Castle Goring Wedding
The sun shone on what was a perfect summer’s day for Sophie & Scott’s Castle Goring wedding. Castle Goring itself is a fairy tale venue for a wedding. An imposing, Grade I listed building it has an interesting design with the front looking very much like a castle with towers and crenellations and the rear, more of a stately home with majestic staircase.
I’ve been to Castle Goring a couple of times for wedding fairs and always received a very warm welcome but this was my first full wedding. Sophie and her bridal party had opted to get ready at the venue while Scott and the boys were only a short distance away in a local pub. Given that it was a summer wedding, the couple had chosen to have their ceremony outside in the grounds. The layout for the day was the ground floor being used for bridal preparation in a beautiful suite, a bar by the entrance, cake by the main internal staircase and a large airy room for guests to use to mingle and a safe haven should the weather turn. The wedding breakfast and speeches were held in a large, cool marquee on the rear lawn.
The evening festivities, including a live band, were in a separate space. I was variously told this building used to be the swimming pool and / or stables (take your pick!) As you can imagine with the wide variety of spaces available the wedding never felt cramped or crowded and guests could seamlessly move about during the day without having to wait for rooms to be turned around to fulfil different functions. Having the run of such a splendid house and all these various locations within it really gave the day an intimate feel, as if the place were your own rather than just a ‘bog standard’ wedding venue for hire.
Having the ceremony outside really made best use of the space and allowed for some great shots. Although it was a little warm the service wasn’t overly long and guests could soon seek out some shade, a bit of a breeze and an icy drink. What I though was a particularly nice touch was that Sophie and Scott had taken the time and effort to write their own vows. These heartfelt promises they made spoke to the love they shared and was something that I have not seen that often but was very touching.
Sophie & Scott’s Castle Goring wedding went off without a hitch. The mature trees around the edges of the grounds provided some very welcome shade in the heat and we were able to use them and some of the other outdoor spaces during the bride and groom portraits after the ceremony. The catering was excellent and the staff extremely professional and helpful.
As twilight approached there was a very chilled vibe with people relaxing outside on the steps and enjoying an alfresco buffet. It really had been a wonderful day and the excellent weather, combined with a very romantic setting absolutely made the day that little bit more special and memorable.
If you are considering a Castle Goring wedding and are looking for a photographer to capture your day, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the contact page on the site.
