Cliveden House is notorious. Not just in the wedding world. Internationally. Think the Profumo affair of the 60s and where the soon to be Duchess of Sussex stayed before her wedding to Prince Harry. It's exquisite, stunning, opulent, and any other word you can think of to describe such a venue. Set in the beautiful Buckinghamshire country side, with the grounds being open to public via National Trust ownership, it's one of the most desirable wedding venues. Not just for couples, but for photographers too...
I am very aware of Cliveden. A Bucks boy, born and bred, I've lost count the number of times I've been there over the years. And now we enjoy it with our own children. But never in the house itself; a bit of a stretch budget wise to stay or dine. As far as venues go on the list of places I wanted to shoot at, Cliveden was near the top, if not the top. It's a wedding photographers dream: the grounds and views, the architecture, the luxurious interior, the list goes on.
When Olivia and Chris got in contact about photographing their intimate wedding at Cliveden, I must admit, I did a bit of a double take. Even when it was written in black and white on the booking form, I still couldn't quite believe the venue. But once I had gotten over the shock, my creative mind started whirring about all the places we go to get beautiful couple portraits, how to make the most of the ceremony location and just generally how best to capture the day in just 2 short hours.
The ceremony itself was breathtaking. Chris' children and partners were all talented classical musicians who provided the music and singing throughout. Olivia's children provided a romantic reading and were responsible for the rings.
The ceremony was followed by a drinks reception on the terrace over looking the manicured gardens, after which we got some shots of the wedding party and newly weds themselves.
It was an absolute privilege to shoot at Cliveden. The whole atmosphere was relaxed and informal, and a massive thank you to Lydia and her team for their hard work and support beforehand and on the day. I hope I'll be back one day...
Congratulations Olivia & Chris!
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