Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, suffolk, hertfordshire, norfolk and essex Wedding venues…i’ve been about last year! part 1!

16 Jan

Wow, i’ve been about this year! Not a complaint in any way, but have been to Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Essex wedding venues and a few others besides! And I love that! I get to see so many different places, travel about, put the podcast or music on in the car and enjoy the journey to whichever wedding venue I am going to! Gives me time to set myself, get ready and be up for it when I get to see the couple for the first time, meet new people, see the venue, reacquaint myself with staff at wedding venues I already know……I love my job!

So, let’s have a quick look at some of the venues and give you a quick idea of why I like them….

Godwick great Barn - Norfolk

I started this year at Godwick Hall. It’s a venue I had never been to before and what a treat! The day was very misty, gloomy and quite cold, but that didn’t take away from what a fab place this is. Open fields, a beautiful old folly in the grounds, gorgeous and large converted traditional farm barn and amazing and friendly staff, as well as an owner who willingly will take you on a tractor ride around the grounds to get photos either on the tractor or at the folly! I loved my time there and would happily go back. Such a relaxed vibe, great venue, beautiful place and lovely staff!

Bride and groom at Godwick hall sitting on a bucket at the back of a tractor smiling at the camera and clinking glasses

A group photo of all the guests cheering and waving hands in the air standing in front of the barn at Godwick Hall

Bride and groom standing next to each other looking at each other in front of the folly at Godwick Hall

The lakeside at Wildberry Farm - bedfordshire

Ahhhhh yes……next I was back at one of my absolute favourite wedding venues, The Lakeside at Wildberry Farm. And what a day! This day was sunshine, blue skies, warm weather and a wonderful vibe. I have shot weddings at this amazing place a few times before and have got to know the owners JJ and Laura well, as well as the amazing Hannah who looks after the weddings. The staff are brilliant, the food is next level, normally provided by the co-owned pub from the village, The Sun and a great partnership with some amazing suppliers like Funky Monkey Tents, who have a great selection of marquees, tents, yurts, bell tents for glamping on site…you name it. I know the place so well and the people there now that I am actually doing the wedding of a couple who actually work FOR the venue and farm this year! I adore this open, blank space on the side of a lake in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside. If you are looking for a stunning spot to have YOUR wedding, I can’t recommend this place enough.

Groom holding and bending backwards his bride while he kisses her and confetti is being thrown over them by the guests on the side of The Lakeside at Wildberry Farm

Bride and groom walking hand in hand back down a wooden jetty from The Lakeside at Wildberry Farm in the evening sun smiling at each other

Bride and groom walking away from the camera down a pathway leading back to teepees with both of them holding a hand in the air and the bride looking back smiling at the camera at The Lakeside at Wildberry Farm

Suffolk Barn - Suffolk

I really do like this place. Suffolk Barn in Hawstead, Suffolk is one of those wedding venues that just has so much charm and the odd little surprise. I’ve shot there a few times now, with this years wedding being particularly emotional. In a good way! Another barn, but done with a difference, being split into two main areas…one which is used for dining and gathering and the other where the ceremony and evening entertainment can be had. And the grounds open with working farm machinery, animals and storage facilities, making it a great place for photos. But the REALLY good bit is the walk around the grounds as if you go off the beaten track, you can walk into some gorgeous woodland, fields, open land as well as get views that really are quite beautiful. Oh and a rather cheeky statue…which I will let you see when you get there haha! Again, more lovely staff and owners, a loose vibe for those who just want to have an easy day, I love going back here.

Bride and groom standing face to face in a sunshine lit field having a romantic moment together in the surroundings of Suffolk Barn

The groom crying and wiping away tears from his eyes with a tissue in the main barn of Suffolk Barn

Bride and groom standing together holding hands while in the sun shining through the open door of a storage barn of Suffolk Barn

South Farm - Hertfordshire

South Farm is a Hertfordshire wedding venue that is absolutely at the top of it’s game. I did two in a row here and one later on in the year, but have done more than that in the past! I have lost count on the number of times I have shot weddings their now, but I totally understand why. It’s always in demand, it always delivers and it’s completely understandable when you have a working farm with stunning grounds, a gorgeous barn, beautiful on-site accommodation including old style Romany caravans, places to camp if needs be, amazing facilities and a group of staff who totally go out of their way to make your day as incredible as possible. Another one of my favourite wedding venues to shoot at and I hope to be back there many times more.

View of South Farm under the tree outside on the driveway

Bride and groom in a courtyard at South Farm feeding brown and black piglets

The bride doing limbo under some cloth on the dance floor at South Farm

A bride and her bridesmaids in dressing gowns standing together and giving jazz hands to the camera while smiling and laughing in the bridal suite at South Farm

Bride and groom walking hand in hand together across a field at South Farm at sunset

Bride and groom doing first dance but looping hands above their heads back to back while laughing and surrounded by guests on the dance floor at South Farm

childerley Hall - Cambridgeshire

Childerly Hall is one of those wedding venues you can’t quite describe until you see it…but I will give it a go! It has both a rustic, old charm, with ancient barns and buildings converted for use for weddings, but then has modern art and architecture fantastically integrated into all of this and the surroundings. One particular highlight are the family of wicker elephants that stand proud at one end of the beautiful lake. A venue that is hard to pin down, but I LOVE it for that as it makes for a place that is completely different to most other places. And a place that is a wedding photographers dream…..so may nooks and crannies to walk around, go to and make use of for some unique photos. Well worth a look.