Jaime & Kieran’s Autumnal Wedding at Farnham Castle in Surrey – 25th October 2022
This October I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Jaime & Keirans magical Autumnal wedding at Farnham Castle in Surrey. This iconic fairytale wedding venue showcases historic buildings, a grand dining hall and beautifully kept gardens overlooking the charming town of Farnham. Farnham Castle offers complete exclusivity and the backdrop possibilities for wedding photographs here are endless.
Jaime & Kieran initially reached out to me after finding me on Instagram a year before their wedding. On our initial Zoom call I was able to find out a little more about how they met, how long they’d been together and I even got introduced to their furbabies (two gorgeous cats!) We also chatted about Jaime’s love of history and why choosing Farnham Castle meant so much to them because of this.
Pre Wedding Photo Shoot in Farnham
We headed to Little Frensham Pond for Jaime & Kieran’s Together Session as it was nearby to Farnham Castle. As you can see in the photos below, this location offers lots of variety in terms of backdrops. It’s also usually very quiet here in the week which is perfect if you’re a little camera shy as there are very few people around, allowing you to relax and enjoy your photo session together.
During the session we had a great time getting to know each other further and I was able to hear more about how Jaime & Kieran’s wedding plans were coming along. I usually include lots of walking and movement in each session to ensure the couple are looking natural and relaxed. In the photo below I asked Jaime and Kieran to whisper a few things they love about each other into the other’s ear. This allowed them to feel relaxed, forget I was there and created this gorgeous, natural laughter and moment between them.
Morning preparations at the Gate House, Farnham Castle
Jaime and her bridesmaids prepared for the ceremony at the Gate House which is Farnham Castle’s private preparation space away from the main castle. The girls started the day by popping the fizz and enjoyed having their hair and makeup done by The Glass House and Sian McCauley. As a Farnham Castle Wedding Photographer I’ve seen how great this space is for the morning preparations, it’s bright, airy and spacious which is perfect for photos.
Kieran and his groomsmen got ready in the Pembroke Room which is a large, stylish hub inside the main castle. The lovely big windows in this room allow lots of natural light to flood in which is perfect for photos. The boys helped each other with their cufflinks, ties and button holes before heading down to the Lantern Hall ahead of the ceremony.
On the ground floor of The Gate House, there’s a perfect space available to carry out a first look or big reveal. Jaime wanted to surprise her bridesmaids and parents with her final look so I asked them to close their eyes as she came down the stairs. When they opened their eyes their reactions were so lovely and emotional, I really love capturing these special moments between family & friends as they really tell the story of the day.
The Ceremony – The Lantern Hall
Farnham Castle offers a choice of four licensed rooms and two Church Of England Chapels for your marriage ceremony, Jaime & Kieran chose to hold theirs in the Lantern Hall. This room is truly stunning and the gorgeous arched windows give a light and spacious feel. As a Farnham Castle Wedding Photographer I love photographing ceremonies here as the room allows lots of natural light to flood in which is perfect for wedding photography.
Jaime had six beautiful bridesmaids who were made up of her closest friends and family. I really enjoyed witnessing & capturing the close bond they all had as they had all grown up together. Jaime’s sister Grace walked her down the aisle to meet her groom which was such a gorgeous moment.
Jaime & Kieran exchanged some really meaningful vows which they had written themselves. During their ceremony they stood under a beautiful decorative flower arch which had been made very thoughtfully by one of Kieran’s family members. It was a gorgeous ceremony to witness and there were lots of happy tears throughout.
After the ceremony concluded the bride and groom got to enjoy a quiet moment alone together in the bar area whilst their guests made their way outside, ready to shower the newlyweds with confetti. As you can see the grand staircase at Farnham Castle makes the perfect backdrop for confetti photographs.
Reception drinks and canapés were served outside on the lawn where their wedding guests were able to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful views over the historic town of Farnham in Surrey. Jaime & Kieran were able to have their family portraits taken nearby whilst still enjoying the cocktails and delicious canapes they had selected.
Romantic Portraits
Jaime & Kieran chose to have their wedding in October as they both love Autumn and I must say the castle grounds looked glorious at this time of year. The burnt orange trees and red hedge rows looked really beautiful and created some amazing backdrops. Jaime & Kieran enjoyed 20 minutes alone together during their portrait session to breath and take it all in! It was great to work along side their amazing videographer Steve, owner of Castle Gate films to create these wonderful memories for this amazing couple.
The Wedding Breakfast – The Great Hall
The Great Hall at Farnham Castle is such an impressive room to host your wedding breakfast in. The high ceilings, historic paintings and grand fireplaces definitely give this room the wow factor. When the sun starts to set the room comes alive as the warm, glowing fairy lights cover the magnificent castle walls. As you can see Jaime & Kieran chose some lovely table decorations & elements to make it unique.
Sunset Photos – Wedding Photographer Farnham Castle
‘Farnham Castle’s Keep’ is the perfect place to capture a few shots during golden hour as this is the highest point of the castle. Jaime & Kieran were feeling adventurous and climbed the steps right to the top of the Keep where they were able to enjoy the incredible views as the sun set across Farnham. Being a Farnham Castle wedding photographer means that I’m fortunate enough to gain access to this area when it’s closed off to the public which meant we had the Keep all to ourselves during sunset!
I played their first dance song on my portable speaker and they were able to have a quiet moment alone together and practice their first dance before rejoining their guests. I love doing this for my couples as I think it’s so important to have time out together on your special day.
The Wedding Speeches
Kieran’s sister kicked off the speeches with an amazing rap that she had written all about the couple. It was amazing and she had everyone laughing out loud and on their feet clapping by the end. I always enjoy capturing the speeches as there’s usually a slight surprise element that comes with each one. I love photographing the reactions of the bride and groom and their loved ones, whether that’s happy tears or uncontrollable laughter.
The Evening Reception In The Great Hall
In the evening The Great Hall gets completely transformed into a dance floor and the gallery bar situated on the mezzanine floor overlooking the dancefloor keeps guests connected to the party. Jaime & Kieran opted for a DJ for their evening entertainment who started the evening by playing their first dance song ‘Stars by Simply Red’.
If you’re looking for a fairytale wedding venue in Surrey that’s going to wow your wedding guests then look no further than Farnham Castle. I was blown away by the beauty and history that lay behind the Castle walls and the countless number of backdrop options available for wedding photographs here. The team at Farnham Castle work with each couple to turn their dreams into reality. They understand how much effort and planning goes into each wedding and will therefore take the time to talk through each unique vision to help the day flow effortlessly.
If you’re getting married at Farnham Castle (or anywhere else for that matter), and you’d like me to photograph your wedding, then please enquire by clicking the button below.
Kind words from Jaime & Kieran
“Hi Charlotte,
“Thank you so much for our wedding photos! We love every single photo, and you captured our day so well, really caught the emotion on camera! It has taken us a while to get through all of the photos and we view them at least once per day – because we love them so much!
Thank you, Jaime & Kieran”
Dream Team of Suppliers
Wedding venue: Farnham Castle
Videographer: Castle Gate Films
Makeup Artist: Sian McCauley
Hair stylist: The Glass House
Wedding dress boutique: Debbie Rees Bridal
If you found this blog helpful and end up choosing to get married at Farnham Castle, I would really appreciate it if you could tell the amazing team there about my blog. For further information about their weddings please contact weddings@farnhamcastle.com
