Dewsall Court, Herefordshire

There are some wedding venues that immediately make an impression, and Dewsall Court in Herefordshire is certainly one of them. This was my first time photographing a wedding here, and as soon as I arrived, I could see why Lucy and Chris had fallen in love with it. Nestled amongst the rolling Herefordshire countryside, the venue offers stunning views, beautiful grounds, and even its own charming church just a short walk from the main house. Combined with glorious spring sunshine and two incredibly welcoming people, it was the perfect setting for a fantastic wedding day.

It was in this beautiful main house that my day started with a very calm and relaxed Lucy, documenting the final moments and details of her morning preparations, as well as the big reveal with her Bridesmaids and her father – who had travelled all the way from New Zealand to be there!

It wasn’t long before we were making our way to the church. There are only a few venues in Hereford that I know of that combine a sprawling country estate aesthetic, well-kept gardens, rustic barns, and its very own church overlooking a lake – all within the same grounds. In fact, I can only think of one venue that offers all of that – and this is it.  After a beautiful ceremony, we all headed out into the glorious Spring sun, and lined up for the all-important confetti tunnel.

After capturing their group shots, I took Lucy and Chris for a quick walk around the grounds for some portraits of them both before it was time to be seated for their wedding breakfast, which was being held in the Wainhouse – a wonderfully cosy barn conversion, boasting a blend of contemporary architecture and period features.

After the food, and after some truly heartfelt speeches, it was time for everyone to settle into the evening fun! The order-of-the-day was spaced out beautifully, so I even had a little time to take Lucy and Chris back into the grounds for some Golden Hour magic. Well, I say “golden hour’… but despite perfect weather all day long, the cooler evening encouraged more than a few clouds on the horizon, and the sun was determined to stay behind them. Even so, the diffused light was still a photographer’s dream, so I made the most of it before heading back into the Wainhouse.

Once there, after cutting their cake with a Damascus steel short-sword, it was time for the first dance, before getting everyone else up onto the floor. Music is clearly very important to Lucy and Chris (as you would expect with Lucy being a music teacher!), as well as their friends and family – the dance floor was packed! Pretty much everyone was getting up for a boogie, with some pretty impressive shapes being thrown, and later in the evening Lucy and her father performed a special “Daddy & Daughter” dance that was wonderful to see!

With the night well and truly upon us, and after getting people outside for some fun with sparklers, there was just enough time for me to grab a parting shot or two with the happy couple before I said my farewells.

I genuinely had such a fun time with Lucy and Chris. The fact that people had travelled from all over the country – and indeed, all over the world – to share this day with them is a true testament to who they are as people, and how much they are loved. Dewsall Court was the perfect setting, and the team here (especially their wedding planner, Sophie) were amazing. Nothing was too much trouble, the whole day was organised perfectly, but somehow still felt effortless. One of the things I love about Dewsall Court is the sheer variety it offers throughout the day. From the elegant main house and lakeside church to the gardens, courtyard spaces and Wainhouse, every part of the venue had its own character. It meant there was always a beautiful backdrop available, whatever the moment.

Dewsall Court is a wedding venue I’d love to return to time and time again. If you’re planning your own wedding here and are looking for relaxed, natural photography that captures the real moments of the day, I’d love to hear from you!