A Magical Spring Wedding at Thorpe Garden: Laura & Matt's Special Day
There's something truly magical about a spring wedding at Thorpe Garden, a stunning Cripps & Co venue set within the picturesque Staffordshire countryside. Also known as Thorpe Gardens or Thorpe Hall Gardens, this private estate near Tamworth provides an idyllic wedding backdrop. When I arrived to photograph Laura and Matt's special day at this enchanting walled garden wedding venue, I knew we were in for something extraordinary despite the changeable spring weather.
A Personal Connection
Having gone to school with Ian, Laura's father, this wedding held a special place in my heart. There's always something meaningful about photographing celebrations for people you've known for years. I was determined to capture every precious moment for the family.
Bridal Preparations
The day began in The Makeup House, where Laura was joined by her sister and maid of honour, Hannah, and her mom, Sarah. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and just a touch of wedding-day nerves as Laura prepared to enter her beautiful, unique wedding dress.
A Rustic Ceremony in the Garden Yurt
One of the most stunning features of Thorpe Garden is its wooden garden yurt, built from steamed mountain ash with grand oak doors. The yurt, part of the beautiful Thorpe Estate, offers a unique wedding setting. The picture-perfect views of the surrounding Staffordshire countryside provided the ideal setting for Laura and Matt's rustic-themed ceremony. The yurt at Constantine House (part of the Thorpe Hall complex) is a signature element that makes this garden wedding venue special.
The space was beautifully decorated with sage green chair covers and an elegant hexagon arch that framed the couple perfectly. The simplicity of the single-colour palette complemented the yurt's natural wooden elements, creating a harmonious and sophisticated atmosphere.
Before Laura walked down the aisle on her father's arm, a moment brought tears to everyone's eyes – a pre-recorded message from Betsie, Laura and Matt's daughter, played for all the guests. These personal touches are what make each wedding uniquely special and what I love to document as part of my wedding photography services.
Weather Challenges and Documentary Moments
As any wedding photographer in the UK knows, the weather can be unpredictable! The cloudy day with a cold wind soon turned to rain between the ceremony and the wedding breakfast. This meant we had to pause the group photos and fit them in later, where possible – one of those documentary moments that add character to the wedding story.
Despite the challenges, these are the moments where my experience as a documentary wedding photographer comes into play. Adapting to changing conditions while capturing genuine emotions is part of telling your wedding story.
An Emotional Celebration
Laura was visibly nervous before the ceremony, and I captured that authentic emotion. One of my favourite photos from the day shows the pure relief and joy on her face as she and Matt walked back down the aisle as newlyweds. It's these unscripted, genuine moments that truly tell the story of a wedding day.
The wedding breakfast was filled with heartfelt speeches from Ian (the father of the bride), Matt (the groom), the two best men, and Hannah (maid of honour). By this time, the weather had changed again—bright sunshine streamed through the windows, creating challenging lighting conditions that required all my technical expertise to navigate.
A Disney Love Story
Their beautiful love story made Laura and Matt's wedding even more special. Laura, a primary school teacher and Disney enthusiast met Matt, a warehouse operative and sports lover, through Facebook. Their first date? A trip to the cinema to see Escape Room 2 hints at their love of movies.
In true fairy-tale fashion, Matt proposed to Laura at her dream location—in front of the Disney Castle at Disneyland Paris. Their love has only grown stronger since they became parents to their beautiful daughter Betsie, who was a central part of their wedding day even though she couldn't be physically present for every moment.
Evening Celebrations and Creative Portraits
As evening fell and the sky cleared, the collection of memorable moments continued with the reception in Thorpe Garden's stunning space. The venue was transformed with romantic fairy lights illuminating the historic walled garden, creating the perfect ambience for evening celebrations.
The festivities started with a traditional cake cutting, followed by a beautifully choreographed first dance on the wooden dance floor. Halfway through, guests were invited to join the couple before everyone headed outside for a magical sparkler moment.
This is when my passion for creative night photography came into its own. Taking advantage of the beautiful spring evening at Thorpe Garden, we created a series of stunning portraits:
Romantic shots amongst the blooming wisteria and lavender are lit dramatically with off-camera flash.
Playful bubble photos with the bridesmaids spraying bubbles around the couple
A celebratory champagne spray shot captures their joy
My personal favourite – an enchanting portrait in the illuminated flower tunnels that Thorpe Garden is known for
Creative portraits in front of Thorpe Garden's famous blue door, using coloured gels and flash techniques to create something truly magical
These evening creative portraits perfectly complement the natural, documentary-style photos from earlier in the day, combining to tell the complete story of Laura and Matt's wedding.
The evening continued with DJ Jon from JC Events providing the soundtrack to the celebrations and a rustic photo booth that proved popular with guests.
A Perfect Garden Wedding in Spring
Despite the weather challenges, Laura and Matt's spring wedding at Thorpe Garden (one of the most sought-after garden wedding venues in Staffordshire) was everything they had hoped for—rustic, personal, and filled with love. Their garden wedding photos capture how the sage green theme perfectly complemented the season, while the natural elements of the walled garden provided the ideal backdrop for their celebration. As an experienced garden wedding photographer, I made the most of the Thorpe Garden Cripps venue's unique features.
Planning Your Thorpe Garden Wedding?
Suppose you're inspired by Laura and Matt's beautiful spring wedding and consider Thorpe Garden for your special day. In that case, I'd love to discuss how I can capture your unique story through documentary coverage and creative night portraits.
As an award-winning wedding photographer specialising in garden wedding photography, I understand what makes Thorpe Garden—with its beautiful drinks reception area, magical garden yurt, and stunning walled gardens—such a special place to celebrate. This Cripps & Co masterpiece, set within the Thorpe Estate, offers countless opportunities for breathtaking wedding photos.
My approach blends unobtrusive documentation of genuine moments with creative artistic vision, ensuring your wedding story is beautifully told. From bridal preparations to those magical evening portraits illuminated by fairy lights across the venue, I'm dedicated to preserving every special moment of your wedding day.
Contact me to check my availability for your Thorpe Garden wedding, or explore more of my photography services to discover how I can create something magical for your special day.
