A truly personal wedding at South Farm in Royston
Not ‘homemade’, but rather ‘made with love’
Heather and Vince’s wedding at South Farm in Royston has got to be one of my favourites of all time. And not because of the stunning Essence of Australia dress, or the gorgeously rustic wedding venue. Or even the downright fabulous bridesmaid dresses! But because of what was behind all of that. Standing behind the altar, sitting on the tables and welcoming people into the ceremony. Countless personal, homemade touches that made the day so special. And they reminded me that however beautiful a day may be, it’s always love and family that make it yours.
As the January sun began its sleepy climb into the sky, South Farm was already a hive of activity. Heather padded the venue arranging candles in her slippers. Bridesmaids flew around the reception like little bees in silk-pyjamas, working like mad to make sure everything looked perfect. Vince worked tirelessly with his mum and nan in the ceremony room. Weaving endless fairy lights around his homemade wooden arch.
I’ve been a Cambridgeshire wedding photographer for a few years now. And I’ve learned that when a day begins with so much love and care, there’s only one way it’s going to go. So I got my tissues handy and prepared myself to get emotional!
Elegant styling with a rustic backdrop
After they’d finished adding the final touches to the styling, Heather and her bridesmaids popped some prosecco. And started getting ready for the wedding.
Heather’s Essence of Australia dress from Burr Bridal in Cambridge was a total knockout. The off-the-shoulder dress with a sweetheart neckline, intricately detailed tulle lace and fit and flare silhouette was out of this world. Stunningly dramatic, stylishly modern. And a prime example of why Essence of Australia has exploded onto the wedding scene. Heather completed the look with a full-length veil and pearl bow shoes from ASOS bridal.
And we have to mention Heather’s bouquet, right?! Scarlet, burgundy and burnt orange roses, softened by gentle eucalyptus and thistle. All tied with a single burgundy silk ribbon. It was sophisticated, vibrant and subtly festive. And so perfectly complemented the spectacular gold sequin bridesmaid dresses and the other touches of gold throughout the styling.
Meanwhile, on the other side of South Farm, Vince and his boys donned oh-so-cool black tie. You’ve gotta love the James Bond black suit and bowtie, right?! Timelessly stylish, effortlessly suave. And the perfect accompaniment to Heather’s knockout dress.
The Old Dairy at South Farm
South Farm in Royston has five licenced ceremony rooms to choose from. And Heather and Vince chose the intimate, gorgeously rustic Old Dairy. A homemade slate and gold welcome sign welcomed guests in. Fairy lights twinkled from the exposed black wooden beams. And Christmassy wreaths hung from above. It was welcoming, cosy, and totally romantic.
Vince stood waiting for his bride in front of his homemade arch, twinkling with the fairy lights he’d hung with his family that morning. And the moment he saw Heather was simply magic. The ceremony was beautiful, filled with love and heart. And the personally-written vows had me welling up behind the camera. Some couples you can just tell are meant to be together, right?! And these two were just head-over-heels. I just knew it was going to get emotional!
After the ceremony, guests lined up outside in the cold winter air. And Heather and Vince were welcomed into marriage with joyful cheers and a flurry of dried-petal crimson confetti.
Reception in the Tudor Barn at South Farm in Royston
The reception was held in South Farm’s Grade II listed Tudor Barn. Framed with ancient elm beams, the ceiling draped with soft white hangings, it was truly magical.
The place settings were marked with hand-written place settings. Vince’s arch had been carried across from the ceremony (a testament to his sturdy craftsmanship!) And glass jars had been filled with strings of gold. Everywhere you looked were handmade details that made it all so wonderfully personal, so filled with love. And so completely unique to them.
After a delicious meal and some hilarious, heartfelt speeches (toasted with limoncello!) It was time for the father-daughter dance. And let me tell you, it was like something straight out of Strictly! Heather and her dad nailed it! And at the end, they finished it with the tightest, most heartbreaking of hugs. Just like the wedding itself, the dance was a spectacular feast for the eyes. But above all, it was filled with love.
South Farm wedding photography
South Farm in Royston is set in 20 acres of stunning Cambridgeshire countryside. And it offers endless secluded gardens and beautiful countryside to explore for your couple’s portraits. So after the meal, I took my chance and snuck Heather and Vince away from the crowds for some well-earned time together alone as a newly-married couple.
Now when you’re getting married in January, ‘night time’ basically means ‘any time after 4pm’! And you know what? There’s something special about night time couple’s portraits. Because the darkness and the crisp night air add an air of intimacy and magic somehow absent in the bright light of summer. One of the best men honoured his duties by becoming my smoke flair runner, running behind Heather and Vince so I could get some epic smoke flare shots!
We explored the gardens together, chatting away happily as Heather and Vince let their guards down and just enjoyed being together. We found pathways lined with trees draped in fairy lights, and caravans with vibrant paintwork gleaming into the dark. It was flawlessly quiet, achingly romantic. And just the perfect way to finish the day before the party got underway.
Looking for a Cambridge wedding photographer?
Weddings like Vince and Heather’s are exactly why I go beyond just wedding photography and take the time to make a video as well. Because the photos tell the story of the day, capture the details and the moments of emotion. But the video captures the soul. It captures the atmosphere, the tears and the laughter. And sometimes photos alone just can’t do the day justice. But when you have them both together, you have the chance to relive the day whenever you wish. And remember it exactly how it was.
If you’d love for me to tell the story of your day in photo and film, I’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch today for a chat and let’s get to know each other.
