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Exton Park wedding photography

Nature and quirky feature lovers unite.
Exton Park has, and is, everything.

Ahh, the lovely Exton Park - one of my biggest wedding venue crushes. This has nothing to do with its close proximity to scenic Rutland walks, scrumptious foodie destinations, and irresistible independent boutiques that could be frequented en route to a wedding (much)... and everything to do with the relaxed and romantic vibes.

Exton marries natural beauty and luxurious architecture in glorious style. There’s the house itself - an imposing wedding reception backdrop with gables, chimneys, and splendor in spades. Then there’s the sophisticated sunken parterre complete with a soothing fountain. And all that formality? Effortlessly offset by rambling nature, beautifully interrupted every so often by a curious ruin, romantic folly, or lavish farm structure.

There’s more, more, and more to Exton Park. It’s grand, quaint, and quirky all at once. 

And if this sounds like something out of Country Life magazine… well, pass me the Editor’s number, please. Because it’s front-cover-worthy.

Rachael & Adam
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Five reasons you’ll love Exton Park for your wedding photography

  • 1 Nature, nature, nature. All around. Take your pick from woodland walks, countryside views, riverside paths, manicured gardens … Whatever takes your fancy, the backgrounds are beautiful in every direction.
  • 2 Open spaces with points of interest aplenty. It’s the ideal location to create super stunning yet really relaxed pictures of the two of you. Especially as an after-dinner walk or as the sun sets during golden hour.
  • 3 Relaxed grandeur. An alfresco reception set against the beautiful backdrop of Exton Hall brings a chilled yet elegant feel to your day. Which is just the ticket for laid-back romantics who value aesthetics and want the background in every photo to be beautiful.
  • 4 Out of the ordinary spots for pictures of the two of you. Name me another wedding venue with a crumbling ruin, an octagonal dairy, and a dovecote that’s big enough for cattle too. Yep, Exton Park has some unique features. So if you want wedding photos that couldn’t possibly have been taken anywhere else, we’ll make a beeline for these spots.
  • 5 Your ceremony and reception in one place. Unusually, Exton Park can offer different types of wedding ceremony – Church of England, Catholic, civil, and outdoor celebrant weddings. And your reception will be within a bouquet toss of each of them. Which means less time on travel and logistics, and more time making - and photographing - memories.
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My experience at Exton Park

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing several weddings at Exton Park, including Catholic ceremonies in the estate chapel and Church of England weddings at St Peter & St Paul’s Church in the grounds. And to complete the holy trinity of Exton weddings - a civil wedding ceremony at Fort Henry is in the diary next year.

And I can happily confirm, every wedding at Exton is a joy and totally unique. TBH, if Exton Park was the only wedding venue I worked at, I’d be a very happy bunny.

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True love stories

A few fabulous weddings I’ve captured at Exton Park...

Bride and groom in front of Exton Park chapel

Sam & Pete

A sunny September wedding... Sam prepared at The Finches Arms. And Pete got ready at home, followed by a pre-wedding pint at The Fox & Hounds in Exton. They had their ceremony at St Peter & St Paul’s and walked across the field to the parterre for a music-filled drinks reception before heading to a flower-filled marquee - complete with hanging cake - for dinner. 

Lucy & Fergal

A wet spring wedding... Lucy and Fergal had all of April's showers in May - but it was brilliant. Nothing dampened their spirits - it simply added to the story. They got ready at Barnsdale Lodge and The Finches Arms, ahead of their ceremony in Exton Hall's chapel and a marquee reception by the pond. And the best thing? Brilliant photo backdrops right by the door when there's a break in the rain!

Lucy & Fergal

Rachael & Adam

A hot August wedding... Rachael and Adam's military wedding was a brilliant blend of classic and relaxed. They had an elegant ceremony at Exton church and a chilled drinks reception on the lawn, before heading to their marquee for dinner and dancing. And we even found time for traditional portraits in full uniform as well as romantic relaxed golden hour photos. What an amazing day!

Anna & Mike

A sunny June wedding... Anna got ready at her parents' in Polebrook, whilst Mike spent the morning at The Talbot in Oundle. They had a church ceremony at All Saints in Polebrook, and then made their way in a vintage wedding car to Exton Park for their marquee reception. This was another flower-filled day - which seems to be a standard for Exton weddings (and I’m here for it!).

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Pre-wedding photoshoots at Exton Park

A few of my couples had a pre-wedding portrait shoot in Exton’s grounds too. This is exclusive to couples getting married at Exton Park. It’s a great way to narrow down your favourite locations for your wedding day portraits - because let’s face it, there are so many and we won’t have time to use them all. It’s also a chance to capture pictures in parts of the grounds that might be too far to use on W-Day itself. Or you know, just have a lovely time and soak up the scenery.

Take a looksie at some of my favourite images from Sam and Pete’s pre-wedding shoot to see some of the special spots Exton has to offer…

And a few of beaut pair Anna and Mike for good measure…

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Looking for a photographer to go with your Exton Park wedding?

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Did you know *this*
about Exton Park?

  • 1 Handel and Shakespeare performed in the grounds
  • 2 The estate spans across four parishes - Exton, Cottesmore, Greetham & Horn
  • 3 The chapel was added in 1867 to mark the 2nd Earl’s conversion to Catholicism
  • 4 The legend of the Mistletoe Bough - a wedding night game that ended in horror - is rumoured to have originated at Exton. Probably best you don’t play hide and seek on your wedding day.
  • 5 The dovecote is home to a family of barn owls