Eynsham Hall Wedding Photography | Lisa and Ash

A Snowy Winter wedding at a Grade II listed Oxfordshire Country House Hotel

For this featured wedding, we are going back to early February 2019, and a snowy landscape for the wonderful wedding of Lisa and Ash. Their wedding took place at the fabulous venue of Eynsham Hall, near Witney, Oxfordshire. As we are Oxfordshire wedding photographers, its a venue we know well and always look forward to photographing there. Its also a wedding location that Lisa knows well, as she is the Eynsham Hall Wedding Specialist! As such, she gets to meet lots of photographers and other wedding suppliers, so we were thrilled that Lisa and Ash chose us for their wedding photography; they were particularly keen on our documentary wedding photography approach. The couple also chose a great selection of other wedding suppliers, most of whom we knew well, and they are credited at the end of this blog post.

Our day started we Sam going straight to Eynsham Hall to photograph Lisa’s wedding preparations, whilst I made the short walk from our home to Lisa and Ash’s Bicester house. After taking some photos of the guys getting ready, I joined them in a fun ride to the venue in a classic VW camper van, equipped with surf board (Lisa and Ash had a beach theme to the whole of the wedding, mostly due to their love of the Pacific island Fiji). The beach themed camper van was an incongruous site as we travelled the snowy Oxfordshire country roads to Eynsham Hall!

The wedding ceremony took place in Eynsham Hall’s Red Room which was brilliantly lit by the winter sun pouring in through the large windows; it really was a treat to be able to photograph the ceremony with such wonderful natural light. After the ceremony, we took the opportunity for a shot walk outside in the cold and snowy gardens, sharing portrait opportunities with the couple’s videographer, Our Big Day on Film.

Dinner took place in the amazing Green Room where the beach theme continued, aided by some wonderful flowers by Penny Blossoms and an incredible cake by Karen from Cakes By Kit . A running joke for the speeches was “Dilly-Dilly”, from the current Bud Light TV commercial, hence the strategic placed bottles of this beer.

After dinner, a number of evening guests then arrived to enjoy the disco and photo-booth, as well of course the odd drink or two! As usual, we stayed well into the evening to capture the evening’s partying, as well as a final flash lit portrait of Lisa and Ash in front of their wonderful wedding venue.

Their full list of suppliers, as well as a sample of some of their photos are below.

Flowers: http://www.pennyblossoms.co.uk/

Flower Arch: https://skymeadows.co.uk/

Cake: http://cakesbykit.com/

Videography: https://www.ourbigdayonfilm.com/

Light up Letters and DJ:

 https://www.facebook.com/orangediscotheques/

Brides Dress: https://www.maebridal.co.uk/

Groom and Groomsmen Suits: https://richardpaulmenswear.co.uk/

Brides Hair & Make Up: 

http://agmhair.com/ and 

http://www.charlie-jennings.co.uk/

Bridemaids Hair/ Make up: http://rubyrougemakeup.co.uk/

Photobooth: https://www.pixxelboxx.com/

VW Van: https://vintageweddingday.com/

Sweet Cart: http://bowtiquechaircovers.co.uk/

Brides Rings: http://www.biagiothejewellers.com/

If you are looking for Oxfordshire wedding photographers and like the idea of a husband and wife team photographing your wedding, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us with the link below.

Eynsham Hall Wedding Photography | Helen and Kieran

An outdoor wedding at a luxury Oxfordshire venue

“HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Thank you Sam and Steve for capturing our day so beautifully!”

— Helen & Kieran

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We photographed Helen and Kieran’s lovely Eynsham Hall wedding in May 2018, and what a wonderful wedding it was.

Situated near Witney in the Oxfordshire countryside, Eynsham Hall is a luxury Oxfordshire country house hotel with fabulous gardens, lovely stately (but not stuffy!) rooms, and excellent staff, it is a perfect venue for a country wedding. We always enjoy photographing at Eynsham Hall; Lisa Marie Gardner, the wedding specialist always ensures everything runs to plan, but in a calm and efficient way. As documentary wedding photographers, we like to blend in during a wedding day, and not seek to take over and organise proceedings, and the team at Eynsham understand this perfectly.

Our day began as usual with Samantha photographing the brides’ preparation, whilst I was with the groom and groomsmen. As both of them were getting ready at the venue, this was easy for us to do, whilst at the same time keeping in touch with each other. This wedding was our first with our new Fujifilm X-H1 camera, which Sam used all day and loved working with.

One of the joys of photographing weddings at Eynsham Hall is the facility for holding the ceremony outside, which Helen and Kieran elected to do. The May weather gods smiled on them, and rain stayed away for the duration of the ceremony, and for their guests to enjoy the gardens and the ample drinks and canapés served by the Eynsham team.

We loved photographing Helen and Kieran’s wedding, and stayed as is usual for us well into the late evening to photograph the dancing and partying they enjoyed with their guests.

We were thrilled with the lovely review they gave us on our Google page, thank you both so much!

The couple used a number of quality wedding suppliers as follows:

Dress - by Rosa Clara from Mariee in Nantwich, Cheshire

Cake - M&S.

Flowers - Bloomin Events.

Suits - Henry's of Banbury

Orange Discos (part of the package with Eynsham).

Bridesmaids dresses - True Romantica, Kenilworth

Matted Wedding Album- Folio Albums, designed by Sam and Steve Photography

The following is a collection of some of the photos we provided Helen and Kieran.

If you are looking for documentary style wedding photography at Eynsham Hall, or of course any other venue, we would love to hear from you.

Tythe Barn Wedding Photography|Stephanie and Daniel

An late autumn wedding at a wonderful Bicester barn wedding venue

The Tythe Barn, Near Bicester is one of our favourite wedding venues. Its a lovely wedding place to get married, with gorgeous surroundings, a lovely green lawn, capacity for 155 seated guests inside for the barn, and the adjacent Cow Shed for another 40 guests to spread out into. It also has the Nook, another adjacent building, where the bride and bridesmaids can get ready before making their big entrance. As we are Bicester wedding photographers, its also very local to us. 

Stephanie and Daniel chose the Tythe Barn for their November wedding. We had met them at one of the Barn's very successful Weddings Fairs the previous year; we attend these regularly as we are one of their recommended wedding photographers.  Samantha as usual started our photography of their wedding with the bride and bridesmaids in the Nook. In my case, I arrived a little later on to be in time for Daniel's arrival. We were blessed during the day with some late autumn sunshine, and the light streamed into the barn during the ceremony. As always, photographed throughout the day (apart from when everyone was eating!) to capture the key moments of the day, including a lot of fun on the dance floor.  

Our thanks to both Stephanie and Daniel for letting us tell the story of their day; you can see some photos from their day below. 

We hope you liked Stephanie and Daniel's Tythe Barn Wedding Photos!

If you did, we would love you to comment below, or share using the social media buttons. If you are getting married at the Tythe Barn and would like documentary wedding photography from two photographers, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us here. 

Steve

Crazy Bear Stadhampton Wedding Photography|Gemma and Ted

A September wedding at a wonderfully quirky  Oxfordshire Wedding Venue

When Gemma and Ted asked us to photograph their September Wedding at the Crazy Bear, near Oxford, we were delighted to say yes. Situated in the Oxfordshire village of Stadhampton, the Crazy Bear is a great place to photograph. With our style bring mostly that of documentary wedding photographers its a great place to work, full of interesting and quirky details. 

Created in 1993, the Crazy Bear is both a wonderful venue and a destination place to eat and drink. It has unusual and inventive details, including a double decker London bus as a reception. It also has attached to it an eighty acre working farm! Its a really fun and top quality venue to visit and, of course, to get married in. 

For this wedding, both the bride and groom were getting ready at the venue, which meant both Sam and I could travel together. As usual, Sam photographed the bride and bridesmaid preparation, whilst I was with the groom and groomsmen. One of the great things about venues like the Crazy Bear is that the ceremony, reception and partying all take place within the same area; this means guests do not have to travel, and for us, we can get "into" the wedding and look for the moments our style of photography is all about. On this September day in 2017, we had somewhat variable weather which meant we were photographing indoors a lot. The lighting in the venue is lovely but quite challenging at times, but nothing that our Fuji cameras couldn't handle.

All in all, a lovely day, and we are looking forward to photographing at the Crazy Bear again in 2018. 

Steve

Lains Barn Wedding- Charlene and Daniel

A Rustic Oxfordshire Barn Wedding in November

November 2016 saw us back at one of our favourite venues, Lains Barn, near Wantage, Oxfordshire, for the wedding of Charlene and Daniel. We are a preferred supplier at Lains, which does mean we work here more often than some other venues. However as our documentary wedding style is somewhat niche we do work a lots of different venues across the UK, which suits us fine....variety is indeed the spice of life. 

As usual, Katie and her team did a fine job of making sure everything ran like clockwork during the day; it is refreshing to work at a venue that understands how we work and isn't looking to boss us around, let alone the guests. 

For Charlene and Daniel's wedding, Samantha was with the bride and bridesmaids at the family home, whilst I was with Daniel and the guys at a nearby hotel. After a fun game or two on the Xbox (I declined the offer to take part),  the groom, his groomsmen and I headed off to the venue to be in place for the arrival of the bride. And fantastic she did look in a gorgeous dress! This was the first time we had photographed a wedding with a videographer, and a drone video  crew; the latter being expertly provided by Whirlybird Imaging. The late Autumn light, or lack of made photographing the ceremony in the barn challenging, but as usual our Fuji cameras performed admirably. 

Once more it was a pleasure to work and photograph at Lains, and are looking forward to our weddings there in 2017. 

If you are looking for candid, relaxed and unpressurised wedding photography at Lains Barn, or in fact at any venue, we would love to hear from you. You can contact via the details below, or with our contact form here. 

Steve. 

Aynhoe Park Wedding Photography-Jessica and Micky

 

A winter wedding in a wonderland venue

Aynhoe Park has to be the most unusual wedding venue we have photographed at in 7 years of wedding photography. Aynhoe Park is a listed 17th century country house between Bicester, Brackley and Banbury, and is an exclusive wedding venue which has hosted a number of celebrity weddings. Whilst on the outside, Ayhnoe Park looks like a normal classic English country house, inside it is anything but. Each room is remarkable in a different way; a library with stuffed animals and a dodo skeleton is an example. Tin Tin (the Belgian cartoon character) standing next to a rocket ship was another highlight. And the orangery, where Jessica and Micky were married was a delight to photograph in, with light pouring in from the many windows. But enough on the venue! Jessica and Micky's wedding was a delight to photograph. Both of them come from a theatrical background and were great fun, as were their guests who had travelled from the four corners of the UK. The many rooms of Aynhoe Park gave both Samantha and I plenty of opportunity to wonder around looking for candid and special moments. After dinner, everyone returned to the disco light lit orangery for the speeches and for the partying, which as usual we started for the first hour of. All in all a wonderful couple and an amazing location, thanks so much Jessica and Micky for letting us capture it for you in photos. 

If you are looking for Aynhoe Park wedding photography, or would just like a chat about your plans, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us here, or just call, email or connect through our various social media sites. 

Steve Vaughan

Lains Barn Wedding- Kelli and Elwyn

An Oxfordshire Barn Wedding in the Autumn

When we met Kelli and Elwyn at a Lains Barn wedding open evening early this year, we knew their wedding was going to be a pleasure to photograph.  They were obviously a really fun couple, and we hit it off with them immediately. They also understood straight away our documentary wedding photography style and knew that this was what they wanted. Lains Barn, near Wantage, Oxfordshire is a wedding venue we know well, we photograph their several times a year. Katie and the team at Lains do a great job of ensuring everything runs like clockwork, but without being too controlling and obvious. Of course, this suits us and our style perfectly! Kelli and Elywn's wedding had guests travelling from Australia (Kelli's family), Wales (Elywn's family) and guests from the four corners of the globe, so it was truly an international event.  Lains Barn and the surrounding gardens looked lovely with the late Autumnal colours. The highlight for everyone however was undoubtedly when Kelli's grandfather, a professional tenor in Australia, sang the accompaniment to the first dance of the newly wedded couple. A beautiful touching moment, which we captured in the some of the photographs below. 

If you are looking for Lains Barn wedding photography, or for documentary wedding photography at a similar rustic barn location, we would love to hear from you. Simply click on the button at the end of the photos!

Merriscourt Rustic Wedding- Georgia and Edward

AN OXFORDSHIRE COUNTRY WEDDING IN A RUSTIC COTSWOLDS BARN LOCATION

 

We were delighted to be asked by Georgia and Edward to photograph their lovely country wedding at the rustic location of Merriscourt, near Chipping Norton. Merriscourt is on the border of Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire and is a perfect Cotswolds wedding location. It is self contained with plenty of space for both wedding partners to get ready independently, and has lovely rolling countryside in all directions. The weather wasn't the best this September day, so much of our photography was based inside the barn and gallery areas. 

Georgia and Edward live in the London area but have connections in Oxfordshire, and with guests and family coming from all directions, Merriscourt proved a central location for most. As usual, we spent most of the wedding day with the bride and groom, starting with their preparation through the celidh dancing after their first dance. They choice a humanist ceremony which proved to be both beautiful and romantic, with lot of singing for their guests. 

If you are looking for wedding photography at Merriscourt or any other rustic Cotswolds location we would love to hear from you. You can contact us here. 

Here are some of our photos from their wedding. 

Fawsley Hall Wedding-Kelly and Joseph

Northamptonshire country house wedding

Kelly and Joseph's wedding at Fawsley Hall, Northamptonshire was the first time we have photographed at this lovely venue, and we are already looking forward to the next! As documentary wedding photographers, we love working at dedicated wedding venues like Fawsley Hall, which was looking resplendent inside and out on this lovely August day. We met Kelly and Joseph a couple of years previously, and they were very clear as to their requirements, one of which was not lots of formal group shots. We of course heartily agreed. Both Kelly and Joseph are musicians, with Joseph at the time having to work away a fair amount. Presumably, their musical connections did help in having a harpist came to play during the entry into the ceremony room, and very lovely the music was too. Their beautiful daughter melted hearts as their as a flower girl, and the speeches were both funny and well delivered. Add in a great disco party and a great time was had by all, which you will be able to get the spirit of from the photos below. 

If you are looking for Fawsley Hall Wedding Photography, or would just like a chat about your plans, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us here. 

Cripps Stone Barn Wedding- Lizzie and Sean

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A lovely Cotswold barn Wedding near Bibury, Gloucestershire. 

It was August 2016 when Samantha and I were the wedding photographers for Lizzie and Sean's wonderful wedding at the rustic setting of Cripps Stone Barn. Based on a quiet road of the main A40 between Oxford and Cheltenham, Cripps Stone Barn is a gorgeous venue for a wedding, with the rolling Cotwolds hills all around. It's also another venue where the wedding and the guests can completely take over the venue, without other events taking place at the same time. This of course helps with out our documentary wedding photography style, in that we know everyone we photograph is at the wedding!  

We first met Lizzie and Sean at a wedding fair at another wedding venue earlier that year. It was that time of the day when all the exhibitors were looking to pack away their stands, but we were still "open of business" when Lizzie and Sean came for a chat. They loved our approach and the idea of two photographers at their wedding, so we were delighted to get home to a message on our phone from them looking to book us!  On their wedding day, we started in our usual way; Sam was with Lizzie and the girls getting ready at home, whilst I met up with Sean and his guys at a local hotel. The venue was pleasure to photograph at; although the light inside was challenging (another grey August day!) our Fuji cameras coped well as usual. Lizzie and Sean's young son melted everyone's hearts in his little suit, and of course Lizzie looked absolutely stunning. We throughly enjoyed photographing their wedding all the way through to well past their first dance, and the partying that then ensued. 

If you are looking for wedding photography for Cripps Stone Barn we would love to hear about your plans. You can contact us here. 

Hyde Barn Cotswolds Wedding: Zoe and James

A summer barn wedding in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds

“They were more than we could have ever hoped for. Both Sam and Steve were incredibly personable and made everyone at ease throughout the day.
The photos were incredible and gave a real sense of intimacy. They also make sure to take as many natural pictures as opposed to lots of posed ones; this not only makes for some stunning pictures but also made sure no one was bored waiting for me and my now wife to finish up our pictures.
The care they put into their work is by far their best asset, they kept in regular contact, nothing seemed too much and even the aftercare of getting the finished photos has been amazing.

If we could give more than 5 stars we would!””

— Zoe and James

Samantha and I were delighted to be asked by Zoe and James to be their wedding photographers for their lovely Hyde Barn Wedding, near Stow on the Wold. When we met Zoe and James, it was clear that their idea of wedding photography was the same as ours; unobtrusive, informal and relaxed. So, it was with much excitement that we headed off on a lovely early Summer morning to the Cotswolds, to the lovely location in Gloucestershire.

Hyde Barn is the quintessential Cotswold Barn wedding location, with beautiful gardens, and lovely decor. As this was a rare sunny June day in 2016, Zoe and James were able to have their wedding ceremony outdoors, with the legal part taking place within an enclosed structure, as is the law in the UK.

As both Zoe and James were getting ready at the venue (although of course is separate rooms!), Samantha and I were able to work independently at the same location, covering all aspects of the day from getting ready, through to the main ceremony and the speeches. As documentary wedding photographers, we then continued photographing throughout the day, into the evening, and the fantastic partying at the end of the celebrations.

Below are some photos from their lovely wedding.

If you are looking for Wedding Photography at Hyde Barn, or a similar Cotswolds location, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us via the button at the bottom of the photos. 

Stratton Court Barn Wedding; Jemma and David

A rustic barn wedding near Bicester, Oxfordshire

Jemma and David's wedding in May 2016 was at Stratton Court Barn, near Bicester and was the second time we had photographed there. Built in 1872, Stratton Court Barn is a lovely rural wedding location, close to the M40 and A43, but is still quiet and peaceful. Its also another venue where the wedding is the only event being held on the day, which means the bride, groom and guests have it all to themselves. We also helps us work in our preferred, un-obstrusive and informal way as documentary wedding photographers.   Jemma and David's wedding was a delight to photograph. We have never seen a bride so happy, and laugh as much as Jemma did! She made sure she thoroughly enjoyed her wedding day, and, when all is said and done, surely that's what the day is all about. 

We were delighted to receive some lovely feedback from Jemma and David which you can read on our testimonial page here:

If you are planning to get married at Stratton Court Barn, or are looking for documentary style wedding photography elsewhere in Oxfordshire or beyond, we would love to here from you. You can contact us here. 

Steve Vaughan