Folly Farm Bristol Wedding Photographer

A Wedding at Bristol’s

Folly Farm Centre

The Clients Said…

“I was a bit overwhelmed when I first started looking for a wedding photographer! I spent hours scrolling through instagram and websites trying to identify the right fit.

I was drawn to Becky’s natural documentary style and the happiness she seemed to be able to capture from her shots. In our initial call, her enthusiasm for our venue, Folly Farm Centre and her warm personality meant the decision to pick her was very easy.

The pre wedding process was easy and clear. I felt reassured by her attention to detail and understanding of what we were looking for in our check in call ahead of the wedding.

On the day it was a pleasure to have her there. She blended into the background but was also available whenever we needed. So many guests were complimentary of her.

We love the photos! They beautifully capture the day and we cannot wait to see the rest.

I wholeheartedly recommend Becky to anyone, especially those wanting a more informal (i.e. less staged) day.”

Folly Farm Centre – A Sustainable Countryside Wedding Venue Near Bath

If you’re looking for a relaxed, countryside wedding venue near Bath that feels genuinely connected to nature, Folly Farm Centre is a the one. Tucked away in Stowey, near Pensford, the site is a 250-acre nature reserve with great views across Chew Valley Lake and the Mendip Hills. It’s peaceful, spacious and beautifully removed from the usual rush of normal life. The venue is only around 20 minutes from Bath or Bristol, making it super convenient.

A Restored 18th-Century Farm

Folly Farm is a restored 18th-century farmstead, it’s both pratical and beautiful and set within a stunning nature reserve too. The barns are perfect for rustic weddings with exposed stone, timber beams and gorgeous natural light flooding in through the windows.

The courtyard connects all of the spaces together, from the on-site accommodation, to the barns used for receptions, ceremonies and the wedding breakfast.

On nice days, guests love to gather outside, enjoying the views and having a drink, or playing cricket on the lawn next to the pond.

A Venue Owned by Avon Wildlife Trust

One of the things that makes Folly Farm exceptional it its commitment to sustainability. Owned by Avon Wildlife Trust, profits support conservation work across the region. The buildings have green energy systems, harvest rainwater, and there’s a reedbed sewage treatment system. They also have a strong emphasis on local, seasonal produce.

For couples who care about the environmental impact of their wedding, it’s amazing to know your celebration is supporting wildlife and nature conservation.

The Wedding Weekend at Folly Farm

One of the loveliest things about getting married at Folly Farm Centre is that it doesn’t need to be just one day — it can be a whole weekend away with your favourite people!

Guests can arrive the night before and stay on site (there’s space for up to 50 people), which completely changes the energy of the wedding. Instead of everyone turning up on the morning, you’ve already had time together. People go for walks, take in the views, sit out chatting, or gather for a big barbecue or catered dinner the night before.

By the time the wedding day arrives, you’ve already hugged most people, and already had proper conversations. It takes so much pressure off. I found it quite overwhelming trying to speak to everyone on my own wedding day — so having that time beforehand is a beautiful gift.

On the morning itself, there’s a dedicated bridal suite in the courtyard where you can get ready. Hair and makeup artists can come in if that’s your thing, and it feels calm and tucked away ahead of the ceremony. It’s just a short walk across the courtyard to the barn for your ceremony.

The barn is a really beautiful space to get married in — natural light, spacious, and it looks amazing with little decoration. Or, if you’d rather be outside, ceremonies can take place in the courtyard under the gazebo with fabulous North Somerset views behind you. It’s lush!
The only thing to bear in mind is that there isn’t much shade, so on very hot summer days it can be bright and a bit intense — though on a warm overcast day, it’s perfect!

After the ceremony, there are so many lovely spots for confetti. Drinks are usually served outside with those open countryside views, and guests can wander in the woods, play lawn games, or even take a nap!

The nature reserve and gardens are beautiful for couple portraits — quiet, close by and completely in keeping with a relaxed day. If it rains, there’s a proper bar area indoors for drinks receptions, which not every venue has.

Dinner is typically in the main barn, set up with either long trestle tables or round tables – totally up to you. 
After the wedding breakfast and speechs, the space is turned around while guests head out to the bar for cake, tea and coffee — or back to their rooms for a breather. I once photographed a wedding there on the hottest day of the year (!) and half the guests disappeared for showers before the evening party because everyone was a complete sweaty mess! 

Once the band (often couples book a ceilidh)  is set up, everyone’s called back into the barn for the first dance and the party begins!

I genuinely love photographing weddings at Folly Farm. It aligns so naturally with my relaxed, informal, unobtrusive way of working. Stunning backdrops, a relaxed vibe and space for real moments to unfold. And the setting is just beautiful.

A Sustainble Wedding Venue

Folly Farm is Avon Wildlife Trust’s  250 acre Nature Reserve with multiple event spaces to cater for different size wedding and events.

The venue consists of a handful of restored farm buildings with eco features such as solar energy and biomass heating. There is also a reed bed sewage system and rainwater is harvested from the rooftops. They have a strong ethos around protecting the environment and offer educational trips in order to further their cause. Being a charity, any money raised through events such as weddings is put back into the Avon Wildlife Trust.

Folly farm has on-site caterers and suitable facilities for self-catering too. The venue uses local produce year-round and buys fairtrade wherever possible.

The farm is audited twice yearly by Green Tourism and has won several awards including the Gold rating in 2015, and a Silver award for Sustainable Tourism in the Bristol, Bath and Somerset area.

The venue has stunning south-facing views over Somerset’s Chew Valley. Set high above the valley the distant views include the Mendip Hills and Chew Valley Lake. There are woodlands aplenty and wildflower meadows in Spring.

The venue offers two night wedding packages, where guests can stay the night before and after your wedding, making it suitable for couples wanting a long, relaxing weekend of celebrations rather than a single day event. There is space for up to 50 guests amongst the Farmhouse and Studio bedrooms.

Alex and Adam had wanted to have an eco-conscious wedding with minimal impact on the environment. They chose local suppliers, keeping the carbon footprint as low as possible. Alex chose reusable bottles as gifts for her bridesmaids. They had friends and family help with things like cakes and stationary, and completely avoided single use plastic.

I love photographing Bath weddings in sustainable venues such as Folly Farm.

Folly Farm Centre – Frequently Asked Questions

Do you photograph lots of weddings here?

Yes! I Folly Farm is totally aligned with the kind of weddings I love, so I have shot here many times.

What style works best?
My style is mostly documentary and informal, I’m keen for my clients to have the most relaxed and enjoyable wedding day as possible! Folly Farm is a wonderful place, surrounded by nature and just the most fabulous place to take pictures.

When is the best time for portraits?
The best time is when your guests are being seated in the barn, this is a natural time when you are less needed and a great opportunity to slip away for some alone time. The venue looks west, so if we get a nice sunset, we will get incredible golden hour portraits too!

Do you offer packages for this venue?

Yes! I love photographing weddings at Folly Farmt, and I offer micro-wedding packages as well as full-day packages. I also offer mid-week discounts!

Similar Venues to Folly Farm

You might also be interested in other nearby Bath  Venues:

– Prior Park College
– The Royal Crescent, Bath
– Wick Farm
– The Folly Farm Centre
– Priston Mill
– Clevedon Hall
– Coombe Lodge

Becky, Your Photographer