Elmore Court Wedding Photographer
Elmore Court is one of those venues that takes your breath away the moment you arrive. It is a 750-year-old manor house that has been in the same family since 1274. Elmore Court sits in a bend of the River Severn with views across the Cotswolds, and when you book it for your wedding, the entire estate is yours — the house, the grounds, the Gillyflower, and 16 bedrooms for your guests to stay the night. The sense of history runs through every room — from the wooden staircase with its red walls and ancestral portraits to The Hall with its tapestries and heraldic stained glass.
GETTING READY
One of the things that makes Elmore special is the getting ready experience. The Coach House is yours from 4pm the day before — a private bridal prep space where up to six people can stay the night, have breakfast together, and start getting ready on site before the main house becomes available at midday.
In the house itself, couples choose between the Master Suite with its wood-panelled walls and Caesar-sized bed, or the Smoking Room with its painted panelling and spectacular deep copper bath. Both are south-facing with beautiful natural light — perfect for getting ready shots.
Ceremony
For the ceremony, most couples choose The Hall — the historic heart of the house, where light streams through heraldic stained glass windows and old tapestries line the walls. The Drawing Room is also licensed and works beautifully for more intimate ceremonies of up to 55 guests. Since the law changed, Elmore now offers outdoor ceremonies too — including on the portico overlooking the south lawn, in the walled garden, and in a woodland tipi setting on the rewilding land. For couples wanting a traditional church wedding, the 13th-century Church of St John the Baptist is less than a mile away. Many couples marry there and return to Elmore for their reception — it’s a well-established arrangement between the church and the venue.
Grounds and portraits
The grounds offer endless options for couple portraits. The walled garden is filled with herbs and wildflowers in summer, with a beautiful eucalyptus tree that catches the golden hour light. The wisteria blooms in May and creates one of the most romantic backdrops in the Cotswolds. Even in winter, the cypress-lined paths, the fire pit meadow, and the facade of the house itself photograph beautifully.
The Gillyflower
What I love about photographing weddings here is the contrast. The house itself is moody and dramatic — dark wood, rich colours, centuries of character. Then you step into the Gillyflower and everything opens up. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over the meadow, and the light pours in.
The Gillyflower is genuinely one of the best reception spaces I’ve worked in. Built sustainably from rammed earth and timber from the estate, it’s completely soundproofed — which means the Funktion One sound system can be turned up loud and the party can go as late as you want. The light installation above the dance floor, the disco ball, the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the meadow — it all comes together. During the day, natural light floods in. By evening, when the sun sets and the room fills with candlelight, it’s magic.
What couples love
What couples consistently rave about Elmore Court is how looked after they feel. Team E, as the staff are known, have a reputation for being genuinely invested in making your day perfect. Nothing is too much trouble. The food is another thing guests talk about long after the wedding — seasonal, locally sourced, much of it grown in the walled garden or from the estate itself. And because it’s exclusive use, the whole place feels like yours. Couples often tell me their guests said it was the best wedding they’d ever been to, and I think it’s that combination of historic setting, exceptional food, and a team who genuinely care that makes the difference.
If you are looking for an Elmore Court wedding photographer and want relaxed, natural photography that captures both the character of the venue and the joy of your day, please get in touch!
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