Cooling Castle Barn suited a winter wedding with its old Kent setting, enclosed barn spaces and a reception that stayed close to the ceremony all day. Katie and Jonathan celebrated there in December 2023, keeping everything at the venue so the film could move naturally between morning preparations, the ceremony, speeches and the evening party.
Morning
Katie spent the morning at Cooling Castle Barn ahead of the 2pm ceremony, with guests and suppliers arriving into the same venue throughout the day. Jonathan was there from late morning, which gave the build-up a settled feel and kept the focus on the people arriving, getting ready and gathering before the ceremony.
Ceremony
The ceremony took place inside at Cooling Castle Barn, away from the December weather. Katie and Jonathan exchanged their vows in the barn before everyone moved into the drinks reception, where close-up moments and guest reactions became a strong part of the film.
Speeches and Wedding Breakfast
The speeches came before the wedding breakfast, giving the reception a clear lift before food was served. Jonathan spoke as groom, followed by the mother of the bride and the best man, with the room gathered tightly around them at Cooling Castle Barn.
Evening
The evening moved into cake cutting, the first dance and live music. Katie and Jonathan chose Can’t Take My Eyes Off You for their first dance, then went straight into It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, bringing guests onto the dance floor quickly rather than keeping the moment just to themselves.