Houghton Lodge in Hampshire has so much to offer as a wedding and reception venue, and I was absolutely delighted to return there for Jennifer and Edward’s marriage celebrations on the most beautiful Summer’s day. An expansive estate of stunningly maintained gardens and grounds with the iconic lodge house at its heart, perched on the River Test just to the south of the little market town of Stockbridge. All Saints Church, just a short walk from the lodge, was to be the setting for the wedding itself but before all that, to Romsey for bride and groom preparations and general wedding build-up…
The accommodation at Gambledown Farm very conveniently comprised two adjacent cottages – really very beautiful barn conversions – which meant I could flit between bride and groom and capture the action on both sides before Edward and groomsmen left in the vintage wedding car for the church. Jennifer and bridesmaids were in great hands for hair and makeup with the lovely Olga Markuse (the guys were left to fend for themselves with YouTube videos when it came to ties and button holes, but they got there in the end!) and is such a fab, light-filled space; perfect for all those getting-ready shots and with tonnes of room to spill out into. That can be very helpful as in my experience however large the location for the first part of the day, bridal prep has a habit of filling it!
On then to the church in Houghton – a short journey along winding country lanes through the Test Valley. All Saints Church is the most beautiful building and looked superb on this stunningly sunny day. This is the stuff English country wedding dreams are made of. Groom and groomsmen had arrived safely and were on full guest-greeting duties as the car returned to collect the bridal party, with guests safely seated and doors closed by the time Jennifer and her father arrived and stepped out ready to make their entrance.
Unfortunately on this occasion there was a rather strict policy on photography during the actual wedding, so opportunities and angles were in rather shorter supply than usual for that part of the day. I would always advise checking carefully precisely what is and isn’t permitted well in advance of the day itself just as our bride and groom here had done. This is especially so for church weddings as it can vary so much from one to the next (lots of couples don’t realise that it is the vicar themselves who have final say rather than there being any kind of standard church practice or policy). However, with some careful planning and positioning we were still able to capture a nice range of coverage before the bride and groom emerged back out into the glorious sunshine, ready to head on to their celebrations with guests just a little further down the road…
Wedding receptions t Houghton Lodge often start with drinks and canapes in the fabulous walled garden. Every time I’ve seen it it has been an absolute riot of colour and this time was no different. It’s such a joyous space and you can see how much everyone enjoys exploring around with a drink in their hand. Venture a little further afield and you can access the wider gardens beyond, and if you explore far enough you might just find a wedding photographer setting up group photos with friends and family in the shade of the wall. One of the real beauties of this venue is that it’s so easy to nip away for just a moment or two and still be able to find somewhere nice and quiet for a few photos without having to leave the party far behind.
Before heading down the sweeping hill to the marquee on the banks of the river Jennifer & Edward had a further treat in store, and a new one for me at this venue: access inside the lodge for a private piano recital. Exquisite music in the most perfect setting, and what a fabulous way to really make the most of everything that Houghton lodge has to offer as a venue. And then a few quick portraits with the bride and groom as the rest of the guests went and found their seats ready for the wedding breakfast and the start of the party proper.
It’s so lovely down on the lawns by the banks of the River Test where the marquee is set up. It’s the perfect space for guests to spill out after the meal with a drink to chill and chat, or explore the rest of the gardens, and has such a wonderfully tranquil air to it. I was able to get the drone up as the meal was served – hopefully a couple of the aerial shots shown here demonstrate just what an incredible location Houghton lodge really is, and when the sun is shining and skies are as blue as this it really is hard to beat.
Finally, with speeches made and a few moments of downtime before the dancing began, I was able to take Jennifer & Edward back out for a final few photos in the evening light – really the absolute best time of day for these shots if you can take advantage of it. Sparklers came out as the dusk settled, and back inside the marquee the dancefloor was in full swing with the promise of many more hours of fun still to come…
I just can’t get enough of weddings like this – it’s so right up my street. Jennifer & Edward were such a gorgeous couple and so nice to be with throughout the day. An incredible day and the selection of photos above really only scratch the surface – I hope that they give a sense at least of just how wonderful a celebration of love this whole day was. Huge congratulations to one very happy couple!
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The photos above are just a small selection from the day. Friends and family can view the full set in the online gallery but you’ll need to ask Jennifer & Edward for the password first. I hope you enjoyed this little blog post. Be sure to come back soon for more photos from other fantastic real weddings.
Making it happen…
Hair & Makeup: Olga Markuse
Flowers: Blossom & Wild
Dress: Maggie Sottero at Creatiques
Reception Venue: Houghton Lodge
Catering & Bar: Bread & Butter
Cake: The Pastry Corner
If you are currently planning your Houghton Lodge wedding and would like to know more about my wedding photography services, packages and prices, please do get in touch to check availability and ask me any questions you might have. I’m only too happy to help however I can.
Thanks as ever for reading, and come back again soon for many more photos from many more beautiful weddings!
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