Summer Barn Wedding in Ontario

Hot dang. I’m in love with this rustic barn wedding I shot with Rebecca and Zeb in Lincoln, Ontario. Don’t you agree barn weddings have this special feel about them? They always look like they came straight out of a Pinterest wedding board. This is exactly what Rebecca and Zeb did – and, boy, it was a damn good summer wedding. Quaint and rustic, this barn is about two hours away from Toronto and is a perfect venue to have an outdoor, summer night feast with close family and friends.

Barn weddings are like destination weddings. A lot of thought and preparation goes into them. While prepping for your summer wedding in a barn or a farm, keep in mind that you and your guests will be spending a whole day out there in the sun and fresh air. Not to worry, here I wrote down my personal wedding photography tips for summer barn weddings that will help you make your own summer wedding picture-perfect:

1 Timeline

This is fact: most weddings tend to run late. It is very important to come up with the best possible timeline and commit to sticking to it as best you can. Remember, you are out of the city so you are basically locked to the one location. One of my go-to tips for a barn or a farm wedding is to schedule your ceremony time later in the day so that there is no gap between ceremony, cocktail and reception. You can also do most of your creative photos (first look, bridal party, creative, family photos) right before the ceremony so you can enjoy some time with the guests during cocktail hours.

2 Location

I can’t stress this enough: location is key. Take advantage of your summer getaway and seek out some of the most beautiful locations nearby for photo shoots. While scouting, think of where you’d like to have your wedding ceremony, portraits and reception photographs to be taken. Are there any big, lush trees? Or maybe, a romantic pond with tall grass? A picturesque location is a key ingredient to creating an awe-inspiring wedding photos.

3 Light and Shade

Speaking of light, when scouting for possible ceremony locations keep in mind that it is so important it be shaded. Your guests will be sitting there for half an hour or more, and it’s a good idea to make sure they are comfortable and not squinting in pictures. If there is not enough shade (I know, that your dream locations might not always be shaded!), consider investing in a tent or umbrellas that will keep your family and friends cool (no pun intended!) Another thing is, as a photographer, I want to capture your wedding moments in the best possible light. One simple tip to get better wedding photos is to schedule another creative session during optimal light. The best light for a creative session is the golden hour – in Ontario it’s usually a period between 6PM-8PM during the spring, summer and fall. The light during this time is the most flattering – a soft, golden glow that you see in most of the wedding pictures in magazines.

4 Capturing the Details

Barn weddings usually occupy large properties. I’m sure that you’ve already planned many details and decor pieces to make it picture-worthy. Making sure to allocate lot’s of time for your photographer to capture all the details is key. You can keep your guests occupied with games during the cocktail hour while my team and I are running back and forth photographing the wedding details. Lighting is another key ingredient to making sure your details are the most photogenic! Since barns are typically dark, lighting is a particularly important consideration – having chandeliers and candles around the perimeter would help create a romantic mood and provide some much needed natural light for your images.

Summer barn wedding venues offer creative freedom and a lot of opportunities to create a picture perfect wedding. There is something about a wooden aesthetic that is so warm and friendly. Below are my favourite shots from Rebecca and Zeb’s wedding planned and designed by Lustre Events. Hope you enjoy!

As seen in Style Me Pretty

Rustic barn wedding photography