John and Hilary’s wedding at The Old Vicarage at Elkesley was exactly the sort of wedding I love photographing.
Relaxed, outdoors, full of real moments, dogs running around, guests getting stuck into a duck race, rain that nobody got too bothered about, a tipi reception, Indian street food, giant cupcakes, and a quiet first dance that almost nobody saw.
In other words, it was not a wedding planned around the photographs.
It was a wedding planned around people having a brilliant time.
Which, as a Nottingham wedding photographer, is pretty much the dream.
A Relaxed Outdoor Wedding at The Old Vicarage at Elkesley
The Old Vicarage at Elkesley is a brilliant wedding venue for couples who want an outdoor wedding without everything feeling too formal.
There’s loads of space, but it still feels connected. You have the lawn for the ceremony, the bar area for guests gathering beforehand, the stream for family photos, garden areas for games, and the tipi for the wedding breakfast and evening celebrations.
That makes the whole day flow really naturally, which is perfect for my documentary wedding photographer approach.
I love venues where guests have space to wander, chat, laugh, drink, play games and be themselves.
That is usually where the best photographs happen.
Bridal Prep at Ye Olde Bell
Hilary got ready nearby at Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa in Barnby Moor with a couple of close friends.
It was all very chilled. No chaos. No massive production. Just a few quiet moments, a “just married” cardigan ready for later, and then a short journey over to The Old Vicarage at Elkesley for the ceremony.
Bride prep does not need to be dramatic to photograph well. Sometimes the best photos come from the calm, ordinary little moments before everything begins.
An Outdoor Ceremony in Elkesley
The ceremony took place outside on the lawn, with two long rows of benches and a long grassy aisle leading down from the house.
Before Hilary arrived, guests gathered around the bar area at the back of the lawn. A few guests were even helping carry chairs over to the ceremony space, which gave the day a lovely relaxed, village-wedding feel.
The venue is also great if you want dogs at your wedding. John and Hilary had two dogs there, including a Dachshund, and they were very much part of the day.
Hilary’s grandchildren walked down the aisle ahead of her, which was a lovely moment, and the ceremony itself was full of joy, smiles and laughter.
After John and Hilary were married, everyone threw confetti as they walked back down the aisle.
No awkward pause. No photographer organising everyone into a line. That is exactly how I like to photograph weddings.
Why This Venue Works for Candid Wedding Photography
The Old Vicarage at Elkesley works so well for candid wedding photography coverage because guests are not stuck in one place.
After the ceremony, everyone moved naturally into drinks, canapés, hugs, dogs, conversations and laughter. There was plenty of seating for older guests, and the trees gave shade on the lawn, which is very useful for an outdoor summer wedding.
Family Photos by the Stream
I’m never going to pretend that family group photos are the most exciting part of a wedding day, but they are important.
And if you’re going to do them, it helps massively to have a clean, simple backdrop.
At The Old Vicarage at Elkesley, the stream running through the venue made a brilliant spot for family photos. With the water in front and tall trees behind, it gave the photographs a really natural backdrop without needing to drag everyone away from the day for ages.
A Duck Race at a Wedding
One of the best things to photograph at John and Hilary’s wedding was the duck race.
I’ve photographed more than 200 weddings, and this was the first time I’d seen one.
The stream wasn’t just there as a pretty backdrop. They actually used it as part of the day, and the guests all got involved – creating a real sense of fun and togetherness.
And that always help to make better photographs.
Garden Games, Giant Cupcakes and a Tipi Reception
Over the bridge, there was another garden area set up with games, including beanbag throwing, cornhole, hoop tossing and giant Connect Four.
Again, this is where The Old Vicarage at Elkesley works really well. You can have one area for the ceremony, another for drinks, another for family photos, another for games, and then the tipi for food and dancing. Each part of the venue gives the day a slightly different feel.
For documentary photography, that is ideal. It means I can move through the day photographing different pockets of activity
There were guests playing games, people laughing, drinks being handed around, and plenty of people stuffing their faces with giant cupcakes.
Which is exactly the sort of thing I’m there for. Not the cupcakes specifically. Although they did look excellent.
The wedding breakfast took place in the tipi, with Indian finger food from Dosa Love, which was a brilliant choice. Relaxed, tasty and much more interesting than the standard wedding meal.
Exactly as there should be.
Tipi weddings like this suit couples who want their day to feel relaxed but still full of atmosphere. I’ve photographed similar outdoor weddings at venues like Molecey Mill and The Hall Barns, and they always seem to work best when couples care more about the feeling of the day than following a traditional wedding formula.
Rainy Wedding Photos Without the Drama
It rained during John and Hilary’s wedding.
And it was absolutely fine.
My couples are usually relaxed about this sort of thing. They are not booking me because they want an extensive couple shoot or a perfectly styled editorial session.
They want relaxed photos that feel like them.
So when it rains, I don’t panic. I give the couple a clear umbrella, find a good backdrop and keep it simple.
The umbrella naturally brings people closer together, which makes the photos feel more intimate. A bit of movement helps too, so rather than standing stiffly and being told what to do, I’ll usually get couples walking, talking and looking at each other.
That is about as much direction as I want to give.
Once I know we’ve got enough, I leave them to it and they can get back to the wedding.
The Little Details That Tell the Story
One of my favourite photographs from this wedding was not of a person at all.
It was the order of the day, written on a chalkboard outside.
Normally, I would not get too excited about photographing a sign. But because it had rained, the chalk had started to run, leaving colourful streaks down the board.
That made it more than just a detail photo.
It showed the weather. It showed that the sign had been outside. It showed that the wedding carried on regardless.
It became part of the story.
And that is always what I’m looking for. I don’t just want to photograph what things looked like.
I want to photograph what happened.
The Quiet First Dance Nobody Was Watching
John and Hilary did not have a formal first dance where everyone gathered around the dance floor.
But early in the day, they took themselves away for a quiet dance together.
No announcement. No spotlight. No pressure.
Just the two of them.
I noticed it happening and photographed it quietly, without interrupting them or turning it into a performance. They probably didn’t even realise I had taken those photos until they saw the gallery.
That is what I love about photographing weddings this way.
Some of the best moments are not on the timeline. They are the things that happen in between. The moments couples do not always see. The things they may not even realise happened.
That is what documentary wedding photography is really about.
Not scripting the day. Not recreating things. Not turning the wedding into a photoshoot.
Just watching properly, and giving couples back a wider view of their day than the one they experienced at the time.
Looking for an Elkesley Wedding Photographer?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Old Vicarage at Elkesley, or you’re looking for an Elkesley wedding photographer who will capture the day without taking over, I’d love to hear from you.
This venue is perfect for couples who want a relaxed outdoor wedding with space for guests to enjoy themselves. It works brilliantly for tipi weddings, garden games, dogs, outdoor speeches, food vans, duck races and all the little moments that happen when people are left to have a good time.
My approach is simple.
I document the day as it happens. I won’t turn your wedding into a photoshoot. I won’t spend ages dragging you away from your guests. I won’t ask people to repeat moments that have already happened.
I’ll photograph the real stuff: the hugs, the laughter, the chaos, the weather, the dogs, the quiet dances, the kids, the grandparents and everything in between.
I photograph weddings across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and the rest of the UK. So whether you’re getting married at The Old Vicarage at Elkesley, planning a tipi wedding in Nottinghamshire, or looking for a Derbyshire wedding photographer with a relaxed documentary approach, get in touch and tell me what you’re planning.
Cheers, Nathan