CORNWELL MANOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

Nestled in the wilds of Oxfordshire, Cornwell Manor is a slice of English Country Estate perfection and is high on the romance-o-meter. It has its own church, a ballroom and even a croquet lawn (drunk guests playing croquet make for great photos…just sayin’). I’m insanely proud to be a recommended wedding supplier at the incredible venue that is Cornwell Manor. So, pass me my flat cap and rev the Range Rover cos they don’t come more rural (or more exclusive) than this place. 

ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY AT CORNWELL MANOR WEDDING VENUE

The Manor itself is pretty accommodating. If a ballroom ceremony for your wedding day isn’t your bag then the lovely Cornwell wedding planners are more than happy for you to pitch a marquee on the lawn, with a sweeping view of the lakes which is rather spectacular. Set within a private estate of 2000 acres of Cotswold greenery, Cornwell Manor has been described (by Country Life Magazine, no less) as one of the prettiest houses in England. It lies between the market towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Norton and exudes a dreamy, faded grandeur of times gone by, but mixed in with the relaxed and easy feel of a family home. And it has a walled garden, as any decent country pile should in my humble opinion.

I’M INSANELY PROUD TO BE A RECOMMENDED PHOTOGRAPHER!

WEDDING PHOTOS FROM AN AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPHER

So if you’re looking for documentary photography for your Cornwell Manor 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 30 WEDDINGS PER YEAR, SO DON’T DRAG YOUR FEET!

FEATURED CORNWELL MANOR WEDDINGS

From all the weddings I shot at Cornwell manor there are a few that stick in my memory. One of those weddings is that of Jen & James. This couple wanted a wedding that was really romantic and classy, but also something that was fun and personal to them. Jen wanted soft colours of blush and ivory paired with lush deep greens and candles to give a romantic and natural air. Counterbalancing the soft, feminine look of the wedding was some touches that related to the couple personally. A singalong at the ceremony of Bill Withers’ Lovely Day (which is a favourite of James’ cricket team). An oval arch covered in flowers as the centrepiece for the ceremony was absolutely stunning. Fire pits by the pond, fairy lights and globe lanterns on the pathway to the marquee were a really spectacular backdrop.

Why did they choose Cornwell Manor as their wedding venue? As soon as they saw Cornwell Manor they fell in love with it. It is a wonderful, warm family home with stunning gardens. Events Director, Charlotte Boston, was so friendly, helpful and efficient that they knew they would be in great hands. With Cornwell Manor you have the option of having the run of the place from Thursday through until Sunday afternoon. What a brilliant weekend of celebration!

Another wedding with a different vibe all together was that of Romi & Lucien.  Simple, romantic, classic and intimate. Looking for a quintessential English setting, their focus fell to Oxfordshire. Cornwell Manor was the first place they visited, and they just knew it was the venue for them. It manages that perfect combination of a beautiful setting with homely grandeur whilst still feeling quite intimate. It was the perfect place for both their families to stay for the weekend. Plus the on site church St. Peter’s was just too special to pass over.

Here’s a selection of images from each of those weddings:

THE  GRAND STAIRCASE AT CORNWELL MANOR

The staircase at Cornwell Manor is truly sublime. The twisting decorative balustrade makes it way down from the bedrooms past a huge ornate window, finally ending in the hallway which leads the way to your ceremony. With all that natural light pouring in through the window it’s a photographers dream setting for that eagerly anticipated wedding day moment when the bride reveals her wedding dress to her father. There’s plenty of opportunity to capture some full length shots of the bride’s descent followed by the bridesmaids dutifully holding the dresses trail. I personally love to position myself next to father of the bride and at the last minute turn to capture the look of pure emotion on his face as he greets his daughter officially on her wedding day. There’s always a buzz around the staircase earlier on in the day too, with people coming and going during the prep stages. It can be a real hive of activity. Standing up on the top landing looking down with a wide angle lens is always a sure fire way to capture some of the action.

“Hands down the best decision we made about the wedding was asking you to be our photographer.” 

A BEAUTIFUL BALLROOM CEREMONY

The beautiful ballroom at Cornwell Manor provides a special space to say your vows. It can seat up to 140 so it can easily cope with those big weddings but it has the right vibe for the more intimate weddings too. The Ballroom is included in the venue hire rates and, should you choose the ballroom over the marquee for your wedding breakfast, it can comfortably seat up to 72 for a dinner. With the large floor to ceiling windows permeating the room with gorgeous natural light it is one of my favourite indoor ceremony locations to shoot. Some venue ceremonies can be quite dark but the ballroom at Cornwell has an abundance of natural light coming in from both sides and the light coloured walls bounce it around. This means the couple are always bathed in light that is complimentary to skin tones. The balcony provides a high vantage point and a great alternative view of the ceremony. With guests seated either side of the aisle it makes a great wide angle shot. The natural leading lines draw your eye to the couple saying their vows. I love to get up there with a 24mm lens and shoot this scene wide or dash up there right after the first kiss and before the bride and groom turn to face their cheering guests to walk back down the aisle.

“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.”

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 Cornwell Manor in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire (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.