South Farm Wedding Photographer

Sam & Sian – 19th August 2018

Boho Elopement at Country House in Royston

I have been a South Farm Wedding Photographer on several occasions and I always enjoy coming back to work at this beautifully boho venue. This lovingly restored Grade II listed country house is surrounded by rustic timber barns and 20 acres of picturesque gardens, woodlands and nature reserves. Situated on the border of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, this exclusive wedding venue is only 50 minutes from London in Royston. The traditional Romany Caravans, rare breed farmyard animals and quirky yellow and blue farmhouse attract couples from all over the UK to tie the knot here.

Sian and I used to work together so I was over the moon when she asked me to document her big day. We were both getting married around the same time which meant we were able to share ideas and vent about the frustrations of wedding planning!

Sian & Sam’s Big Day

It was a mild Sunday in August and, despite a few grey clouds threatening rain, it was mostly dry throughout the day. When I arrived, Sian was getting ready with her bridesmaids and her mum in South Farm’s luxurious bridal suite. One of my favourite things about this room is the Hollywood style mirror – you can create some really great images by shooting through or reflecting the bulbs surrounding the glass. It also has a mezzanine floor which provides plenty of space for everyone to get ready. To keep your wedding images looking polished, I recommend keeping this area free from clutter so you can use it for photos before the ceremony. Sian wore a stunning Enzoani dress paired with a sparkly pair of Jimmy Choo heels and the bridesmaids looked gorgeous in their blush pink gowns with classic white bouquets.

Ceremony at St Mary’s Church

The ceremony took place at St Mary’s, an Anglican parish church in the village of Comberton. Sian’s bridesmaids were overcome with emotion when they saw her walk down the aisle with her dad. At the end of the service, everyone cheered and threw confetti as the bride and groom exited the church and made their way to South farm for the reception.

Grade II Listed Barn Wedding Reception

Luckily the rain held off and guests were able to enjoy drinks and canapes in the picturesque gardens. A steel drum band added a bit of sunshine to the overcast day as the two very cute flower girls danced and twirled around. I’d been desperately checking the weather throughout the day and my weather app said we we’re due to have some sun in the evening, so we held off on doing most of the portraits until then. Sure enough, just after the speeches, there was a beautiful sunset which meant we could make the most of all the great spots the venue has to offer.

Day turned to night and the couple made their way to the dancefloor to have their first dance as husband and wife. The band, Apollo Soul, provided some great entertainment throughout the evening and I left the couple dancing the night away. Sam and Sian, thanks so much for picking me to document your big day, I loved every minute of it!

South Farm Wedding Photos

Getting Married at South Farm

This wonderfully unique venue is perfect for events and special occasions all year round. If you’re lucky enough to get some good weather, the Summer House looking over the pond is the perfect location to elope. The Tudor Barn, decorated with pretty fairy lights, is a great alternative for those who would prefer to get married indoors and seats up to 180 guests. It’s worth considering, this barn is also used for the wedding reception so you will need to take a turnaround time into account when putting together a schedule. The Old Dairy also works well as a ceremony space. The big windows let in lots of natural light and the traditional timber beams give it a rustic feel. For those having more intimate weddings, The Horse Barn and The Drawing Room, situated in the farmhouse, are also available to use.

What Makes This Venue Stand Out

Hundreds of couples pick South Farm as the place they’d like to get hitched every year and here are a few reasons why:

• THE FOOD – The Wedding Breakfast is an important part of your big day and if you decide to get married here, you and your guests won’t be disappointed! The in-house caterers use organic, seasonal food to design their personalised menus and a lot of it is grown on the farm. South Farm produce around 200 varieties of fruit and veg which helps them work towards their goal of being completely self sufficient and sustainable.

• THE ACCOMODATION – It’s rare to find a countryside wedding venue that has a place for your guests to stay. It’s even more unusual to find accommodation as cool as the colourful Romany caravans and wagons at South Farm. There’s even room for people to camp if you want your wedding to have a festival feel. For those looking for a more luxury alternative, Fen Bridge Farm is situated just a mile from the house and sleeps three couples.

• THE ANIMALS – When they’re not hosting weddings, South Farm continues to be a working farm complete with pigs, ducks and chickens. If you’re getting married in the summer, you may be lucky enough to meet the very cute piglets that arrive in Spring every year.

• THE STAFF – At this family run wedding venue, the lovely people at South farm put a lot of importance on ensuring the day runs smoothly and giving couples an exceptional service. So, when the time comes to tie the knot, you can relax and focus on enjoying your special day.

Documenting Rustic Weddings in the English Countryside

As a South Farm Wedding Photographer, I’m always spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a location for portraits. These are a few of my favourite spots:

• FARMHOUSE – The country house with it’s distinctive blue door and colourful red flowers work really well for couple photos but it’s also a great spot for confetti after the ceremony. If you’re looking for a big group picture of all your guests, I’d recommend using the gravel courtyard nearby. You can get a better angle of everyone by shooting from one of the rooms situated on the top floor of the farmhouse. If the bride and groom request a photo like this, I always do it after the ceremony before guests get distracted by drinks and canapes!

• GARDENS – There are lots of pretty gardens very close to the venue are great for taking the couple out for portraits at sunset. I try not to travel too far for photos on the day as I don’t want the couple to be away from the party for too long so finding great locations nearby is a must. It’s important to bear in mind that the gardens are surrounded by barns so the sun may appear to set earlier that it actually does so make sure you go out for portraits between an hour or two before the sun is due to go down.

•  CARAVANS – As well as providing a place to sleep, these wagons create interesting and colourful backdrops for photos of the couple and the wedding party. There is also a quirky Thai style Tuk Tuk that can take you to all the best spots around the venue.

If you’re looking for a South Farm wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you! Check my availability using the contact form below.