“We chose Matara because it was different to all the other venues. The fact the owner showed us around was a nice touch. Everything was included rather than building up a scary invoice. We fell in love with the uniqueness of the place and the quirky little hideaways you can find yourself in.” Carly & Tom
We know that one of the most challenging things about planning a wedding is finding the perfect venue. If you are looking for somewhere that is intimate, beautiful, and relaxed, you won’t be disappointed with the Matara Centre, which is located in the stunning woodlands of the Cotswolds. It’s a picture-perfect setting which makes for very happy wedding photographers and loved up couples alike! Keep reading to learn more about my experience as a recommended Matara Centre wedding photographer.
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY AT THE MATARA WEDDING VENUE
Set within 28 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Matara Centre is an Asian-inspired wedding venue that blends tranquility with joyful celebration. Its gardens, woodlands, and tropical greenhouses create a stunning backdrop for every moment of your day, from intimate vows to lively evening receptions. Whether you’re planning a large celebration with 200 guests or a smaller, more intimate gathering of 25, this Grade II listed Regency home provides a versatile and elegant setting that does not disappoint.
The Matara Centre is licensed for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies, catering to multiple cultures and traditions. Couples can truly create the fairy-tale wedding they’ve always dreamed of, with options to personalize every aspect of the day. From lush gardens perfect for photographs to charming courtyards for drinks receptions, every corner of the venue offers something special and unique.
Having photographed numerous weddings at Matara, I’ve seen firsthand how the space adapts to different styles, themes, and seasons. Each wedding feels completely personal, whether it’s a relaxed summer celebration, a cozy autumn gathering, or a vibrant cultural ceremony.
On a personal note, I’m incredibly fortunate that the Matara Centre is just a stone’s throw from my home in the village of Horsley. Being able to document a full wedding day and then head home without a long drive is a real treat. But that’s not the only reason I consider it one of my favourite venues, the combination of natural beauty, architectural charm, and the welcoming staff makes it a dream location for capturing heartfelt moments and stunning photography.
For couples seeking a versatile, serene, and magical wedding venue in the Cotswolds, the Matara Centre offers the perfect balance of elegance, tranquility, and flexibility to bring your wedding vision to life.
I’M INSANELY PROUD TO BE A RECOMMENDED MATARA CENTRE PHOTOGRAPHER!
TRANQUILITY WITHIN THE NATURAL GARDENS
The Matara Centre is set in 28 acres of beautiful wetlands and meadows, offering true beauty and serenity. The owners of the venue are caretakers of the land. So half of the 28 acres has been allocated to natural habitat, allowing them to protect and encourage diverse wildlife. You will find everything from hedgerows to flower meadows, woodlands, and wetlands here. Gardens which have a life of their own, and they are developing in diversity and richness all the time. It’s lovely to take a moment to reflect and relax here and, of course, it creates the most stunning background for magical photographs.
I always encourage couples to take 10–15 minutes alone during the day. A stroll around the Matara Centre grounds is perfect for capturing natural, unposed portraits. Freshly married and full of excitement, couples enjoy this private time while I work unobtrusively, letting real moments unfold. The gardens provide a calm, romantic backdrop, whether it’s a quiet walk to the bridge, exploring the tropical greenhouse, or enjoying the seasonal colours. In autumn, the deep reds and golds make for particularly stunning portraits.
ONSITE ACCOMMODATION TO RELAX AND UNWIND
This exclusive venue includes 9 bedrooms and 5 baths inside Kingscote Park House, the main house, as well as three receiving rooms, two dining rooms, and exclusive use of the kitchen. This makes it an excellent place for family retreats. The estate also features four private en-suite bedrooms.
Then there’s the romantic hidden honeymoon lodge (fully equipped with jacuzzi and private garden), meaning that up to 28 guests in total can stay the night. What better way to completely relax and unwind, knowing that you can have your nearest and dearest stay with you onsite. You could all stay for a couple of nights meaning you can really make a special weekend retreat of it. Even better, the party can continue long into the night! For those not staying onsite there’s plenty of accommodation options nearby. One being Hunters Hall Inn which is handily located just on the opposite side of the A4135 road.
When you book this venue you get a blank canvass. Matara never say to couples ‘this is how you need to do it’ and in fact, by their own admission, it is much more fun if each wedding is unique. If you want to have a festival on site they’d be more than happy to do that, the more different the better. Matara’s own events and wedding planner is more than happy to take the lead if the couple’s wish her to. Your imagination really is the limit!
EXCLUSIVE WEDDING VENUE HIRE
The Matara Centre offers several different packages, which are catered to all budgets. You can find their rates in full by contacting them directly via their website. For 2025, venue hire prices range from £3,500 to £6,000. For full wedding packages, prices start at around £10,000.
A 50% deposit at the time of booking is required and the rest is due 30 days before. It’s not unusual for people to book two or three years in advance and in these cases the initial booking deposit is just 25%. A huge amount of mid-week weddings take place at Matara. People want to make it more than just the one day and so the house gets booked for three or four days and the families can then stay on site. Mid-week weddings with the accommodation gets booked up around a year in advance, so act pronto if you’re thinking of booking!
Matara also offers a number of other packages to help you create the wedding of your dreams. This includes the Summer Fun Package, which consists of the Honeymoon Lodge the night of the wedding, a fire pit with marshmallows, a personal wedding coordinator, indoor and outdoor fairy lights, catering, the hire of the Matara Centre, and a series of games.
I am…
A trusted Matara Centre wedding photographer
Proudly recommended as one of the venue’s favourite suppliers
Able to show you weddings I’ve shot here
Happy to recommend other awesome suppliers
A wealth of knowledge when it comes to Matara
A proper photojournalistic snapper
Seriously good fun to have around
I am not…
Going to make you pose or pull silly faces
The type to try and stage a great shot
Going to keep you from your guests
Going to miss a thing at your wedding
WEDDING PHOTOS FROM AN AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER
So if you’re looking for documentary photography for your Matara Centre wedding (or anywhere else for that matter) and you feel that my style doth butter your parsnips, please do CHECK MY AVAILABILITY today and I’ll be in touch. Or if you want to know more about hiring me as your phenomenal wedding photographer you can access my pricing brochure below:
I ONLY SHOOT AROUND 20 WEDDINGS PER YEAR, SO DON’T DRAG YOUR FEET!
“Hands down the best decision we made about the wedding was asking you to be our photographer.”
“Jonny is someone who felt like a guest more than a photographer and he made the day even more special than we ever realised it could be. Jonny has honesty, integrity, humility and kindness. We not only feel like we found an amazing photographer, but also a friend for life.”
“Our wedding photography was definitely a worthwhile investment. As time goes by, its value will only continue to grow. All our family and friends were singing Jonny’s praises. He’s so relaxed, is super lovely to work with and has an awesome documentary style, without gimmicks.”
If you think so too, then saddle up! You’ve come to the right place.
A RELAXED & UNPOSED PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE
The way I like to shoot is almost entirely unposed and I have very little influence on the day. There’s no barking orders or asking anything of you other than to have fun and enjoy every second. Rest assured, I certainly will not be posing you. Instead, I prefer to be in the moment and capture everything as it unfolds naturally in front of me. For me, capturing the emotion and details of a wedding is best done without bossing people around or setting up loads of equipment. I allow my couples to forget about the photography, to relax and to enjoy their weddings without being bothered by a photographer!
Couples book me because they like that approach and they love photography. Simple as that. So if you are passionate about your wedding photography and you’re getting married at The Matara Centre (or any other wedding venue) then please get in touch to tell me your plans, especially if you are looking for a natural photographer who shoots in a documentary fashion.
KEEN TO SEE MORE OF MY WORK
(the proof is in the pudding)
Love the vibe of the Matara? Check out some weddings that I shot there:
Kirsten & Steve’s Wedding at The Matara Centre
LOSE YOURSELF AND FIND YOUR TRUE HAPPINESS
The Matara Centre wedding venue is so much more than just another venue. If anyone ever gets the opportunity to visit the Matara Centre they will understand why it’s such a magical wedding venue. There is honestly something so exceptional about Matara and until you experience it for yourself you won’t understand. Everything the venue stands for is unique and personal. It is a place to lose yourself and find your true happiness. Every corner holds a new secret and the whole place is laced with fairy tale magic, and I love being a Matara Centre wedding photographer.
INSIDER KNOWLEDGE FROM THE EVENTS & WEDDING PLANNER
I caught up with Matara’s very own Event and Wedding Planner and asked those important questions that may just help you decide if this stunning licensed wedding venue is the one you’ve been searching for.
Starting with a short history of the venue I learned Geoffrey, the owner, bought the house as his personal residence years ago and he lived here with his wife June. He worked in organisational change for years travelling the world and earning a lot of money. June sadly was diagnosed with terminal cancer. So Geoffrey built the Matara Centre in the grounds of the house so he could fly his clients to him and he didn’t have to leave June. Sadly June passed away and it wasn’t until about 20 yrs ago when their daughter wanted to get married and asked to use the space that he realised it could be used in such a way, as a place of celebration.
During it’s time as a wedding venue there’s been a huge array of weddings here. From an OK magazine wedding brimming with celebrity guests, to the small, low-key days that are so intimate and just as memorable.
WHAT MAKES THE MATARA CENTRE A UNIQUE VENUE CHOICE?
If I had to tell you just one interesting fact about Matara, I’d mention their tree dedication program. For every single couple that marry here a tree is planted and dedicated to them. On their wedding day the tree is already planted to ensure it survives. On the day they have some extra soil and a can of water for the bride and groom to dedicate their tree and become part of the 28 acres. Lots of couples come back to visit their tree. It’s really is something special.
There are a few things that really make The Matara Centre near Tetbury in Gloucestershire stand out. I’ve mentioned the tree dedications. Well did you know they are also a social enterprise? Meaning at the end of the year when they look at the profits 50% goes direct to charities. The other 50% goes into developing the site. Being sustainable and contributing back to the community is at the core of what Matara stands for.
DOWNLOAD MY PRICING BROCHURE
