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Pratis Barns the Alternative Barn Wedding Venue
My 2024 wedding venue guide to Pratis Barns, near Cupar, Fife. What's it like? Where can you all stay? What might it look like on your wedding day?? Check out what past couples have done to make their wedding day magical at this amazing Fife wedding venue, guide by Ali Jay Photography.
Pratis Barns
Pratis Barns is a stunning barn venue with breathtaking views, it’s just outside Cupar in Fife .
I first worked at Pratis in 2015 not long after starting my business and I’ve watched it develop over the years and it’s a favourite.
I hope my little guide will help you visualise what your own wedding may look like in this amazing space.
Scroll down to read about all the spaces including the accommodation (on & off site), the dance floor & the fire-pits.
They have 6-barns over 30 acres so there is a so much space to make your own.
Since Nicola and Patrick took it over they have been making lots of improvements including the addition of accommodation at Pratis House, stunning vintage dancefloor lights and Patrick also brought his award winning catering on site so it’s far more inclusive than other barn venues.
The Ceremony Barn
The church-like ceremony barn is full of rustic charm and with the atmospheric lighting it has all the reminiscent feels of ’Ross & Emily’s’ iconic twinkly candle lit wedding in F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
The ceremony barn has been beautifully left as it would have looked when it was a working barn. The exposed beams & stonework and little storage spaces add lots of interest. It can also be heated which is a bonus!
Other barn venues such as the equally lovely but smaller ceremony barn at Guardwell Farm in Angus have a more cleaned up appearance with white walls.
The Layout
With 3 barns used for events, there is lots of space, so rooms don’t need to be re-dressed throughout the day.
The ceremony barn is across a courtyard from the two reception barns and it has two pretty barn doors into it, one at either end.
The back one is usually used for the bride to enter and the couple to leave together but the door at the front, when open, provides some beautiful natural light highlighting the bride & groom during the ceremony.
Low Light Wedding Photography
When you’re shooting in a dark space you could whack on an obtrusive flash and use it in every shot but I love the challenge of using the natural light at Pratis.
With the limited light, you have to plan the light in every shot to perfectly capture the atmosphere but the result is beautiful!
Exploring Together
Pratis has so many beautiful spots to explore, you can get away for a moment together, you can chat about your day and I’ll capture the moments.
The ceremony barn is a beautiful place to go back to for some photos, I also love using all the stone walls and barn doors as pretty backdrops.
Ross & Rachel had this sweet little moment enjoying a drink together at the barn. It’s completely them and that’s what I love about it!
Bride & Groom Photographs
As you leave the ceremony barn the texture of the stone, the red roofs, the pale green woodwork and the surrounding countryside provide a multitude of places to have photographs taken.
As you stand and look south you get panoramic views over the Forth Estuary over towards Edinburgh and if the weather is typically Scottish there are plenty places to shelter for photographs in the dry.
The field at the front of the building has both amazing views over the Forth or a nice back drop of the barn.
With 30 acres of land and Nicola & Patrick’s enthusiasm, I’m sure there are going to be more and more areas to explore as they develop the business.
The Day Barn
The day barn at Pratis looks out over the surrounding countryside and the river.
It boosts informal elegance with lovely rustic details and lots of areas for you to add personal touches.
Outside the entrance area there is seating and a fire pit to enjoy on a nice day.
Claire & Ross hired a campervan for their wedding and had a moment together to enjoy some wedding treats.
They said this was one of their favourite parts of the day.
Kids
I love kids at weddings and specialise in wedding photography for families, Pratis is a great venue for children.
Kids always seem happy at Pratis, they run around on the grass, climb hay bales or explore indoor play spaces.
They can have a lot of freedom compared to other venues. There is so much space, it really suits a family wedding.
DIY Wedding Props
Pratis has a ‘Wonder Room’ of items for you to use for your wedding. A treasure trove of props and accessories to make your wedding look fabulous!
If you love to create then this type of venue is magic. One bride, Lynsay really got creative, she even made her own jewellery and each bridesmaid had their own personalised denim jacket.
There are so many amazing ideas on Pinterest to inspire you to create a beautiful DIY wedding.
The Party Barn
The party barn and day barn link together. The day barn section is light and airy and perfect as a breakout space for when the dancing is on.
The party barn section to the back is dark and lit with up-lighters to highlight the beams on the ceiling.
This large space is used for the meal and the dancing.
The party barn is huge, an amazing celidh space.
For Claire & Sam’s first dance they used the space to the max with a massive Strip The Willow down the barn, with their entire wedding party.
IT WAS EPIC!
Also, it was an amazing way to get all your guests on the dancefloor and really start the party in style!
Scroll down and see how much fun they had!
I love all the little touches that have been created such as the bar in the larger room which is clad with old wine crates and the old pallets used to create signs and flower decorations.
Whether it’s dark or light outside the party barn has that night time atmosphere but for guests that don’t want to be in the noisy dancing area, they can chill in the quieter day barn or outside at the firepit area.
Pratis House
Pratis Barns now has Pratis house a stunning house, right next to the barn which accommodates 15 people across 7 rooms.
It’s full of beautiful modern features which compliment beautifully with the traditional features, like the stunning stairwell which allows a sneaky view out to the ceremony barn.
From the rooms you get amazing far reaching views out across the countryside, across the River Forth, all the way over to East Lothian.
They have built a lovely light sunroom on the front which is light and airy and perfect for hair & make-up.
Extra Accomodation
There is also Montrave House which is the closest place to Pratis Barns and sleeps 7 people in the house, plus they have 8 luxury 4 person wigwams, some with hot tubs ;-)
Montrave House was once a stables and has been converted to provide some beautiful characterful accommodation.
The large light rooms create a great setting for your bridal prep photography.
Although next door, both venues have long driveways so unfortunately it is not walking distance.
Dairsie Castle
Claire and her bridesmaids hired Dairsie Castle for their accommodation, 16 minutes drive from Pratis.
The 12th century castle was re-built in the 90’s and is full of character with carved totem pole style pillars mixed with the more traditional features in the castle.
The castle sleeps 14 people and has masses of space to explore & enjoy. You can even get married there.
Holiday cottages & hotels near Pratis
There are many other lovely places to stay including the Old Manor Hotel in Lundin Links, 10 minutes drive away or you could book a holiday cottage in one of the beautiful fishing villages on the East Neuk of Fife.
Get In Touch
Pratis Barns: Nicola, Patrick & Louise are fantastic, contact them at https://pratisbarns.com/weddings/
Balmule House - Country House Wedding Venue Fife
A wedding venue guide to Balmule House, the beautiful exclusive use country house boutique hotel wedding venue just outside Dunfermline.
Balmule House
Balmule House is a 500yr old mansion house which is now a country boutique hotel. It is tucked away in the beautiful countryside just 3 miles north of Dunfermline. It’s small size makes it perfect to book out for an exclusive wedding.
They offer an option to put a marquee in the garden for larger weddings (up to 500 guests) but having an intimate wedding in the house makes the most of the beautiful characterful spaces.
Country House Wedding
The house sits up on a hill surrounded by 30 acres of woodland and looks down over the countryside.
It has pretty spaces outside including a lawn, a long tree lined driveway, a walled garden and woodshed.
These spaces were brilliant to explore for photos but the inside spaces are equally as beautiful which would make it a brilliant venue for an autumn or winter wedding.
Relaxed Venue
Matt & Hannah hired the entire house for their wedding and everyone seemed so relaxed and really enjoyed just having fun all day.
It’s beautifully renovated with lots of period features which make the space feel homely.
I imagine in the winter it is super cosy as each room has a nice fireplace.
Beautiful Light Rooms
Matt & Hannah used 3 spaces within the house for their wedding.
The main reception room can accommodate up to 40 people for a wedding ceremony.
The dining room also accommodates 40 guests for a meal and the space hosts larger number for the evening reception.
For larger weddings there is the marquee option which can take up to 500 guests.
Dining Room
The south facing dining room overlooks the walled garden to the west and the fields to the south.
The bay window is a beautiful feature and brings in lots lovely light which is great for your photographs.
Normally this space is furnished with lovely sofas but it is very versatile and the management just seamlessly change the spaces to suit the required function.
I used this space for a family shoot a few years back so if you’d like to see it as a cosy seated area, click the button below.
Boutique Hotel
The house has 8 bedrooms which all have their own unique character which was a really fun feature of the hotel.
Hannah had this massive bridal suite to get ready in which was a fabulous space and had a vast impressive bathroom to match.
Pretty Spaces
I love the staircase in the house, it was a great place to capture some pictures of Hannah on her way to the ceremony.
Well Looked After!
What makes a brilliant wedding venue? It’s not just the location, space and the pretty features of the venue but the management.
Franc, the owner, seems to sincerely want the couples who choose Balmule to have an amazing time which is my main aim to.
The exclusive use means the management are just looking after you on the day and bride and grooms love this.
I’ve heard great things about how well they are treated and how lovely an experience it was.
I have seen plenty couples stressed on their wedding day because they are not so well looked after and I truly believe being able to trust your suppliers is essential. I always want my couples to feel completely comfortable and trust that I know exactly what they want and Balmule seem to be the same.
Main Hall
When you first enter the house you enter via an arched entrance porch which is a lovely place to have a welcome sign for the wedding party.
You then enter an entrance hallway which leads into the main hall. The comfy seating in the hall was a great waiting area for guests who arrived early for the ceremony, it then became a good place for mingling during the drinks reception and then Matt & Hannah used the area for their cake cutting and then dancing.
I really loved how versatile the spaces all were.
Walled Garden
The walled garden is full of cute pathways lined by box hedging. It’s a lovely place to go for a walk and enjoy a bit of time together and get some photos taken.
It’s also a nice space for your guests to enjoy or for some family photos.
The main car park sits behind the walled garden so guests can walk through the garden when they arrive which is a nice welcoming approach.
Golden Light
Matt & Hannah were married in May when the evenings are long and we went out during the golden hour to explore the grounds and get some photos as the sun was going down.
Whatever the time of year it is nice to get out the hour before sunset to catch some of the golden light.
In the winter the daylight hours are so short but when it is sunny you get low light much of the day and it is beautiful for photos.
Planning a wedding in Dunfermline?
I live in North Queensferry which is perfectly located for weddings in Fife & Edinburgh and it’s only 10 minutes from Dunfermline (I also cover weddings further afield).
If you’d like to know more, check out my weddings page and get in touch, I’m happy to answer any questions and help you with your wedding.
Find out more:-
- Wedding Information (to find out more)
- Pricing Brochure (if you’d like to get an idea of cost)
- Edinburgh Wedding Blog (for more wedding inspiration)
Read More?
I have some other guides for venues nearby, click the name if you’d like to read more:-
- The Old Course Hotel, St. Andrews
- Dunfermline Weddings & Photo Shoots
- South Queesferry Weddings
