Fanhams Hall Wedding Photographer

A Walkthrough of a Wedding at Fanhams Hall

This section is a simple walkthrough of how a wedding day at Fanhams Hall usually flows, from getting ready in the morning through to the evening party. It is based on how the day typically works at the venue, along with a few practical notes to help everything run smoothly.

Morning preparations at Fanhams Hall

If you’re getting ready on site, Fanhams Hall makes the morning feel calm, easy, and practical. A setup I often see is one partner getting ready in the Royston Room, while the other uses a room nearer to the Long Gallery, which helps the day flow smoothly from the very start.

Getting Ready in the Royston Room

The Royston Room is a popular space for getting ready at Fanhams Hall and works really well for preparation photos. It is not a bedroom, so in places it can feel a little more like a conference room, with some office-style furniture around.

The good thing is that the large stained glass bay window makes a big difference. It brings in beautiful natural light, looks out over the gardens, and is usually where makeup artists choose to set up. If you are positioned facing towards the window, background distractions tend to fall away into darkness, which helps keep the photos feeling clean, calm and focused on you.

The bay window is also a great spot for full-length portraits once you are ready.

Getting Ready Near the Long Gallery

The other partner often gets ready in a room just off the Long Gallery, which works really well for a calm, practical start to the day. It is especially handy for those final finishing-touch photos, as there is no need to travel around the venue before the ceremony.

Like the Royston Room, it can feel a little more functional than luxurious in places, with some office-style furniture around. If any spare chairs are not being used, it helps to tuck them out of the way so the space feels even cleaner in photos.

Once you are ready, the Long Gallery itself can also be a lovely spot for a few portraits. It gives you an elegant backdrop without needing to go far, which helps keep everything easy and relaxed.

Signature Rooms at Fanhams Hall

Fanhams Hall also has a collection of Signature Rooms, which could be a lovely option if you are planning to get ready on site or stay over. The venue describes them as more spacious and characterful than the standard rooms, so they may be worth asking about if that part of the morning is important to you.

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First Looks at Fanhams Hall

If you would like to do a first look, the Long Gallery can be a lovely spot. It works especially well for a couple first look, and it can also be a great option for a first look with parents, giving you an elegant backdrop and plenty of space for those reactions to unfold naturally.

This usually works best if you are having an outdoor ceremony, or if you are both ready in good time before your ceremony in the Long Gallery, long before guests are brought in and seated.

If time is tight, the Royston Room can still work really well for a first look with parents or bridesmaids.

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Ceremony Spaces at Fanhams Hall

Fanhams Hall has a lovely mix of indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, so you can choose something that fits your guest numbers, the style of your day, and the time of year. Whether you want something grand and traditional, light and modern, or outside in the gardens, there is plenty of choice

The Long Gallery (up to 130 guests)
The Long Gallery is the classic Fanhams Hall ceremony space and a favourite for couples who want elegance and a real sense of occasion. With its hand-carved oak panelling, ornate ceiling and chandeliers, it has loads of character and works beautifully for a more traditional ceremony.

Sakura (up to 130 guests)
Sakura is a brighter, more modern-feeling option with lots of natural light and lovely views across the water and grounds. It is a great choice if you want something airy and contemporary while still keeping the feel of a country house wedding venue.

The Oak (25 to 45 guests)
For smaller, more intimate ceremonies, the Oak is a lovely option. It has a private and personal feel than the larger ceremony spaces, while still offering plenty of character.

Outdoor ceremonies
If you are hoping to marry outside, Fanhams Hall offers the Gazebo Lawn and the Japanese Tea House as outdoor ceremony options. The Gazebo Lawn is a really lovely spot, with the mansion house behind you and a setting that feels both elegant and relaxed.

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Confetti at Fanhams Hall

Confetti works best either straight after an outdoor ceremony, or after an indoor ceremony once everyone is outside in the gardens. I’ll help get guests lined up quickly so it all feels relaxed and easy, and you still get a confetti photo that looks great without slowing the day down.

What usually happens next: Straight after confetti, I’ll normally grab the big group photo while everyone’s already gathered, then you can head straight into your drinks reception.

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Group photos at Fanhams Hall

For group photos at Fanhams Hall, I usually keep things simple and use the lawn, as it gives us plenty of space and works well for both the big group photo and the smaller family groups.

On the day, I’ll choose the exact spot based on the light, so everything looks its best and nobody is left squinting into the sun. I’ll usually look for open shade, or place you so the sun is behind you for a softer, more flattering result.

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Couple Portraits at Fanhams Hall

One of the biggest perks of Fanhams Hall is how quickly you can get a lovely variety of portraits without disappearing for ages. There are several really good photo spots close together, so it is easy to create a mix of images that feel elegant, natural and relaxed without spending too long away from your guests.

I will usually split portraits into two short sessions rather than doing everything in one go. The first often happens during the drinks reception, using the closer formal gardens and spots near the house. Then I will often suggest a second slightly longer session later in the day, heading a little further into the grounds towards the Japanese Tea House and ponds. That second set often gives us softer light and, on the right day, some really lovely golden evening light too.

The Formal Gardens

A lovely starting point for portraits, with a soft, natural feel and plenty of variety close to the main part of the venue.

The Gate

The gate at the end of the formal gardens is a great spot. I often use the gate to frame my couple.

The Wisteria Walkway

A really pretty option that adds texture and a more romantic feel to your portraits, especially in May and June when the wisteria is usually in bloom.

The Bridges over the Ponds

There are two bridges in the gardens, and both work really nicely for portraits. They give you a slightly different look from the rest of the grounds and are great for creating variety, especially as each one can be photographed from more than one angle.

The Japanese Tea House

The Japanese Tea House is a lovely spot if you want portraits that feel a little different from the rest of the venue.

Rainy Day Portraits

If the weather is not great, Fanhams Hall still gives us some really good indoor options for portraits. The Long Gallery is the main one, as it has loads of character and still gives the photos a lovely sense of atmosphere.

The bay window in the Royston Room can work really well too, especially if you want softer light and something that feels a bit more intimate. And if the rain eases off, or you are up for stepping outside briefly, we can often still use the paths and gardens with an umbrella for a few extra portraits. Sometimes those end up being some of the most atmospheric images of the day.

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Wedding Breakfast in the Great Hall

The Great Hall is hard to beat for the wedding breakfast. Set within the original Jacobean part of the mansion, it has all the character you could want, with a high beamed ceiling, lattice windows, a big stone fireplace, and the minstrel’s gallery all adding to the atmosphere. It feels grand, but still warm and welcoming once your guests are in and the room is full.

Whether you go all out with florals and styling or keep things simple and elegant, I’ll always try to photograph the room before guests go in, including the overall setup and all the little details like place settings, stationery, and table décor. Then once everyone is seated, the focus shifts to the atmosphere, reactions, and all the moments that make this part of the day feel special.

Make Your Entrance Feel Like a Moment

If you are not having a toastmaster, it is well worth asking the best man, maid of honour, or another confident guest to announce you into the room. A loud, excited welcome instantly brings the energy up and makes your entrance feel like a real event, which always looks great in photos.

And if guests get their napkins swirling too, even better. It adds to the atmosphere and makes the whole thing feel like a proper celebration.

During the meal

Once everyone is seated in the Great Hall and the meal is underway, I take a step back and keep things as unobtrusive as possible. The room usually settles into a really nice rhythm at that point, with guests chatting, laughing, and enjoying the day.

I’ll capture a few natural moments, some reactions between tables, and a bit of the atmosphere, then leave you to enjoy the meal without feeling photographed the whole time.

If you are having entertainment during the wedding breakfast, like singing waiters, that can work especially well in the Great Hall. I’ve seen them there a couple of times and they have been brilliant for getting everyone involved, creating loads of atmosphere, and producing some really fun photos.

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Speeches

The Great Hall is a brilliant space for speeches, as it already has so much character and atmosphere before anyone has even said a word. Once the speeches start, it becomes one of the most emotional parts of the day, with laughter, tears, and lots of lovely reactions around the room.

There is usually enough space for me to move around quietly, so I can photograph both the speaker and the reactions without disturbing anything. That helps me capture not just the big moments, but all the smaller ones happening between you and your guests too.

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After the Meal

After the meal, the Great Hall is usually turned around ready for the evening reception. Guests often head outside to the lawn and garden seating for a drink and a chat, especially in summer, which makes it a lovely time for some more relaxed candid photos too.

It is also often a really good time for a second set of portraits. At Fanhams Hall, I will often suggest heading a bit further into the gardens for 20 to 30 minutes if you are up for it. That is usually when we can make the most of spots like the bridges, the Japanese Tea House, and the wisteria walkway without rushing.

The light is often better later in the day too. It is usually softer, less harsh, and on the right day you can get some really lovely golden light, which gives this second set of portraits a different feel from the first.

Evening Reception at Fanhams Hall

The evening at Fanhams Hall has a really nice flow to it. The Great Hall becomes the main party space, while the Conservatory Bar and conservatory give guests somewhere to chat, grab a drink, or take a breather. Some people will be straight on the dance floor, others will be at the bar, and some will drift between the different spaces, which helps the evening feel lively without everyone needing to do the same thing at once.

Cake cutting in the Great Hall

The cake cutting works really well on the dance floor in the Great Hall, as it keeps everything feeling joined up and naturally leads into the first dance rather than feeling like a separate stop-start moment.

It always helps if your DJ, band, or whoever is making announcements encourages guests to gather in nice and close. That gives the cake cutting much more atmosphere and makes the photos feel fuller and more celebratory.

The First dance

The first dance is one of the best parts of the evening to photograph at Fanhams Hall. I like to capture it from the dance floor to get the energy, the guests around you, and the feel of the moment properly.

If I can, I also like to get a second angle from up high using the minstrel’s gallery. That wider view shows off the room really well and gives a completely different feel to the photos. If I have a second photographer with me, they can usually take that angle while I stay down on the floor. If not, I can set up a remote camera there instead.

The Party

Once the dance floor gets going, I’ll be looking for the moments that really show the atmosphere, the big dance floor action, the reactions around the edges, and all the little in-between moments that bring the evening to life.

After-Dark Photos at Fanhams Hall

If you fancy a few photos after dark, the gate is a great option for a quick night-time portrait. It gives a completely different feel from the rest of the day, without taking you away from the party for long.

If you want to do something a bit more fun, champagne spray can work really well too. It always brings a lot of energy and gives you a final set of photos that feels totally different from everything else in the gallery.