Amy and Lewis told me early on that posing was not their strong point. What mattered most to them was photographs that captured how the day felt. Their wedding at Bordesley Park, near Redditch in Worcestershire, was relaxed, family-centred and full of laughter. I'm Paul Hickey of Once in a Lifetime Photography, and I've photographed several weddings here as a Bordesley Park wedding photographer.
They met online in 2020 and became a couple at the end of 2021. Lewis proposed at home, having quietly decorated the living room with heart-shaped tea lights and petals, with help from Amy's parents. That mix of humour and close family ran through everything on the first Sunday of September.
Knowing the venue helped the day run smoothly. I arrived with my second photographer about three hours before the ceremony. We started with drone stills of the house and marquee while the grounds were still quiet.
Getting Ready in Two Barns
The morning split neatly across the venue's two barns. Lewis and his groomsmen had the mezzanine above the Bishop's Barn. It is an open-plan space with a pool table, a dartboard and a speaker for music. Nobody needed directing: they played pool and threw darts, and sorted out buttonholes, gifts and the page boy's shoes between turns.
Below them, guests were already gathering in the Bishop's Barn bar. Having the groom's preparation directly above the arrivals meant I could move between the two easily. I could catch handshakes and first drinks without missing anything upstairs.
Amy and her bridesmaids were upstairs in the Tudor Barn, in satin dressing gowns. Before the room got busy, I photographed the small things she had chosen: perfume, earrings, the invitation and a tiny pendant fixed to her bouquet. In the middle of it all, the flower girl twirled in her dress.
I also hung Amy's dress from one of the exposed beams in the ceremony room below. The beams and the rows of pale sage chair covers gave the dress a frame that belonged to the building. Later, as Amy finished getting ready, she stood at the window with her veil falling behind her, lit softly through the sheer curtains.
A Quiet Moment with Amy's Dad
Shortly before the ceremony, Amy had a first look with her dad and gave him a gift. He became visibly emotional and ended up sitting down, in tears. I let it unfold without stepping in or asking for anything.
Those frames, and the hug between them, are the ones I would point to if anyone asked what Amy and Lewis meant by family-centred. Amy then made her way downstairs towards the ceremony, and I went down with her.
The Ceremony in the Tudor Barn
The Tudor Barn ceremony room has exposed beams overhead and a pair of large windows, close to patio doors, at one end. For Amy and Lewis it was dressed in pale sage, with flowers, reserved signs and a welcome sign at the entrance. It is a reasonably bright room and a pleasant one to work in.
Those windows are the thing to plan around. Shooting from the back of the room towards the couple puts strong light directly behind them. Where I can, I work from the front. It is tighter for space, but it keeps faces properly lit and puts the guests' reactions behind the couple.
Amy and Lewis had booked a pianist as a surprise, and he played for the ceremony. The rings, the first kiss and the signing of the register all took place in that room.
The ceremony itself was straightforward and well run, which suits documentary wedding photography. With nothing to fix, I could concentrate on faces. Amy smiled her way through the vows, and the guests on either side of the aisle were watching just as closely as I was.
Bubbles, Beer Pong and Family Groups
Instead of confetti, Amy and Lewis walked out into bubbles from a machine, handheld bubble guns and small wands for the guests. My second photographer and I covered it from front and rear. The gallery has the couple walking towards the camera, and the same moment from behind with the guests either side.
For the whole-party photograph, I went up into the house and shot from an elevated spot looking down over the lawn. From that height everyone fits, faces stay visible, and nobody is hidden at the back.
The family groups went beneath the trees, where the shade is even and groups can change quickly. Pictures with family were top of Amy and Lewis's list. I moved some of the groups out onto the open lawn, so that everyone in the family could take part comfortably.
Between groups, the drinks reception carried on around us, with a game of beer pong on the lawn.
Couple Portraits Around the Grounds
Amy and Lewis had warned me they were not natural posers, so I treated the portraits as a walk rather than a session. We started at the front of the house, against the red brick and the tall mullioned windows. I gave them small prompts, a walk, a word, a kiss, and let them fill the gaps themselves.
From there we went to the quieter lane behind the marquee. It is out of the way of the guests, which helps couples relax, and the backgrounds stay simple. Ten minutes away from everyone often does more for a portrait than any amount of posing.
The grounds have two swings, and we used both. One hangs from a tree. The other is a bench swing set into a brick alcove, which gives a couple a natural reason to sit close together.
Early September gives long afternoons, which takes the pressure off the timing. It meant we could keep the portraits short, get Amy and Lewis back to their guests, and return for more later.
Speeches and the Wedding Box in the Marquee
The wedding breakfast was in the marquee, with signage at the entrance and dressed tables throughout. I photographed it wide and close before the guests came in, while it was still exactly as the couple had planned it.
The speeches brought both laughter and tears. Molly, Amy's maid of honour, spoke from beside her at the top table, and Amy was wiping away tears as she listened. Moments like that are why I watch the person listening as much as the person speaking.
During the meal I set up the wedding box, a wooden frame with a black backing. Each guest poses inside it for a single playful portrait. Some guests wore crowns and pulled faces. Amy put on a crown herself and sang into a karaoke-style microphone, and Lewis joined in.
Afterwards I edited 49 of those individual frames into one composite, a grid of faces that works like a picture guest book. It sums up the couple well: a marquee full of people they love, all being silly together.
Smoke, a Trampoline and Creative Evening Portraits
Creative wedding photography is the part of the day I plan most carefully, and Bordesley Park gave me plenty to work with. In the afternoon I took the bridal party to the edge of the field with two pink and purple Enola Gaye smoke effects. The colour sat alongside the bridesmaids' pink dresses, and the group walked towards me with the smoke trailing behind.
The grounds also have a sunken trampoline. Amy, Lewis and the page boy ended up on it, and I put the drone up for an overhead view. From directly above, the trampoline becomes a green ring with the three of them inside it. It is not a picture you can make at many venues.
As evening came on, I set up a large softbox and studio flash at the edge of the lawn, with the hills behind. It is an optional extra for guests: a properly lit portrait of a couple or small family group. Around 15 to 20 groups came over.
After the cake, the first dance and a busy dance floor, I took Amy and Lewis back outside. Lewis sprayed champagne backlit with off-camera flash, so every droplet shows against the dark. We finished at the apple tree, where a large picture frame hangs from a branch. I lit the two of them so they stand clear of the night behind.
Why Bordesley Park Works So Well for Wedding Photography
Bordesley Park works well for wedding photography because its spaces are close together but separate. Two barns, a marquee, a house and open grounds sit within a short walk, so the day flows without long gaps between locations. If you are comparing barn wedding venues in Worcestershire, that layout is worth looking at closely.
The two barns let a couple get ready apart without leaving the venue. The Bishop's Barn mezzanine suits a relaxed groom's morning, with guests arriving in the bar below. The Tudor Barn has a preparation room upstairs and the ceremony room downstairs, so the bride has only a staircase between her and the aisle.
The Tudor Barn ceremony room is reasonably bright, but the large windows at one end create strong backlight from the rear of the room. A photographer who knows this will plan to work from the front wherever the venue allows.
For portraits, the variety is unusual for a single Worcestershire venue. There is red brick at the front of the house and a quiet lane behind the marquee. There are also two swings, a sunken trampoline and an apple tree.
The field edge looks out to the hills, a clean backdrop for evening portraits. The house offers a high viewpoint for the whole-party photograph where access is allowed.
These notes come from my own work at the venue, not from its published policies. There is more on the venue, and other couples' days there, in my Bordesley Park wedding photography guide.
Planning a Wedding at Bordesley Park? A Few Things Worth Knowing
Think about the ceremony windows. The two large windows in the Tudor Barn sit behind the couple when seen from the back of the room. Ask your photographer how they plan to cover the ceremony, and check with your coordinator where photographers may stand.
Ask about confetti early. Amy and Lewis chose bubbles, which photographed well from front and rear. I can't confirm the venue's current confetti rules, so check with Bordesley Park before you buy anything.
Use the house for the big group photograph. Shooting down from the house fits everyone in and keeps faces visible. Confirm access with the venue in advance. Tell your photographer about any guests with mobility needs, so groups can be placed where everyone can join.
Check permissions for creative extras. Smoke effects, the drone, the trampoline and hanging the dress from a beam all worked at this wedding. Venue policies can change, so confirm each one with the venue rather than assuming it is allowed.
Agree a wet-weather plan. I haven't seen a confirmed indoor alternative for portraits here. Ask the venue what is available if the lawn is out of use, so your timeline has a fallback.
Help guests find the evening portraits. In early September the sun sets at around 7.45pm, so the field-edge light changes soon after the meal. Guests often need a nudge to walk over, and a quick word from you or the DJ makes a real difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bordesley Park?
Bordesley Park is a wedding venue near Redditch in Worcestershire, postcode B98 9BH. It combines two barns, a marquee, a house and open grounds on one site. Amy and Lewis held their ceremony in the Tudor Barn and their reception in the marquee.
Is Bordesley Park good for wedding photography?
Yes, it offers a lot of variety within a short walk. There are separate barns for preparation, a beamed ceremony room, varied portrait spots and open views for evening portraits. The main thing to plan around is backlight from the large windows in the Tudor Barn.
Where do couples get ready at Bordesley Park?
At this wedding, both partners got ready on site in separate barns. Lewis and his groomsmen used the mezzanine in the Bishop's Barn, and Amy used the upstairs room in the Tudor Barn. Room arrangements may vary, so check with the venue.
Can you use bubbles, smoke effects or a drone at Bordesley Park?
All three were used at this wedding, but confirm current rules with the venue first. Policies on drones, smoke effects and confetti alternatives can change. Your photographer should check permissions and safety arrangements before using any of them on the day.
How many guests can Bordesley Park accommodate?
Please confirm capacity directly with the venue. I don't hold verified figures for the barns or the marquee. Capacity can also differ between the ceremony room and the reception space, so ask about each one separately.
How much does a wedding photographer cost for a Bordesley Park wedding?
My Signature Wedding Photography package is £1,395 for 2027 weddings. It includes full-day coverage and 700+ edited images in an online gallery, delivered within eight weeks. The Complete Wedding Collection is £1,795, and film can be added. Full details are on my wedding photography packages page.
How many photographs will we receive?
Amy and Lewis received around 1,200 edited photographs. That reflects two photographers covering the day from preparations to the evening. My Signature package and above include 700+ edited images, and the final number depends on the length and shape of your day.
Thinking About Bordesley Park?
Amy and Lewis asked for photographs that showed how the day felt, and there was no shortage of family, laughter and silliness to work with. Thank you both for trusting me with it.
I'm Paul Hickey, a multiple Wedisson Award winner and Flashmasters Gold Award recipient. Through Once in a Lifetime Photography, I photograph weddings across Worcestershire, the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Shropshire. My coverage combines documentary storytelling through the day with creative portraits after dark.
If you're planning a wedding at Bordesley Park, send me your date and what matters most to you. I'll come back with availability and how I'd approach your day. You can also email paul@onceinalifetimephotography.co.uk, call 01905 900911, or read more about my work as a Worcestershire wedding photographer.
More weddings at Bordesley Park: Rebecca and Will's wedding and Erin & Luke's Tudor Barn wedding.
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Prefer to talk? Call 01905 900911 or email paul@onceinalifetimephotography.co.uk