At the end of August I photographed my first Bassmead Manor wedding, as my friends Zoe & Andrew were tying the knot. I’ve known Andrew since we were teenagers, and for the past 10 years we’ve played in the same football team – the mighty Whittlesey Wanderers! Bassmead Manor is an awesome venue set on a working farm just outside of St Neots in Cambridgeshire. It’s surrounded by fields and in the morning I was pleased the wheat hadn’t yet been harvested as I thought it might make a nice location for some pictures. I arrived in the morning to meet Zoe getting ready with her 5 bridesmaids in the bridal cottage, and Andrew arrived later on with the groomsmen. The ceremony was held in the old barn, and after the marriage was made official it was time for confetti, a big group photo and the drinks reception. Zoe and Andrew had hired a portrait artist to paint pictures of guests, so they’d have a souvenir from this Bassmead Manor wedding. Before the wedding breakfast was due, I took Zoe and Andrew on a short walk around the farm to take some pictures of just the two of them. Bassmead Manor has some lovely spots for pictures, with plenty of colourful roses. We also paid the cornfield a visit and it made a great location, but it was a super sunny day and so I thought the light would be nicer a little later on in the day. Next up was speeches, and after emotional speeches from the father of the bride and the groom himself, it was the turn of the best men – Dan and Brett. Previously they’d asked me if I would help film a video for their speech, and it sounded like a lot of fun and I’d love to be involved so that’s what we did. The video went up on a projector and had Zoe, Andrew and the guests in fits of laughter. After the wedding breakfast I went back outside with Zoe and Andrew for a few more portraits and we headed back to the cornfield. I’d suggested it might be best at sunset, but wanted to take the opportunity to take a few more in case there wouldn’t be chance later. We then headed back inside as it was approaching the time for the first dance and for the evening party to begin. I was keeping an eye on the sunset and thought about returning to the field for a final picture, but the farmer had started harvesting and the combine was sending dust everywhere, so we were lucky we got our photos when we did! It didn’t matter though as we already had lots of nice ones, and instead stayed on the dance floor until the end of the night.
If you’re planning a Bassmead Manor wedding and are on the lookout for a wedding photographer then please get in touch!
