Country House Wedding Photographer Somerset UK

Kathryn and Antony’s stunning country house wedding at Holmewood Hall near Peterborough (not Somerset)

I had the pleasure of photographing the absolutely stunning wedding of my old friend Antony and his bride Kathryn at Holmewood Hall near Peterborough in May this year. It was a bit further than I usually travel to photograph weddings but it was certainly worth it. The country house wedding venue, was luxurious and the staff were lovely as was the food. It was so lovely to catch up with many old friends from my childhood that I hadn’t seen in many years as we live at different ends of the country. Friends that I saw yearly in the summer holidays as a child, on family camping trips and fun stays at their house near London, playing in their pool, chatting for hours, learning amateur radio and building rockets that actually launched into the sky.

The wedding day was full of special moments and personal touches: the father-of-the-bride placed a sixpence in the shoe of his daughter before the ceremony and proudly walked her down the aisle; the groom was visibly emotional as his bride appeared beside him; the Best Man quoted sci-fi moments from their life growing up together (including a fab Darth Vadar impression); the table plan and number signs were designed by the brother of the Best Man and were all on an aeroplane theme as the couple met at the Imperial War Museum at Duxsford, as was the cake; friends had travelled from all over the world to be there with them on the day to celebrate with Kathryn and Antony and the love they have for each other was clear.

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What is the best country house wedding venue in the South West UK?

Holmewood Hall, which is where this wedding took place, is a stunning Tudor Gothic-style manor surrounded by 10 acres of manicured grounds & parkland, in Cambridgeshire, with stunning reception spaces that are steeped in history and exuding elegance.

However there are many other country house wedding venues if you are based in the South West of England, Somerset or beyond, that are equally beautiful such as:

St. Audries Park, which is owned by the same company as Holmewood Hall and is a picture perfect manor house set in Somerset, in a serene and tranquil 100-acre deer park. With the mesmerising Somerset coastline just a stones through away, the Georgian manor offers charm and beauty around every corner, accommodation aplenty and a breathtaking Victorian Orangery for your nuptials. It is a picture-perfect escape for your wedding day.

Coombe Lodge, Bristol, is an exclusive country house wedding venue sits proudly on the edge of the Mendip Hills with an incredible view across Blagdon Lake. 

De Vere Tortworth Court, Bristol marries Victorian architecture with contemporary elegance to set the stage for your wedding on the southernmost edge of England’s glorious Cotswolds. With a beautiful range of settings from intimate weddings up to 280 guests.

Berwick Lodge in Bristol a luxury historic manor house brings the theatre, elegance and luxury to make an intimate ceremony, a relaxed celebration, or a large-scale wedding, everything you dreamed of, and so much more. Surrounded by 18-acre grounds that burst with seasonal blooms all year round, the gardens are also home to original Victorian features. It’s a unique combination that guarantees a stunning backdrop for that perfect picture.

Pennard House South of Bristol is an adored Georgian manor house offering deeply personal weddings and sitting amongst the rolling hills of Somerset. An enchanting country setting to celebrate with your family and friends. From indoor, outdoor and religious ceremonies, to golden cocktail hours on the sun-drenched lawn and late nights in the Coach House – everything is possible at Pennard House. 

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Back to Kathryn and Antony’s wedding…

The groom began to get emotional as his bride approached.

The Father-of-the-bride lovingly gave his daughter a kiss on her hand as he passed her over to her groom.

The emotion in the room was beautiful.

Do you take formal wedding photos?

Although my style is relaxed and candid, couples do usually (but not always) request a few formal, posed photographs. Sometimes at the signing of the register and often a few group photos for the mantel piece, which I always recommend should be taken straight after the ceremony, after a confetti photo and before everyone disappears off to the bar or the toilet. Once these group shots and maybe a few couple photos are out of the way, everyone can relax for the rest of the day and forget I am even there as I blend in with the guests.

Off outside to enjoy the beautiful surroundings Holmewood Hall.

Back for the wedding breakfast

It was then time to return to the rest of the guests and continue celebrations, silly moments and delicious food into the evening.

Venues: Holmewood Hall country house wedding venue (not in Somerset).
Why do I keep saying not in Somerset..? Well, because I don’t usually travel this far for work but I wanted to show this beautiful wedding on my blog and I love shooting country house weddings in and around Somerset, BANES, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and beyond.
Length of wedding photography: 9+ hours.