Oxford garden wedding, Ellie & Chris
In September, on one of the hottest days of the year, I was in Abingdon near Oxford, to photograph the wedding of Ellie and Chris. It was such a beautiful day and they really couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. The fact the wedding was held outside on Chris’s lovely family estate, really benefited from having a dry day.
An Oxfordshire Garden Wedding
I started the day photographing the guests as they arrived and I made sure to capture some lovely detail shots of all the personal decor and beautiful location.
The ceremony was held at the bottom of the garden next to a river. Because of the way the landscape sloped down towards the river, it was like being at the theatre. The long benches were packed with family and friends who were trying their best to stay cool with fans and shading themselves under umbrellas, It was super hot. Ellie and Chris said their vows and finished the ceremony by sharing a gin and tonic. That’s a first for me to photograph but I think it should be more common.
Following the service there was the drinks reception. The sun was shining, games were being competitively played and the bubbles were flowing.
The meal and speeches took place in the fabulous Tipi which was decorated with wildflowers and had super rustic vibes.
It was soon time for the dancing.
Here's what Ellie & Chris had to say about their wedding
What was your favourite part of the wedding?
It’s hard to choose! We were so happy the weather was nice enough to have our ceremony outside in a beautiful spot, and our mid-ceremony gin & tonic was definitely welcome in the blazing sunshine!
We also loved the amazing bbq catering and dancing away to 2000s bangers on the dance floor.
Please let me know about any personal or DIY touches you added to make the day a little more ‘you’.
We had our favourite outdoor games (cornhole and beer pong) for guests to play, which got people mingling and were great for some action shot photos.
We also had our reception tables named after trees as Chris was a tree surgeon, and had the table signs designed by Ellie’s brother which was a really nice touch.
As it was such a hot day many of the men (groom included!) changed into Hawaiian shirts for the reception which was also really fun.
Why did you choose your venue?
The venue is Chris’s family estate and where we now both work so it’s a special place for both of us, and such a beautiful location.
How did you find using Lee Dann Photography, were there any particular things about my approach that you liked, and how did you feel about the photos once you received them?
We found Lee through his instagram and loved his more candid, natural style as neither of us is super comfortable in front of the camera. We’re thrilled with the photos as they really capture the atmosphere of the day and bring out the best of our lovely location as well. The preview slideshow was a really lovely touch, and we’ve had lots of fun reliving the day by going through all the pics many times!
If you were doing it all again what would be the one bit of advice you’d give yourself at the start of the planning process?
Try not to worry too much about the things you can’t control (like the weather!) and make the most of your support system - friends and family are there to help.
A selection of images from Ellie & Chris's Oxfordshire Wedding
A garden wedding in the Oxford.
I have photographed many weddings in Oxford and all over the UK. I can see why Ellie and Chris chose to get married at the family home in such a beautiful location. The photo opportunities were many and it was a dream location for a photographer, with so many fantastic options available.
I really loved working with Ellie and Chris, It was such a great day.
I hope you enjoy the photos and if you are planning a wedding I'd love to hear from you.
Thanks for looking.
Suppliers
Caterer - Kickshaw Catering (Caroline Gibbs)
Band - Tommy and the Fuse
