Kelly and Simon married at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, then went on to their reception at the Sculpture Gallery at Woburn Abbey. The day was both filmed and photographed, and there was something going on for the guests from start to finish. The rain stopped and the sun came out.
St Mary’s, Woburn
The ceremony was at St Mary’s, the parish church in Woburn village, a short drive from the Abbey.
By horse and carriage to the Sculpture Gallery
After the ceremony Kelly and Simon were taken to the reception by horse and carriage. Woburn Abbey is the seat of the Dukes of Bedford, and the Sculpture Gallery is part of the Abbey estate. It’s a long room with glazing down one side, looking out over the gardens, and the wider estate runs out to the deer park.
Champagne in the gardens
With the weather on their side, the champagne reception moved outside into the landscaped gardens around the Gallery.
Kelly and Simon at Woburn Abbey
The Three Waiters and a caricaturist
During the meal the Three Waiters surprised everyone. Their singing and performance went down brilliantly. Afterwards a caricaturist worked his way round the tables sketching people. Luckily, nobody behind a camera ended up in his sketchbook.
It was a day with a great atmosphere, and a few familiar faces among the friends and family.
The highlights film
Bev filmed the day, and this is the short highlights clip.
Kelly and Simon wedding highlights on Vimeo.
This wedding was also featured on Bride de Force.
Congratulations to Kelly and Simon.
Planning a Sculpture Gallery wedding at Woburn Abbey
- Have a plan for the drinks. On a dry day the gardens around the Gallery take the reception outside.
- Allow for the move from church. St Mary’s in Woburn is a short journey from the Abbey. If you’re going by horse and carriage, build the slower pace into your timings.
- Use the glass. The Gallery’s long run of windows is what makes the room, so it’s worth thinking about where the top table and the speeches sit.
- Surprise entertainment works best when nobody knows. Keep acts like singing waiters quiet until the moment, and let your photographer know when it’s planned.
For other weddings at the same venue, see Kala and Julian at the Sculpture Gallery and Naomi and James. You can also see Kelly and Simon’s engagement photos. For country house weddings, have a look at my luxury wedding photography page, or see my prices and send me your date.
