Ettington Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Charlotte & Oli’s Wedding at Ettington Park Hotel

A Relaxed, Real, and Radiantly Joyful Day Captured Through Documentary Wedding Photography

When it comes to wedding photography that truly tells a story, documentary wedding photography shines brightest on a day like Charlotte and Oli’s. Held at the breathtaking Ettington Park Hotel, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon, with a church ceremony at Holy Trinity Church Stratford, this wedding was an honest, joyous, and slightly chaotic celebration full of personality. From the knickers and heels bridal prep to sunset fields and pudding with no hands.

If you’re searching for a Stratford wedding photographer who’ll capture it all, the huge smiles, teary hugs, hilarious antics and stolen moments, this is the kind of day that shows exactly why that approach matters.

Morning at Ettington Park Hotel

Both bridal prep and groom prep took place at Ettington Park Hotel, offering the perfect relaxed start. Oli got ready in a separate room and then slipped away to meet guests at The Dirty Duck pub in Stratford, an iconic pre-ceremony watering hole filled with laughter, pints, and that unique pre-wedding buzz.

Meanwhile, upstairs in bridal prep, it was full-on, glorious chaos. A cacophony of makeup brushes, hairspray clouds, curling irons, and the sight of babies being breastfed in between mascara applications. In the centre of it all was Charlotte, absolutely glowing, confident and carefree, strutting around in nothing but her knickers and high heels, completely unbothered. It was real, raw, and unforgettable, and exactly the kind of thing a documentary wedding photographer lives for.

A Ceremony Full of Surprises

Holy Trinity Church in Stratford is a stunning setting. But this ceremony had more than beauty, it had surprises. During the mornin down pour, a pigeon took refuge church, causing surprise and stifled giggles across the pews. But it didn’t disrupt the moment, it only added to the realness of the day.

Tears flowed (mainly happy ones), laughter echoed, and a guard of honour of Oli's colleagues greeted the couple as they emerged, filled with warmth and emotion.

And in classic Charlotte and Oli style, the confetti moment didn’t happen in the usual way. As they drove up to the venue in an open-top car, they were met with fists full of confetti flying through the air, and the huge smiles on the faces of their friends and family as the passed. Perfect chaos, perfectly captured.

A Pilot Groom, a Sunny Turnaround

It wouldn’t be right to leave out that Oli is a pilot, something that made some seriously cool energy around the wedding morning (though no one arrived by air, unfortunately). It added another layer of personality to a day that was full of them.

And as for the weather? It started out rainy, classic British wedding vibes. But the skies cleared, the sun broke through, and by the time the party hit the garden, it was blue skies and golden light all the way.

From Garden Games to Dessert Mayhem

The grounds at Ettington Park Hotel were buzzing with guests playing garden games, bowels, lawn Jenga, and Prosecco in the sunshine. Then came dinner… and dessert chaos.

Charlotte and Oli, never ones to do things the usual way, presented their guests a challenge: eating pudding with no hands. Imagine chocolate mousse, smeared noses, full belly laughs, and two people loving every second of their day. There’s simply no way to pose that, this is why documentary wedding photography matters.

Golden Fields and Natural Couple Photos

As the sun dipped lower, we snuck away briefly for couple photos, but even these weren’t really “posed.” Charlotte and Oli were left to just be themselves: walking, laughing, twirling, catching their breath between the madness. They wandered through fields, over a fence, holding hands and exchanging quiet smiles. Just them, no instructions needed.

98% of the day was captured naturally (you can't take family photos without a little planning) with no rigid posing, and definitely no “pretend to laugh.” The photos show the day as it truly was, unscripted, emotional, and overflowing with energy.

Working Together Behind the Lens

A huge shoutout to Darren from Everybody Smile Photography, who second-shot the day with expert ease. With two documentary photographers working in sync, nothing was missed, every tear, toast and toddler trying to steal wine was part of the story.

Final Thoughts

From a pigeon in the church to pudding with no hands, Charlotte and Oli’s wedding was wild in all the best ways. It was real, warm, and gloriously unscripted. With documentary wedding photography capturing every messy, emotional, magical moment, this was a wedding that felt lived, not staged.

So, if you’re after a Stratford wedding photographer who gets that you want more than pretty poses… who understands that a bit of chaos, a flash of knickers, or a sugar-smeared smile can be the most meaningful moments of your day, I might be the right photographer for you....