Eleanor and Harry
Eleanor and Harry’s Mells Barn wedding was everything a Somerset village celebration should be: relaxed, personal and full of character, with an outdoor ceremony, a stroll through the village and portraits in the surrounding countryside. For couples searching for a rustic barn wedding venue near Frome or Bath, their day is a perfect example of how to make the most of Mells Tythe Barn and the beautiful village setting around it.
Mells Barn wedding in the heart of the village
Mells Tythe Barn is a Grade II* listed 14th/15th‑century building in the centre of the picturesque village of Mells, just a few miles west of Frome and around 13 miles south of Bath. With its large wooden‑floored hall, raised stage and big rear garden, it works brilliantly for wedding receptions that feel rustic, atmospheric and totally individual.
For Eleanor and Harry, choosing Mells Barn meant being surrounded by history – with the Grade I listed church, manor house and the old Talbot coaching inn all a short walk away – while still having the flexibility of a village hall-style space they could make completely their own.
Getting ready at the village pub
The wedding morning began at the local pub, a classic Somerset inn just a short walk from the barn, where Eleanor and Harry got ready surrounded by their closest people. The cosy rooms, uneven floors and old beams made the perfect backdrop for those natural, in‑between moments: buttoning dresses and waistcoats, sharing a pre‑ceremony drink, and nervously checking the time.
As their photographers (working together as a two‑person team), this setup allowed coverage of both sides of the story – one of us with Eleanor, one with Harry – capturing the energy of the morning without rushing between locations. The pub also set the tone for the rest of the day: relaxed, village‑based and full of warmth.
Outdoor wedding at Mells Barn
Eleanor and Harry chose to make the most of the outdoor space at Mells Barn by holding their wedding celebrations outside, using the rear garden as the focal point. The large lawn behind the barn, with its views over the village and space for seating or a marquee, created a natural setting for their outdoor wedding setup and drinks reception.
With the barn as a backdrop, guests could move freely between inside and out – popping in for shade or shelter and heading back into the garden whenever the sun came out. This kind of flexible, semi‑DIY space is ideal for couples who want to design a day that feels informal and personal, while still having the practicality of a fully fitted kitchen, bar area and facilities inside the barn.
Photos on the village road, in the fields and garden centre
One of the best things about a Mells Barn wedding is the village itself: narrow lanes, stone cottages and leafy views are all on the doorstep. After their ceremony, we walked with Eleanor and Harry down the village road, a time for them to enjoy being just the two of them while we photographed them against the backdrop of historic stone buildings, pub signs and garden walls.
Just beyond the barn, the surrounding fields gave us space for softer, more open portraits – long grass, big skies and that feeling of having briefly stepped away from the crowd. The garden centre next door added another layer of texture: paths between plants, pots and greenery created a calm, intimate setting for photos that felt different from the barn and the village street, but still completely part of their day.
Why Mells Barn suited Eleanor and Harry
Mells Barn is ideal for couples who want a rustic Somerset barn wedding that still feels connected to a real village community. With its historic hall, large garden, proximity to a country pub and beautiful streets to wander for photos, it offers endless opportunities to build a day that flows naturally from one space to the next.
For Eleanor and Harry – and for us as their photographers – that meant a story that moved from pub to village road, into the fields, through the garden centre and finally back to the barn as the focal point of the celebrations. If you are searching for “Mells Barn wedding photographer” or planning an outdoor wedding at Mells Tythe Barn, their day is a perfect example of how much variety and character you can fit into one small Somerset village.
