S & E's Beautifully Stylish Wedding at Island Hall
Island Hall has a way of making a wedding day feel like it belongs in a different century, in the best possible way. S & E’s day had all of it: a bedroom full of nervous laughter, a walk down a staircase that has seen two hundred years of family history, vows under a tree older than the house itself, and a marquee lit up on an island reached only by a footbridge. Island Hall is one of the venues I come back to again and again, it’s featured on my guide to the Top Five Wedding Venues in Cambridgeshire, alongside the rest of my favourite Cambridgeshire wedding venues. Here’s how the day unfolded.
Getting Ready In The House
S got ready with her bridal party in one of Island Hall’s bedrooms upstairs, a quiet, light-filled room that made for some of my favourite images of the whole day. When it was time, she made her way down the house’s ornate central staircase, the kind of architectural moment you can’t manufacture on a blank canvas venue.
Vows Under The Great Oak
S & E were married outside on the lawn, in front of family and friends, under the great oak tree that anchors the whole garden. Island Hall itself stood behind them as a backdrop, real light, real reactions, and a setting that needs no dressing up.
Over The Bridge To The Island
After the ceremony, drinks flowed on the lawn while the light softened. Then the whole party made the walk over the footbridge onto the island itself, where a marquee had been set up for the reception, private, self-contained, and genuinely unlike anywhere else I shoot. There’s something about crossing water to get to your own reception that changes the mood of a day.
A Stylish Reception On The Island
The flowers throughout the marquee were by Feather and Ferns, soft, seasonal, and completely in keeping with the setting, and the food came from Little Piggy Catering. Both know this venue well, and it showed.
Portraits Through The Grounds
My favourite part of most weddings, and this one was no different: twenty minutes alone with S & E, walking through the grounds while everyone else had a drink. No posing, no lists, just following the light and letting them be a couple rather than a bride and groom for a bit.
On The Day
- Venue: Island Hall
- Flowers: Feather and Ferns
- Catering: Little Piggy Catering
- Photography: Juan Muiño Wedding Photography
Getting Married At Island Hall?
If you’re planning a wedding at Island Hall, or a venue like it, I’d love to hear from you. Take a look at my wedding photography packages to see how it works.
My First Hockwold Hall Wedding
My very first Hockwold Hall wedding was just perfect! Kayleigh and Karl got married in absolute style and it’s a wedding that I will never forget. So, I make no apologies for the rather long journal entry, featuring this amazing couple, this stunning wedding venue and all this beautiful wedding inspo.
Hockwold Hall Wedding – the back story.
I become very fond of some of my brides and grooms. The first moment I met Kayleigh and her mum at a wedding fair, I knew that I wanted this wedding. Wedding clients aren’t supposed to be friends. But I feel that in some cases, that’s old fashioned advice. You just can’t help but to become friends with some, and get caught up with their wedding excitement.
When I finally met Karl at their wedding consultation, I understood why Kayleigh had fallen for Karl.
And So To This Amazing Wedding At Hockwold Hall.
Mostly I try and keep my blogs and journal entries short and sweet… But I just couldn’t cut the amount of images for this wedding. So, there’s quite a few, see the slide show below.
When their wedding finally arrived, it was on one of the hottest day of the year.
Hockwold was looking stunning. Kayleigh had planned and thought about this day in so much detail. She had booked top suppliers (see the links below) to help her transform Hockwold in to Kayleigh and Karl’s dream wedding.
The Venue
Firstly, Hockwold Hall is the kind of house that we all dream off owning (well I do anyway). Bridal prep was in the main house, up a stunning, sweeping staircase. The ceremony was two minutes away in the grounds and to be held outside, and the breakfast was to be held in Hockwold’s gorgeous, permanent marquee.
The Bridal Prep
A grand, beautiful bridal suit is just the perfect way to start your wedding day. I feel that the bridal suit is really important, not just for your preparations, but the pictures always look great when the room is well appointed. And after all, it’s a part of the day that the ‘other’ party never get to see.
The Ceremony
Kayleigh walked down the gorgeous staircase, accompanied by her father through the house and onto the grounds. With this glorious house as a back ground, Kayleigh approached the outdoor ceremony where all the guests were waiting for her arrival. Hockwold Hall gives you thee best wedding entrances ever. Maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the sun… maybe it was the beautifully decorated chairs, but it felt like one of those airy Los Angeles weddings.
The Entertainment
So, whilst I was photographing the guests, the group shots and details (doing all the hard work), Kayleigh and Karl’s guests were entertained by Wayne Goodman. He is thee best wedding magician out there.
He offers just the right amount of banter, laughter (and flirting) and mind-boggling magic tricks. I get to follow him around and photograph your guests as they are amazed by his magic… but I also hear the applause and laughter that follow Wayne around. Please, I urge you, go and see Wayne at a wedding fair, better still book this lovely man for your wedding or event. Your guests will definitely thank you.
The Breakfast
The wedding party moved into the marquee, away from the heat and the sun. Immediately you were ht by the scent of Tolly’s amazing centre pieces, and the beautiful decor arranged by Lucy at Easy and Elegant Weddings and Events. Hockwold’s marquee is pretty impressive anyway, add these two suppliers into the mix and you have what dreams are made off, a perfect wedding.
The feel was elegant country festival style.
Just a Walk In The Grounds
After the guests had spilled around the glorious grounds at Hockwold, cutting of the stunning cake and the first dance were called. Shortly after we too decided to go for a walk around the grounds so that I could get some lovely informal portraits of the couple. It’s when couples appreciate the wedding images, when they are happy to explore for a few minutes then I can get some lovely, relaxed wedding images.
The Party
As I don’t get out that much, I usually stay way into the celebrations to make sure I capture all that ‘amazing’ dancing.
Book Hockwold Hall For Your Wedding
Having shot weddings for a long time and have seen every wedding venue there is. Hockwold Hall is Special. Maybe it’s the laid back hosts, or the beautiful grounds, where you can get lost on your wedding day. In short, it’s one of those magical places that just attract magical couples, therefore do have a look at Hockwold Hall before you book your venue.
Meet The Team at This Hockwold Hall Wedding
Contact Richard and the Hockwold Hall team on +(44) 01842 827365: or Visit their site here.
The impressive flowers were by Tolly’s Flowers
The decor, chair covers and vintage Love Letters were by Lucie at Easy and Elegant weddings and Events
Honestly, thee best magician out there and your guests will absolutely LOVE this guy. Wayne Goodman.
And the day was beautifully filmed by David Grace at DG Pictures
As always you can get more information on our wedding photography service by clicking here. Or view our Featured wedding Section here.
Chippenham Park Wedding: Jacquie & Rhys
Every time I pull through the gates at Chippenham Park I get the same lift, it's one of my favourite venues to shoot. Jacquie and Rhys's wedding is one of the days that reminds me why.
A Relaxed Start
Jacquie's prep was held in the Chippenham Park Bridal Suite, one of the most beautiful rooms I've photographed in, spacious, elegantly decorated, and easy to work with as the light moved through the morning.
A Judgement Call
The weather wasn't going to behave. Becky, Chippenham Park's wedding coordinator, made the call to move the ceremony indoors, into one of the venue's stunning rooms. Jacquie and Rhys said their vows to the sound of a summer rain storm outside, and it passed within the hour, that's Chippenham's weather for you.
Onto The Grounds
Guests spilled out onto the grounds around the marquee once the rain cleared, and with permission from the team, we made our way to the bridge for a few more portraits.
"I got to witness the best first dance I'd shot in years. Jacquie and Rhys had been practising, and it showed, they spun around that dancefloor like they'd been on Strictly."
Staying To The End
Because I stay through to the end of the celebrations, I also got to photograph family and friends dancing the night away, a little less polished than the first dance, but just as much fun.
A Perfect Day
Everything about this wedding worked, the decor, the running of the day (thank you, Becky), and most of all Jacquie and Rhys themselves, who didn't stop smiling. A huge thank you to them for their patience through "just one more" shot, and to Becky, Hugo and Becca and the whole team at Chippenham Park, who always make me feel welcome. Evening film by David Grace at DG Pictures.
Getting Married at Chippenham Park?
See the full guide to photographing your day, ceremony options, timing, and what happens if it rains, or browse more real Chippenham Park weddings.
Chippenham Park Wedding Photography The Chippenham Park Guide
Five things you didn't know about me
I've heard that we shouldn't see our clients at home...instead we should meet at a cafe, or at the studio. But I don't mind having client meetings from home, because it allows my clients to get a little insight into my life...and I get to clean like mad before they arrive! It's a win-win situation.