COWSHED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
DIY Weddings at Woodhall Farm, Codsall
I’ve been photographing weddings at the Cowshed for so many years now and I just love returning. It’s rustic charm with the unknowning timeline of a DIY wedding day just really speaks to me and the way I work.
Planning your special day at the Cowshed?
The Cowshed at Woohall Farm 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 Cowshed at Woodhall Farm
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 Cowshed 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 the Cowshed hopefully helps me to reinforce that statement.
@adamlowndesphotography I was packing up to leave but had to grna a quick photograph with Hannah & Ben beneath this insane blue and purple night sky. #thecowshed #thecowshedwoodhallfarm #wolverhampton #wolverhamptonwedding ♬ green to blue (Sped Up) - Aurenth
@adamlowndesphotography VLOG | Hannah & Ben | The Cowshed at Wood Hall Farm just outside of Wolverhampton. #vlog #weddingvlog #insta360 #inst360x4 #bts #behindthescenes #weddingbts #ceilidh #ceilidhdancing #thecowshed #weddingbarn ♬ The Kite Live by Luisa Marion - luisa_marion_music
Adam shot our wedding in June 2024. Firstly, his photos are stunning. Take some time to look through his Instagram, the quality speaks for itself. We are unbelievably happy with the sneak peek photos he took and are super excited to see the full album!
Adam took the time to fully understand our vision, how we wanted the day to run and the vibe we wanted to create. But rather than just document the event as most photographers would, he helped us create, curate and maintain the atmosphere we wanted. So many of our guests told us afterwards how much they enjoyed having Adam around and how comfortable and relaxed they felt whilst being photographed, which is a credit to his efforts and really shows in the photos. He clearly loves his job and that enthusiasm is infectious!
He is also a fountain of wedding knowledge, so please do take advantage of that!
We cannot recommend Adam highly enough. We had an absolutely perfect day and we owe a fair bit of that to Adam.
Hannah & Ben
The Cowshed at Woohall Farm, 2024
A DIY Dream Becomes Reality in Codsall
The Cowshed at Woodhall Farm is a rare wedding venue. They aren’t found often and when they are they’re seen as a bit of a gem amongst the rough. You see The Cowshed is a passion project from the owner Lucy who had a dream to get married in a candle-lit farm barn one day. When the time finally came for Lucy to plan her own wedding she envisioned a day at home at Woodhall Farm in The Cowshed.
Through dedication and hard work Lucy and her family lovingly restored The Cowshed in 2015 to be the wedding venue you see today which enabled her to host her own big day. Once the toasts were announced and the dances danced on her own special day she knew other engaged brides and/or grooms would fall in love with the idea of The Cowshed just as she had.
This 18th-century cowshed is the perfect blank canvas for any DIY wedding day and it’s no wonder it’s one of the favourites for when brides and/or grooms in the Midlands are looking for somewhere to stamp their personality firmly on.
The venue consists of two rooms. The main room is a huge brightly lit L-shaped open plan space with exposed original wooden beams and limewashed walls. This space is the communal space where most of your wedding day will take place. You can host a massive 120 seated guests for your wedding breakfast in this cosy space whilst entertaining up to 150 evening guests later on that night. This space has the brilliance of feeling cosy but also being incredibly roomy all at the same time.
The next main space is the Dance Barn which is a more classic interpretation of a barn with concrete floors and hardly any windows. Fairy lights make this space magical as they drape all over the walls giving you the intimate vibes you’d need for a service whilst also keeping the light low for a raving dance floor party later that night. As suggested you can tie the knot in the Dance Barn with minimal light causing a candle-lit type ceremony feel.
Should you not want to get married in the Dance Barn though there is always the option of a traditional wedding at a nearby church or if you’re getting married in the Summer then you can take advantage of the great outdoor ceremony space on the private island on The Cowshed estate. Don’t jump to any conclusions though it’s not that kind of island, just a small intimate bit of land between a small waterway with loads of trees and a pagoda for you to have your service under.
Other than these two main spaces there are toilet facilities and a kitchen space for you to bring in your own caterers or food for the ultimate DIY wedding breakfast.
With two days pre-wedding to enable you to set up all of your decorations, this gives you some breathing room which conventional venues can’t offer. The Cowshed also boasts a no corkage fee which means you’re welcome to bring along your own alcohol for no extra cost saving you and your guests a lot of money throughout the day. Should you wish to have a conventional bar then there are a number of local suppliers who can operate this for you for little upfront cost providing a tailored selection of drinks to suit anyone’s needs.
The Cowshed is the ultimate DIY wedding venue allowing you to customise everything from the ground up. Tables and chairs are even an additional cost. But at such a small cost of £3,500 though it can enable you to have your dream wedding day at a fraction of the average cost.
How A Cowshed Wedding Day Unfolds
Mornings at the Cowshed are somewhat different than conventional wedding venues as they have no on-site prep areas for either of the couple to get ready in. If you plan to get married at The Cowshed then I recommend looking into local Airbnb’s and also Bed & Breakfast nearby. Previous weddings I’ve photographed at the Cowshed have used Boningale Manor for the preparation portion of their day. It’s only a few minutes drive from the venue.
The Barns are completely customisable and your ceremony can take place almost anywhere. The smaller taller barn is the conventional choice for a wedding ceremony and the fairy-lit back wall creates a lovely candlelight feel for you whilst you exchange vows, rings and your first kiss.
The outside courtyard is such a perfect place for your wedding drinks reception. There is hardstanding and grass and they’ve really kept that rustic barn feel to give you a real countryside feel for your wedding day. This outdoor courtyard area at the Cowshed is perfect for BBQs, lawn games, confetti tunnels and the all-important family group shots.
Long trestle tables laid out in the L-shaped barn make a perfect banquet feel to your wedding breakfast. You’ll have to be careful where you position yourself for the all-important wedding speeches though as if you have enough guests your seating may wrap around the L-shaped interior of the barn so people may not be able to see you deliver your speech. You can position yourself on the corner of the L shaper barn though and everyone is then able to see you.
Evening wedding receptions at the Cowshed are just the best. The tall dark barn becomes the dancefloor and for those who’re not too into dancing, you stand outside in the low light pollution courtyard and enjoy the stars as the big day draws to an end.
Photographing a Rustic Wedding on a Farm
With its original architectural features, its rural charm and the chance to do your wedding, your way it’s no wonder so many people including myself love The Cowshed. For me photographically it’s a joy to work here. I love the informality of it all. There are no designated areas or pre-set-up spaces to take the family formal group portraits or the couples portraits. So a day being a wedding photographer at The Cowshed could go in any direction.
Some may want to use the working farm as a backdrop whilst others may want to wander through nature and explore the forest-covered island. Immediately outside of the Cowshed is a perfect grass courtyard so if your day is non-stop then there is a close by spot for the photography to take place.
As the sun sets on this farm the character changes and with nothing around for miles, there is a real rural atmosphere to your wedding day. Your evening guests will be guided from the large car park through a mini forest with festoon lighting draped along the path to direct. This space is great for capturing some evening photographs whilst also allowing the newlyweds time away from the bustling party atmosphere.
Meet Adam Lowndes
A Cowshed 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.