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Guest Blog - Sarah Vivienne
Sarah Vivienne – Wedding Photographer
Oh hey there!
It’s great to meet you!
I’m Sarah – a wedding photographer based in Northamptonshire.
I’d love to ask you about yourself and your wedding plans, but since this is a web page and I haven’t mastered telepathy, I’ll just start chatting…
First things first, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! *throws confetti in the air*
And second, if you’re considering Boughton House as your wedding venue, you have great taste! Boughton House is amazing. It’s one of my favourite wedding venues in Northamptonshire. In the UK, actually.
I’ve been Boughton’s sole recommended wedding photographer for a decade. And I fall more in love with it each time I visit.
I adore how it’s grand and relaxed at the same time. I enjoy working with the team – they’re professional but friendly and make work a pleasure. I’m inspired by all the potential photo locations, which means a wedding here never gets old. And they sell scrummy ice-cream (I recommend the coconut)! Yep, it’s one of my favourite locations for wedding photography.
So I’m thoroughly thrilled that the Boughton wedding team asked me to share how you can get the best out of Boughton House in your wedding photos.
Here goes…
How to make the most of Boughton House in your wedding photos
A wedding at Boughton keeps me busier than the bees in the Boughton hive (another Boughton house you need to visit!) because there’s a photo waiting to be taken at every corner. I always leave feeling like there’s more to do. Which is great. Because it means every couple gets something unique.
You can’t go wrong. Unless… …You try to do too much.
Because even if you had two wedding days, there wouldn’t be time to take every possible photo.
But here’s the good news: If you choose a documentary wedding photographer, the location will appear in the background of your natural photos as well as being the setting for your posed pictures. Which means there are lots of opportunities to incorporate the venue into your photographs.
Boughton’s best backdrops for natural photos
The Stableyard and Stables Arch
A stunning stage for photos as your guests arrive
The Little Hall
The fabulous fireplace and paintings in The Little Hall - a sense of location in your pictures as everyone enters the house
The Great Hall
The opulent features, rich colours, and wall of windows in The Great Hall - a civil ceremony photography dream. Big thumbs up from the photographer for the light in here!The Balcony over the Little Hall
A different perspective as you walk out as newlyweds. A really wide-angle photo which includes the entire scene is ideal for this big moment!
The West Front
A beautiful spot in every direction with manicured gardens, leafy countryside, and historic architecture. This variety keeps your photos interesting and gives flexibility over angles so you’re not squinting into the sun. Hint: This location is particularly pretty in May when the wisteria is in full bloom!
The Grand Etang
A stately yet soothing focal point for a marquee reception. And then you have The Tapestry Suite for indoor dining which offers another side to Boughton. The light is superb and the exposed brick adds texture to your photos.Great locations for group photos and portraits
Group photos work well on the west lawn. It’s close to hand for your drinks reception so you won’t have to move your guests very far but it’s also spacious enough to avoid the inevitable photo-bombers you get in smaller spaces. The exact background will depend on the light on the day but there’s no bad angle here!
Want a photo of everyone? On a cloudy day, go for the west front steps. And if it’s sunny, position your guests on the lawn and take the photo from an upstairs window.
And for your portraits? Mix it up and pick any spot that hasn’t already been mentioned! Some of my favourite spots for couple shots are…
The Great Stairs
Talk about a statement piece! The light is lovely, the décor is dramatic (but neutral - which means you’ll be the star!), and there’s plenty of space for a big dress!
The Colonnade
This has a destination feel with warm Mediterranean-like light, divine doors, and amazing architecture.
The Rose Garden
Could there be anywhere more romantic? This super spot comes into its own in the summer when it’s full of peonies, lavender, and err, roses!
The Walled Garden
Take in the flower borders in spring, the scented garden in summer, swathes of seed heads in autumn, or frost-topped topiary in winter. Or even something quirky in the greenhouse!
The Lily Pond or Lake.
Perfectly placed for glorious golden-hour and sunset photosBut all that said, your wedding will be one-of-a-kind. And this might not work exactly for you. Plus, every photographer will have a different approach. So the important thing is that you do you.
And that’s it in a sugared almond nutshell.
Oh, hang on…
There’s one more thing you might want to know.
Pre-wedding shoots at Boughton House
The team at Boughton know how important it is to feel confident in front of the camera (just ask Lisa how she felt the first time I photographed her!). So they kindly allow you to have your pre-wedding photoshoot in the gardens. This is a great chance to make even more of the venue and have photos in the further reaches of the grounds that you might not have time to get to on your wedding day.
Still here? *high five* You must be a big Boughton fan too!
Want to see more? Grab a cuppa (Warning: You’ll need a big mug) and check out some more wedding photos taken at Boughton House.
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