Swallows Oast Wedding Photographer | Kent Wedding Photographer | Swallows Oast Weddings
You have probably found this page because you are thinking about getting married at, or have even booked Swallows Oast for your wedding.
Set within the private grounds of Gibbs Reed Farm, Swallows Oast is surrounded by natural beauty, from rolling meadows and peaceful woodland walks to rustic barns and open skies. It’s the perfect backdrop for unforgettable wedding photography.
What’s included in my Swallows Oast Wedding photography packages
My wedding photography packages are designed to give you a complete, stress-free experience and timeless memories of your day. Your wedding photographs will tell the story of one of the most significant and treasured moments of your life and will serve as a reminder of the love and celebration of your wedding day.
All Wedding Photography Packages for Swallows Oast Include:
Perfect for couples who want the following:
Planning Your Swallows Oast wedding? View My Wedding Packages – click here
Advice for couples getting married at Swallows Oast
Swallows Oast is a wonderful venue if you’re dreaming of a relaxed countryside wedding. With its oak-beamed barn, rolling fields and beautiful gardens, it offers plenty of variety for your wedding photographs without having to leave the venue.
Plan two short portrait sessions – rather than disappearing for an hour, I recommend splitting your couple portraits into two sessions. We can spend around 15 minutes exploring the grounds after your drinks reception, then head back out for another 10 minutes during golden hour. You’ll get a fantastic variety of photographs while still spending most of your day with your guests.
Some of my favourite spots around the venue include:
- The oak barn exterior – The traditional weatherboarded barn makes a beautiful backdrop for timeless portraits and group photographs.
- The landscaped gardens – Perfect for relaxed, natural portraits surrounded by greenery throughout the year.
- The surrounding countryside – The open fields and rolling East Sussex landscape create stunning panoramic photographs, especially in the evening.
- The tree-lined pathways – These provide lovely depth and soft, natural framing for romantic couple portraits.
- Sunset overlooking the fields – If the weather is kind, the warm evening light across the countryside is one of the venue’s biggest highlights.
Make the most of the barn
The barn itself is full of character, with exposed oak beams and warm natural textures. It’s a lovely place for documentary moments during the ceremony, speeches and first dance, so don’t worry if the weather keeps everyone indoors because it photographs beautifully in every season.
Allow plenty of time for your confetti exit
The outdoor areas provide a fantastic space for a confetti tunnel. Ask your venue coordinator for the recommended location, and have a member of your wedding party hand out the confetti before everyone leaves the ceremony to keep things flowing smoothly.
Create a simple family photo list
A shortlist of family groups will help us move through the formal photographs quickly and efficiently. I also recommend asking someone who knows both families well to help gather everyone—it makes the whole process much more relaxed.
Don’t worry about the weather
One of the great things about Swallows Oast is that it offers beautiful indoor and outdoor options. If it rains, we’ll make the most of the characterful barn and covered areas, and if the skies clear later, we can always step outside for a few portraits. Some of the most atmospheric wedding photographs happen just after a rain shower.
Wear comfortable shoes
If you’d like to wander into the fields or explore more of the grounds for portraits, it can be worth bringing a comfortable pair of shoes for walking. You can always switch back into your wedding shoes afterwards.
Photographer’s tip
One of the biggest advantages of Swallows Oast is its peaceful setting. Build a little breathing room into your timeline so you can take a quiet walk together around the grounds. Those unhurried moments often produce the most genuine smiles and natural photographs. They also give you a chance to pause and enjoy your wedding day together before returning to the celebrations.
Reasons To Have Your Wedding At Swallows Oast
Here are some great reasons to consider Swallows Oast as your wedding venue — especially if you’re looking for a memorable, character-filled celebration in a beautiful rural setting. Swallows Oast is a historic 1830s oast house converted into a stunning wedding venue, full of rustic charm with oak-beamed ceilings and a minstrels’ gallery that create a warm, atmospheric backdrop. Set in the East Sussex countryside, it offers countryside views, woodland areas, and a lakeside which is ideal for stunning wedding photos and a relaxing feeling.
KEY FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Indoor and outdoor ceremony and reception options
- Flexible space with marquees
- Catering & Amenities
- Bridal suite which doubles up as a place to spend your first night together
- Exclusive use & personalisation
- Expansive countryside views – the perfect backdrop for wedding photographs
HOW MUCH DOES A WEDDING AT SWALLOWS OAST COST?
Venue hire is around £1,300 – £3,400 depending on the type of hire (daytime only, evening or full-day until midnight)
For example, a lunchtime hire is at the lower end ~ £1,300, evening hire ~ £1,500 and full-day hire ~ up to £3,100
Prices can vary based on season, day of the week, guest numbers and optional extras like marquees, accommodation or extended hours.
Catering and drink are usually additional to the base venue hire.
Official pricing is best confirmed by requesting a brochure or direct quote from the venue.
The History of Swallows Oast
Swallows Oast was originally built in the 1830s as part of Gibbs Reed Farm, serving as a traditional oast house – an agricultural buidling used for drying hops in the hop-growing regions of Sussex and Kent. The distinctive design, with its twin kilns or “roundels” was typical of rural architecture in the 19th century and reflects the importance of hop cultivation in the local farming economy at that time.
For much of its early life, the oast formed part of farm operations, where hops picked from surrounding fields were dried and processed before being sent off to breweries – a key part of agricultural production in south-east England. As industrial farming methods and hop processing changed through the 20th century, many oast houses became redundant.
In 1995, Swallows Oast underwent a major change in use: it was converted into a banqueting and event space, embracing its historic character while adapting it for modern celebrations. Since then, it has become well known as a wedding and events venue, hosting countless ceremonies and receptions set against its rustic beams, oak interiors and scenic countryside surroundings.
Today, the venue celebrates both its 19th century agricultural roots and its current role as a charming historic wedding setting in the heart of the East Sussex countryside.
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