On 17th May 2013, I was delighted to be the official wedding photographer for the wedding of Joanne & Nick Kamen. The service was held at Shire Hall Registry Office and then with the aid of some vintage Rolls Royce’s we were whisked off to St Nicolas’s Park and then onto the Mill Garden at the foot of the Castle.

When they came to book at my studio, Joanne & Nick wanted the full wedding photography treatment including beautiful backdrops and cars but not the usual hotel venue. I suggested that after their service they should have their photographs taken at the Mill Garden on Mill Street; however, the gardens were already booked, so Nick suggested that we use the gardens in St Nicholas’s park first and then went onto the Mill Garden.

The plan worked a flawlessly, we did some photos in the square with the Rolls-Royce’s and then some close family portraits in the park, whilst the Rollers went back to the square to pick up the rest of the party. In the park the flowers were in full bloom, I don’t think a hotel flower bed would have been as well-kept.  Then we went onto the spectacular Mill Garden. I have done a few weddings at this garden and I cannot stress enough about what a beautiful place it is, the flowers beds and lawns are immaculate, then there is the romantic-ruined bridge and the river and of course Warwick Castle. Wedding photography garden hire is £40, which I think is very reasonable for the views included.

After the wedding photographs had finished I walked back to town with the wedding party through the old castle gate that leads off the St Nicholas roundabout, the path is carved through ancient rock and leads onto Castle Lane. I couldn’t help thinking on my walk back to my studio how well the wedding photography had worked and the guest experience of seeing some hidden gems of Warwick.

I think this wedding is proof that there are alternatives to traditional church and hotel reception weddings that don’t scrimp on the wow factor.  It was also a great wedding to cover, everyone was easy to instruct, and even the weather turned out well in the end after an anxious week of rain forecasts.

It was a great day all round.