Chrissie and Tom during their Dodmoor House wedding ceremony

Chrissie & Tom’s Emotional and Joyful Wedding at Dodmoor House

ByLewis Bishop

A Spring Wedding Full of Letters, Laughs and Happy Tears

In April I photographed Chrissie and Tom’s wedding at Dodmoor House, one of my favourite barn wedding venues in Northamptonshire. If you’ve followed my work for a while, you’ll know I’m a bit of a fan. It’s full of character, the day flows easily, and it suits relaxed weddings down to the ground. I’m a recommended supplier there, so I’m back fairly often, and I still enjoy every one.

Pre Wedding Catch Up and Timeline Planning

A few weeks before the wedding, I caught up with Chrissie and Tom to go through their timeline and have a general chinwag. They were properly excited, and by the end of the call so was I.

They’d booked me for the full day, from morning prep right through to the evening dance floor. I like having the whole day covered. You get the big moments, but also all the little in between bits that nobody else notices at the time.

Morning Preparations at The Vicarage in Flore

On the morning I headed over to The Vicarage in Flore, about a five minute drive from Dodmoor House. Chrissie and her bridesmaids were getting ready there, and so was Tom, although he wasn’t too bothered about having his prep photographed, so I stayed with the girls.

I walked in to a few friendly faces, music on, champagne open and plenty of laughing. A good sign for the rest of the day.

One of my favourite bits of the morning was when Chrissie and Tom opened the letters they’d written to each other. They read them in separate rooms to keep things a surprise for the ceremony, and it was a quiet, emotional few minutes. I filmed a short behind the scenes video of the morning for them too, which they were really pleased with when their full gallery arrived. (If you follow me on Instagram, you might have already seen a snippet.)

Back to Dodmoor House for the Final Touches

Once the morning at the vicarage wrapped up, we made our way to Dodmoor House for the last bits of getting ready. I said a quick hello to the venue team, who are always great, grabbed a few detail shots and headed straight back in.

Glasses clinking, music playing, and before long the bridesmaids and Chrissie’s dad gathered for a first look. These moments get me every time. The bridesmaids were thrilled, and when her dad saw her he just looked so proud. It’s one of those moments where I feel lucky to be standing in the room.

Chrissie in a satin robe has her hair styled by candlelight before her Dodmoor House wedding
Chrissie laughs with her bridesmaids as her hair is pinned up during getting-ready preparations
Bridesmaids in satin robes share a toast with champagne while relaxing on a sofa before the ceremony
A bridesmaid has her eye makeup carefully applied while wearing a blue satin robe
Bridesmaids in satin robes share a laugh together while getting ready at Dodmoor House
Chrissie smiles while reading a handwritten letter, sitting on the bed in a monogrammed white robe
A bridesmaid leans on the sofa smiling, caught mid-laugh as she applies makeup before a mirror
Tom reads a heartfelt letter on the sofa, visibly moved before the ceremony begins
A young boy pulls a curious face while a man smiles over cufflinks on the sofa behind him at Dodmoor House
A bridesmaid in a satin robe laughs while opening a bottle of fizz beside a door spelling out LOVE
Bride having makeup applied beside a window with her dress hanging ready at Dodmoor House
A small boy in a waistcoat peeks shyly from behind a man's legs in a brick corridor
Four bridesmaids in matching robes laugh and pose together squeezed into a freestanding bath at Dodmoor House
Laughing male guests in smart suits walk together across a courtyard at Dodmoor House
Groom buttons his tweed jacket while waiting outside a stone building before the ceremony
Bridesmaid in a pale blue dress smiles while peeking through sheer curtains in soft light
Bridesmaids in matching blue dresses laugh together as the bride looks on getting ready
Father peers round the bedroom door to see the bride while her mother looks on at Dodmoor House
Emotional embrace between a bride and her father as her mother watches on from the bed at Dodmoor House
Groom gently helps the bride put on her bracelet as she looks down, sharing a quiet moment before the ceremony

A Ceremony Full of Emotion

Then everyone sat down and the ceremony began. Smiles, a fair few tears, and guests beaming wherever I pointed the camera. Chrissie and Tom couldn’t stop grinning at each other, and honestly, neither could I behind the camera.

Confetti, Drinks and Courtyard Moments

After the “I do’s”, everyone headed out into the courtyard at Dodmoor House for a big group photo and the start of the drinks reception. The sun was out and the prosecco was flowing. I spent this part of the day mostly on natural photos of everyone chatting, plus a few group photos, kept quick and light so nobody was stood around for long.

I also tried something new for their portraits. I popped the drone up and got a shot of Chrissie and Tom walking hand in hand across the little bridge just outside the venue. It gave their gallery a completely different view of the day, and they loved it.

A Personal Touch: The Receiving Line

Before the wedding breakfast, Chrissie and Tom did a receiving line, so they got to say hello and share a hug with every guest. I think it’s a great idea if you’re worried about not getting time with everyone. Wedding days go quickly, and this was a nice way for them to slow down and actually talk to people.

Speeches, Laughter and More Tears

The wedding speeches happened before the meal, and they were brilliant. Cheeky stories, big laughs and a couple of moments that set the tears off again.

A groomsman waits nervously in the aisle as guests take their seats before the ceremony begins
Bride walks down the aisle on her father's arm clutching a pink and white bouquet at Dodmoor House
Groom reads his vows aloud as guests look on, one capturing the moment on her phone
Chrissie and Tom hold hands at the altar as guests look on during the ceremony at Dodmoor House
Chrissie stands with her mother and groom Tom, both women visibly moved during the vows
Guests seated in the exposed-brick barn watch Chrissie and Tom exchange vows at the ceremony table
A sunglasses-wearing registrar reads aloud as Tom and Chrissie hold hands during their ceremony
Chrissie and Tom exchange rings during the ceremony beneath exposed beams at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom share a kiss as guests applaud in the beamed barn ceremony room
A young pageboy chats with guests seated under the arched windows during the ceremony
Newlyweds raise hands in celebration walking back down the aisle as guests clap
Charlotte and Jacob walk arm in arm down the aisle as guests applaud under the exposed beams
Chrissie and Tom pose with their full wedding party in the courtyard at Dodmoor House
A guest hugs a smiling man warmly beside jars of drinks on an outdoor table
Guests chat and laugh together on the patio, drinks in hand on a bright day
A boy laughs while carried piggyback by another lad as guests look on nearby
Chrissie and Tom pose laughing with bridesmaid and young pageboy outside Dodmoor House
Groom lifts his sunglasses laughing with guests and bride holding bouquet at Dodmoor House
Bride Chrissie embraces a guest warmly while a bridesmaid and young boy look on
Chrissie shares a joyful moment with three bridesmaids in pale blue, all holding bouquets
Tom and Chrissie stand smiling with family members for a relaxed group portrait
A groom laughs with a toddler on his hip while leaning on another man outside at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom share a quiet moment beneath blossom trees in the gardens at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom stroll hand in hand along a gravel path in front of the timber-framed house at Dodmoor House
Chrissie laughs joyfully holding her bouquet as Tom smiles beside her among spring blossom
Chrissie and Tom walk hand in hand along a canal path lined with trees at Dodmoor House
Aerial view of Dodmoor House with its gardens, canal bridge and narrowboats moored alongside
A bearded guest shares a warm embrace with the bride, her braided hair adorned with flowers
Tom laughs while hugging Chrissie, her red fishtail braid decorated with delicate hairpins
An older guest in a blue shirt laughs heartily while chatting with the bride and groom outdoors
Bride shares a warm hug with an emotional guest as groom greets family at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom walk hand in hand past cheering guests during their reception entrance
A bald guest in a waistcoat gives a heartfelt speech, smiling as others react beside him
Guests seated at a flower-decked table listen and laugh together during a wedding speech
Chrissie throws her arms up cheering as Tom reads his speech during the reception at Dodmoor House
Guests raise their glasses in a toast beneath hanging flowers in the exposed brick reception room at Dodmoor House
Tom speaks into a microphone reading from notes as guests listen closely at the wedding breakfast table
Chrissie laughs heartily beside Tom at the top table, surrounded by bouquets and glasses of fizz
Heart-shaped wire frame displaying family photos in loving memory on a wall at Dodmoor House

Evening Celebrations and a Busy Dance Floor

As the evening guests arrived, each of them made a beeline for the newlyweds for a hug. Then it was the cake cutting and the first dance, and the dance floor filled up pretty quickly after that.

Before I left for the night, I took Chrissie and Tom outside for a few more creative portraits, finishing with a champagne spray. It’s become one of my favourite ways to end the day. It looks great in photos and it’s a lot of fun to do. Chrissie and Tom threw themselves into it, and the photos are some of my favourites from the day.

Groom in a checked suit embraces a laughing guest in glasses warmly outside a brick doorway
Close-up of two guests holding hands, one in a leafy green skirt, the other in a floral dress
Guests chat and hug on the terrace outside Dodmoor House as children look on nearby
A guest whispers a joke to a laughing man as she holds a champagne flute at Dodmoor House
Guests chat and laugh together in the garden at Dodmoor House as a boy stands among them
Friends raise their glasses in a cheerful toast around a patio table at Dodmoor House
Guests share a joyful laugh with the bride, her braided hair catching the evening light
Chrissie shares a warm hug with a guest on the terrace at Dodmoor House as Tom smiles nearby
A guest throws her arms up mid-laugh as others chat and relax on a paved courtyard behind her
A guest leans in close with his camera raised, capturing the celebrations while others look on
An aerial view of Dodmoor House shows guests gathered in the courtyard garden among brick barns and lawns
Young boy in a waistcoat grins while holding two large silver magic rings at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom cut their tiered naked cake together as guests watch at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom share their first dance, arms wrapped round each other, surrounded by onlookers
Tom twirls Chrissie on the dance floor as her gown swirls and guests look on smiling
The groom embraces a guest in a warm hug amid coloured dance floor lighting
Guests laugh and dance together under colourful lighting during the evening reception at Dodmoor House
A guest in a green dress dances and sings along surrounded by smiling friends and family in the evening
Chrissie and Tom share a tender close embrace, foreheads touching under warm golden light
Chrissie and Tom spray champagne joyfully outside the stone cottage at Dodmoor House at night
Chrissie and Tom laugh as a champagne cork sprays past them outside Dodmoor House at night
Guests pull funny faces in silly sunglasses and hats for a group photo booth picture
Two women in navy dresses dance and laugh together as a live band plays behind them
A guest points and cheers from a balcony with two friends laughing beside him at night
Guests relax on the fairy-lit terrace at Dodmoor House as evening falls over the garden
A young girl laughs with a red-haired woman during an evening dance floor moment
A man pulls a cheeky dance move as guests laugh around him on the dance floor
Four friends burst into laughter while piling their hands together on a staircase
Guests laugh and chat together on the dance floor under colourful lights at Dodmoor House
Chrissie and Tom share a quiet embrace among fairy-lit trees at Dodmoor House in the evening

Final Thoughts

Before I knew it, the day was over and I was driving home with a memory card full of good stuff. A massive thank you to Chrissie, Tom and all their family and friends for making me feel so welcome. You were a joy to spend the day with.

And thanks as always to the team at Dodmoor House. You’re always a pleasure to work with, and the way you look after every couple shows.

Planning a Dodmoor House Wedding?

If you’re getting married at Dodmoor House and want a photographer who knows the venue well (and is quite fond of it), I’d love to hear from you. Tell me a bit about your plans, and ask away about anything you’re not sure of.

Contact Me
Lewis Bishop

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