Merriscourt: One of My Favourite Cotswolds Barn Wedding Venues

My favourite wedding venues are always decided by one thing first: the people who run them.

Beautiful buildings and countryside views are wonderful (and there are plenty of those at Merriscourt), but the staff are what truly make a wedding day feel relaxed, smooth, and joyful. Sadly, there are so many venues now that feel like a conveyor belt, with back-to-back weddings meaning you have to be up and cleared out early, or you can't get in with your makeup team until 10 a.m. At Merriscourt, you never get this feeling.

I can honestly say the team at Merriscourt are some of the best in the business. Emily & Paige genuinely care about every single one of their couples and it shows in everything they do.

They are calm, organised, friendly and incredibly experienced. The kind of team who quietly make everything run perfectly while making couples and guests feel completely looked after. As a photographer, venues like this are always a dream to work at because when the team are great, the whole day just flows.

Luckily, Merriscourt also happens to be one of the most beautiful Cotswolds barn wedding venues around!

A Beautifully Relaxed Cotswolds Barn Wedding Venue

Tucked away just outside Chipping Norton, Merriscourt sits in the middle of rolling Cotswold countryside overlooking the Evenlode Valley.

It is the sort of place where everything feels calm the moment you arrive. The honey coloured stone barns surround a stunning courtyard, and beyond that you have miles of open farmland and big skies. It feels private, peaceful and beautifully rural while still being polished enough for a really stylish wedding.

One of the things couples love most about the Merriscourt wedding venue is how relaxed it feels. Nothing is overly formal. The spaces simply work naturally for a wedding day.

Guests can wander between the barns, gather in the courtyard with a drink, or simply enjoy the countryside views while everything unfolds around them.

Three Barns That Make the Wedding Day Flow Perfectly

One of the clever things about the Merriscourt wedding venue is the layout.

Instead of squeezing everything into one room, as well as the outside space, the venue has three beautiful barns arranged around the courtyard, each used for a different part of the day.

It gives the wedding a really natural rhythm, no matter the weather, there is always somewhere for guests to go without a room turnaround ruining the vibe.

Ceremonies usually take place outside on the lawn or in the Stone Barn with rustic Cotswold stone walls, wooden beams and gorgeous soft light.

After the ceremony comes confetti - again with a number of areas to choose from! Most choose to use the courtyard, but the rear drive also provides a beautiful backdrop and in the event of bad weather Merriscourt also allow you to throw your confetti inside!

Drinks and canapés in good weather usually happen around the tree in the courtyard where guests can mingle, but The Gallery provides the perfect space in bad weather with plenty of room for all your guests and your musicians - nothing stops the party at Merriscourt!

Dinner and speeches in the White Barn which is bright, airy and perfect for whatever table set up you would like! From long banquet tables and traditional round tables all the way through to a modern caterpillar table for a more intimate day, the staff at Merriscourt will work with you to make sure it really is the day of your dreams!

The BEST Food!

Merriscourt are known amongst suppliers as providing the best food! Whether its canapes, sharing platters or traditional plated food, I have never had a bad mouthful. The cauliflower canape and duck salad starter are my personal favourites though!

A Brilliant Wedding Venue Whatever the Weather

One of the reasons I love photographing weddings at the Merriscourt wedding venue is that it works beautifully whatever the British weather decides to do.

Planning a wedding in the UK means you always need a good backup plan. Luckily, Merriscourt has so much lovely indoor space that rainy days can feel just as special as sunny ones.

The barns are spacious, light and full of character which means every part of the day can comfortably happen indoors if needed, even couples portraits and wedding party photos if the weather really is horrendous.

Because all the spaces connect around the courtyard, guests can move easily between them without ever feeling cramped or rushed.

Sometimes the rain even adds a bit of magic. Cosy candlelight, laughter under umbrellas and everyone gathered together inside the warm barns.

That is the beauty of Merriscourt. It is just as lovely on a grey Cotswold day as it is in golden summer sunshine.

Other Spaces

One of the biggest selling points is that there is enough space that your wedding party and immediate family can get ready and stay on site in all the different cottages around the farm, which not only adds to the relaxed feel but also means I can capture both sides of the wedding party preperations.

And into the night......

Merriscourt takes on a whole new level for your night time party and not just because of the space to party in the barn! Whether its cigars in the courtyard, champagne spraying on the drive or even some epic outfit changes and some glam night time portraits.......

Final Thoughts on the Merriscourt Wedding Venue

If you are dreaming of a Cotswolds barn wedding venue that feels relaxed, welcoming and beautifully run, Merriscourt is a fantastic choice. It has all the ingredients. Gorgeous barns, sweeping countryside views, a courtyard that brings everyone together and a team who truly know how to look after their couples. And for me, that is what makes it one of my absolute favourite venues to work at.................but the one thing I haven't shown you is the views! If you want all the fun above captured and still want fun wedding party images as well as beautiful couple portraits making the most of those views then please get in touch!