Holdenby House is a dream!
The stunning arched entrance and looming sight of the house growing ever closer as you drive down the tree-lined avenue is quite the arrival. Have you seen the gardens? There’s a reason it’s listed in “1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die”! And don’t get me started on the wallpapers and rich wood interiors. A wedding here can’t help but have a relaxed feel and a sense of awe.
The service you’ll receive (nothing short of impeccable) is completely personalised, so you can have the wedding you want, rather than take on the cookie-cutter wedding so many other venues churn out. My couples have loved how Holdenby’s personal touch helped them relax and feel like themselves, which is just the best start possible for emotive in-the-moment wedding photos.
Once a royal palace and now a private home, Holdenby House brings both history and heart to a wedding day.
Holdenby house Wedding Photography
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Holdenby has so much to work with. The gorgeous gardens, amazing architecture, and incredible interiors mean I’m never short of great backgrounds. And because the seasons, weather, and lighting conditions transform it so much, every couple gets unique photos.
For such a grand venue, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It feels like home for the day, which helps you and your guests relax - and relaxed people make for the most naturally beautiful wedding photos.
Holdenby’s defining features - like the roofline with its many chimney pots, the many imposing arches, and the grand front door - will give your photos a strong sense of place. There’ll be no mistaking where you got married. (Assuming you choose a photographer who knows how to show it off, of course!)
No need to worry if it rains because the inside is every bit as beautiful as the outside. The library and entrance hall are my go-to spots for couple shots as they’re private, have beautiful natural light, and interesting features. And the ballroom or dining room are spacious enough for group photos without feeling like a compromise.
The staircase lends itself brilliantly to pre-ceremony “reveals” and first looks. Think the ‘Jack and Rose meet on the staircase’ scene in Titanic but with a happy ending. It’s a natural meeting point en route from The White Room to the ceremony, and I can be there to capture the moment before anyone realises I’m there.
Five reasons you’ll love Holdenby House for your wedding photography
Hello, hi, bonjour! I’m Sarah.
My Experience at Holdenby house
I looked at (and lusted after) Holdenby House for my own wedding venue, so when I became a wedding photographer, photographing a wedding here became something of a personal mission! It took a little patience, but then, like buses, two came along at once in 2011 and it’s remained a firm favourite and regular venue ever since.
Over the years, I’ve explored every inch, from the church to the falconry. Which means more time goes into taking photos than scratching my head over where to go. I'll already know the shortcuts, exactly where to duck when a downpour arrives out of nowhere, and which angles will make your photos sing.
And Holdenby will look every bit as beautiful in your photos as you know it to be. I know how to make it look good because I've photographed weddings there in every season, weather, and lighting condition you can imagine.
I’ve captured larger weddings (with a ceremony in the ballroom and a marquee reception in The Arches field) and smaller, more intimate days (with dinner in the dining room). And I’m always struck by how well Holdenby works for any wedding.
Weddings at Holdenby have a wonderful energy of quiet decadence which makes them elegant, relaxed, and genuinely joyful days to be part of. So I’m delighted they’ve been recommending me since the very first wedding I shot there.
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Planning or thinking about a wedding at Holdenby House? Here are some of my favourite photos from weddings I’ve captured there.
The Holdenby House Gallery
Katie & brett
“Sarah, WOW! Neither of us are ‘naturals’ in front of the camera…so when it came to our pre-wedding photoshoot at Holdenby, we were extremely excited but also quite apprehensive...well….there was absolutely no need to be as we had you….friendly; polite; good fun; organised; accommodating; professional; AMAZING. We were very quickly at ease and enjoyed the experience which only led to feeling completely relaxed on the big day. We had an absolute ball! Our albums are so treasured and we are so lucky you were our wedding photographer.”
Sarah & Robert
“Sarah, I just had to stop by and tell you how grateful we are for the wonderful, WONDERFUL pictures! From the moment I first saw your pictures, I absolutely loved your work, and now, I feel truly blessed to have some gorgeous pictures of my own! …But it wasn’t just how beautiful our pictures turned out, it was also how comfortable you made us feel. We felt like ourselves throughout the day, not posed or too formal. Your work is absolutely stunning and we are so glad we had the chance to work with you!”
Laura & Hugo
“What can we say?! Thank you so much for everything you did to make our day so perfect and for your photography which means we will never forget how perfect it was. Your calm presence is the perfect tonic for a nervous bride and groom. You fought the sun, rain and thunder …. but so well! We are delighted with the photographs and we’ve heard from many of our guests who love them too. Your help in timings etc was invaluable as you helped to make the day go smoothly and without a hitch!”
Rachael & Fahad
“Thank you so so so much for our photos and the amazing care and attention to detail you put into our wedding. We’ve been amazed and very appreciative of your enthusiasm from the start and the photos are beautiful. You’ve captured everything just as we wanted and the smiles shine through in every photo. Thank you for reading our minds, not minding the ‘unofficial’ photographers! And for being such a calming presence on the day.”
Sally & Ben
“We fell in love with one of her photos taken at Holdenby House and after looking on her website we knew she'd be perfect for our day. Our biggest worry before we found Sarah was being treated as just a job & not having our individual needs met. This didn’t happen though and Sarah listened to all our thoughts & input. Her friendly approach made us feel at ease and we couldn't have asked for any more.“
Vicki & Keith
“We would like to thank you sincerely for the absolutely incredible photographs you took of our special day. You captured the whole day so perfectly, exactly how we wanted. We love our album. We could not have wished for a better service. Everyone we speak to says how wonderful our photos are and we couldn’t recommend you more highly. A massive thank you!”
Natalia & Dale
“Sarah’s work speaks for itself but she made us feel so at ease and was great to have there on the day. She really listened and understood what we wanted. It was a very personal experience and we built up a lovely friendship. She is a lovely, professional, and trustworthy photographer who will listen to what you want but also advise you. Sarah did everything and more than we expected, and she also saved the day with my dress disaster!”
Kind words from Holdenby couples
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Want to use a variety of locations in the gardens for your couple shots? Allow 20-30 minutes after dinner to wander and take photos. The gardens are sprawling and it takes time to get around, especially in wedding outfits. After you’ve eaten, you can relax and enjoy quality time together without feeling rushed.
The White Room is the loveliest space for getting ready. But add in everyone’s paraphernalia and it soon looks cluttered. This is all part of the day - but if you’d prefer to see the room at its best in your photos, ask everyone to put things away or out of sight as they go.
If you can, look around the gardens and grounds at the same time of year as you’ll be getting married. The gardens at Holdenby change hugely through the seasons so this will give you a good idea of what the backgrounds will be like for your photos.
Schedule your group photos early on during your drinks reception. Guests love to explore the gardens and grounds of Holdenby. So photographing your groups early means everyone is still close to hand and we’ll get through them without any delays.
If the forecast looks wet, use either the Inner Hall or The Pytchley Room (minus the conference table and chairs) for your group photos. These two rooms have the best light and will work on even the darkest of rainy days.
My top five planning tips for wedding photography at Holdenby House
Holdenby is traditionally spelt ‘Holmby’, which is pronounced as "home-be".
When it was built, Holdenby was reputedly the most magnificent house in England. The floor plan was nearly 80,000 square feet. All that’s left now are two arches in the Arches Field and the kitchen wing, which was adapted into the house you see today.
Charles I was held as a prisoner at Holdenby after being defeated in the civil war. (I can think of worse places.)
Tonnes of earth and weeds were artfully 'dumped' on the front drive to transform Holdenby into Statis House for the BBC adaptation of ‘Great Expectations’
Holdenby House is home to not just the Lowther family … but also Roxy the fox, Norma the hedgehog, Neil and Neon the rats, Peter & Cottontail the giant rabbits, and Sly and Simba the tortoises, and many feathered friends.
Psst! Did you know *this* about Holdenby House?
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