Tessa & Jonathon’s Wedding at Fanhams Hall

Bride prep in the Royston Room

Tessa got ready in the Royston Room, where there was plenty going on from the start. I photographed the details, the final part of prep, and then used the bay window for a few full-length portraits once she was ready. After that came a lovely first look with her dad in the Long Gallery, which made a really natural and emotional start to the day.

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Groom prep by the Long Gallery

Jonathon was getting ready in the room off the Long Gallery, and I also captured a few portraits of him and his son in the gallery itself. One of the nicest parts of the morning was that Tessa and Jonathon had written letters for each other, so I photographed them both reading those before the ceremony.

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Prepping the ceremony space

Before guests arrived, Jonathon and his groomsmen helped put the final touches on the ceremony setup, tying reserved signs onto the chairs on the Gazebo Lawn. It looked lovely, with florals running along the aisle and the house behind it. The Gazebo Lawn sits within the formal gardens and uses the original mansion house as the backdrop, which is exactly why it works so well for outdoor weddings.

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Outdoor ceremony on the Gazebo Lawn

The ceremony took place outside on the Gazebo Lawn, with the bridesmaids walking down the aisle first, followed by Tessa arriving with her father. It is a really strong ceremony space because you get that open-air feel while still having the house behind you, which gives the whole setting more structure and impact in photos. Fanhams Hall says the Gazebo Lawn can host ceremonies for up to 130 guests, and it is easy to see why it is such a popular option in summer.

Most of the ceremony was photographed from the front, but during quieter moments I moved around to the back as well to add more variety to that part of the gallery.

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Confetti

After the ceremony, I helped line everyone up ready for confetti, then photographed the couple walking through as guests celebrated around them. It was a really good burst of energy straight after the ceremony and a lovely way to move into the drinks reception.

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Drinks reception

The drinks reception had exactly the kind of atmosphere you want after an outdoor ceremony, lots of hugs, congratulations, and plenty of time for candid photos while everyone relaxed. This part of the day worked especially well because the ceremony, drinks reception, and portraits all flowed naturally through the gardens without anyone feeling too spread out.

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Group portraits in the formal gardens and on the lawn

For the group photos, I started with Tessa and Jonathon and his children in the formal gardens, then moved on to the family and bridal party groups on the lawn.

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Couple portraits in the formal gardens

For the first set of portraits, we stayed in the formal gardens. It suited the feel of the day perfectly and gave us something elegant and relaxed without taking them away from their guests for too long.

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Wedding breakfast details in the Great Hall

Before guests sat down, I photographed the setup in the Great Hall, which always looks impressive once it is dressed for dinner. I made sure to capture the details as well as a wide room shot from above from the minstrel’s gallery, which is a brilliant spot for showing the whole room.

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Wedding breakfast and speeches in the Great Hall

The wedding breakfast began with a big entrance, and from there I focused on the candid moments through the meal before the speeches at the end. The speeches came from Tessa’s father, the best man, Jonathon, and then Tessa.

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Golden hour portraits by the bridge and Japanese Tea House

After the meal, we headed deeper into the grounds for another set of portraits, stopping at the bridge and the Japanese Tea House. This part of Fanhams Hall always adds something different to a gallery, especially later in the day when the light softens.

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Cake cut, first dance, and evening party

The evening started with the cake cut, followed by the first dance and a father-daughter dance. After that the dance floor filled quickly, starting with traditional Greek circle dancing before moving into a full evening party.

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Tessa and Jonathon’s wedding at Fanhams Hall was such a lovely summer day to photograph. The outdoor ceremony, the formal gardens, the Great Hall, and the later portraits in the Japanese gardens all gave the day loads of variety without it ever feeling rushed.

If you’re planning your own wedding at Fanhams Hall and looking for a Fanhams Hall wedding photographer, I’d love to hear more about your plans. You can also see more of my work across the county on my Hertfordshire wedding photographer page.