Berkeley Castle wedding photography

I love Berkley Castle wedding photography. Who wouldn’t love photographing weddings in a castle? Matt & Howard were married on one of the hottest days of the year. Their day was one to remember. Berkeley Castle is a stunning venue. Set in 6000 acres it is one of very few inhabited Castles in the UK. It is still home to the family that built it.

Relaxed, decadent, hints of the 1930’s and pineapples were the inspiration for Matt & Howard’s Berkeley Castle wedding.

Berkeley Castle, an exclusive wedding venue

Matt & Howard have been together six and a half years. In November 2015, while living in Australia, they took a trip to New Zealand, touring the South Island in a camper van. Matt managed to break his arm the day before they left leaving Howard to do all the driving, cooking and cleaning. Stopping at a freedom camping spot on the edge of Lake Pukaki one night – with the view from the camper van over the lake and Mount Cook in the distance – Howard made a special steak meal. He suggested going for the walk down to the edge of the lake. The sun was setting and Matt commented on how romantic it was, and how it would be the perfect time to propose asking “Where is my ring then?” It was then Howard duly produced a ring out of his pocket, Surprise! He proceeded to produce a bottle of Dom Perignon from his suitcase – “God knows how he’d kept that a secret!”

“We immediately felt at home there. Berkeley Castle just has a magical feel to it. We could envisage our friends and family being all around us. The team (especially Pippa) were so helpful and flexible from the start. Nothing was too much to ask.”

The day was one of the hottest of the year. Both Matt & Howard were sweltering in their Ted Baker suits. Football was banned – it was an important game for England in the World Cup finals – but there were plenty of little clusters of guests gathered around their phones trying to look inconspicuous. I admit I kept checking mine when I had the chance although I did get constant updates from the guests. After speeches on the steps in front of the fountain it was inside for the wedding breakfast.

Wedding Style

Howard is studying design / illustration so did all of the design elements himself – including the save the dates, invites, place settings, a large character picture of the grooms and signs. Wedding favours of pineapple infused rum were also made by Howard and Matt.

Decoration was provided by Maria – Sorori design – and Lauren Grey and the cake was a Homemade Jamaican rum cake made by Howard’s Mum Jeneve. In the evening the SHE Allstars gave an incredible performance for everyone to party and it was quite the party!

We were recommended from Lara & Darren’s wedding back in 2015. Matt & Howard wanted a photojournalistic approach to tell the story of their day. “Amazing photographer – superb photos, so easy to work with and thoroughly nice. Would definitely recommend!”

The two grooms. Matt & Howard got ready together in their Bristol apartment with some of their close friends. They shared breakfast and gave out presents to the bridal party before suiting up and heading off to Berkeley. The ceremony was emotional and intimate with readings from both mothers. After that everyone moved down to the pond for drinks and canapés with speeches on the steps.

In the late afternoon, everyone headed back up to the castle for the wedding breakfast and then the party started.

Here are 50 wedding photos from Berkeley Castle

Berkeley Castle historic wedding venue in Gloucestershire

For 850 years the castle has been the home of the Berkeley family. It is one of a very few castles that is also a family home. It is the oldest to be inhabited by the same family that built it. Set in 6000 acres and including a beautiful medieval deer park and the world famous Slimbridge Wetlands and Wildfowl Trust.

This spectacular Gloucestershire wedding venue was built in the 12th century and is lived in by the Berkeley family. The castle and the family have been involved with some of the most historic turning points in history including wars and political struggles. The castle was built for war and still has it’s portcullis entrance, murder holes and plentry of other battle defences. The gun terrace looks out from the 60′ battlements down to the lawn and stunning landscapes below.

A magical wedding venue

The castle magical with it’s pink red stone walls looking out across the stunning landscape. It was built for war and to keep out the Welsh from invading England. Of course nowadays everyone is welcome to hold their wedding at Berkeley Castle.

Perfect for wedding photography

From the gun terrace to the gardens Berkeley castle is a fantastic place for wedding photography. Whether you decide to have your ceremony in the next door church or in the Great Hall it really is a perfect wedding venue. There are many places for you and your guests to explore in any weather. I have photographed Berkeley Castle weddings in freezing winter and scorching summer and it has been a joy for us, our couples and their guests.

Guests gather on the gun terrace before passing through the enormous barrier doors into the inner courtyard. Winter weddings can look particularly magical with the imposing pink stone rising from the frosty grounds.

A wedding day to remember

Berkeley Castle is an exclusive use wedding venue meaning that you and your guests can enjoy the day without any outside intrusion. Guests can be taken on a guided tour of the castle between the ceremony and wedding breakfast which will add variety to any day in any weather.

Church services can be held in the church right next door with a short walk to the wedding reception. Larger civil ceremonies can take place in the Great Hall with it’s incredible architecture and smaller services in the beautiful Long Drawing Room. I have photographed weddings in both the castle’s ceremony rooms. I am to photograph a church wedding there so get in touch if you are planning your wedding there. I would love to hear from you.

My style is to capture your day as it happens with no interference. That way you get to see all the real moments as they happened.