Oakham Castle Wedding Photography - Anna & Stephen

I had the pleasure of shooting wedding photography for Anna and Stephen in the stunning Great Hall of Oakham Castle.

I managed to get photographs of both bride and groom as they were getting ready for their big day. They both looked great and I especially loved Anna’s crown of leaves, so simple yet elegant. It was all very relaxed and full of smiles and laughter… always a good start. After preparations were done, I headed to the impressive Great Hall of Oakham Castle to get some snaps of the guests arriving.

Going back in time

I’ve never seen anything quite like the Great Hall at Oakham Castle. The hall was built between 1180 and 1190 and is the finest surviving example of Norman domestic architecture in Europe no less! The hall would have originally been used to hold banquets and courts. Lucky for us, it is now a perfect venue for a wedding ceremony. Aside from the history of the building, the main striking feature are the walls adorned with over 230 ornate ceremonial horseshoes. And they are no ‘normal’ sized horseshoes! The hall provides a stunning location for your wedding and there is something very sobering about being in a building with such history.

Letting nature speak for itself

After the lovely ceremony it was a short drive over to The George of Stamford where we would be for the rest of the day. It was fast forward a few hundred years too! The hotel is situated in the heart of the town which is brimming with character and history with its 17th and 18th Century stone buildings. The hotel has some beautiful gardens and they provided an idyllic backdrop for the group shots. I also managed to snatch a bit of time with the couple on their own. It was great to get some snaps of them just chatting and reminiscing about their day. The wedding reception was held in a beautiful marquee on the lawn. The decor was kept simple and white with flashes of green from the flowers which seemed to bring the outside in. I’m not a big fan of traditional wedding cake and  so absolutely loved their six tier cheese cake which was beautifully presented. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of Anna and Stephen’s day.

Stephen very kindly messaged me with a little thank you note which I’ll share with you…

‘We just wanted to send a small note to say a huge thanks for your time on Saturday. We were especially grateful of the time and advice you gave us during moments like the post-exit pre-confetti period. We also thought you were a lovely bloke.’