Blencowe Hall Wedding Photography | Katie & James
An Intimate Wedding at Blencowe Hall
When one of your best friends asks you to photograph their wedding it always produces a decision which is hard to make. Do I want to be part of the day in the form of a guest (should I be so lucky to grab an invite) or do I want to be the one helping craft the memories they’ll hold dear?
When James & Katie asked me if I would photograph their Blencowe Hall wedding it was definitely a decision which was tough. After a lot of consideration I agreed to photograph it as it was set to be a very intimate wedding day and having a friend behind the photographs would keep the relaxed vibe they were wanting to create.
With the civil ceremony at 15:30 it was a day of two halves. The first being a super chilled out and relaxed morning come early afternoon. We then went on to the second half of tears, laughter and activity after activity culminating in a big party. This definitely aligned with the Blencowe Hall wedding Katie & James dreamed of creating
Once the registrars arrived it was such a lovely bizarre scenario where they were welcomed as though they were being welcomed into someone’s family home. Within seconds they had cake and a cup of tea in their hands from family members helping out. In the morning, Katie had friends help with make up and her hair was done by The Hair Loft before quickly slipping into her Bridal Lounge wedding dress.
My First Wedding at Blencowe Hall
Being from Staffordshire meant this was my first time photographing at the beautiful Blencowe Hall. I love outdoor weddings as they’re all incredible to be a part of and the Rowley Estates team at Blencowe Hall made me feel right a home. I often venture further afield to photograph weddings and I don’t charge for the pleasure. I find it incredibly exciting actually and really relish the opportunity to shoot within a new space and a new wedding adventure.
My style of wedding photography is built on a great relationship with my couples. All of my weddings are different and unique; even if I was to shoot again at the same venue like Blencowe Hall. Time on your wedding day is really important to me as I’m sure it is to you too. So if I can help it I don’t really want you to miss a thing and would love you to remember as much as possible. This caring and relaxed approach to my wedding photography is the reason why so many couples recommend me. They always say it feels like a friend is taking their photographs and not a photographer.
A Stunning Medieval Castle in Penrith
Gliding through Penrith in the Lake District countryside you’ll arrive at the small village of Little Blencowe which by village accounts is very quaint. Turning out of the village you’ll start to see the Crenelated towers of Blencowe Hall surrounded by its own fields, Petteril river and magnificent views of the Lakeland Fells. A 14th-century castle which has undergone a huge restoration project in it’s more recent years to become a luxury 5-star holiday home and DIY wedding venue for those looking for something a little more magical to tie the knot.
This fortified Manor House is Grade I listed and it’s vibrant history dates all the way back to 1358 when King Edward III gifted Adam de Blencowe land to build his family home in Great Blencowe. Little of this home survives as the family then moved to the current Blencowe Hall which was then built in the 15th or 16th century.
The High Sheriff of Cumberland, Sir Henry de Blencowe who was subsequently knighted in 1617 by King James I is amongst the famous historical names to have once occupied Blencowe Hall. It’s also got loose ties to Lady Jane grey the poor ill-fated queen of England for a very short-lived 9 days.
Blencowe Hall is not the only castle within the area as the nearby village of Greystoke also boasts Greystoke Castle, a very similar but much larger fortification.
Blencowe Hall makes up just a small part of the larger Rowley Estate. In the early 1800s, Edward Rowley established The Rowley Estates. An estate set out to manage the families’ collection of woodlands, businesses, farms, and historic manors. With careful restoration and the utmost care for the estate in mind at all times, this estate has managed to preserve the importance of so much Cumbrian history. The Rowley Estates is proud to have been in family hands since the start passing through six generations of the family so far.
In more recent years Blencowe Hall made history by winning a 2009 design award and in 2010 was an RICS North West winner and gifted a Building Conservation award in support from the English Heritage Council. Most notably the restoration work on the South Tower which infamously was left split with a V-shaped chasm following canon fire from a Cromwell invasion. although most of the interior has received modernisation throughout it still boasts original features throughout including mullioned windows, stone fireplaces, labyrinth staircases, and beautiful cobbled courtyard.
Your DIY Wedding at Blencowe Hall
As a wedding venue, Blencowe Hall boasts a venue perfect for a small intimate family affair. With none of the rooms specifically designed for weddings, you can really have a day unlike no other at this medieval manor.
Sitting just on the edge of the famous Lake District National Park this fortified Manor House in the Eden Valley can be perfect for your DIY wedding. With a floor plan more representative of an extreme version of the board game Cluedo, you’ll be spoiled for choice on how to have your day unfold.
With the vast amount of rooms Blencowe Hall has to offer, yourself and your partner can opt to get ready at different sides of this stone maze whilst not evening hearing a peep out of each other all morning. For the rest of the day the hall offers a lovely assortment of rooms which can be put to great use throughout your big day. Your guests can enjoy a game of snooker in the Billiards Room whilst others grab a drink at your pop up bar in the Courtyard then rolling on into the evening you can set up a miniature dance floor in the Snug.
The real star attraction of getting married at Blencowe Hall is to be able to say your vows and exchange your wedding rings in front of the historical V-shaped chasm in the South Tower. Stepping into say your legal bits it’s the most magical way to get married outside in the Lake District.
The outdoor space really is the crown jewel of Blencowe Hall. With its stunning cobbled courtyard and many well-kept gardens and lawns, it really does suit an outdoor wedding day. Lawn games and outdoor speeches whilst your guests take in the Lake District air add a real feature to your day.
Bringing in your own suppliers is all part of the fun at Blencowe. A more relaxed angle for your wedding breakfast will be needed though as you’ll struggle for space indoors. There is always the option to bring in your own tables and dine in the courtyard beneath the night sky but most opt for food trucks or pizza vans to continue the relaxed atmosphere which just oozes out of this magnificent wedding venue.
The on-site accommodation means all of your guests can stay over and really feel immersed in your wedding day. The Hall boasts 12 bedrooms including the appropriately named Lady Jane Grey Room in the North Tower, Cromwell’s Folly in the South Tower chasm and the Adam de Blencowe Room on the ground floor. As well as the rooms within the main hall the private estate also has accompanying cottages modernly restored. The Wythburn and Cazenovia Cottages sit alongside the Riverian Coach House to offer ample more accommodation for all guests.
As well as being surrounded by history at Blencowe you and your guests can really enjoy the surroundings as not far from you are ancient stone circles, Lacy’s Caves, hiking trails, boating at Ullswater, fishing for trout in the surrounding rivers or you can drive through one of the 5 Most Beautiful Drives in the UK as compiled by the Telegraph.
Photographing A Wedding in a Non Wedding Venue
Being a wedding photographer at Blencowe Hall is full of challenges and excitement. The mullioned windows and stone walls create very atmospheric photographs as the difference between light and dark is vast.
Photographing amongst such vibrant history and beautiful countryside gives stunning backdrops to all of the wedding photographs I capture meaning I can focus completely on capturing pictures which represent more of a documentary angle focusing on moments throughout the day.
The tight space indoors and the large space outdoors really lends itself to my close up wide-angled nature making sure not one bit of the action is missed.
The long winding labyrinth-like corridors and natural frames through archways and windows allow me to get creative with my framing throughout the day. You see being a Blencowe Hall wedding photographer is a creative overload which has me producing beautifully vibrant images throughout your wedding day.
Blencowe Hall Wedding Photographer
