The spring sunshine shone for Sophie and Richard’s beautiful April wedding. From the church ceremony in the quintessentially English village of Sutton Courtenay, to the glam celebration for this Ardington House Wedding, this was a truly classic and timeless wedding

The wedding morning

Bride, Sophie, got ready at home, surrounded by her bridesmaids (her three sisters and cousin) and parents. It was a really relaxing morning and I managed to get some great candid shots while she had her hair and make-up done. She looked stunning in a timeless, off-the-shoulder A-line gown with beautiful lace sleeves. Paired with a long veil, exquisite butterfly hair clip and sparkly flats, Sophie was the ultimate in classic elegance. Her bridesmaids wore matching off-the-shoulder lace gowns in a rich forest green. I’m glad to report the guys didn’t let the side down, looking dapper in morning suits (for the groom, Richard, and one of the two best men), and kilts for the rest of the group.

The wedding ceremony

The ceremony took place at the Church of All Saints, in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Sutton Courtenay. The Grade I listed church has some original features from the 12^th century, and is as pretty as they come. It looked fantastic in the spring sunshine and made a brilliant setting for some outside photographs before and after the ceremony.

The interior didn’t disappoint either, with a grand stained-glass window at the end of the aisle making a fab backdrop for some bride and groom photos during the wedding. The flowers inside the church looked beautiful – and were arranged by the groom’s mother.

The reverend wore a cassock, dedicated to the bride’s late grandfather, which was worn at the bride’s parent’s wedding – I love thoughtful, personal touches like this, it really adds to the sentiment of the day.

The wedding reception at Ardington House

After the ceremony, and the obligatory confetti shot, the bride and groom were whisked away to Ardington House in a very nice classic Jaguar. An Ardington House Wedding is a seriously stylish affair – the venue is surrounded by acres of manicured gardens and parkland, this Georgian stately home is a real show-stopper. It’s exclusive-use, so Sophie, Richard and their guests had their own stately home for the day. The wedding breakfast was held in the relaxed Riverside Garden Marquee, which overlooked the river, island and house. Complete with chandeliers, chequered dancefloor for the party and that view, it was one impressive marquee!

I’ve shot a number of Ardington House Weddings (including some amazing outdoor ceremonies on the private island), and know all of the best spots for stunning photos. The spring blossom and flowers were in full bloom for Sophie and Richard’s day, so we made the most of this with lots of shots in the garden and extensive grounds.

The wedding details

Richard, the groom, is a pilot, and his father and best man changing into their full RAF uniforms for the reception. There was also a nod to this with the aeroplane place names, tucked into wine glasses.

The couple laid on an impressive sweetie table that was heaving with all sorts of lollipops and chewy sweets, which went down well with everyone – definitely not just the kids!

Videographer, Mark Shipperly Films was on hand to capture the day on film, complete with his camera drone!

After the first dance I headed home, leaving the guests to dance the night away in that amazing marquee.

See more of the weddings I’ve photographed at Ardington House, on my blog.

The Ardington House wedding photos