bride and groom at wedding at Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon

Love in the time of Corona

My last wedding took place on the 19th of March at Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon. I flew back from Cape Town only 24 hours before as the borders closed and I was unsure if it was going to take place at all. Ben and Prue along with many family members has flown all the way from Sydney to celebrate their day in the heart of rural England where Ben was from. Their wedding was always due to be intimate, with some 40 guests but when I arrived the tables were down to half and the strain of saying goodbye to friends and family who chose to return home at this time of emergency weighed on them and the sleepless nights after so much preparation and anticipation looked like it might cancelled. But they went ahead and it was the most joyful beautiful day - all the more poignant as we knew this was the last group occasion we would all be at, and as Ben and Prue were heading into quarantine as soon as they landed home - an unusual but unforgettable honeymoon!

I chose to drive down to Lewtrenchard Manor the morning of the wedding arrived as the sun was just lighting up this beautiful medieval manor, having driven through a secluded valley along the quiet Devon roads.

Lewtrenchard Manor external view from the garden

bride in black dressing gown sitting in bridal suite

girl having hair done wearing black dressing gown

two women wearing black night gowns toasting champagne

black haired girl laughing as make up applied

mum and daughter preparing for wedding laughing together

wide shot of bride getting ready in sunlit room

photo of bride in mirror with lampshade in foreground

top half photo of bride with veil hands together laughing

over shoulder photo of bride with parents looking at her

bride with veil over her face with window light

man watching groom putting on bow tie in mirror

groom looking in mirror tying up bow tie

black and white man legs with toddler hanging onto them

black and white photo of two men walking down grand stair case at Lewtrenchard Manor

bride sitting and bridesmaid sitting holding her knees

father and friend putting veil over brides face

bride standing with father at the top of the stairs

bride and father walking down aisle at Lewtrenchard

bride and groom in library during ceremony

close up head shot of bride and groom holding hands

mother and father watching wedding ceremony

close up black and white bride and groom hands putting on wedding ring

black and white bride and groom signing the register

bride waking down grand staircase at Lewtrenchard Manor

family and friends standing at bottom of stairs awaiting bride and groom

bride hugging mother close up mothers face

bride and groom in front of big window in ballroom at Lewtrenchard Manor

two men shaking hands in front of stained glass window

wide shot of girl with toddler black and white

table shot of bride and groom at wedding breakfast

groom giving speech at wedding breakfast meal

bride and groom first dance at Lewtrenchard Manor

Wedding prep at Lewtrenchard Manor

With such an intimate wedding almost everyone was on site for preparation which meant Ben and his ushers figuring out how to tie a bow tie (harder than it looks when nerve kick in!) and Prue with her mother and bridesmaid at the other end in the bridal suite. I think Prue’s wedding dress was one of the most elegant and beautiful gowns I’ve seen in a long time. High necked and full armed and made of delicate lace it fitted like a glove and with Prue’s dancing figure she really looked breathtaking.

Documentary style wedding photography

When photographing such a small wedding it’s even more important for me that my style is discrete and natural and that’s why I love shooting with the Fuji XT2 cameras - they are light, silent and I’m able to blend in with the guests on the day. During the prep time I went between Prue and Ben’s rooms capturing images of what is one of my most favourite times of the day as a couple get ready and the anticipation builds - and of course seeing the looks on the face of friends and parents as the bride adds the finishing touches.

Lewtrenchard Manor in Devon

Whilst I am frequently in Devon for personal reasons, I’d never had a chance to photograph a wedding at the beautiful and popular Lewtrenchard Manor before. Ben, coming from Sydney had been pessimistic about the weather for a March wedding but it couldn’t have been more spectacular. The spring blossoms beginning to show and a low warm sun lighting up the historic Jacobean rooms. They had taken over the whole Manor exclusively with all individually styled bedrooms (one of which I got to enjoy). Lewtrenchard Manor can cater for both large and small weddings with it’s flexible spaces. Ben and Prue held their ceremony in the upstairs gallery with a short aisle before enjoying cocktails in the lounges at the reception. With the warm weather we were able to step outside and enjoy the magnificent views of the countryside from the house entrance, which is situated near all of the Dartmoor Tors, for the family and couple photos in the gardens. Lewtrenchard’s onsite wedding planner was fantastic throughout and the whole service was truly luxurious.

A Devon Wedding

For epic landscapes, this setting on the north edge of Dartmoor, a dramatic moorland with rolling hills is second to none. The grade two listed Jacobean Manor House has magnificent views of the surrounding countryside and is a popular area for weddings. Originally named as a royal manor it was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086AD. After passing through several hands it became a luxury wedding venue and hotel in 1988. It’s only a couple of hours by train to get to the local station of Exeter St Davids.

Exclusive wedding venue hire

With 14 individually inspired rooms Lewtrenchard can be hired exclusively for the weekend of your wedding so that you can make the most of the tranquility of the space to enjoy the time with your family and friends who have gathered from all over the country or event the world to celebrate your wedding day with you. Despite being only a few miles from the main A30 into Cornwall, Lewtrenchard is peaceful and quiet. The venue can cater for intimate weddings of 25, as Ben and Prue’s was and up to 65 dining in the ballroom, a stunning baroque and rococo room. The library is a perfect space for a ceremony with it’s lovely views from the triple aspect windows at the far end and the outlook of the fountain and gardens.

Wedding photography and planning your day

Every space within the breath-taking venue is perfect for setting up wedding photographs - whether in the grand panelled rooms with their historic paintings or out in the extensive grounds which provide a perfect place for that post wedding stroll to capture your first portraits as a married couple. The ornate four poster bedrooms offer a painterly backdrop for getting ready in. Lewtrenchard Manor offers a fantastic and dedicated wedding planning team who can handle every aspect of planning your day from the flowers, in-house catering, cake, marquee hire, hair and make up and every aspect of planning your perfect day. The house chef provides a personalised service to tailor a bespoke wedding breakfast menu.

To book this perfect wedding venue then get in touch with the team through their website here. To book your wedding photography at Lewtrenchard Manor please do get in touch with me here.

Hair and make up by Gemma Sutton. Dress by Christos Costarellos at The Bridal Atelier in Sydney. Prudence’s suede nude pumps were from Stuart Weitzman. Ben wore a Gieves & Hawkes suit.