Cotswolds Wedding Photographer

Photography for couples who don’t want to be told what to do on their wedding day

This Cotswolds wedding photographer believes that when you are relaxed and carefree, having fun, you look amazing. When you can live your day without any stress, your wedding day will be fantastic. It’s a day filled with excitement and nervous energy. It’s a time that’s not to be missed but goes by in a blur. You should be able to enjoy every minute, have it your way without being bothered by a photographer trying to get the perfect shot. You don’t need to be told where to look or which tree to stand near. The Cotswolds does have some lovely trees though.

Don’t be told what to do on your wedding day. Live free.

Your wedding needs to be remembered, not for what you were told to do but for the experiences you had

– and the ones you didn’t see but were told to you by me.

The Cotswolds is a magical place

It’s fantastic being a Cotswolds wedding photographer.  The region is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its stone-built medieval villages and incredible views, I know the area well as I am lucky enough to have family there. It’s a place we love to go to relax, on walks through the picturesque countryside. The Cotswolds is the kind of scenery that comes to mind when you think of England.

There are so many stunning locations as the Cotswolds covers a huge area; mainly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire but also parts of Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire – sometimes it’s hard to believe that I am lucky enough to get to work in this wonderful part of the world.

The Cotswolds provide a perfect backdrop for photographing your wedding, some of my favourite images over the years have been taken at gorgeous venues in the area.  From romantic stone houses such as Cowley Manor and Westonbirt House to rustic barn venues such as Kingscote Barn and Stone Barn, to more magical and unique venues such as Berkeley Castle or Matara.

Photos from Cotswolds weddings taken by an award-winning photographer

 

Planning your Cotswolds wedding

It is no wonder that brides and grooms come from all over the country to this region, the wonderful scenery and vast array of venues are an opportunity not to be missed. Many London couples plan their weddings in the Cotswolds because of the beautiful surroundings.

Even if you are not coming here to get married there is a huge choice of things to do and see. Visit the small quaint Cotswold villages such as Bibury and Broadway, or take in afternoon tea at some of the beautiful manor houses that also serve as wedding venues, like Calcot Manor and The Manor House at Castle Combe, home of the world-famous race track.  Of course, if history is your thing, you can delve into the real medieval Cotswolds by taking in one of the castles, abbeys, follies or seek out one of the ancient sites like Beverston Castle, the unfinished Woodchester Mansion or Chedworth Roman Villa.

When visiting, make sure you bring your camera with you. Even if you are just getting out and about with a cycling, mountain bike or motorbike tour of the Cotswolds, there is always interest, right at the end of your lens.  You can use your wide angle lens to capture landscapes from high wolds to rolling hills and settled valleys. Use a telephoto zoom to photograph some of the local Cotswold wildlife such as deer, foxes and even wild boar. Taking a walk through one of the Cotswold villages with their exquisite rows of limestone houses with their golden colour can also make delightful images.

J.B Priestley once made the following comment about the local stone in Cotswold buildings: “The truth is that it has no colour that can be described. Even when the sun is obscured and the light is cold, these walls are still faintly warm and luminous, as if they knew the trick of keeping the lost sunlight of centuries glimmering about them”.

So, the Cotswolds are not just about having a charming backdrop to a fabulous wedding.  There are so many appealing venues that you are bound to find something to suit your taste – stunning country house hotels, historic houses, castles, gardens and sporting venues that will allow you to soak up this magnificent part of the country.

If you would rather focus on your wedding day

You can enjoy the day; every minute without being bothered by a wedding photographer. You can experience all that spontaneity without feeling awkward. When you are relaxed and having fun you look fantastic. The laughter is real. You can feel the emotion. The moments shared with your loved ones, not on your own. The memories will be remembered as they happened.

You can take care of your guests and celebrate while I take care of the photography. There’s no awkward posing and I won’t tell you what to do. Just leave me to capture your day and you can get on with enjoying yourselves.

Looking for a venue in the Cotswolds?

The Cotswolds has some outstanding wedding venues. From the eastern influence of the beautiful Matara Centre, the many barns scattered around the area. Stone Barn with its gorgeous patina sits in the countryside far from anywhere giving you stunning views and privacy for your celebration. Elmore Court and Cowley Manor are outstanding wedding venues each mixing old world charm with modern styling and facilities. The grand and imposing Westonbirt House and of course not forgetting that you could get married in a castle at Berkley, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in England. All these venues and more are waiting to be discovered if you are planning your wedding in the Cotswolds.