Folly Farm Wedding Photography
I was really looking forward to photographing this fun floral wedding at Folly Farm! Folly Farm is a relaxed and sustainable wedding venue set in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Offering exclusive use, beautiful stone barns and both indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces, it’s designed for couples looking for a flexible and personal celebration. Folly Farm specialises in two-night weddings, with on-site accommodation for around 45–50 guests, giving you plenty of time to settle in and enjoy the venue with your favourite people. As an added bonus, the venue is owned by Avon Wildlife Trust, with its profits supporting the restoration of local wildlife habitats.
Having everything on-site always makes for a relaxed vibe, and that’s great for my style of natural, unobtrusive photos. Wedding days contain so many moments, whether that’s a shared joke during speeches and drinks reception belly laughs, and a scenic wedding venue like this is the perfect setting for photographing these moments.
Wedding Morning Preparations
There’s plenty of space on-site for both bride and groom preparations. Having enough space for makeup artists and hair stylists on a wedding morning makes all the difference. My couples love looking back at photos of this part of the day. It’s often busy with lots going on, so there’s lots of moments to photograph.
Outdoor Wedding Ceremony
Let’s ignore this stunning outdoor ceremony setting for a moment… whilst my attention is on photographing the bride walking down the aisle arm in arm with her Dad, I’m also quite tuned into guests reactions, and as guests and I wait for the big entrance, I want to ensure I capture reactions as well as the brides arrival. For me as a photographer, this moment isn’t just about the bride and her dad - it’s also the smiles and emotions of watching friends and family. These are the photos my couples really treasure.
The couple were blessed with such perfect light! Whilst everyone longs for a bright and sunny blue sky day, a little cloud cover results in the gorgeous soft light in these photos. Not only is it really flattering, but colorful florals look amazing in this light too. The couple had chosen a mix of sunflowers and colourful wildflowers for bouquet and decor.
That time after the couple walk back up the aisle together is great for capturing a few candid moments and the couple are congratulated by friends and family. Following this I like to organise a quick confetti photo. I find this works best when the guests line up either side and the couple walk through a flurry of confetti together. It’s a lovely moment and makes for great confetti photos.
Confetti
Group Photos
The drinks reception is a great time to prioritise any family photos that you’d like. I recommend my couples have a think any priority group photos in advance of the wedding day. Folly Farm has many pretty locations that can be used for group photos, so if you do have guests with any mobility aids, there’s no need to walk far at all as this is a wedding venue with a stunning exterior and plenty of lush green backdrops to choose from.
Couple Portraits
Folly Farm has so many gorgeous locations for wedding day couple portraits, including open countryside and pretty woodland areas. We were spoiled for choice! Couple portraits aren’t all about the photos, it’s often the first time on the wedding day that couples get to have some time alone together to catch up, and take stock of everything, so I love to take a step back and photograph these moments - both personalities truly shine, and there’s no posing required!
Wedding Details
The couple had chosen a botanical and floral aesthetic, with tree stump table centrepieces and colourful fresh florals. The sunflower theme continued in this space, with sunflowers placed to frame the entrance. The florals were combined with vibrant confetti bunting across the marquee. I made sure to photograph all of these finishing touches before the guests arrived to the wedding breakfast.
Drinks Reception
The drinks reception was in the courtyard area. I love photographing lots of candids at this time of day, it’s a great opportunity to capture guests relaxed smiles as everyone enjoyed drinks and canapés in the sun.
Wedding Speeches
These speeches were everything! The whole room was invested, and it was a joy to photograph so much laughing and so many emotions.
Group Photos
The time after the wedding breakfast is a great time of day for photographing the bridesmaids and groomsmen! Speeches are done, the meal has been enjoyed, and everyone is relaxed. There’s usually a natural gap between the end of the wedding meal and the evening reception, so it’s the perfect time for a few relaxed photos.
First Dance
Wedding Photography
Are you getting married at Folly Farm? I’d love to photograph your wedding! Head over to my contact page to share a few details and I can check my availability for your date. Want to find out more about me? Head over to my about page - or my portfolio page to see more of my wedding photography work.