Wotton House Wedding Photographer

Weddings at Wotton House really are special. I’ve had the honour of being a Wotton House wedding photographer for over 10 years. It really is a dream wedding venue where I love working super hard with my cameras to capture the best photos for my couples.

VIBRANT & RELAXED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT WOTTON HOUSE

If you’re planning your Wotton House wedding and are in need of a wedding photographer, or for any other venue, please do get in touch. It would be super to connect, find out about your wonderful wedding plans and talk through how I can take stunning photos of you.

“Juliet was so professional from start to finish. From the initial consultation at our house a few weeks before the wedding to run through how the day would go, to rallying everyone on the day for the perfect shots, working round the day’s itinerary and the weather! She took really natural pics, nothing too staged and lots of action shots of the day.” Ali & Tom, Wotton House newlyweds

WOTTON HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOS

The photos shared in this blog feature are a little selection from Alison & Tom’s wonderful Wotton House wedding.

A TRULY STUNNING SURREY WEDDING VENUE

Wotton House is a stunning 17th-century mansion in Dorking offers exceptional features, all of which create the perfect setting for a gorgeous Surrey wedding. Wander through the 13 acres of garden to discover corners of English eccentricity that have become synonymous with the Wotton Estate. The first Italian garden in England was at Wotton House, completed in 1652, adorned with Roman temples and original mosaics. 

The stunning 17th century Italian, Grade ll Listed Gardens, fully licensed for civil ceremonies of up to 140 guests. They are an exceptionally beautiful outdoor space for a wedding day where the reception can be hosted and extra touches like Gin Station setup or garden games work perfectly.

The beautifully manicured Grade II listed gardens of Wotton House are spectacular and the pièce de résistance is their secret Roman temple. The temple made an incredible setting for the photos. During the daytime it’s a super backdrop and tones of fun can be had photographing it a night too. This made me one very happy Wotton House wedding photographer!

GETTING MARRIED AT WOTTON HOUSE

The Old Library with its stone-pillared library, 10m vaulted ceilings, and centuries-old, original, marble fireplaces sets a romantic tone for an indoor ceremony, again licensed for up to 140 guests. The perfect room for capturing beautiful memories as natural daylight shines in through the stone Gothic windows. This whimsical, show-stopping setting is another great space in which to get married.

The Evelyn Suite, where celebrations continue, is an airy space, flooded with natural light. Four double doors open out to The Italian Gardens. With its botanical-inspired artwork and wooden panelling the room provides a modern and elegant backdrop for your wedding breakfast. Those details, combined with the neutral palette within the room lend themselves to any chosen colour scheme and décor.

Wotton House was recently awarded the prestigious title of The Best Country Venue in Surrey at the UK Wedding Awards.

EXPERIENCED WOTTON HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

I have been a Wotton House wedding photographer for over 10 years. It really is a Surrey wedding venue that holds a dear place in my heart. Because I photographed weddings there in all the seasons, I really do know the best places for photos for all weather and lighting conditions. Be it photographing in gorgeous soft light between the temple columns, chatting those rays of gold light at sunset in the grounds or inside the Old Library lit by fairy lights, I will get the best photos.

MY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE AND APPROACH

I’m often asked about my approach to capturing great photos of newlyweds on their big day so I would love to go into detail about that here for you.  My warm and friendly manner has a big twist of happiness and smiles which aim to create a fun, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for my couples and their guests, enabling everyone to feel at ease in front of my cameras.  

With so much experience of working weddings (it was over 400 at the last count!) on the day I am alert and tuned into what is happening that I can often preempt an opportunity so I am in the perfect position with my cameras poised and the shoot settings spot on to get that great shot at the right time.  It’s being on the lookout for those moments of connection, the laughter, the tears of joy and those genuine, real in- between moments resulting in timeless candid images.

I can tailor my shoot style to work perfectly with each couple. Some love prancing around for the camera and looking at the lens so of course I can totally ramp things up and snap away within sight, others may be a tad more reserved in which case I can adopt more of a documentary and reportage style of shooting where I blend into the day and the shots are much more candid.

THE CAMERA GEAR I’LL BRING TO PHOTOGRAPH WEDDINGS AT WOTTON HOUSE

Being a Wotton House wedding photographer, I do have to give a big mention to my beloved camera gear.  I photograph with Canon equipment and the bodies I use are two 5D mkII and a mirrorless R5. I take a range of my L series lenses and the main three that are used the most are the 35mm, 50mm and 85 mm with the 16-35 on standby when those much wide-angle shots are needed.

WEDDING PHOTOS FILLED WITH FUN, LAUGHTER AND LOVE

On a wedding day, my cameras and I will capture the story of your day so that the photos are a perfect reflection of you two newlyweds.  When you’re feeling relaxed and comfortable is when you look your best and I am super experienced at capturing those moments. Rest assured that there will be no stuffy, awkward posing or fake moments on my watch, just you being natural and feeling totally at ease.

ALLISON AND TOM’S GORGEOUS WOTTON HOUSE WEDDING

I have had the pleasure of knowing Allison for a few years through one of my gorgeous previous brides and she has also been a glamorous guest at 3 weddings I have photographed so it is an absolute delight to have her as the Bride! It really was an honour when she asked me to be her Wotton House wedding photographer.

It was so much fun capturing the getting-ready-action in the bridal suite. The pretty bridesmaids were getting their hair and makeup done whilst the flower girls waited patiently for their turn to have flowers put in their hair. Magic and sparkle filled the room and it was such a pleasure seeing the stunning Allison transform into a radiant bride.

PHOTOGRAPHING ALL THE ACTION OF THE WEDDING MORNING

I headed downstairs to catch up with the Groom once he had arrived. Very cool, calm and looking incredible dapper in his suit, it was super to see him and catch up before the full action of the day commenced.

Back in the bridal suite the Bride and her entourage were ready in good time allowing for a nice bit of pre-ceremony chilling time and lots excited giggles were shared over sips of champagne.

Lovely friends and family came to celebrate their marriage and the setting of Wotton House was absolutely perfect. The ceremony took place in The Old Library which was exquisitely decorated with beautiful florals courtesy of Flowers by Elaine. It really is such a splendid room in which to photograph and I particularly enjoyed framing the shots to incorporate the symmetrical arches and making the most of the gorgeous, soft light flooding in through the stained glass window.

THE WEDDING CEREMONY IN THE OLD LIBRARY

The flower girls did a superb job of leading the way down the aisle ahead of Ali’s grand entrance. As you can see from the photos she looked absolutely incredible, and on the arm of her father, gracefully walked down the aisle to join her husband-to-be Tom. An incredible atmosphere of love and happiness filled the room and it was great to be at the front of the room discreetly positioned behind a floral display from where I was able to capture shots of the happy couple during the ceremony. This was in fact one of Ali and Tom’s favourite parts of the day. After the wedding they told me: “It was as if we were the only two people in the room!”

CONFETTI AND THE WEDDING RECEPTION

From The Old Library the couple exited to the applause and cheering of their guests through confetti-filled air and led the way to their drinks reception which was held on the terrace by the Evelyn Suite.

Celebrations from the clinking of fully-charged champagne glasses to excited chat, lots of smiles, laughter, hugs and congratulations were soon underway. I love capturing this part of the day and it is a perfect opportunity to capture really natural, candid-style shots of the guests being really relaxed and having fun.

It was a beautiful sunny day but, as I always do on a wedding day, kept an eye on the weather forecast. It showed that an unexpected shower could happen during the reception so made the executive decision to get the group shots done before the rain came and that all worked out perfectly. Fortunately the light shower didn’t last long and soon the guests returned outside to continue the drinks reception.

THE WEDDING BREAKFAST AND SPEECHES

The wedding breakfast was enjoyed by all and during this they were serenaded by the fabulous pianist Bryan Edery, who played lots of marvellous melodies.

The speeches followed the meal and were ten out of ten hilarious. Everyone was in hysterics, cheering and applauding throughout! Super, heartfelt words came from Allison’s father as well as some particularly amusing stories about Allison’s travels and netball-playing days. The Groom’s lovely words were followed by his Best Man’s, who was his brother, so naturally had lots of hysterical material to treat everyone to!

THE FIRST DANCE AND PARTYING LATE INTO THE NIGHT

Of course I stayed to party once my official photography duties were over keeping a camera to hand to capture the late-night dance floor antics which always make fun-viewing for the couple after the wedding day!

Also, as 3 of my previous wedding couples were amongst the guests I finally had a chance to catch up with them and hear all their exciting news.

Later on in the evening I spotted that the couple had left the dance floor to get some fresh air so I suggested a little 5 minute stroll in the grounds to get a killer final photo of the night. It had started raining lightly so I grabbed a couple of umbrellas for the couple and we headed back to the Roman temple where I was able to get some back-lit shots of them framed by the gigantic pillars. I do love getting nighttime couple-shots as it makes for such a great ending to the photo collection story of their wedding day.

It really was such a pleasure capturing this amazing day for the happy couple and I hope you enjoy looking through their photos. 

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WOTTON HOUSE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

If you’re planning your Wotton House wedding and are in need of a wedding photographer, or for any other venue, please do get in touch. It would be super to connect, find out about your wonderful wedding plans and talk through how I can take stunning photos of you.

THE WONDERFUL WOTTON HOUSE WEDDING SUPPLIERS

A big SHOUT OUT to the wonderful Wotton House wedding suppliers that worked so hard to make Ali and Tom’s special day so incredible…

Wedding Venue: Venue: Wotton House, Dorking
Photography: Juliet Lemon Photography (of course!) Wotton House Wedding Photographer
Wedding Dress: St Patrick, Pronovias
Make Up: Laura Janowsk
Bridal Hair: Blow Dry Express
Florist: Flowers by Elaine
Groom’s Suit: Dapper 
Wedding Cake: Good Buns Bakery
Pianist: Bryan Edery Music
DJ: DJ2K