Buckland Manor Wedding Photography - An American Wedding in The Cotswolds with Coco and Phil

13 minutes ago

2 min read

Mid-summer in the Cotswolds is all chocolate box villages and fairytale country houses.

Coco and Phil fell in love with the area when they visited a few years before their Buckland Manor wedding, and I’ll be honest, they got the kind of church wedding you’d expect from The Vicar of Dibley.

The vicar was brilliant. Welcoming and hilarious, they had it feeling like Dibley within minutes, and that’s not an insult. The organist, bless them, was very young and performing at their first wedding, so I’m sure nerves took over. It was a very short aisle, so they’d been given clear instructions to stop after about 30 seconds. They did not, and we all patiently waited for the piece to finish while the vicar face-palmed and I tried to hide a giggle.

The morning started at Buckland Manor, where Coco got ready with family. It was a relaxed morning with no rushing and plenty of time to enjoy the spread the staff had provided. Claire Guy worked magic on everyone while I took candids of the people and some close-ups of the little details.

Black-and-white bridal room at Buckland Manor with a white wedding dress hanging before bay windows; a girl curls up in an armchair.

Bridal bouquet and flower girl bouquet standing in vases of water

Soft-focus bouquet of white roses, green blossoms, and blue thistles on a beige background, elegant and romantic.

Jeweled silver heels and a beaded blue clutch with jewellery on a wooden table, with Paris and J'Adior visible on the shoes.

Two silver diamond rings on a black reflective surface, one with a square-cut center stone.

Two black plates of sandwich wedges with greens and potato chips on a white tablecloth, viewed from above.

Claire Guy styles another woman’s hair in a bright room with a mirror and vanity, preparing her floral updo

Smiling stylist Claire Guy holds a mirror while a blonde woman in a blue dress sits in a sunlit room, getting ready.

Claire Guy spritzes another woman’s face in a sunlit bedroom, with wooden furniture and floral curtains, calm pre-event mood.

Woman applies lipstick to a young girl in a blue dress indoors, with a warm, intimate feel.

Blonde woman in blue patterned top sits by a sunny window holding a drink, with a white wedding dress hanging behind her.

Girl in a white dress sits in a sunlit room, holding a sweet bag beside a table with flowers and gifts.

Bride in white dress gets help from sister in a sunlit room, with flowers and patterned curtains.

Little girl kneels to fix a woman’s sparkly high heel as she lifts her white dress in a bright, floral room.

Coco and Phil were keen to do a first look before the wedding, so I popped down to see Phil, who was adding the finishing touches to a very smart tux.

Black-and-white close-up of a man fastening a cuff link on a white dress shirt, focused and formal.

Groom in black tuxedo adjusts white-and-green boutonniere in a mirror, looking focused in a warm hotel room.

Once they were both ready, I found a quiet spot for the first look and stepped back. It’s not something we really do in the UK, but I think it’s a great way to ease the nerves you’re both feeling. Quite often, couples who do a first look then walk each other down the aisle, rather than one of them waiting nervously at the front. I highly recommend it to couples who are anxious about having all eyes on them, because you feel so much braver with your best friend on your arm.

Smiling man in a black tuxedo walks down a gravel path in a sunny garden beside a stone house.

Groom in black tux admires bride in white dress on a sunlit garden path surrounded by lush green trees.

Bride and groom kiss in front of a stone building with blue windows, bride holding a white bouquet; another man watches from inside.

Bride and groom pose outside a stone building as a man grins and flashes peace signs through the window.

Bride in white dress dips back in groom’s arms beside ivy-covered stone wall and blue windows, holding a white bouquet at Buckland Manor in Broadway.

We popped over to the local church for the blessing, as they had to legally marry in the States. Then we came back for a laid-back afternoon at Buckland Manor, of drinking, playing games, eating, and dancing.

Newlyweds in a bright church read vows together, smiling, groom in a black tux and bride in a white dress.

Bride and groom kiss during a wedding ceremony in a bright church, with blurred guests and white pews in the background.

Bride and groom kneel at a church altar as a vicar reads, with candles glowing in a warm stone sanctuary.

Bride and groom smile walking through cheering wedding guests outdoors, with confetti, trees, and bright greenery.

Smiling bride and groom pose outside a stone church doorway, bride holding white bouquet in front of wooden arched door.

The grounds at Buckland Manor are stunning, with paths winding through the many flower beds. There’s plenty of space for quiet relaxation, a private moment for the couple, and lots of hiding places for the children to play hide-and-seek.

Elegant outdoor table with white floral centerpiece, pink cocktails, and orange champagne flutes in a stone courtyard garden.

Smiling woman hugs a man outdoors while another woman watches and touches her hair, in a candid black-and-white moment.

Bride in white gown and groom in black suit stand on garden steps at Buckland Manor, facing each other amid lush trees under blue sky.

Bride in white dress and groom in black suit hold hands walking through a colorful flower garden with trees and a small cottage.

Bride in white dress and groom in black suit laugh and embrace on a gravel garden path with sunlit trees and manor house behind

Serious man in a suit watches two children play chess at an outdoor table, with red drinks and a bright garden background.

The cake by Vanilla Pod Bakery was a perfect fit for a quintessential English country wedding.

Buckland didn’t have a dedicated space for a dance floor, but with such an intimate wedding, it didn’t seem to be a problem. The library became the perfect party spot, and I left them dancing the night away.