Houghton Lodge Gardens Wedding Photographer

If you’re planning your big day by the river and looking for a Houghton Lodge Gardens wedding photographer who’ll capture every real, joyful, slightly teary moment of it, without dragging you away from your guests for hours of stiff posing, then hello, you’ve found her.

I’m Emma, a fun and candid wedding photographer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and oh, Houghton Lodge Gardens near Stockbridge is hands down one of my favourite venues in the whole county! Let me show you why, through Esta and Joe’s lovely wedding day there.

Outdoor ceremony at Houghton Lodge Gardens

“We are so grateful to still be smiling at them a year on.”

Esta, Houghton Lodge Gardens

Esta & Joe’s beautiful Houghton Lodge Gardens wedding

Esta and Joe tied the knot on the 27th of September at the beautiful Houghton Lodge Gardens, and what a day it was. Even though the threat of rain hovered all morning, we ended up with the most beautiful outdoor ceremony and not a raindrop in sight. Unless you count the happy tears, of course! The whole day was filled with so much love and laughter from start to finish.

After a touching ceremony we whisked through the family formals so they could get straight back to their guests, then stole a few quiet minutes for some relaxed couples portraits. They absolutely bossed it, which is even sweeter considering they’d told me beforehand they were dreading that part.

emotional moments by the River Test Houghton Lodge Gardens

An emotional ceremony and stolen moments by the River Test

Speeches took place before the meal and were full of laughter, happy tears and so many brilliant candid moments. Then, just as guests settled in for dinner, the sun finally appeared, so I stole the newlyweds away for a few minutes in that beautiful golden light.

Esta and Joe also wanted a quiet moment to read the personal vows they hadn’t felt comfortable sharing publicly during the ceremony. The landing stage by the River Test was the perfect spot for something so intimate, with the water flowing gently by. One of those moments I feel incredibly privileged to witness. We even squeezed in some fun bridal party photos, including a joyful run down the beautifully manicured hill.

The evening at Houghton Lodge Gardens

The evening kicked off in the most beautiful way, with Esta’s dad singing their first dance song live, followed by Joe’s dad’s band keeping the dance floor completely full for the rest of the night. It honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. (And yes, I got to take some cake home, which is always a win.)

Why Houghton Lodge Gardens is such a special place to marry

Houghton Lodge Gardens is one of Hampshire’s most unique wedding venues. A Grade II listed cottage orné house built back in 1793 as a fishing lodge, it sits right on the banks of the River Test, the most famous chalk stream in the world, surrounded by extraordinary walled gardens.

Couples can say their vows in all sorts of beautiful spots here: on the riverside landing stage with swans drifting past, beneath the rose arch in the walled garden, or in the elegant Music Room and Chinese Dining Room. With everything from marquees on the riverbank to receptions in the Glass House, plus the on-site Apple Rooms for getting ready and staying over, it’s perfect for couples who want somewhere completely different. It’s also wonderfully easy to reach, around 20 minutes from Winchester, Romsey, Andover and Salisbury, and close to the M3, A303 and A34.

My approach as your Houghton Lodge Gardens wedding photographer

My style is natural, unposed and full of life, with a creative, fine-art eye for the bold and dramatic too. I’m there for all of it: the morning nerves and laughter, the emotional ceremony, the speeches that make everyone cry-laugh, and the dance floor once the party really gets going. I blend into the day so you can soak up every second with the people you love.

By the time I leave, my couples and their guests usually feel like I’m an old family friend, and that’s exactly the point. When you forget the camera’s there, that’s when the honest, unguarded photos happen.

Here’s what you can expect from me:

Real moments over posed ones, the joyful, emotional, true story of your day.
A creative eye, bold, dramatic images alongside the documentary coverage (I’ve a fine-art degree and love to use it).
Good fun to have around, I’ll bring the energy, look after you all day, and happily make a fool of myself to get you laughing.
Award-winning, I’m currently ranked in the top ten in the world for flash wedding photography on the Flash Masters leaderboard, so your evening and dance floor shots are in very safe hands.

And here’s the message Esta and Joe sent me when they first saw their photos, which honestly made my whole week:

“Oh Emma! They are absolutely stunning! We are over the moon with those! Everyone has said how incredible you were yesterday and we are so grateful! Thank you so much again, can’t wait for the full album!” Mr & Mrs Nelmes

What Esta Said

“We are so grateful to Emma for providing such a fun and relaxing approach when capturing our big day. Her communication before had and on the day was great and put us at ease. She captured some lovely candid shots of us and our guests in our lush venue and we are so grateful to still be smiling at them a year on. Emma listened to everything we wanted and kept up with our demands on the day. We are so lucky to have great memories captured and that’s thanks to her!”

Esta & Joe, Houghton Lodge Gardens

Let’s chat about your Houghton Lodge Gardens wedding

If you’re getting married at Houghton Lodge Gardens, or anywhere across Hampshire, West Sussex, Surrey and beyond, and you want someone who’ll capture the real, fun, emotional story of your day, I would absolutely love to hear from you. No pressure, no hard sell, just a friendly chat.

Get in touch here, or take a look at my prices and packages and my portfolio.

Esta And Joe

Esta and Joe are kind, caring and a little more chilled out than most, just a really lovely down to earth pair. I was not actually booked for bridal prep, but I turned up early, found Esta and her bridesmaids in matching pyjamas, and decided to crack on anyway.

I will forever remember the two of them reading their private vows to each other down by the River Test. You could feel how much it meant to them both. Properly special.