form the ultimate evening reception party space with a contained dancefloor and rear outdoor courtyard. The Spanish-inspired stone courtyard garden was then opened up to serve the evening pizza straight out of the hot copper stone-baked pizza oven under the beautiful night sky for the ultimate night to remember.
Being an Alcumlow Barn Wedding Photographer
Going to a new venue is always exciting as I get to stamp it with my own unique photography style. Something which is always a mystery though is the team working behind the scenes at the venue. As a rare moment, I’d already heard how great the Maison De Bois (translated to Wooden House) events team were from one of my other brides they were the reason they booked it for their day.
On the day the team at Alcumlow ran the day so smoothly and the whole place looked spotless. They did this with such a relaxed vibe also and there was never a moment of panic throughout. It wasn’t until later on when I also met one of the Alcumlow Barn owners and got talking to him about his travels and his eventual decision which led him down the path of building the barn and everything else by himself. A truly amazing story which definitely reflects across the venue as you see such a personal touch across the whole venue making it a real dream to photograph.
Alcumlow Wedding Barn boasts a really incredible skeleton wedding chapel, The White House, where you can say “I Do” under the sometimes lovely weather. This structure simply flawed me. Without it, you’re just getting married on a stone patio but with a few very simplistic-looking metal outlines you really do get a much grander feel. It’s possibly the best outdoor wedding venue I’ve seen. Usually, they have a structure at the end to do the legal bit but with the contrast of light to dark under the structure, this can often give a very stark difference in the photographs. With Alcumlow choosing to do their legal part inside you’re able to capture the whole thing in the lovely glow of the sun.
The White House isn’t the only unique decor at Alcumlow which makes photographing a dream. The dancefloor surrounded by thousands of draped fairy lights really gives an incredible magical vibe as you have your first dance and certainly creates one of the most glamorous backdrops for my photographs.
The Alcumlow Wedding Barn team is also super accommodating to all requests as they allowed us to set off 8 smoke bombs on their rolling lawns next to their wheat fields. There are just too many reasons why I love being an Alcumlow Wedding Barn Photographer and I can’t urge you enough to consider this amazing rural Cheshire wedding venue for your big day.
Meet Adam Lowndes
Alcumlow Barn Wedding photographer
No matter your race, colour, creed, or sexuality, you are everything to me. I wouldn’t live this incredible photography dream job without you. I can’t help but be your absolute wedding hero.
My couples are usually super down to earth and are planning a relaxed fun wedding day surrounded by all those people they love. I love a party! So when it comes to weddings I can’t help but get wrapped up in the magic of your day. Getting so stuck in with your wedding allows me to translate so much more feeling into my photographs. At some point, you’ll want a few awesome photographs of the two of you. These photographs will take minutes and not hours so we can get straight back to the party. Oh and those family formal portraits, don’t worry about them, they’ll be zero hassle.
With my super extraverted personality I’ll be one of the most excited guests from the moment I arrive. It won’t take your wedding party long to assume we are lifelong friends.