Natasha & Toby's Wedding at Lanwades Hall

Natasha & Toby's Lanwades Hall Wedding Preview
Natasha and Toby's wedding at Lanwades Hall
Lanwades Hall · Wedding · 16th August 2024

Natasha & Toby
A Summer Day at Lanwades Hall

My favourite venue, the one I'm recommended at, and still the place I find something new to shoot every time.

Natasha and Toby's wedding was an extravagant, properly beautiful day at Lanwades Hall, the venue I love shooting at most. I am so proud to continue to be a recommended supplier to this outstanding venue.

Natasha got ready in the bridal suite. Toby used the Old Library, and it suited him, that room has a stillness to it that a lot of grooms don't get before their wedding.

Natasha getting ready in the bridal suite at Lanwades Hall

The Bridal Suite

Quiet, unhurried, the calm before everything else started moving.

The staircase at Lanwades Hall
Toby getting ready in the Old Library at Lanwades Hall

The Old Library

Toby really suited the atmosphere in here, it's one of my favourite rooms at Lanwades to photograph a groom getting ready in.

Natasha and Toby's ceremony in the Sunken Garden at Lanwades Hall

The Sunken Garden

They married in front of friends and family in the Sunken Garden, flanked by lavender on both sides, bees working through it the whole ceremony, and a buzzard circling somewhere above us.

"I shoot fifteen to eighteen weddings a year at Lanwades Hall, and I still find new places to shoot and new images to create."

Juan
Confetti throw through the wisteria gate at Lanwades Hall

From the ceremony they walked the confetti line through a tiny gate under the ancient wisteria and into the walled garden, the house sitting behind them the whole way through. Decoration was by Lucy at Easy and Elegant Weddings, and catering came from Portfolio Events, more than one guest told me how good the food was. It was a genuinely hot day, and the reception settled into that heat easily, everyone finding the shaded areas or the parasols and staying there.

As family and friends were called in for dinner, the three of us went for a walk across the grounds for formal portraits.

Portraits on the tree-lined avenue near the old tennis court at Lanwades Hall

The Avenue

A favourite of mine, the tree-lined avenue near the old tennis court. Time it right and the sun breaks through the trees and the light streams straight down it.

The speeches were some of the best-prepared I've heard in a while, and afterwards everyone had coffee and wandered the grounds, which at Lanwades are genuinely impeccable. It's a real pleasure to shoot here, and even after fifteen to eighteen weddings a year at this venue I still find new corners and new images every time.

Once the dancing had properly started, the three of us slipped out again for a last set of portraits, this time after dark.

Natasha and Toby had their engagement shoot at Lanwades Hall ahead of the wedding, worth a look if you want the fuller story of their time here.

Guests under parasols during the reception at Lanwades Hall
The grounds at Lanwades Hall
More from the day
Natasha and Toby's wedding at Lanwades Hall
Natasha and Toby's wedding at Lanwades Hall
After Dark
Night portrait of Natasha and Toby at Lanwades Hall
Night portrait of Natasha and Toby at Lanwades Hall
Night portrait of Natasha and Toby at Lanwades Hall

Getting married
at Lanwades Hall?

It's my favourite venue to shoot at, and one I'm recommended at directly. If you're planning your day here, I'd love to talk it through with you.


Bride and groom celebrate as they walk towards the marquee at their Chippenham Park wedding

What To Expect: Getting Married At Chippenham Park

What to Expect: Getting Married at Chippenham Park Preview
Wedding couple at Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire
Chippenham Park · Wedding Photography Guide

What to Expect
Getting Married at Chippenham Park

Fifteen years photographing weddings here. Everything I'd tell you before your day.

Fifteen years photographing weddings at Chippenham Park, and I still tell couples the same thing: this venue gives you more genuine choice than almost anywhere else I shoot. Here's what that actually means for your day.

Ceremony Locations

It's rare for a venue to offer this many real ceremony options. My favourite is by the lake, mostly because of the walk, couples cross the parkland into a shaded, dappled ceremony spot that changes with the season. The Formal Gardens are another favourite, that's where Emily and Josh held their ceremony. And on the rare day it rains, Chippenham Park's ballroom doubles as a genuinely picturesque indoor ceremony space, not just a fallback. You can see all three spaces on Chippenham Park's own site.

[IMAGE: Formal Gardens ceremony setup at Chippenham Park]

The Formal Gardens

Structured, symmetrical, a different feel entirely from the lake. Read about Emily and Josh's wedding here.

[IMAGE: Chippenham Park's ballroom set up as a wet-weather ceremony space]

Wet Weather, Covered

Chippenham Park's ballroom is a proper backup, not a compromise. Couples who end up here rarely feel like they missed out.

"It's rare to find a venue with this many genuine ceremony options. Chippenham gives couples a real choice, not just a fallback plan."

Juan

Getting Ready

Brides typically get ready in Chippenham Park's bridal suite. There's also accommodation on site, which the groom's party usually uses, and afterwards we step into the herb garden for some relaxed, unposed shots before the day gets going.

[IMAGE: groom's party in the herb garden at Chippenham Park]

The Herb Garden

A short walk from the on-site accommodation, and one of the quieter spots on the grounds before the day picks up pace.

Photo Locations

While everyone else walks to the marquee, I usually take couples into the old part of the garden, tall trees, perfectly cut pathways, edged with antique garden ornaments and modern artwork sitting side by side. After the dinner service, I get permission to head back by the lake to the old bridge for late evening portraits. And then there's the small jetty, the lake as its backdrop, easy to miss and one of my favourite spots on the entire grounds.

[IMAGE: the old bridge at Chippenham Park, late evening portrait location]
[IMAGE: the small jetty on the lake at Chippenham Park]
[IMAGE: the old garden pathway lined with antique ornaments and modern artwork]

The Timeline

Most days at Chippenham Park follow a similar shape. Bridal prep runs from around 10am to midday, ceremonies are usually held at 2pm, followed by a drinks reception. Guests are called in for the wedding breakfast at 4pm, which leaves a window before that for genuinely chilled, editorial couple portraits, not the rushed ten minutes you get at some venues.

Groups and Light

Group shots are never an issue here, there's plenty of tree cover for well-shaded group photos regardless of the time of day. Sometimes I move groups indoors and use the ballroom for a more editorial style, Lydia and Luke's wedding is a good example of that.

[IMAGE: editorial group photo in the ballroom at Chippenham Park]

When We Move Indoors

The ballroom's scale and light make it one of the better indoor options I shoot in for larger group photos.

Practical Details

Parking is plentiful and grass-based, and there's accommodation on site for the wedding party, with additional hotels nearby for guests who need them.

More from Chippenham Park
[IMAGE: on-site accommodation exterior at Chippenham Park]
[IMAGE: evening light over the lake at Chippenham Park]
[IMAGE: general grounds atmosphere shot, Chippenham Park]

Quick Questions About Chippenham Park

What time do ceremonies typically start at Chippenham Park?

Ceremonies usually begin around 2pm, following bridal preparation from late morning.

What happens if it rains on the wedding day?

Chippenham Park's ballroom serves as a picturesque indoor backup for ceremonies, so weather rarely disrupts the day.

Where do ceremonies take place at Chippenham Park?

Couples can choose between a ceremony by the lake, the Formal Gardens, or the ballroom, a rare amount of choice for a single venue.

Is there accommodation on site for the wedding party?

Yes. Chippenham Park has on-site accommodation, which the groom's party typically uses to get ready before heading into the herb garden for photographs.

Is there parking for guests at Chippenham Park?

Yes, Chippenham Park offers ample on-site parking along with accommodation, and there are additional hotels nearby for guests.

Thinking of Chippenham Park?

I've been photographing weddings here for fifteen years. If you're planning your day, I'd be glad to talk you through it.

See Chippenham Park Weddings

Bride and groom kissing ion the grounds of Chippenham Park.

Lydia & Luke's Real Wedding at Chippenham Park

Lydia & Luke's Real Wedding at Chippenham Park Preview
Wedding ceremony by the lake at Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire
Chippenham Park · June 2025

Lydia & Luke
A Wedding by the Lake

15 years shooting Chippenham Park, and this one still stands out.

I'd already spent an early summer afternoon with Lydia and Luke around Cambridge's streets for their engagement shoot, so I knew what their wedding day needed to be: relaxed, unhurried, entirely their own. Chippenham Park gave them exactly that.

Lydia got ready in Chippenham Park's bridal suite, morning light coming in low across the room while her bridesmaids worked around her. Down in the parkland, Luke and the groomsmen were doing the opposite of nervous, more coffee and quiet jokes than nerves.

When it was time, Lydia walked through the parkland with her father to the ceremony area by the lake, dappled light coming through the trees the whole way down.

Bridal preparation in the bridal suite at Chippenham Park

Getting Ready

The bridal suite at Chippenham Park catches the morning light well, which made for a calm, unrushed start to the day.

"15 years shooting Chippenham Park and I still find corners of it I hadn't noticed before. This wedding found a few more."

Juan
Bride walking through the parkland at Chippenham Park with her father

The Ceremony

Lydia and Luke married by the lake at Chippenham Park, the water and the parkland doing most of the work as a backdrop. No two ceremonies here ever look quite the same.

The Confetti and the Terrace

What followed was one of the longest confetti parades I've shot in a while, family and friends lined up the whole length of the path. From there the wedding party moved to Chippenham Park's terraced gardens for speeches, guests still finding their seats as the first one started.

Confetti parade after the wedding ceremony at Chippenham Park
Wedding speeches in the terraced gardens at Chippenham Park

Portraits in the Grounds

While guests made their way to the marquee, Lydia, Luke and I found twenty minutes in the grounds. As a Chippenham Park wedding photographer for 15 years now, I still don't run out of places to use here.

Bride and groom portrait at Chippenham Park
Couple portraits in a hidden corner of Chippenham Park
Guests making their way to the marquee at Chippenham Park

Into the Evening

Guests wandered into the marquee as the light dropped, and the party ran well past the point most people had stopped watching the clock.

I remember every wedding I shoot, but some stay with you for the right reasons. Lydia and Luke's was one of them, relaxed from the first morning coffee to the last song.

If your day needs the same unhurried, documentary-first approach, Chippenham Park pairs especially well with Classic Coverage, enough structure for portraits and speeches, without losing the rest of the day to a schedule. And if you're planning ahead, an engagement shoot in Cambridge beforehand, like Lydia and Luke's, is a good way to get comfortable in front of the camera before the day itself.

More from Lydia & Luke's day
Evening wedding party at Chippenham Park
Wedding day details, Chippenham Park wedding
Bride and groom at dusk, Chippenham Park, Cambridgeshire

Your wedding.
Your story.

Two ways to tell it, both documentary at the core. See which one is yours.

Explore The Two Approaches

couple leaning against a willow tree near the mill pond in cambridge

Becka & James' Cambridge Couple's Shoot

Becka & James at King's College, Cambridge
Cambridge Couple's Shoot

Becka & James

A relaxed walk through Cambridge streets, golden light, and plenty of laughing in between.

Cambridge is one of my favourite backdrops for a couple's shoot. It's basically an excuse for a walk through the quiet streets, watching the light shift behind the ancient buildings, before heading off for lunch or cocktails together. Simple as that, and it works every time, which is exactly why engagement photography in Cambridge is one of my favourite things to shoot.

Becka and James came all the way from London to spend the afternoon in one of their favourite cities. This was their pre-wedding shoot ahead of their wedding at Notley Abbey later that year, just as relaxed and unscripted as their big day would go on to be. They also went home with a beautiful signing mount from the shoot, ready for their wedding guests to sign on the day.

Planning a couple's shoot of your own?

If you want a relaxed shoot together before the big day, in Cambridge or wherever feels like you, I'd love to hear from you.

Get In Touch

bride and groom walking away towards Childerley Hall during their fusion wedding day

Childerley Hall Wedding: Ronak and Nix's Fusion Wedding

Ronak & Nix at Childerley Hall, house in the background
Childerley Hall | 5th July 2021

Ronak & Nix's
Fusion Wedding

Childerley Hall hosted R&N's fusion wedding, a fusion of cultures, colours, love and laughter.

Ronak and Nix's wedding at Childerley Hall was part three of their wedding celebrations, and by the time they reached Cambridgeshire the day had built into something joyful and unmistakably theirs. A fusion of cultures, colours, love and laughter, and Childerley Hall hosted it beautifully.

Bridal prep in the lodge at Childerley Hall

Bridal Prep In The Lodge

Getting ready happened in the lodge, where the colour of the sarees stood out against the beautifully dark interior. It's a contrast I don't get often, rich colour against dark wood and low light, and it made for some of my favourite frames of the whole day.

Ronak arrives in a vintage Mustang at Childerley Hall

The Groom Arrives

Ronak arrived in a vintage Mustang, and the moment the door opened, the venue fell into music and dance to welcome him in. It's one of the most joyful arrivals I've photographed at Childerley Hall.

Ronak & Nix by the topiary elephant at Childerley Hall

Childerley Hall's barn is one of the longest ancient barns I've shot a wedding in. It held the ceremony at the front and the reception at the back, with still room to wander in between, a genuinely sprawling, atmospheric space for a day with this much going on.

Ronak & Nix walking the lavender borders at Childerley Hall
Portraits in the lavender borders at Childerley Hall

Portraits In The Lavender

We took couple portraits through the lavender borders, with the house sitting in the background. The light along the entrance of the house seemed to perfectly complement this wedding, warm and soft in exactly the way the day needed.

A fusion of cultures, colours, love and laughter.

Childerley Hall, 5th July 2021
Reception in the long barn at Childerley Hall

Reception In The Barn

The back of the barn opened up for the reception, with enough room across the whole space that the day never once felt cramped, even with everything going on around it.

Ronak & Nix's welcome into the reception at Childerley Hall
Wedding details, henna and bangles at Childerley Hall

The Details

Colour ran through every part of this day, from the sarees in the lodge to the flowers and table settings in the barn. Childerley Hall's dark interiors and warm light gave all of it somewhere to really stand out.

Ronak & Nix through the summer house at Childerley Hall

This was part three of Ronak and Nix's wedding celebrations, and Childerley Hall was exactly the right note to end on. If you're planning a wedding at Childerley Hall yourself, have a look at my Childerley Hall wedding photography page for more on the venue and how I cover it.


Bride and groom kissing during the first dance as confetti falls from above, at a granary-barns-wedding

Granary-Barns Wedding : A&G Had the BEST day ever

Interior shot of decorated barn at Granary-Barns wedding venue
REAL WEDDING · THE GRANARY BARNS

Georgina & Ashley

Georgina and Ashley got married at The Granary Barns, and it was every bit as relaxed and joyful as their pre-wedding shoot on the Norfolk coast had promised it would be. So much thought went into this day, from the small details to the choice of venue itself.

If you want to see how differently a Granary Barns wedding can look on another couple, read about Ashley and Charlie’s Granary Estates wedding too, same venue, completely different day.

Interior shot of decorated barn at Granary-Barns wedding venue

Getting Ready

Georgina, her mum, her nan and the rest of the bridal party got ready in the Granary Cottage, a short walk from the main venue. It has a proper dedicated make-up area, well designed and genuinely useful, so the morning felt relaxed rather than cramped.

Four shots showing some bridal preparation shots
Two shots the first is of a makeup artist applying make up to bride at wedding. Second image is of two bridesmaids having a glass of fizz.
Two shot montage. First shot is of brie and her mother, bride in wedding dress. Second shot is of bride being dressed by bridesmaids

Bridal Prep and the Walk to the Barn

Bridal prep was a relaxed affair, followed by a short walk across the country lane to the flint barn for the ceremony.

Two shot montage, fiorst shot is the bride sitting down in her wedding dress. Second shot is mother and bride walking to the ceremony.
Two shot montage. First shot is in black and white of the groom. Second shot is of groom and best man laughing. Cambridge wedding photographer
Two shot montage of chair decorations featuring flowers by Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Two shot montage. Both in black and white. First shot is bride smiling before ceremony. Second shot is of Groom waiting patiently for bride to arrive. Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Two shot colour montage. First shot is of Bride and he rmother walking into ceremony, second shot is bride arriving to he rgroom. Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Two shot montage in colour. First shot is of the first look, second shot is of the first kiss, photographed from behind. Cambridge Wedding Photographer at The Granary-Barns.
Two shot colour montage of bride and groom walking down the isle as confetti has been thrown. Cambridge Wedding Photographer

The Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast

Getting married at The Granary Barns means you have a second, separate barn available for your ceremony, so guests move between spaces through the day rather than staying in one room. The reception barn itself is a stylish, flexible space, it’s really the couple’s own styling and decorators that make each wedding here feel different.

Four shot montage featuring the table decor and details

Portraits and Fun Shots

Two shot montage, first shot is a close up of the bride holding her wedding ring. Second shot is a close up of the floral bouquet. Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Portrait of bride and groom during the wedding day photographed out side Cambridge Wedding Photographer at The Granary-Barns.
black and white sshot of bride and groom kissing in the wedding venue grounds, Cambridge Wedding Photographer at The Granary-Barns.
Bride on a swing, whil groom stands next to her photographed at Granay-Barns, photographed by Cambridge Wedding Photographer

Back to the Main Barn for the Party


Montage of six party shots showing various guests dancing and having fun, Cambridge Wedding Photographer at The Granary-Barns.

Book The Granary Barns for Your Wedding

I’m lucky that my clients tend to choose beautiful venues, it makes my job easier when the backdrop is already doing half the work. But what sets The Granary Barns apart is the events team.

A few years ago I had a call directly from their wedding coordinator when a date needed to move at short notice, they were contacting every supplier themselves rather than leaving a stressed couple to do it. That level of care runs through the whole venue, not just the day itself.

Contact the Granary Barns Wedding Team

Call 01638 731230 or 07557 886447, or visit their site. The venue is at The Granary Estates, Parsonage Farm, Woodditton, Suffolk CB8 9RZ. You can also see the venue in full on our dedicated Granary Estates venue page.

For more real weddings at this venue, read Kat and Tom’s Granary Barns wedding. To see our full range of coverage, visit our wedding photography portfolio, and if you’d like to add extras like albums or a second shooter, take a look at our wedding photography add ons.

Night shot of bride and groom photographed by a lake Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Bride and groom looking at the full moon, above a cornfield, photographed in colour, Cambridge Wedding Photographer


Light Up LOVE letters illustrating an article about Recommended weddings suppliers for cambridge wedding photographer

Recommended Wedding Suppliers And What to Look Out For

Recommended Wedding Suppliers - Here's The Truth

If you are planning your wedding, looking through a recommended wedding suppliers list 'can' help you get the perfect suppliers easily and quickly.

Usually, all the suppliers on the list have worked together, know each other, and most importantly are true wedding professionals and passionate about what they do.  You can plan your wedding in one easy click.

As a professional wedding photographer, I am lucky enough to be on to be on the recommended suppliers list to some amazing venues in the area.

And I am truly grateful to the other suppliers that recommend me to their clients.  I never, for one second, take that for granted. I would never want to let a client down, but especially if that client came from a recommendation from another professional colleague.

But Should They REALLY Be Recommended Wedding Suppliers?

Becoming a recommended supplier to either a wedding venue or any other wedding colleague is a partnership.

But just lately, I have seen a rise in certain suppliers (and I am saddened to say it's mainly wedding venues), that charge the supplier to be on their 'recommended wedding suppliers' list.  Either as a one off payment, or a percentage of sales.

My problem with this is that the clients may not be getting the most appropriate or best suited wedding supplier for their day.  Instead they are getting someone who has paid for that recommendation.  The other issue I have is that this could be construed as being miss-leading to the client, unless it is made completely clear to them that the suppliers have paid a fee.  Sadly, It's not usually made clear that the suppliers have had to pay.

All wedding clients want to book the best supplier they can for their date, and do trust the recommendations they get.  Trust... You trust us.

Of course, there are times when we do pay, for example for advertising or to be included in directories such as  Bridebook,  But then there is a transparency with some blogs and directories, and the viewers / potential brides understand that this is a paid partnership.

But Is It Sour Grapes?

Hmmm... No.

As I mentioned, I am privileged to be recommended by some amazing wedding venues in the area.

Even though some venues may not have me on their recommended suppliers list, you'll still see blogs featuring them, as well as see their Venue Portfolio, over on my portfolio page.  If I feel that a client would love a particular venue, then I will promote the venue to them, regardless of the relationship I have with them.

And this is because I am only here to serve you, my clients.  The people that put their trust in me to produce the best images and give the very best service I can on their wedding day.  There's that 'trust' word again!

So to potential clients, do take the advice of your suppliers. But if you are given a recommended wedding supplier list, just ask just one question... Do the suppliers on that list pay to be included?  You should know.  And if they do pay, at least  you'll be in a position to make a better decision on who you want at your wedding.

Just today (10th March 2021) I 'declined' the offer to be a recommended supplier at a venue, as it would have involved me having to pay to be on that list.  It's no skin of their nose, as someone else will say yes to their fabulous offer.  But it just didn't feel right to me, and to my potential clients.

Here's My Recommended Wedding Suppliers List

I recommend other suppliers carefully because my reputation can depend on it.  My criteria is:

  1. Have I worked with them many times before?
  2. Would they be a great fit with my clients?
  3. Would I have them at my wedding?
  4. Are they as passionate about what they do as I am?

Here's a quick example... I've see a venue decorator have a 'discussion' with the event coordinator at a hotel because the carpets hadn't been vacuumed properly for their clients.  You want people like this on your wedding team (details on the suppliers list).

You can visit my Recommended Wedding Supplier List, and wedding friends, here.

As always, contact me with any questions, feel free to leave any comments, thoughts rants and raves below and many thanks for making it this far!

Remember, love your wedding suppliers!  They love what they do, and want you to have the best day ever!

Light Up LOVE letters illustrating an article about Recommended weddings suppliers for cambridge wedding photographer

 

Author's Bio:  Juan Muino is a professional wedding photographer based in Cambridge, UK.  Undertaking wedding adventures throughout the UK as well as destination weddings.  

Bride and Groom about to kiss in a wild flower meadow, at The Granary Estates

A Granary Estates Wedding : Ashley & Charlie

The great barn decorated for a Granary Estates Wedding
REAL WEDDING · THE GRANARY ESTATES

Ashley & Charlie

Ashley and Charlie’s wedding at The Granary Estates was relaxed, chilled out and genuinely good fun, exactly what they wanted. The venue is close to Cambridge, minutes from Newmarket, with the wedding breakfast in one spacious barn and the ceremony in a second, more ornate one, so the day naturally moves between spaces rather than staying in a single room.

In the warmer months the drinks reception spills into the large courtyard, and by evening guests are spread across the courtyard and surrounding grounds.

The great barn decorated for a Granary Estates Wedding

Bridal Prep and the Vintage Double Decker

The Granary Estates has its own beautiful cottage for getting ready, but Charlie chose to prepare at her family home instead, surrounded by her bridal party and her mum. The whole group then travelled to the venue together on a stunning vintage double decker bus, picking up a few more guests along the way.

Collection of shots showing bridal prep at a Granary Estates Wedding
Bridal prep images showing a selection of shots from a Granary Estates wedding. As well as a close up shot of a floral button hole. The large image is of three bridesmaids having a selfie.
Montage of images of bridal party taking a double decker bus to The Granary Estates.
Two images, one of a flower girl on the bridal bus. The second image is of the bus arriving at The Granary Estates

The Ceremony

Ashley and Charlie married in The Granary Estates’ ornate ceremony barn, surrounded by friends and family. It was a genuinely hot day, but the barn stayed comfortably cool, Ashley looked completely at ease waiting for his bride to arrive.

Three images showing some wedding details. The first is a sign welcoming guests. The second image is a flower arrangement, hung on a wedding chair. The third is a small sign on a wedding chair explaining that it's reserved for a party guest. All images taken at The Granary Estates by Cambridge Wedding Photographer
Image of a cute flower girl holding a sign saying 'I only came for the cake'. Photographed by Cambridge Wedding photographer
Three shots, the first is the bride walkinginto the wedding ceremony. The second image is the bride looking at her groom at the alter. The third shot sis the bride and groom celebrating having just got married at The Granary Estates

The Wedding Breakfast

After cocktails served in the courtyard, guests moved into the main barn for the wedding breakfast. It’s a genuinely impressive space, and it’s always the couple’s own styling and decorators that turn it into something unique to them.

Three shots showing the wedding venue. First image is of table centre piece decorations. Second shot is a tray carrying cocktails and third shot is a wide shot showing a set table in the main barn at The Granary Estates
Two shots showing trays with brightly coloured horderves
Four shots showing table settings and decorations in the main barn at The Granary Estates wedding

Portraits Around the Grounds

While guests mingled in the courtyard, I took Ashley and Charlie for a walk around the grounds for some quieter portraits. The venue sits in genuinely lovely countryside, and time it right and you’ll catch the wildflower meadows in full bloom.

Bride and groom about to embrace ina wild flower meadow at a Cambridge Wedding
Bride and groom standing by an old antique cart, with their dogn Second shot is a close up of the dog wearing a sign that say 'all you need is love... and a dog.

The Party

I stay right through to the end of the dancing, it’s one of my favourite parts of any wedding day. Evening celebrations kicked off in the main barn, and on such a warm evening guests spread out onto the lawn and back into the courtyard too. A genuinely lovely way to end a lovely day.

Two shots, the first is a detail shot of the bridal bouquet. The second shot is the bride and groom dancing in the main barn at The Granary Estates.
Six shots of guests dancing and having lots of fun at a wedding.

Book The Granary Estates for Your Wedding

I’m lucky that so many of my couples choose venues this beautiful, it does a lot of the work for me. What really sets The Granary Estates apart, though, is their events team, genuinely one of the most professional and organised I work with.

Contact The Granary Estates Wedding Team

Call 01638 731230 or 07557 886447, or visit their site. The venue is at The Granary Estates, Parsonage Farm, Woodditton, Suffolk CB8 9RZ, and you can see it in full on our dedicated venue page.

For more real weddings at this venue, read about Georgina and Ashley’s Granary Barns wedding or Kat and Tom’s Granary Barns wedding. To see our full range of coverage visit our wedding photography portfolio, and for extras like a second shooter or albums, take a look at our wedding photography add ons.


Bride and groom first dance, photographed from above at Swynford Wedding

A Swynford Wedding : Kirstie and Mauricio

This Swynford wedding was just perfect. Mauricio and Kirstie had the best weather for their day at Swynford Manor, stylish and elegant from start to finish, and genuinely memorable thanks to the entertainment. How often do you get Freddie Mercury singing at your wedding?

The Back Story

You can’t help becoming friends with some clients, and getting caught up in their excitement. I photographed Kirstie and Mauricio’s engagement shoot in Cambridge shortly before the wedding, and it was so much fun that I knew the wedding would be just as good.

The Wedding Venue

Swynford Manor is stylish, traditionally elegant yet light and airy, with varied grounds that are genuinely great for photographs and plenty of space for guests to relax. You can marry in the grounds or in the elegant ceremony room, and the wedding breakfast is held in a large, air conditioned conservatory, ideal on a hot summer day.

The bridal suite is one of the most elegant in the area, with a beautiful copper bath and a striking staircase you’ll walk down on your way to get married.

Bridal Prep

A grand bridal suite is the perfect start to a wedding day, not just for prep itself but because it’s part of the day the groom never gets to see. Kirstie and her bridesmaids got ready in the Swynford bridal suite.

Beautiful wedding dress hanging up
Bridal team in dressing gowns laughing together
Bride dressed with her team of bridesmaids helping her with her dress

The Ceremony

Kirstie walked down the gorgeous staircase with her father, through the house to the ceremony suite. They chose to marry inside, in a room decorated perfectly for their day.

Groom and his best man standing at ceremony room at swynford wedding
Bride and groom standing at top of the isle at a ceremony
Bride and groom having their first kiss at swynford wedding
bride and groom walking down the isle after their wedding

The Wedding Breakfast

The wedding party moved into Swynford’s conservatory, with gorgeous floral centrepieces on the round tables. This room always feels fresh, spacious and full of light.

Beautiful flowers at Swynford Wedding

A Confetti Shower Like No Other

I still can’t believe the team at Swynford let me do this, an indoor confetti shower in their lobby, with all of Kirstie and Mauricio’s guests throwing handfuls at once. Thank you to the Swynford team for allowing it, and especially to whoever cleaned it all up afterwards. That’s dedication.

Interior confetti shower at a wedding
Interior confetti shower at a wedding

The Entertainment

Freddie Mercury turned up, or an excellent look alike anyway, complete with moustache and a genuinely powerful voice. The same performer ran the cabaret during the wedding breakfast, which had the whole room laughing.

Freddie Mercury Look a Like at Swynford Wedding

A Walk In The Grounds

After the wedding breakfast and a little cabaret, I took the chance to get some quieter images around the grounds. Portraits work best when they’re not too formal, and that short walk gives the couple, and the photographer, a moment to breathe.

Formal portrait in black and white of bride and groom standing in a tree lined avenue at Swynford Wedding
Bride and groom having first dance photographed from above
Black and white image of bride and groom walking down Swynford's staircase at Swynford Wedding
Bride and Groom hand in hand walking in grounds at Swynford Wedding

The Party

I stay well into the celebrations to capture all the dancing, you’ll find me on the dance floor photographing, definitely not dancing, right through the evening.

Bride and groom dancing and having fun, photographed by Cambridge Wedding photographer
Freddy Mercury look a like at swynford wedding
Guests dancing and having fun at
Party guest dancing at Swynford Wedding - photographed by Cambridge wedding photographer

Book Swynford Manor For Your Wedding

Swynford has become a firm favourite of mine, I’ve now photographed several weddings there. It’s a genuinely professional venue, the team go well beyond expectations for their clients (see that indoor confetti drop), and it’s the kind of place your guests will be just as impressed with as you are.

Visit their site: Swynford Manor. Telephone: 01638 592609.

Thinking about booking Swynford Manor for your own wedding? Take a look at my Swynford Manor wedding photography page for more on the venue and how I cover it.

To see our full range of coverage, visit our wedding photography portfolio, and for extras like albums or a second shooter, take a look at our wedding photography add ons.


Bride and Groom Kissing in the gardens at Hockwold Hall Wedding

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.

Bride kissing her flower girls at Hockwold Hall Wedding

 

Bride at Hockwold cuddling her two sons.

 

Bride getting ready at Hockwold Hall

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.

 

 

Bride placing a ring on grooms finger during wedding ceremony

 

Bride and Groom kissing during their ceremony at Hockwold Hall Wedding

 The Entertainment

close up of Wayne goodman wedding magician at a wedding displaying a fan of playing cards

 

Wayne Goodman magician at a wedding in hock wold

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.

Hockwoild's beautiful wedding marquee

Beautiful flower centre pieces in a wedding marquee

 

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.

 

Bride and Groom kissing in a meadow at sunset at Hockwold hall Wedding

 

black and white image of bride and groom kissing in an archway at Hockwold Hall Wedding

 

 

Bride and groom walking along box hedging at Hockwold Hall Wedding

 

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.

 

 

Bride and groom cutting their cake at a Hockwold Hall Wedding

 

Bride and groom's first dance at Hockwold Hall Wedding

 

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.