One of the questions we’re most often asked by couples is for our recommendations on trusted wedding suppliers. Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to work alongside some of the very best in the industry – talented, professional, and all-round wonderful people who know our venue inside out. That’s why we created The Great Barn Supplier Spotlight: a series shining a light on some of our favourite suppliers, many of whom are familiar faces here at our venue. Every couple who books with us receives a full copy of our carefully curated list of recommended suppliers to help with their planning. But for now, here’s a sneak peek!
This time, we’re delighted to feature the lovely Jules from Rock Rose Photography, whose natural, reportage style and relaxed approach to wedding photography fits perfectly with the beauty and atmosphere of The Great Barn.
Tell us a little about who you are and what you offer…
I am passionate about capturing the unique beauty of weddings in a relaxed and fun way. It’s all about how the day unfolds and capturing the essence of the day without too much intrusion. My style is reportage and natural with a strong link to nature and the landscape. I love to capture couples laughing, having fun and enjoying the nature and beauty of the location without too much posing.
How did you get started in the wedding industry?
My journey into wedding photography started while studying for a BA in Editorial Photography at Brighton Uni. I was mainly using large format cameras and shooting film for landscapes and riverscapes. I saw an advert by a well-known photographer for an assistant and my first wedding job was rolling on the film and just assisting her in her day-to-day tasks while I was still studying. I soon got promoted to shooting a few rolls of film at weddings and it started from there.
What makes a wedding at The Great Barn Devon so special, in your opinion?
The beauty of the historic barn, the grounds, the gardens, the flowers… the whole venue is just beautifully maintained and a dream to photograph. It’s a real showstopper and will impress all the guests and provide so many options for photos, receptions and ceremonies. John and Emma and the rest of the team are fantastic – everything runs like clockwork and nothing is too much trouble. They run a very slick operation that really cuts out any wedding day stress. Oh, and not to forget the food… the food is divine!
Do you have a favourite memory from a wedding here at The Great Barn?
I do have some favourite wedding memories… I think it was Abbie and Sam’s winter wedding and Storm Bert… it really was the wildest of storms and the weather didn’t let up, but that didn’t dampen the spirits at all. The fun and good vibes were in abundance. The sky cleared for about 10 minutes and we dashed outside for some late November portraits in the grounds by the Cypress trees and you would never know from the photos that it was such a wild and windswept day.
I also really loved Vicky and Sam’s winter wedding. They decided on a first look at Haldon Belvedere, which is just a hop, skip and jump away from The Great Barn… that was a fun little excursion on one bright and breezy December morning.
What advice would you give couples planning their wedding?
Firstly book The Great Barn – everything is gorgeous and the food is amazing! Then book me, if you want a very de-stressed day and lots of lovely photos! I don’t do stressy or bossy so it will be a breeze. Secondly, plan, plan, plan as much as you can in advance. Delegate tasks to the bridal party and friends… Also, get oodles of confetti. And finally, leave lots of nice time in the reception for just mingling and chatting with guests so I can get lots of candid pictures! If budget allows, I advise booking my second photographer to get two perspectives/angles throughout the day and loads more lovely photos.
Are there any trends you’re loving at the moment?
I love the tiramisu tower trend… I love a champagne tower so why not bring on the tiramisu tower as well?!
What does a typical wedding day look like for you behind the scenes?
Behind the scenes is just making sure we have all our batteries fully charged, correct lenses to hand and flashes charged up and at the ready if need be. Also, there’s a lot of keeping hydrated and fuelled up to keep energy levels going! It’s quite a physical job and the equipment is heavy which I am carrying all day, sometimes up to 11 hours, so food and snack breaks are a must.
Where else can people see your work or get in touch?
You can find me regularly posting my work to Instagram and Facebook. The website is quite up to date with real weddings – I change it all the time as I manage it myself. I have also just started TikTok for more behind-the-scenes bits and bobs, although I’m possibly a bit old for TikTok and have no idea what I’m doing! So you may see more vids of me riding my horse Daisy than wedding bits as I try to learn a new platform.
A huge thank you to Jules for sharing her insights with us. Keep an eye on our journal as we continue The Great Barn Supplier Spotlight, showcasing more of the wonderful suppliers we love working with and know will make your wedding day unforgettable.
