Back in May, I photographed Joanna and Sunit’s intimate legal wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall in London. It was a small, joyful, and completely beautiful day. Furthermore, from the very moment I met them, I knew that their Notley Abbey celebration was going to be something very special indeed. Today was that day. The big one. The classic English summer wedding brought all of their families and closest friends together in one of the most beautiful venues in Buckinghamshire. It did not disappoint for a single second.
Joanna and Sunit chose Notley Abbey because it felt right in every possible way. It sits close to where they met and spent the early part of their relationship, and near where they got engaged. Furthermore, they always wanted something classically English, exclusive, and deeply personal. Notley Abbey gave them all of that and more. A stunning setting, extraordinary grounds, and a team that made them feel completely at home from the very first moment. As a Notley Abbey wedding photographer, days like this remind me exactly why I love this venue so deeply.
A Relaxed Summer Morning at Notley Abbey
Both Joanna and Sunit got ready on site at Notley Abbey, which made for the most wonderfully relaxed and well-documented morning. Sunit and the boys got ready in the cottage in the grounds, while Joanna and her bridesmaids spent the morning in the beautiful bridal suite in the main house. Furthermore, both groups started the morning in the most wonderful way. They celebrated with a bottle of Bollinger. The very same champagne they had shared when they got engaged. It was a genuinely lovely touch and set the most joyful tone for everything that followed.
I photographed both groups throughout the morning, which I always try to do when everyone is getting ready at the same venue. The getting-ready photographs at Notley Abbey are always beautiful, and this morning was no exception. The laughter, the anticipation, and the quiet excitement of a wedding morning were all there in abundance.
An Outdoor Ceremony in the Walled Garden
The ceremony took place outdoors in the walled garden at Notley Abbey, and it was simply breathtaking. A warm June day, a perfect English country garden setting, and two people completely ready to commit to each other in front of everyone they love. It was everything a classic English summer wedding ceremony should be.
The walled garden at Notley Abbey is one of my absolute favourite ceremony spaces at the venue. The enclosed stone walls, the beautiful planting, and the natural light create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and wonderfully grand. Furthermore, on a warm summer day with the gardens in full bloom, it is as close to perfect as a ceremony setting gets. Outdoor wedding ceremonies at Notley Abbey do not get more beautiful than this.
Lavender, Confetti, and Pimms on the Lawn
After the ceremony, everybody moved to the front of the house for confetti on the beautiful lavender-lined path. It is one of the most iconic and distinctive spots at Notley Abbey, and the confetti photographs there are always extraordinary. The lavender, the honey-coloured stone of the manor house, and the joy on Joanna and Sunit’s faces all came together in the most stunning way.
The drinks reception followed outdoors on the lawn, and with a day as glorious as this one, nobody wanted to be inside. Garden games and Pimms were the order of the afternoon, which is honestly as quintessentially English as it gets. The atmosphere was warm, relaxed, and completely joyful. Furthermore, it is always one of my favourite times of the day to capture candid moments of guests genuinely enjoying themselves in the sunshine.
The Wedding Breakfast and Speeches in the Monk’s Refectory
Everybody moved inside to the magnificent Monk’s Refectory for the wedding breakfast, and they were treated to an absolutely wonderful feast. The Monk’s Refectory at Notley Abbey is one of the most stunning dining spaces in Buckinghamshire, and it looked beautiful dressed for a summer celebration.
The speeches followed, and they were everything great wedding speeches should be. Heartwarming, funny, and completely full of love for Joanna and Sunit as individuals and as a couple. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was a room full of people who clearly adore them both enormously. Above all, it was a reminder of what weddings are really about.
Golden Hour Portraits and a Very Special Vintage Car
After the speeches, with the harsh summer sun finally beginning to soften and drop, I took Joanna and Sunit out for their couple portraits in the grounds. I always try to avoid portraits in bright midday sun if I can, and waiting for that softer golden light makes an enormous difference to the final images. Furthermore, the grounds of Notley Abbey in the late afternoon are simply extraordinary for wedding photography.
We wandered through the beautiful gardens and took in all of my favourite spots on the estate. Additionally, Joanna’s dad had brought along his vintage car, his absolute pride and joy, and we incorporated it beautifully into the portraits. It added a wonderfully personal and distinctive touch that made these images completely unique. The combination of the vintage car, the honey-coloured stone of Notley Abbey, and the soft golden summer light created some of the most stunning portraits.
Chinese Lion Dancers and an Unforgettable Evening
After cake cutting and a relaxed period of tea and coffee outside, Joanna and Sunit slipped away to change into their evening outfits. Both chose traditional dress from their respective cultures, and they both looked absolutely magnificent.
Then came the surprise that nobody saw coming. Chinese lion dancers appeared on the front lawn of Notley Abbey, led out by Joanna and Sunit themselves. It was a spectacular and joyful display, a wonderful and deeply meaningful nod to Joanna’s Chinese heritage. The guests were completely captivated. Furthermore, the lion dancers then led the whole group around the house and back into the Monk’s Refectory for the evening party. It was one of the most effortless, magical, and perfectly orchestrated evening entrances I have ever witnessed at a wedding.
The party that followed was absolutely brilliant. The dance floor was packed from the very first song, and I found myself dancing alongside everybody, which tells you everything you need to know about the energy in that room. Above all, it was the most perfect ending to the most perfect day.
Having photographed their intimate London wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall just a month earlier, I felt a genuine connection to Joanna and Sunit and their celebration. I felt less like their wedding photographer and more like a guest who happened to have a camera. It was an honour to be trusted with both of their wedding days, and I will treasure the memories of both for a very long time.
Planning Your Own Summer Wedding at Notley Abbey?
Joanna and Sunit’s day showed exactly what a classic English summer wedding at Notley Abbey can look like. Outdoor ceremonies in the walled garden, lavender-lined confetti, Pimms on the lawn, and golden hour portraits in the most beautiful grounds in Buckinghamshire. Furthermore, the venue’s ability to accommodate a cultural celebration as spectacular as the Chinese lion dancers shows just how versatile and extraordinary Notley Abbey truly is.
If you are planning your own summer wedding at Notley Abbey and would love to chat about your photography, I would love to hear from you, so please get in touch. Take a look at my dedicated Notley Abbey wedding photography page for more of my work at this stunning venue. And if you have already had a legal wedding and are planning your big celebration, do take a look at Joanna and Sunit’s London wedding blog too.
