Name: Southend Barns
Address: Southend Barns, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7PS, United Kingdom
Telephone: 01243 641247

Highlighting the beauty and versatility of our West Sussex wedding venue, we recently held a chic styled shoot proving that barn wedding day styling doesn’t always have to be rustic!

The shoot brought together a selection of the very best, handpicked wedding suppliers from the West Sussex area including a florist, cake maker, stylist and photographer. Together we curated a cool but romantic look with a contemporary black and white colour theme, enhanced by touches of gold and striking displays of greenery.

The look was inspired by the newest addition to our popular Styling Selections, Magical Monochrome. Working with The Floral Artisan, our new styling option is a sleek but romantic pairing of chic black with crisp, beautiful white. The stylish package includes everything you need for your wedding day décor including matt black candlesticks and holders, black and glass table numbers with tables adorned with beautiful foliage and vases filled with gorgeous seasonal white flowers.

We combined this look with our new Entrance Display Styling Selection, designed to enhance the entrance space of the Threshing Barn with a modern medley of monochrome touches. The look features a large black arched mirror, black and glass cards box and black lanterns and candles all set to the backdrop of beautiful foliage. These new styling options provided the inspiration for our recent shoot and the end result was magical.

The theme was used across the venue to ensure the shoot gave couples plenty of inspiration for their whole wedding day, from the ceremony right through to reception. Shot by the talented Ruby Roux Photography, the photoshoot took place in our impressive Threshing Barn and tranquil Dairy Barn.

The expansive reception space of the Threshing Barn featured beautifully dressed round tables with our twinkling chandeliers drawing the eye up to a stunning hoop of foliage suspended from the rafters. This was enhanced by simple but romantic white drapery. Romantic Drapes is a new element of our Southend Barns Styling Selections and one we know will be popular!

Lucy from coveted bespoke floral design business, The Floral Artisan, provided breath-taking arrangements which complemented the romantic feel of the shoot beautifully. Known for her structural yet whimsical take on wedding flowers, Lucy created a modern twist on a classic botanical style, carefully crafting fabulous focal displays using foliage and houseplants as well as minimalistic white centrepieces featuring seasonal spring flowers which worked with the monochrome theme perfectly.

The overall colour palette being monochrome with green and warm gold tones, Lucy opted for white flowers in different shapes and textures including anemones, freesias, spirea, ranunculus, tulips and large blousy roses and orchids. These all contrasted beautifully against a backdrop of dark, delicious greenery, peppered with the unexpected addition of houseplants!

Wedding day houseplants featured heavily in the styling, taking the look to new heights and helping to create a fresh and modern vibe for the shoot. The trend for living plants as a décor option on your wedding day is one we love as it aligns with our passion for sustainability. For this shoot we used beautiful houseplants from local grower The Little Botanical, who are based just up the road in Chichester. Plants including Strelitzia bird of paradise, areca palm and leafy monstera in the brand’s concrete pots added a striking twist to displays. The sweetest succulents in harmonising black and gold pots were also dotted across tables as wedding favours.

Tables were dressed with black tapered candlesticks in elegant black holders and assorted black and glass vases, courtesy of our Magical Monochrome Styling Selection. These were complemented by delicate scalloped glass charger plates with gold edging, matt black crockery, brushed gold cutlery and glassware delicately edged in gold, all by Crystal Hire.

Picture perfect against a wall draped in white, stood a beautiful three-tiered wedding cake by Cakes in Bloom. The cake was decorated with a gorgeous oversized black ribbon and was framed inside a beautiful floral half-moon display with black hurricane lanterns, candles and signage. Twinkling fairy lights glowed from beyond the white drapes which drew the eye to the picturesque set up. The floral moon was also used in the Dairy Barn for the ceremony, showing just how versatile some displays can be.

Curved signage by My Event Lab finished the look adding texture with a range of plaques in varying colours including matt black, stone and semi-opaque clear with gold lettering.

Over in the Dairy Barn, the theme continued with the incredible half-moon display by The Floral Artisan forming the focus. Overhead were swathes of white drapes and twinkling fairy lights, highlighting the barn’s beautiful beams. A mass of candles adorned the floor at the end of the aisle casting a romantic light across the room, which translated perfectly on camera.

Both spaces were styled to showcase the incredible versatility of our 220-year-old farm buildings and the end result is a great example of how our wedding venue’s traditional charm can be beautifully combined with a sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic.

The perfect finishing touch, models (and real life couple) Marysia and Ryan looked resplendent in chic wedding day looks from Whyte Weddings and Astares. Marysia was beautifully styled by Lauren from ID Hair & Make Up, who went for a soft but striking look which highlighted Marysia’s natural beauty and intricate lace gown perfectly.

Timeless and sophisticated, capturing the essence of spring in a modern and visually stunning way, we are beyond delighted with the results of our styled shoot and hope that it provides some exciting wedding day inspiration for our couples.

Huge thanks go to all the amazing suppliers who worked so hard to bring this incredible look together. You can find a full list of the talented people involved below.

To find out more about our Styling Selections, including our brand new additions, please contact us on enquiries@southendbarns.co.uk or call 01243 641247.