Charlotte and Callum’s wedding was one of those days that seemed to have a little bit of everything. Beautiful Cotswolds surroundings, an incredibly elegant bride, black tie, a gorgeous country church and a group of people who were certainly ready to celebrate. There was sunshine, torrential rain, plenty of emotion and a dance floor that I could happily have stayed on all night.
Their original wedding plans had looked quite different. Charlotte and Callum had intended to get married abroad, but circumstances in their lives meant those plans had to change. The Cotswolds became the perfect alternative. At the end of August, they gathered their closest friends and family for a church ceremony followed by their reception at Wild Thyme & Honey.
An elegant Cotswolds wedding morning
I joined Charlotte as she got ready in a beautiful Airbnb close to the church. She looked absolutely incredible. I am loving the current return to structured, elegant wedding dresses, and Charlotte chose the most beautiful satin gown. With its clean silhouette, it felt modern and timeless at the same time.
Callum and the boys wore black tie, which I absolutely love for a wedding. Paired with Charlotte’s elegant satin dress, it gave the whole day such a polished and timeless feel. I particularly love black tie in the Cotswolds. There is something about formal styling against the softness of the English countryside that photographs beautifully.
After a relaxed morning of preparations and some gorgeous bridal portraits, it was time to head to the church. And then the heavens opened.
A beautiful Cotswolds church wedding
When I say it rained, I mean it really rained! The journey to the church brought some of the heaviest rain of the day, but it didn’t take anything away from what happened inside.
The little Cotswolds church near Wild Thyme & Honey was an intimate setting for their ceremony. Charlotte and Callum included meaningful nods to important people who were sadly no longer there to celebrate with them. It made an already special ceremony incredibly touching.
Weddings can bring the people we have lost sharply into focus. They are days when you want everyone you love in one room. Charlotte and Callum found lovely ways to make those people part of their day. That emotion continued later in the speeches, alongside plenty of laughter. There were tears, funny stories and so much love in the room. I truly believe those important people were there with them in some way, celebrating alongside them.
A wedding reception at Wild Thyme & Honey
After the ceremony, everyone headed to Wild Thyme & Honey for the reception. It sits just a stone’s throw from the church and would normally be an easy walk. On this particular afternoon, the rain made travelling by car the much more sensible option!
Wild Thyme & Honey is far more than your average Cotswolds pub. The interiors are beautifully designed, with lovely spaces for both the reception and wedding breakfast. Outside, you are surrounded by the kind of scenery that makes the Cotswolds such a wonderful place to photograph weddings. The grounds and pretty bridge behind the property also gave us some gorgeous options for portraits once the weather finally gave us a chance.
Cotswolds wedding photography, whatever the weather
One thing you simply cannot control on a wedding day is the British weather. After some seriously hot summer days, Charlotte and Callum instead had bursts of torrential rain. So we worked around it.
Rather than worrying about a fixed photography schedule, I watched the weather and waited for our opportunity. As soon as the rain broke, we headed outside for their portraits. The softer light after the rain was beautiful for photographs, and we made the most of the Cotswolds surroundings.
Their portraits are gorgeous and a lovely reminder that rain does not mean you won’t get beautiful wedding photographs. Sometimes we simply need to be flexible and choose the right moment.
An emotional day and an incredible party
After all the emotion of the ceremony and speeches, this group was more than ready for a party. And they did not disappoint.
The atmosphere was brilliant and everyone threw themselves into the evening. The dance floor was exactly what you want from a wedding party. It was one of those evenings when photographing the dancing hardly felt like work. I could quite happily have put my cameras down and stayed there with them!
Looking back at Charlotte and Callum’s wedding, I think that is what I loved most about it. It was elegant without feeling overly formal. It was emotional, but there was also so much fun. Their original plans had changed and the weather didn’t always cooperate, yet none of it mattered. They were surrounded by people who clearly adored them.
It was a gorgeous late summer Cotswolds wedding and a day spent with genuinely lovely people.
Planning your own wedding in the Cotswolds?
If you’re planning an elegant wedding in the Cotswolds and love natural, timeless photography, I’d love to hear about your plans. You can get in touch with me here to tell me more about your day. You can also explore my blog page to see more of my work across this beautiful part of the country, or head over to my portfolio to see more weddings I’ve photographed.
