Alpacas, Cups of Tea, Fireworks, and Pockets Filled with Croissants – Farnham Castle wedding photography, by Reportage Studios.
We knew we’d have an awesome time at Helen and Adam’s wedding, right from our first chat with them. They’d planned a day full of the people and things they love; they prioritised fun, and they wanted us to capture everything in photos that told their story.
We’ll share some highlights of that story in this blog, as well as a few little insights into their favourite photos and why they mean so much to them.
“We’re still overwhelmed with how wonderful the photos are. I wanted to take a moment to highlight precisely *why* we love some of these photos.”
Getting Ready at Farnham Castle
We arrived at Farnham Castle on a foggy November day, Janina headed off to join Helen in her suite, and Jawad met Adam and the boys as they arrived with their suits in the foyer.
Beth Mitcheson and Lorna Vallender were taking care of hair and makeup for the bridal party, and Helen was limbering up with a spot of yoga in front of the mirror, sipping tea from her bridal thermos like an absolute legend. A tea lover through and through (you should see her tea cupboard!), the thermos featured throughout the day, even during the speeches!
Helen’s brother arrived with a bag of gifts, including a music box playing a piece of music she’d become very familiar with over the years… which inspired the first of Helen’s favourite photos from the day.
“I love this, because firstly I look so unimpressed! But the way I hold the music box mirrors the open engagement ring box behind it with the dress. It’s like a circular story with the engagement ring and wedding dress ready and waiting, but my old memories of how much I hate that song and having heard it so many times growing up with my brother. It’s like a bridge from old life to new life.”
Meanwhile, Adam and the boys were having their James Bond/Reservoir Dogs moment in their tuxedos in front of the Farnham Castle gatehouse, before starting to welcome guests for drinks alongside some fluffy (and a little bit soggy) Alpacas. Helen couldn’t wait to see them (this was one of her must-haves for the big day) and made a quick pitstop to feed the alpacas on her way to the ceremony!
Get Married – Celebrate – Feed an Alpaca
Their ceremony was held in the Lantern Room, with smiles all around as they said their vows and celebrated with the absolute CUTEST grins on their faces. They headed outside to be showered in confetti by their friends and family, including Adam’s grandmother, Margaret.
“I love that Margaret is the first person I see here. She is the focal point, and she’s clearly smiling…You captured her spirit beautifully.”
At this point, Helen hitched up her dress and sprinted across the gravel to the alpacas! The furry visitors really charmed their guests, and they were fed lots of treats while people sipped champagne and chuckled at the cute little tuxedos they were wearing.
Croissant Pockets!
Anyone who has shopped for a wedding dress knows the absolute JOY of finding out ‘It’s got pockets!’. Helen’s wedding dress, from Velvet Queen Bridal Shop in Portsmouth, did not disappoint in that department. It had pockets so big that pastry lover Helen commented, ‘these are big enough to hold a croissant’ – 🥐 challenge accepted and theory proven immediately after the ceremony as she retrieved a whole croissant from her pocket and immediately took a bite!
“I think this wedding will come to be known as the croissant wedding, so obviously the pastry is the highlight, but then my grandmother’s rings are so clearly there as well. This photo contrasts old memories of ancestors with the new memories of their granddaughter doing bizarre things on her wedding day!”
As their guest took their seats in the Great Hall for the wedding breakfast, Helen and Adam explored the grounds of the castle, enjoying a croissant or two along the way!
Speeches, a cuppa, and a touch of magic
Helen grabbed her thermos and tapped it with her knife to announce the start of the speeches, and the room was entertained with tales of their upbringing, their love story, and some absolutely Tea-rrific puns from Helen!
The newlyweds had plenty of entertainment planned for their guests in the evening, with a casino from Play Learn Hire, and the incredible magician Darren Campbell. There were plenty of ‘WTF?!’ moments to photograph as Darren mingled with the guests and blew their minds!
I Will Fly to You
After their first dance to Tim Minchin’s ‘The Aeroplane’ (very appropriate as they both work in aviation), their friends and family joined them on the dancefloor and the party got properly started. Pop, rock, and Indie tunes from wedding band Pyro kept people dancing and busting out their best moves.
“This is up there as one of my all-time favourite photos… My parents, Adam’s parents, Adam’s grandparents, the best man and his girlfriend, my brother and his little family. Everyone is in their own little bubble. It’s like every group of people is lost in themselves, just happy to be where they are in that moment. I don’t know which photography gods you prayed to, but you captured it superbly!”
They finished off the evening with sparklers and fireworks on the Farnham Castle lawn, overlooking the town in the atmospheric fog – what a way to end the day!
Helen and Adam planned an incredible wedding in an epic location, and everyone spent the day celebrating and enjoying themselves to the fullest. Congratulations and thanks for trusting us to capture your story!
Farnham Castle Wedding Photography FAQs
Where is Farnham Castle?
Farnham Castle overlooks the town from its hillside position on the Hampshire and Surrey border. Farnham train station is just a 15-minute walk away (even quicker in a taxi, it is uphill after all!) and there are regular direct trains to London Waterloo, making it easy to get to Farnham Castle from pretty much anywhere in the UK. There’s parking on-site, and both Heathrow and Gatwick airports are under an hour away too.
Where can we hold our wedding ceremony at Farnham Castle?
There are lots of options at Farnham Castle, including the Lantern Room, the Great Hall, the Winchester Suite, and the Library. You also have the option of two private chapels and three outdoor ceremony spots. Each has its own unique vibe, so there’s something for everyone. We’d recommend attending one of their open events and finding which space feels most ‘You’.
What are the best photo locations at Farnham Castle?
The varied architecture, stonework, and atmospheric hillside setting give a documentary photographer plenty of gorgeous backdrops throughout the day. And as Helen and Adam proved, sparklers and fireworks on a foggy November evening look pretty epic as well! We love the gatehouse, the Keep, and the Great Lawn, and the balcony overlooking the Great Hall is where we captured some of Helen and Adam’s favourite dancefloor moments.
Does Farnham Castle have accommodation for wedding guests?
There are 33 en-suite bedrooms within the castle and grounds, so you can make the most of the wedding weekend and extend the celebrations. We regularly join our couples for extended weekends, capturing the pre-wedding gatherings, the main event, and the chilled-out (and slightly hungover) catch-ups the next day. The on-site accommodation and nearby hotels make it really easy to keep everyone close by and ensure they can enjoy the fun to the fullest!
Does Farnham Castle work for winter or autumn weddings?
Farnham Castle is a gorgeous venue in every season! The foggy November weather was super atmospheric on Helen and Adam’s wedding day. Farnham Castle was lovely and warm indoors, the views were stunning, and there were loads of little places to get some fresh air without being exposed to the weather. People gathered in the entrance archway for late-night chats, and others huddled around the firepits with a cuppa. There’s no such thing as bad weather; we make the most of whatever the conditions are on your wedding day!
Looking for Farnham Castle wedding photographers?
If you’re planning a wedding at Farnham Castle, or anywhere across the UK or Europe, we’d love to tell your story. We photograph weddings from the Lake District and Lancashire to the Cotswolds, Northamptonshire, London and everywhere in between. So, let’s chat about your plans – we’ll bring tea and croissants!
