Charley & Tom had found me online, and we met up soon after Charley had initially got in touch to have a chat about their Cranford Hall wedding day.
Tom was a bit nervous about the camera, but he was suitably reassured after our meeting, and happily the couple went ahead and booked me.
The ceremony itself was to be held at St Mary’s Church, Burton Latimer, before the party would move on to the stunning Cranford Hall.
I’d never shot a wedding at either venue before, so we arranged to get together on the final afternoon of the 2018/19 football season to have a wander.
CRANFORD HALL
I’d seen lots of gorgeous pictures from other Cranford Hall weddings online, but the places Emma, the wedding co-ordinator, showed us blew me away. We were literally surrounded by nature – kingfishers, rabbits, squirrels and even muntjac deer passed before our eyes in the short time we were together. It had a lake, a forest, huge tall trees, wooden gates, walled gardens, even an idyllic church. Cranford Hall literally is one of Northamptonshire’s best kept secrets, and I couldn’t wait to be let loose on it a few weeks later.
The Hall itself dates back to the 17th Century. Then Lords of the Manor of Cranford St John, the Coo family, owned the property in 1676. It, and the associated estate, was purchased by the 3rd Baronet of London Sir James Robinson in 1715. The present Georgian mansion was built in 1720 and remains the seat and private home of the Robinson family today.
The Georgian mansion house on Charley and Tom’s Cranford Hall wedding day.
The Big Day
It was already raining when I arrived at Charley’s parents’ house on the morning of the wedding. The forecast was, pretty much, for it to rain every single hour of the day – and it would.
Bridal prep was already at a fairly advanced stage when I arrived. After finishing touches were made and everyone stepped into their dresses, it was time for the bridesmaids to make their way to the church.
The bride checks her footwear prior to her wedding ceremony.
The Wedding Ceremony – St Mary’s Church Burton Latimer
I’ve said here before about how church wedding photography policies vary greatly from vicar to vicar, but this was possibly the funniest church wedding ceremony I’ve ever witnessed. Reverend Jez Safford’s very relaxed nature and sense of humour shone through, as he threw Tom a gift-wrapped copy of the Screwfix catalogue and a Northampton Saints diary!
Reverend Jez Safford performing the wedding ceremony.
Wedding Breakfast and Pictures
Charley had heeded my advice and had bought a handful of see-through umbrellas, which made for some great pictures.
With little prospect of getting too many of the shots we’d all dreamed about in the gardens, we were very kindly offered use of part of the Hall.
Formal pictures inside the beautiful Cranford Hall
The Evening Reception
It wasn’t long before evening guests started to arrive, and the dance floor soon started to fill.
A very lively Cranford Hall wedding day dance floor!
The first dance as husband and wife.
A loving embrace between newlyweds
Wishing Charley and Tom a long life of happiness together.
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?
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. While I am based in Northamptonshire, I am willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this may bring with it an additional cost.
Karl Drage is a professional Northamptonshire-based wedding photographer covering the following counties:
Bedfordshire Wedding Photographer | Buckinghamshire Wedding Photographer | Cambridgeshire Wedding Photographer | Leicestershire Wedding Photographer | Northants Wedding Photographer | Oxfordshire Wedding Photographer | Rutland Wedding Photographer | Warwickshire Wedding Photographer
Providing wedding photography services in the following towns and everywhere in between:
Corby Wedding Photographer | Daventry Wedding Photographer | Huntingdon Wedding Photographer | Kettering Wedding Photographer | Leicester Wedding Photographer | Milton Keynes Wedding Photographer | Northampton Wedding Photographer | Oundle Wedding Photographer | Peterborough Wedding Photographer | Rugby Wedding Photographer | Stamford Wedding Photographer | Wellingborough Wedding Photographer
