Michelle and Lawrence’s beautiful day at Shotesham Park, in Norfolk was full of what makes a wedding day amazing to capture - A really lovely couple and guests, stunning venue and decor, a relaxed atmosphere, plenty of emotion, and so many natural moments of fun and connection from start to finish.
There was a cute penguin theme running throughout the day, which added a sweet and personal touch. From the little details to the overall feel of the celebration, it was clear how much thought had gone into making the day feel truly like them.
Shotesham Park is a wonderful setting for a Norfolk wedding, with its countryside surroundings, beautiful buildings, and plenty of space for guests to enjoy the day.
The wedding planner was also so friendly and helped make sure everything ran smoothly.
One of the most memorable parts of the day was the cricket. Lawrence is a keen cricketer, so of course the afternoon wouldn’t have been complete without a few overs out on the lawn. It brought lots of laughter and energy to the day, and made for some brilliant natural photographs.
It was also great to see Becky and Chris again who’s wedding I had the pleasure of capturing a few years back.
5 Planning Tips for a Shotesham Park Wedding
1. Make time to enjoy the grounds
Shotesham Park has so many lovely outdoor spaces, so it's worth leaving time in your day to really enjoy them. Drinks on the lawn and garden games work beautifully here.
2. Plan for an outdoor drinks reception
If the weather is on your side, the lawns at Shotesham Park are ideal for an outdoor drinks reception. Guests can spread out, enjoy the setting and mingle while you have a few family photographs taken. It creates a wonderfully relaxed feel and gives plenty of opportunities for natural, candid images.
3. Use the venue backdrop for your group photos
The front of Shotesham Park, the courtyard and the lawns all make beautiful backdrops for family and wedding party photographs. Keeping your list to around 8-10 group photos helps everything stay relaxed, so you can get back to enjoying the drinks reception.
4. Save time for golden hour
If the weather is kind, the surrounding countryside at golden hour is absolutely beautiful for couple portraits. Even 10 minutes later in the day can give you some of the most romantic images here.
5. Add something personal
The cricket on the lawn was such a brilliant part of this wedding because it felt completely personal to the couple. The penguin theme was another lovely detail that made the day feel unique to Michelle and Lawrence. Whether it's a sport, games, music, a pet, or a family tradition, those little touches help make your wedding feel like yours.
Best Photo Spots at Shotesham Park
The courtyard and stone wall
The courtyard is a lovely spot for portraits, especially with the beautiful stone wall as a backdrop. It gives photographs a timeless, elegant feel and works well for couple portraits or smaller group shots.
The surrounding countryside at golden hour
Later in the day, the countryside around Shotesham Park is perfect for soft, romantic portraits. Golden hour light works beautifully here and gives couples a quiet moment away from the celebrations.
The lawn
The lawn is ideal for natural guest photos, drinks reception moments and fun personal touches. For this wedding, it was the perfect setting for Lawrence’s cricket game, which brought so much laughter to the afternoon.
The front of the building and balcony
The front of the building makes a brilliant backdrop for group photographs. The balcony also gives the opportunity for a fun, relaxed group shot with everyone together.
Inside the reception room
The reception room looked absolutely stunning. It was the perfect place to capture all the decor, table styling, florals and thoughtful details before guests sat down for the wedding breakfast, and would have provided a great setting had we of had wet weather. The penguin touches added a playful feel to the styling, making the room feel even more special.
Such a joyful wedding to capture...
This wedding was relaxed, beautiful and full of personality.
From the gorgeous decor and outfits, to the penguin theme and cricket on the lawn, every part of the day felt true to Michelle and Lawrence.
If you’re planning a wedding at Shotesham Park and looking for natural, relaxed wedding photography in Norfolk, I would love to hear all about your plans.
Enjoy the inspiration…
The Amazing Supplier Team…
Noel Vine - Live music
The very talented bride created all of the beautiful stationary, and other details.
