Sunday, 31st July 2016 was the date of Tanja & Charlie’s Compton Verney wedding. I was privileged to act as their wedding photographer.
Compton Verney Art Gallery Wedding Ceremony
Compton Verney House is a Grade I listed building constructed in 1714 by Richard Verney, the 11th Baron Willoughby de Broke. It has been extended and remodelled on several occasions since then. The house is surrounded by parkland landscaped by none other than Capability Brown, considered to be “England’s greatest gardener”.
The property was requisitioned by the Army during World War II but left vacant at its conclusion. It remained empty and decaying until The Peter Moores Foundation purchased it in 1993. Since then it has undergone substantial restoration and now serves as an art gallery fit for the international stage. Put simply, it is a quite remarkable location in which to get married if you have a larger budget.
Tanja & Charlie understandably fell in love with the place at first sight, setting their hearts on a dream Compton Verney wedding. I, too, was blown away when we went for our pre-wedding walk around.
Tanja & her entourage arrived at the venue in a pair of pristine white Rolls-Royce cars, which fitted their surroundings perfectly. They joined family and friends, including a large contingent from Finland, from where Tanja’s mother originates.
Compton Verney wedding photography – Karl Drage, Warks wedding photographer
The ceremony, Wedding Breakfast and evening reception all took place in a stunning light and airy high-ceilinged room, complete with ornate wall fixtures. A harpist played music before and after the ceremony. The whole process was beautiful.
After Tanja & Charlie had been congratulated by their guests, I whisked them (and one of the cars) away to several locations around the grounds. We could easily have lost hours out there.
Back to the main party, the guests were being entertained by excellent magician Max Butler.
Wedding Breakfast & Reception – Compton Verney Art Gallery
The ceremony room had been transformed in the time we were away and looked beautiful for the Wedding Breakfast. Max continued to wow everyone with his magic.
Guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal before the Father-of-the-Bride, Groom and Best Man delivered hilarious speeches.
The art gallery had closed for the day at their conclusion, so Tanja, Charlie and I went for a wander. The colours, the art, everything just lends itself perfectly to some extremely different wedding pictures.
By now the evening guests were arriving, and it was soon time for the cake cutting. Tanja & Charlie had arranged for a karaoke wedding band to perform. The couple enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife shortly after, before the guests tried their own hand at singing.
I wandered back to the car with my work done, but I couldn’t resist taking a picture of the venue as I left.
Wishing the new Mr & Mrs Rhys-Davies all the very best for long, happy and healthy lives together.
Karl
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Further Information
You will find further information about my wedding photography services on the following pages:
My Wedding Photography Packages
How I Work – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage
A Typical Wedding Day – Documentary Wedding Photography by Karl Drage
Portfolio – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage
Why Can Wedding Photography seem so Expensive?
Questions you should ask a wedding photographer
Get in Contact
If you’d like to enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch.
I am based in Northamptonshire but I am willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this may bring with it an additional cost.
I mainly provide wedding photography services in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Rutland, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire, in towns such as Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Oundle, Corby, Peterborough, Leicester, Huntingdon, Rushden, Towcester, Rugby, Daventry & Oakham. I am, however, only too happy to travel beyond those locations to capture the magic of your wedding day.
