IF YOU’RE PLANNING A UBER COOL OUTDOORS WEDDING, YOU’LL LOVE THIS COTSWOLDS WEDDING FOR INSPIRATION!
When Katie and Matt first got in touch with me about their wedding, I was so thrilled – they were planning a relaxed outdoor wedding with an intimate ceremony at the gorgeous Matara Centre. Katie and Matt are the most wonderful people and I couldn’t wait to shoot their wedding!
Bride and groom prep
Ruby and I started at the gorgeous Kingscote House, where the couple and their friends were getting ready together, it was so much fun and so chilled out. Katie wore a stunning dress with a train to die for and Matt and his groomsmen all wore braces and a bow tie and they looked really dapper. Katie being the always stylish bride that she is also had some gorgeous accessories including her grandmother’s ring, a pearl studded veil AND a sequined jumpsuit for the evening and OMG it was gorg.
The ceremony
The wedding took place at outside in the stunning courtyard area in Matara Center. It was a romantic humanist ceremony with several beautiful readings from friends and family, which brought pretty much everyone to tears. After the ceremony they walked down the aisle together, and then they were showered with confetti. During the drinks reception, Ruby and I mingled with guests and grabbed some of my fav candid photos of the season so far before heading over to a more secluded part of the venue to do some wedding party portraits!
The afternoon
The wedding reception took place in the amazing hilarium inside Matara Center, which is a a stunning light and airy room covered in fairy lights with a big dome ceiling. The couple had decorated the tables with amazing plants and foliage (goals!) and named the tables after places they’d travelled to together. It was such a personal touch and it fitted in so well with the vibe.
It was a sunny, cloudless day, which was perfect for photos. While the guests hung around drinking Prosecco, we decided to sneak off for some portrait photos. Some of my fav photos from our portrait session were probably the ones in the chillout rooms or then we got of Katie and Matt in the evening when Katie had gotten changed! Seriously if you’re thinking of having a second outfit for your wedding, this is your sign. Check it out below!
During the reception they had an incredible live band, which was so much fun after a year of no live music. Matara Center has some incredible food options so if you’re a proper foodie, this venue is perfect for you, it was raved about by all the guests. Afterwards, they had some wonderful speeches from Katie’s dad, Matt and some lovely heartfelt ones from the groomsmen and the party got started. They also ended the night with a fire pit where you could toast marshmallows and woodfire pizzas (obvs I nabbed a vegan one before leaving), which was a huge hit.
Advice for planning your wedding
For anyone planning your wedding at the moment, I would say, go with what you love! It’s such a special day and you need to make sure you have everything that you want, so don’t be afraid to make the day truly yours like these two did!
Here is Katie and Matt’s wedding story.
Here are some other awesome and stylish weddings for inspiration! If you’re getting married in the Cotswolds and looking for a wedding photographer, get in touch.
