Sudeley Castle Wedding Inspiration: A Wedding Photography Workshop at Sudeley Castle Part One
In February of this year, I had the opportunity to attend a Photography Workshop (Lark Workshops) hosted by planner, Rebbecca Marie. I didn’t know what to expect but it truly was worth its weight in gold. I drove up to Cheltenham from Bristol, having stayed with some old friends the night before. Driving through Cheltenham was nostalgic for me, I had studied film production at the University of Gloucestershire five years ago and it was here that I fell in love with cinematography which eventually translated into wedding photography.
A photography workshop is a brilliant way to practise photography without the time pressure of a real wedding day. It provides space to practise using light, composition and shot variety so you can bring those skills to a wedding day. It also creates an opportunity to work with some of the best suppliers in the industry and capture styling details which are truly beautiful.
I like to go into workshops with the same approach I take with real weddings. My wedding galleries are about telling a story, so just like in a film where you open on an establishing shot to set the scene, I start with the venue, in this case, a shot of Sudeley Castle itself. Throughout the day, I focused on all the elements which build a wider picture and go beyond the standard editorial shots.
About Sudeley Castle
The second I pulled up to Sudeley Castle, I was absolutely blown away. Sudeley Castle is a stunning historic gem in the heart of the Cotswolds, near the medieval market town of Winchcombe, Gloucestershire. It’s a Grade I listed castle, surrounded by 1,200 acres of countryside and features 10 beautifully designed gardens.
I especially loved St Mary’s Chapel. It was built in 1070. It’s beautifully aged and intricate, surrounded by a green garden. The chapel was adorned with a flower arch by @sassflower. She created a floral arrangement which features a mix of lush, romantic blooms with pops of pink from the hydrangeas and textured greenery and foliage.
Tammy wore a drop waist dress of my dreams by @jeanjacksoncouture, one of my favourite bridal wear suppliers. Jean Jackson Couture specialises in romantic, modern bridal wear with collections from Rue de Siene, Aesling and Saint Bride. I of course had to capture the corseted back detail.
We shot Sam and Tammy outside of St Mary’s Chapel and continued photographing them in the expansive gardens at Sudeley.
We then moved over to Sudeley Castle’s library to shoot a reception vibe.
Within the library at Sudeley Castle, you’ll find antiques, fine art and a beautifully intricate tapestry which set the backdrop for many of the images. Rebecca has organised an enormous cake by @annalewisecakedesign which tapped into 2025 wedding trend predictions. The cake, the dress, the styling all had a vibe I felt direct flash photography would marry together absolutely perfectly.
Booking a Wedding at Sudeley Castle
If you’re interested in booking a wedding at Sudeley Castle, you can find out more info on the Sudeley Castle Website and if you’re looking for someone to shoot your Cotswolds wedding, find me here.
There's so much more to share from this insane workshop but to keep this blog from being an endless scroll, more images will pop up in future blog posts. In the meantime, consider subscribing to my newsletter to keep up to date with me.