There almost aren’t words beautiful enough to describe Boughton House. It's a grand estate that's appeared in the Oscar-winning “Les Misérables” and BAFTA nominee “Napoleon”. So as you can imagine it boasts rich architecture and a glorious ambiance which feels very special. But being a family home, the atmosphere feels warm and relaxed, too.

A wedding here keeps me busier than the bees in the Boughton hive (that’s another Boughton house you need to visit!) because there’s a photo waiting to be taken at every corner. It gives me insatiable inspiration and 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 good news: If you choose a documentary wedding photographer, the location will show in your natural photos as well as any posed pictures. Which means you can (literally) cover a lot of ground.

And there's a Brucey-bonus: You can get married outdoors under the covered Colonnade - handy for the British weather!

Searching for a magical wedding venue steeped in history?
Boughton House could be your dream come true.

Boughton house Wedding Photography

Your guide to

The estate parkland and gardens have something of interest for pictures of the two of you, all year round. There's a rose garden, lavender maze, stone bridges, walled kitchen garden, waterways... The list goes on.

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The Colonnade - with its warm light, divine doors, and amazing architecture - is sheltered from the elements and ideal for wet weather portraits and group photos. The reflection of light off the warm brick will give a gorgeous destination-wedding feel to your photos. It’s called the ‘English Versailles’ for a reason!

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The Great Hall has opulent features - a painted ceiling, a grand fireplace, and imposing tapestries - which lend your photos a grandness that's usually the domain of church weddings.

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That staircase for pictures of the two of you. Talk about a statement piece! The light is lovely, the décor is dramatic (but also neutral - so you’ll still be the stars!), and there’s plenty of space for a big dress!

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Boughton House and its grounds are incredible in every direction. (Even the bin store has something to offer - but I promise not to take you there!). Which means a beautiful background for every photo.

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Five reasons you’ll love Boughton House for your wedding photography

I started working for Boughton House at the very start of their wedding journey when they commissioned me to create some photos for their website and wedding brochure. And I've been the sole recommended wedding photographer there ever since - which I'm hugely grateful for. Because I fall more in love with it each time I go.

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 delicious ice-cream (the coconut is a 10/10!).

I do Boughton's own photography too - which adds a good dose of spice to my life. I've photographed all sorts of things for them, including portraits of The Duke of Buccleuch, catalogue photos of Van Dyck's and Gainsborough's, and promotional shots of exhibitions, restoration work, and even Christmas trees! But my favourite so far is 'Boughton through the seasons' - a Covid lockdown project to photograph the gardens through the year.

Working at Boughton is a pleasure and a privilege. Every visit is magical; it never gets old.

Hello, hi, bonjour! I’m Sarah.

My Experience at Boughton House

Charles Lister, Property Manager, Boughton House

"Sarah has worked at Boughton on many occasions including private family events for the owners. We are delighted to recommend her not only because we can trust her to show Boughton in the best light, but because she always captures something new for those being photographed. She is professional but not impersonal and it is always a joy to see the result of her work. As guardians of the House, we need to be confident that any photographer working with us has the same care as we do, and over the years, Sarah has earned that trust."


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Comfy footwear, please. The grounds involve a lot of walking - or at least it’ll feel that way if you’re balancing heels, bouquet, and bubbles. So have a pair of comfy shoes to hand and your feet will thank you later. 

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Stand by for confetti. Want to throw confetti? This process is super efficient and takes the least amount of time possible: Walk down the aisle, then head to the entrance hall for a post-ceremony breather. In the meantime, your guests go outside to The West Front via The Little Hall, taking confetti as they go, and line the pathway out of the door. When everyone’s outside, you walk out into a confetti storm. And, if you want, this is an ideal time to gather your guests on the steps for a photo of everyone… and then your drinks and canapes can flow.

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Make the most. Boughton kindly allow you to have your pre-wedding photoshoot in the gardens. This is a great chance to not only get used to being in front of the camera, but also to make even more of the venue and have photos taken in places we might not have time to get to on your wedding day.

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Go West. Group photos work well on the west side of the house. It’s close to hand for your drinks reception so you don't need to drag your guests very far - but it’s also spacious enough to avoid photo-bombers! The exact spot will depend on the light on the day but there’s no bad angle here.

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Optimise portrait time. Capture more of Boughton by splitting your portrait photo time into two sessions. Maybe a 10 minute session on the staircase and Colonnade while your guests line up for confetti? And then 20 minutes after dinner when things are more relaxed to explore the gardens?

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My top five planning tips for wedding photography at Boughton House

Having your ceremony at St Mary Magdalene church in Geddington? You might enjoy these highlights of weddings I've captured there.

Geddington church weddings

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If you're having your wedding at Boughton House, you'll also get private VIP access to the gardens and grounds for your pre-wedding photoshoot. You'll walk away with camera-confidence and make things even more relaxed for your wedding day. And yay ... more time at Boughton!

Boughton House pre-wedding photoshoots

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FAQs

Any season! It's more a question of when they have availability as the house is privately owned and lived in. The gardens are always beautiful but, of course, there's more colour and interest between spring and autumn. My personal favourite season is spring — earlier for lambs and daffodils, later for buttercups and wisteria. But the parkland views in the autumn… ohhhhh! I'm happy it's not my decision to make!
The closest is St Mary Magdalene church in Geddington which is a very short drive away; although anywhere in the Kettering-Corby-Thrapston triangle is in very easy reach. But being close to the A14 and the A43, it's also well-placed for church weddings further afield in Northamptonshire, Rutland, and south Leicestershire.
Some of my favourite spots for couple shots (which don't take long to get to) include 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. And the Colonnade, which has a destination feel with warm Italian-esque light, divine doors, and amazing architecture. Or on the West Front, there are lake views and seasonal stars — climbing roses and wisteria. A little further is the rose garden: so romantic, and comes into its own in the summer when it's full of peonies, lavender and, err, roses! But it's equally beautiful in the spring when the pathways are lined with buttercups, daffodils, and wild grasses. If you have more time, there's the lily pond which takes in weeping willow, grass steps, and woodland walkways. Or the walled garden which I love for its flower borders in spring, the scented garden in summer, and swathes of seed heads in autumn. Or even something quirky in the greenhouse or kitchen garden.
Group photos work well at either the Colonnade or the West Front. Both are close to hand for your drinks reception so you won't be dragging your guests too far, but are also spacious enough to avoid photo-bombers! The best background will depend on the weather and light on your day but there's no bad angle here. For a photo of everyone, I recommend the West Front again. If it's cloudy, we'll have your guests on the steps. And if it's sunny, it's best to have everyone on the lawn and take the photo from an upstairs window so people aren't squinting into the sun.
Your biggest restriction is time! The Boughton estate is vast and it takes a while just to get around — so we'll carefully plan which areas we use for your family photos and portraits of the two of you to suit your day and timeline. And it's a family home, so there are some areas of the gardens and house which are private, and others that are exclusive to just you two.
It's your choice! A popular option at Boughton is for your guests to go straight into The Tapestry Suite or marquee — and just head back outside if the weather improves. When it's time for your couple shots, we can stay cosy inside with The Great Hall and staircase, or head for the shelter of the Colonnade. The latter is also great for group photos, as long as they're fairly small.
Rushton Hall (NN14 1RR) is a firm favourite of my couples — but please note they don't allow couples not getting married there to have photos outside of the room you're getting ready in. The Swallows Rest in Brigstock (NN14 3ET) is also popular. An AirBnB is always worth a search and often comes up trumps for something unique and homely for groups. And for guests, there are Premier Inns in both Kettering and Corby.
The Pig and Waffle in Grafton Underwood (NN14 3AA) is 5 minutes' drive from Boughton and great for coffee, brunch, or lunch, and also has a farm shop. 20 minutes away but worth the drive is the village shop in Bulwick — it has a covered terrace so good in all weathers and the food is a dream: tapas, ploughman's, cake… heaven. Find it at NN17 3DY. If you want to stretch your legs, Lyveden New Bield, a National Trust property, is 20 minutes away at PE8 5AT and also has a cafe. For a market town with independent and artisan choices, try Oundle (25 mins drive) or Market Harborough (35 mins away). Please check opening days and times before you go!
No, travel is included. Boughton House is a short but very beautiful 30-minute cross-country commute for me!

Boughton is one of only a few ‘calendar houses’ in the UK - it has 365 windows, 52 chimneys, 12 entrances, and 7 courtyards. It’s an Elizabethan thing, so Google tells me.

You might have seen Boughton House without knowing it. Because it’s often used for films and TV. It’s most notable appearances were in Napoleon, Les Misérables, and The X Factor UK.

There are 72 miles of driveway in the parkland.

The Grand Étang was created in the early 1700s as a reflection pool for the house - and used as an ice rink in the winter.

Edward, First Lord Montagu of Boughton, sponsored The Observance of 5th November Act 1605, which called for an annual celebration of the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot. So we have him to thank for the fun of bonfire night!

Psst! Did you know *this* about Boughton House?

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