Barn on the Bay Wedding Venue Guide
Barn on the Bay Wedding Venue
Barn on the Bay is a laid back wedding venue on Hemscott Hill Farm, Widdrington. Overlooking Druridge Bay, and just up the road from the pretty village of Cresswell, Barn on the Bay is one of the most unique wedding venues in Northumberland for lovers of the coast. Easily reached from Morpeth in around 15 minutes by car and from Newcastle in about 30 minutes - it still manages to feel remote and secluded.
With the versatile barn, the stunning coastline for photographs and so many options for your ceremony, Barn on the Bay could be the perfect Northumberland wedding venue for you, read on to find out!
Quick Facts
Perfect for any size wedding, from an elopement right through to 150 guests
Exclusive use
Range of indoor and outdoor ceremony options
Delicious food by Barn on the Bay’s catering partner - Kooked North
Incredible coastal location
Accommodation on site
Accommodation
Barn on the Bay Pods
The venue’s ‘Overnighter’ package includes the 6 camping pods you’ll have probably seen as you drive by the venue, as well as a 14-bed ‘Bunkbarn’ and the camping field, if you have outdoorsy guests.
Poppy Cottage
I often cover prep at the onsite Poppy Cottage, a 2-bedroomed stone built cottage about 100 yards from the Cowshed Barn. This is booked as an addition to your package, rather than being included in it.
Accommodation near Barn on the Bay
More guests needing to stay? There is not a hotel particularly close, but Morpeth (around 15 minutes by car) has a range of small boutique hotels, B&Bs etc to choose from.
There is also a Premier Inn on the outskirts of Ashington, which is around 10 minutes by car from the venue
Registrar or Celebrant?
Before you confirm your date with Barn on the Bay, you’ll need to check there is a registrar available to cover your ceremony. You can contact the Northumberland Registrars directly by calling 01665 602870. For 2024 Weddings, there’s a £45 non-refundable booking fee to secure your Registrar. You can then expect to pay Northumberland County Council between £510 and £595 for the service and ceremony fees, depending on the date you chose.
The exception to this would be if you were planning to have a celebrant-led ceremony - you’ll instead need to do the legal formalities at a registry office (in Northumberland this is only available at Alnwick registry office and only on Tuesday or Thursday mornings at a cost of about £57) and a celebrant-led ceremony will be much more personalised and bespoke. Some of my favourite north east wedding celebrants are Sarah Clarke, Lisa Wilson and Love Jo.
Ceremony
I think most couples booking Barn on the Bay will be hoping for an outdoor ceremony in the dunes. This area can seat 150 guests with a stunning view of the sea beyond the wedding arch. For smaller guest lists, you could be right on the sand. Up to 18 guests can attend a ceremony on the beach.
Larger indoor ceremonies happen in the Cowshed Barn, seating up to 150. The smaller Calico Barn is a great choice for the smaller guest list, with seating for up to 20.
Guests should arrive around 45 minutes before the ceremony time, there is a bar for drinks and your guests can mingle before being seated. The ceremony time is not set, you can arrange your day your way.
If you’d like that all important Confetti shot after your ceremony, you’ll be pleased to know confetti is allowed, but be aware it’s dried petals only.
Barn on the Bay Menu
The food options are amazing. Barn on the Bay has a catering partner in Kooked North, who offer the most incredible food and have lots of options. You’ll be able to go to a tasting evening before your date, to help you decide what you’d like.
All tables, chairs, cutlery, glassware are included, but additional styling such as centrepieces, runners and styling items would need to be sourced externally or the venue offers it’s own styling service. If you want to source externally, some of my favourite North East wedding stylists are Birdcages and Dragonflies, Ambience Newcastle and The Whole Sch-Bang. A lot of venues don’t allow them, so you might be wondering, does Barn on the Bay allow real candles? Good news! Yes they do!
In addition to styling, you’ll probably want flowers too, my favourite florists close to Barn on the Bay are Moira J, Jones & Jones and the Bee & Botanist.
Suppliers can access the spaces on the morning of your wedding to set up your styling. The Cowshed Barn is big enough that it has areas for the dancefloor, the tables etc so the space doesn’t need to be “turned over” as such, the team will clear the tables discreetly without your guests even needing to leave the room.
Evening Reception
After your meal, the space will be readied for your evening reception. Evening guests can arrive from around 7pm and Barn on the Bay is open until late.
Whether you choose a live band - I can recommend Red Wings and the Folk Soul Brothers, or a DJ, Barn on the Bay can accommodate.
Who am I?
I’m Alex Katherine, a Northumberland wedding photographer (and Barn on the Bay fan-girl) based just 15 minutes from the venue. My style is candid and natural, with a focus on true colours in your final images (yeah, I’ll say it - I don’t think wedding photos should be super bright with washed out colours 😂).
You can find out more about me here and see what I offer here. I’d love to chat with you about your wedding and what you’re looking for from your photographer.
