Hodsock Priory Wedding Photography in Nottinghamshire: Jessica & Thomas

Yesterday I headed over to Nottinghamshire to join Jess & Tom for their amazing wedding at Hodsock Priory!

Hodsock Priory is an exclusive country house venue in Nottinghamshire offering grand stately surroundings, exceptional food and drink award-winning service

My wingman Paul Stott and arrived at Hodsock for all the fun-filled preparations… The boys, fuelled by Jack Daniel’s, suiting up in the Clubhouse, while the girls rocked out to Metallica as they were beautified in the Morning Room. Jess finished getting into her gown in the stunning Honeymoon Suite, overlooking the lawn set up for their outdoor ceremony 😎

For Hodsock Priory ceremonies you can get married in Blyth Village church, in the priory itself, but if if mother nature is kind, a ceremony on the lawn, surrounded by nature is just perfect

After teary bridesmaid and dad reveals, we headed to the sunny, Greek-themed ceremony, complete with olive trees and lemons. Jess had recorded a surprise message for Tom before heading down the aisle to a string quartet. They also remembered recently departed pooch Oliver, their beloved fur baby and hoped-for ring bearer, with his dog suit and collar hanging on an ‘in loving memory’ board 🥹

Once beautiful vows were sealed with a kiss, we threw confetti on the Gatehouse Bridge, followed by group pics (a nice level of chaos with 7 bridesmaids, 6 groomsmen and a groomsmaid)! Guests had flown in from around the world for this epic, LGBTQ+-friendly celebration (Jess is burlesque performer ‘Medusa Ensnare’, and it felt like half the women there were part of the circuit)! 🏳️‍🌈

The rest of the day was super chill, with delicious grub and no less than 6 brilliant speeches! Then came cake cutting and a first dance that started with Etta James’ ‘At Last’ before the needle dropped into The Darkness’ ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’… Far more their speed! 🎸

What a fab day and fab bunch! 🫶 Huge congrats to this amazing pair.

I’ve not shot a wedding here since 2014 and it was such fun to be back. I love visiting grand country houses and seeing the amazing Downton/Bridgerton style stacks the elite once Lorded about in! I read on Wikipedia that the Priory grounds have been occupied since at least the Bronze Age and evidence of occupation Romans and  Saxons have been found in the gardens!  It was even mentioned in the Domesday Book and has passed through various powerful families, to Sir Andrew Buchanan, 5th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. 

I’ve got a great guide to my 15 best country houses and stately homes in Yorkshire and Humberside if you’re looking for inspo!

But enough chat already! I love shooting cool couples at cool places, and hope you enjoy the cool pics! Grab y’sen a brew and hit play on the slideshow below to check out their wedding highlights below…