Styled Shoot at The Meadow Barn, Stratford-upon-Avon

Oliver Stanton
Apr 22
2 min read

In March 2025, I organised a styled shoot at The Meadow Barn in Stratford-upon-Avon. Styled shoots are always great fun for planners because they give us the opportunity to design a wedding exactly how we envision it, without needing to follow a couple’s brief.

Warwickshire is a county rich in history, and its architecture is no exception, with a strong Tudor influence throughout. I wanted the styling for this shoot to complement the barn’s character, using black and dark brown accents to echo the black iron staircase and the dark wooden beams across the ceiling. Lush green and white foliage added a fresh, natural element that tied in beautifully with the rustic aesthetic of the barn.

The décor and styling were provided by Sparkle Events Styling, with candles and diffusers from The Soapery. We deliberately chose black reeds and black ribbons for the diffusers to complement the iron staircase and provide a striking contrast against the crisp white linen.

The "caterpillar" table layout was a very last-minute decision. I had originally planned to set up two long straight tables with a top table at the end of the room. However, when I arrived on the day, the venue let me know that they didn’t have enough tables to execute this plan. So, I decided to embrace the emerging trend of caterpillar tables — a decision that ended up adding a lovely dynamic flow to the space.

One of the less realistic aspects of the shoot was that we set up a ceremony space to seat 48 guests, but the wedding breakfast setup only accommodated 25. This was purely down to the caterpillar layout, which significantly reduces guest capacity compared to traditional long tables.

This shoot was not only my first styled shoot as a planner, but also the first one I organised entirely by myself — truly throwing myself in at the deep end!

Here's are the suppliers that were involved in the shoot:

Planner: Oliver Stanton Weddings & Events

Venue: The Meadow Barn

Stylist: Sparkle Event Styling

Photographers: Candice Harris Photography & Gemma Pimm Photography

Content Creator: Those Content Girls

Singer/Guitarist: Dwaine Hayden

Celebrant: My Perfect Ceremony

Models: Laura Webb & Alexa Hewitt

Dresses: Pre-Loved Bridal

Hair/Make Up: Trust Salons

Candles/Diffusers: The Soapery/Scent Your Event