A Halloween Wedding at Swancar Farm Country House: Maria and Jon

A Proposal on Stage

I’ve known Maria and Jon for a few years, as our paths often cross at the LR Awards. Two years ago, in true Jon style, he proposed to Maria on stage in front of 300 people – and I was there to photograph the moment she said yes.

So when they asked me to photograph their wedding, I was thrilled.

A Halloween Wedding

Maria and Jon married on 31 October 2023, with a Halloween theme from start to finish. Their venue was Swancar Farm Country House, a rustic farm just outside Nottingham.

With Storm Ciarán on its way, we didn’t want to take any chances, so we drove up the night before. The morning brought plenty of rain, but by 10am the skies were brightening.

A Warm Welcome

Swancar Farm is full of rustic charm. The farmhouse, orangery, main hall and bar surround a courtyard, which makes it feel like your own little village for the day.

Rebecca, the wedding coordinator, gave me a tour before taking me to the cottage where Maria had spent the night.

We arrived four hours early, because as well as photographing the day, we set up a pop-up photo studio with props. We printed photos on the day, which Maria and Jon presented as gifts during the speeches – a lovely personal touch.

Love, Laughter and Devil Horns

The clouds cleared after the ceremony, giving us blue skies for the photos. Maria and Jon took part in one of the venue’s traditions, fixing a padlock engraved with their names to the tree in front of the house.

The Swancar Farm team fully embraced the theme too, wearing witches’ hats and devil horns throughout the day.

A New Camera’s First Wedding

This was also the first wedding with my new Nikon Z8. It’s lighter than my old camera, and its tracking and face detection kept every moment sharp, from the courtyard to the dark of the evening.

Heading Home

As the night drew to a close, we packed up and began the five-hour drive home, with plenty of time to think about the day. Maria and Jon’s wedding was a joyful mix of surprises, smiles and shared moments, and I feel privileged to have been part of their story.

Travelling for Your Wedding

I’m based in Plymouth, but I’m always happy to travel for weddings across the UK. See my wedding photography packages or get in touch to tell me about your plans.