Epic Cowboy & Disco Themed Wedding at the Chilli Barn
Last year, I was once again lucky enough to be back at the Chilli Barn in Otley for another lovely autumnal disco-themed wedding celebration with two of the lovliest people around!
I first met Izzy and Charli back in March 2025 for their pre-wedding shoot. They live out of the area, so we managed to organise the shoot for the same day as their venue tasting and it took place right across the road on the Otley Chevin.
Photographing this couple was so easy as they were so full of joy, relaxed and carefree throughout. We enjoyed chatting and getting to know each other.
I love to do this as it helps me know what to expect from the wedding and helps them feel more comfortable with the idea of having me around on their wedding day. Find out more about pre-wed shoots here.
The Theme: Cowboy, But Make it Disco
I can’t tell you how excited I was when they told me they were planning a quirky autumnal wedding with disco ball decor, streamers, bold colours and cowboy boots galore.
Their October wedding was the perfect blend of warm, cosy and inviting with the right amount of sparkle thanks to their wedding decor. It felt joyful and relaxed from the moment guests arrived.
Both had incredibly cool outfits to match their theme, too! Izzy opted for a lace wedding dress with long flowing sleeves from Shikoba Bride, while Charli wore a blue denim shirt with white fringe from Hey, Cowboy! paired with white Levi jeans. They both wore cowboy boots, of course!
Arrival and First Look
One thing I loved about their wedding is that they chose to walk down the aisle together, after meeting outside the venue for a first look.
If you’re nervous about walking into your ceremony, or don’t like the idea of being away from your partner, then a first look is a great way to settle nerves whilst having a private moment together.
It also allows me to capture the surprise and joy on the couple’s faces as they see each other’s outfits for the first time.
A Celebrant Ceremony Full of Personality
Their personal ceremony, led by Hazel the Rainbow Celebrant, was brilliant from start to finish.
As a photographer, I love it when couples choose a celebrant for their ceremony, as it provides me with so much more to photograph. I love being able to explore unique angles and capture emotional moments between the couple and their family and friends. Wedding guests love celebrant ceremonies too, as they can drink throughout!
As well as lots of stories about their life and relationship, the ceremony included a reading of You’re Alright by Molly Naylor. This is the first and only ceremony I have photographed where the C bomb was dropped and it made everyone laugh!
Their ceremony ended with a rendition of Islands in the Stream with one side taking on Dolly and the other Kenny. I love photographing weddings where couples choose to personalise their celebrations like this.
Autumn Touches at the Drinks Reception
After the ceremony, guests had their fill of hot drinks and canapes. The lovely mild October weather meant that everyone was happy to mill around outside or relax in the tipi whilst trying to answer questions on the sip and solve crossword.
I love this time of day as I get to capture people in a relaxed environment, enjoying their time and having fun.
Also, instead of writing a message in a standard guest book, Izzy and Charli asked everyone to draw a mini portrait of themselves. They told me they planned to turn the drawings into a tea towel for their home. I thought this was such a cute but practical idea!
Relaxed Wedding Portraits
You’d be forgiven for thinking that portraits take up a significant portion of a wedding, because more often than not, these are the images that are shared and talked about online.
I would say that on average, my couples spend less than 5% of their wedding day on portraits. Izzy and Charli had a very chilled wander around their venue for 20 minutes, whilst I captured natural photos of them enjoying their time together.
I do like to capture couples in front of their chosen venue, and in this case, I just had to include their welcome sign with its mini disco balls too.
Colourful Disco Themed Table Decor
Upstairs at the Chilli Barn looked gorgeous with the tables decorated with wedding flowers and bold colours. Of course, they had to incorporate disco balls here too and so the barn really looked the part.
The couple chose to sit amongst their guests, giving the wedding speeches and meal a very relaxed and informal atmosphere.
A First Dance With a Twist
During the ceremony, guests unknowingly voted for which song the couple would take on for their first dance. Then Izzy and Charli battled it out on a Nintendo Switch with Izzy coming out on top, much to her own surprise!
It made everyone laugh and it was a joy to capture. I encourage my couples to break away from traditions that don’t sit right for them, and this was a great example.
Headphone Disco and Something for Everyone
After the first dance, the party vibes really kicked in with the headphone disco.
I think this is such a great idea when you have guests with different music tastes. It’s also a way to be considerate of those who are overwhelmed by loud music. There were three channels to choose from: Pop, emo and rock and country.
At any point, you could look around and see people dancing and singing along to completely different songs. It was chaotic and very entertaining to photograph!
For those who fancied a more chilled-out evening, Izzy and Charli had created space for arts and crafts upstairs. There was a temporary tattoo station, colouring in, plenty of board games and even a jigsaw made from one of their pre-wedding shoot photos, which was such a cool personal touch.
A Unique Wedding that Celebrates Individuality
Every part of Izzy and Charli’s wedding felt intentional and meaningful. It was so lovely to be a part of their big day.
It’s always good to be reminded that your wedding can look and feel however you want it to. Their day was so relaxed but full of love and joyful energy and this is what I hope comes across in their photos.
You can see more of their cowboy and disco-themed wedding photos below!
If you love the photos and you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Yorkshire or the North West, I’d love for you to get in touch and tell me all about your plans!
Visit this link to see more awesome Chilli Barn weddings.
