A guide to Aswanley
A wedding day at Aswanley
The cottages, the barn and all those lovely corners of the estate, here is how the place can work across a whole wedding day.
COUNTRY WEDDING, ROOM TO BREATHE
A place with a proper sense of character
Aswanley has the feel of a country estate from the moment you come down the drive. The old barn has three distinct spaces for the ceremony, dinner and dancing, with gardens, water and woodland all around it. It is a setting with plenty to explore, but the parts you need for the day sit together rather nicely.
These photographs come from weddings I have photographed here in summer and autumn. They show the rooms in use and the grounds in different light, so you can start to picture your own plans rather than only seeing an empty venue.
01 / THE MORNING
Getting ready at Clatterin Brig
Clatterin Brig is a brilliant place to begin. There is space for everyone to spread out, lovely light for hair and make-up, and that winding staircase gives us a beautiful spot for the dress and the final photographs before you leave for the barn. Laurie’s morning shows how well the cottage works when there is a wee bit of activity in every room.
Grant and the boys got ready in another cottage nearby on the estate, which meant both sides of the morning could be photographed without a long journey between them. If you are planning to use the cottages, check the booking and access times with the Aswanley team.
02 / THE CEREMONY
The ceremony has its own space
Inside the barn, the fireplace room has the warmth and character you want when everyone gathers for the ceremony. The stone fireplace and the old timber give the room a strong backdrop without needing much added to it. There are also other ceremony arrangements at Aswanley, including the ballroom and the barn lawn; the team can talk you through what works for your numbers and the weather.
Because dinner and the party can use their own rooms, the rest of the day can move on without asking everyone to wait through a major changeover. That is one of the cleverest things about this venue.
03 / TIME WITH YOUR GUESTS
Out into the grounds after the ceremony
The barn lawn is a natural place for everyone to gather, have a drink and catch up. For group photographs, I would keep people close to the venue to start with, it makes gathering family and friends much easier. Once the bigger combinations are done, the hedge, stonework and open grounds give us different looks without taking you miles from your guests.
04 / DINNER AND THE BALLROOM
Three rooms, one easy flow
This is a real strength of Aswanley. The ceremony room, dining room and ballroom are separate, so each can be ready for its part of the day. Guests can move from one to the next, and there is no big pause while dinner tables are cleared to make space for a dance floor. The old beams, the light and the details in these rooms all give the barn that unmistakable country feel.
THE CEREMONY ROOM
An intimate room centred on the fireplace, ready for everyone to gather.
THE DINING ROOM
A dedicated space for your meal and speeches, with the barn’s character around every table.
THE BALLROOM
The evening has its own room, so everyone can head in when it is time to dance.
05 / COUPLE PHOTOGRAPHS
So many places to take a wee wander
The river and bridges are wonderful, and I love the old red railway carriage for something completely different. The big entrance hedge, ponds, paths and views across the estate give us plenty of choice. We can pick a couple of nearby spots that suit the weather and the light, then get you back to your guests. Laurie and Grant’s July photographs feel very different from Clark and Lindsey’s autumn colours, which is exactly why it is useful to see both.
06 / THE EVENING
Dinner, speeches, then straight to the dance floor
While everyone is enjoying dinner in one room, the ballroom can be waiting for the evening. That separation makes the move into the party feel natural. I would make time for a look at the room before it fills, then let the photographs follow what happens when the music starts.
ONE LAST LOOK
And sometimes the sky has other plans
Clark and Lindsey finished their autumn wedding with the Northern Lights over Aswanley. You cannot plan for a sky like this, but what a way to remember the place.
VENUE DETAILS
Contact Aswanley
If you want to see how the spaces could work for your day, the Aswanley wedding team can help with dates, accommodation and a visit. Viewings are arranged in advance.
Visit the Aswanley wedding website
You can also see more of my wedding work on the blog. I’ll add links here to full Aswanley wedding stories as they are published.
PLANNING AN ASWANLEY WEDDING?
Tell me what you have planned
Send me your date and a wee bit about the day. I will let you know my availability and send over the full wedding brochure.
