The complete story
Jo & Tim’s wedding at Notley Abbey was relaxed and radiant, full of personality, and woven together with music, family, laughter, and one extremely handsome dog.. Every moment felt personal and intentional with ‘Jo & Tim’ imprinted on every detail.
The soundtrack was incredible and helped create the feeling of it all. A saxophonist played for the garden drinks reception, Jo’s sister sang their first dance (which was emotional as it was joyful), and the dancefloor came alive with medleys, mischief, and a late-night DJ set that had everyone on their feet being their best crazy selves all night long. The whole day glowed and was a joy to capture.
“THANK YOU SOOOOO much for such amazing photos, we’re so happy! It’s taken us all weekend to have a good look through them all as they’re so great and so many! Thanks again for everything, we’re so lucky to have found you!”
Jo & Tim
The preparations
Calm joy filled their air as Jo and her leading ladies got ready together with a few glasses of fizz. There were lots of giggles as they reminisced about Jo’s hen weekend and presented her with a photo signed by the whole hen crew. After a few finishing touches (and some train admin from Mum), they headed down Notley’s gorgeous staircase to the ceremony. Always an iconic Notley moment!
Meanwhile, Tim and the boys exchanged gifts and chatted over pre-wedding drinks in the sunshine before getting suited and booted ready to welcome all the guests.
Not to be upstaged, Jo and Tim’s dog Hugo waited for them in the cool shade of the courtyard, sporting a perfectly-positioned floral collar and fluffy ears blowing in the wind. What a dreamboat!
The ceremony
Notley Abbey’s walled garden is a fantastic setting to hold a wedding ceremony, with ancient trees and pretty flower borders. It feels as if your ceremony is actually being held by the stone walls and countryside surroundings.
I love the sense of place the wide-angle ceremony photos give, taking in the backdrop of the house as Jo and Tim beam with newlywed joy. A local red kite joined in too and circled overhead during their vows. I always think nature has a way of joining in when something special is happening!
And the page boys proved you can always rely on the kids to firmly root natural wedding photos in reality!
The drinks reception
Jo and Tim, their little boy Mylo, and pooch Hugo joined together as a family for the confetti run. Hugo very much enjoyed the attention and looked at the guests expectantly for the next handful of fun! He trotted along very proudly for this momentous walk.
Tim is a music producer, so naturally, music was a big part of their day and the line-up of musicians featured some of the UK’s best. A saxophonist accompanied their drinks reception in the sunshine, as kids played chess (debatable tactics but very cute!) and the grown-ups enjoyed tasty canapes, cool beers, and glasses of fizz.
The happy couple
While the guests took their seats for the wedding breakfast, we took a little walk to some of Jo and Tim’s favourite spots around the venue. Look out for the cascading wisteria, a rose-lined pathway, and the doorways of Notley Abbey itself.
The wedding breakfast
Candles, pretty pastel flowers, and twinkly fairy lights added to the stonework, rustic beams, and chandelier in The Monk’s Refectory. It made quite the setting for the wedding breakfast which was kicked off with Jo’s sister singing for Jo & Tim’s first dance. The unique timing for their first dance really set a personal and celebratory atmosphere for dinner. I just love to witness and capture my couples’ personal twists on traditions – it’s one of the best ways to make your wedding unique and unforgettable.
The evening party
The evening brought a welcome breeze, which was a real delight for the kids as they played with bubbles in the golden hour sunshine. The blossom tree in the garden was in spectacular full bloom, right on schedule for their day.
But the real show began when Truly Medley Deeply started the party and everyone took to the dancefloor. Their signature medleys of crowd-pleasing classics went down a treat!
Jo and Tim booked me to capture the evening shenanigans, and oh boy, was it worth it! Their good friend and awesome DJ, Devstar, took control of the decks for the late-night celebrations and kept the crowd dancing all night long! The top live performers created an electric atmosphere, and meant Jo and Tim spent the evening surrounded by their favourite people, listening to great music, and loving every moment!
Planning your own Notley Abbey wedding?
If you’re dreaming of a wedding day that’s relaxed, romantic, and full of meaning, I’d love to be the one to capture it for you. You can get in touch with me here to check my availability, ask any questions, or request my wedding photography brochure.
Want to see more from this gorgeous venue? Explore my Notley Abbey wedding photography guide for inspiration, tips, and true love stories.
The creative team
Photography
Photos by me, Sarah Vivienne – hi!
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