Kilworth House wedding photographer

Sam and Rich's Kilworth House wedding - complete with dog Alfie and a mariachi band

Kilworth House is an opulent country house hotel in south Leicestershire, with lashings of period charm and character. I loved it. Then add Sam, Rich, and their very cute dog and it was a brilliant wedding to capture. Even the (very heavy) rain didn’t dampen the day.

Kilworth House Hotel is luxurious with a laid-back vibe, and is one of the best places to have a wedding (and be a wedding photographer!). It’s a Victorian-era country house estate in North Kilworth (which is near Lutterworth in Leicestershire).

So I was thrilled when Sam and Rich got in touch. They first emailed me just as Daisy joined the family. She was barking her head off from upstairs as they arrived for their consultation, demanding to join in. Sam & Rich assured me they were very happy to have her around, so out came Little Miss Sociable, making her debut as my co-worker. She happily sat on Sam’s lap, listening intently to me waffling on about photography, her head tilting for emphasis at all the important points. Nothing much has changed since – apart from her bark, which is considerably louder!

A wedding weekend

Sam and Rich had exclusive use of Kilworth House and they really made the most of it with an entire weekend of celebrations that stretched from dinner the night before to relaxation in the spa the day after.

They had a civil wedding ceremony in the stunning Orangery, which is a Victorian work of art. They decorated the room with an abundance of flowers and individual touches like personalised tissues and his/her confetti cones. The light in the orangery is brilliant for wedding photography, even on a dark rainy day like this was.

The mariachi band in the evening was really fun. But my favourite thing (as anyone who knows me will guess) was a guest appearance from their dog, Alfie. Kilworth House isn’t dog-friendly but he bagsied a special pass for some outdoor photos. And since it was raining, we did those undercover in the portico.

A wet wedding unicorn

Now, before I show you the photos, I want to mention the rain. Because Kilworth House is rare among wedding venues and works just as well as in the rain as in the sunshine. Because it has so many choices for indoor photos. The light was really great in the lounge areas for natural photos of the drinks reception. The library was ideal for group photos – somewhere quiet but still close to hand so you don’t have to drag your guests all around the hotel. And there are numerous nooks for couple portraits. As a wedding photographer, I couldn’t recommend Kilworth House any more highly.