A stunning autumn celebration at a rural stately home


We started the day upstairs in one of the rooms at Otley Hall, where Amy was getting ready with her best friends and her mum. It’s a gorgeous, creaky old building and I go a bit weak at the knees any time I’m allowed to snoop around historic places like this. Otley Hall is particularly delicious so I was already sold before I even stepped inside. When I arrived, hair and makeup were just being finished off, with a particularly lovely understated vibe that I massively favour. Amy’s makeup was done by Karen from Bride Beautiful, and hair was taken care of by one of Amy’s friends who, as luck would have it, is a professional stylist. I always love it when couples can involve friends and family in bits of the day.

Historic Tudor mansion Otley Hall, Suffolk with tall brick chimneys and a modern SUV parked in a courtyard driveway.
Black and white photograph of a bedroom with a bride having make-up applied.
Bridal preparations in a vintage British style room with people sitting on a couch near mullioned windows.
Black and white candid shot of bridesmaids sitting together on a couch in a dimly lit room with the bride in the centre rolling her eyes.
Black and white photo showing two people in casual attire smiling by a window with leaded glass panes.
A bridesmaid sitting in a chair having makeup applied for a wedding in a bedroom.
A black and white wedding preparation scene with a balloon visible in the background and a bridesmaid smiling on at the bride

A slightly hairy moment occurred when Amy’s dad turned up a little earlier than planned and very nearly saw her before he was supposed to. He was rapidly shooed out of the room, covering his eyes and dashing off in theatrical dad fashion, which I very much enjoyed.

A black and white photograph of the father of the groom covering his eyes in a hallway as a bridesmaid dismisses him.
A bride in a white robe points to the right of the frame.

Once hair was done and Amy had stepped into her dress with a little help from her mum, we summoned Dad back for a first look, which set off everyone's hay fever and resulted in more than a few audible snuffles.

A bride and her mother reflected embracing in an ornate mirror of a vintage bathroom in black and white.
A first look moment between a bride in her veil and her father standing in the doorway of a rustic room.
Bridesmaids laugh and cry together in a bedroom with a decorative fan on the wall behind them as they see the bride for the first time.
Father of the bride dabs his eye as he looks on at his daughter

Meanwhile, downstairs in the garden, guests were arriving and Jake was busy greeting people as they came in. Inside the ceremony room, the couple had gone for a beautifully autumn-y (yes, it's a word - shut up) theme, with seasonal decor and a healthy scattering of pumpkins, the most decorative of all the vegetables.

People gather at a rustic outdoor seating area with wooden tables and chairs surrounded by tall trees in black and white.
A group of people gather outdoors at wooden tables for a suffolk wedding.
A group of people dressed in formal attire laughing outdoors at a suffolk wedding.
Cozy rustic interior ceremony room with wooden crates, floor lamp, and autumn decorations in warm lighting atmosphere.
Visitors walk through a historic Tudor-style courtyard to Suffolk Wedding Venue Otley Hall.

The ceremony itself caused an even larger outbreak of hay fever to the degree where an actual box of tissues had to be passed around. Then once everything was done, as per tradition, the guests enthusiastically launched handfuls of dead flowers at them.

A wedding ceremony in a rustic wooden venue with warm lighting and autumn floral decorations.
A view through a groom and groomsman of the mother of the groom smiling proudly at her son.
A couple shares an embrace on their wedding day with guests in the background.
A couple exchanges vows at their Otley Hall wedding ceremony with guests seated in the background.
Black and white photograph of a wedding guest dabbing tears from her eyes during a ceremony at Otley Hall.
A groom kisses his bride's hand during their wedding ceremony in a Otley Hall with guests looking on smiling and applauding.
Two tearful groomsmen in suits share a box of tissues during a wedding ceremony.
A wedding guest in a navy suit with orange tie and boutonniere laughs joyfully during a wedding ceremony.
A black and white wedding moment captured inside Suffolk Wedding venue Otley Hall with sunlight streaming through windows.
Guests applaud during a suffolk wedding ceremony at Otley Hall with sunlit windows in the background.
Wedding party celebrating with newlyweds walking outside ceremony in rust orange and navy colour scheme.

We then headed to the gardens out the back of the hall for drinks and mingling, where we met a shamelessly slutty cat who was weaving around ankles and pretending it had been invited.

A group of wedding guests walking together through lush garden hedges on a sunny afternoon.
Wedding guests gather on a lush green lawn for an outdoor drinks reception in autumn weather.
Wedding guests in orange dresses watch a Bengal cat walking across green grass during an outdoor wedding reception.
A small group of wedding guests mingling and chatting together while holding drinks on a lawn at an outdoor reception.
A group of people gather outdoors on a grassy lawn during a suffolk wedding

The wedding breakfast took place in Otley Hall’s on-site café, Martha’s Barn, which was beautifully styled with some already-charming décor and a few extra touches from Jake and Amy that brought in more of their autumn theme - and place names etched onto little wooden leaves, which were a big hit with guests.

A rustic entrance to a bar with wooden stool and brick wall featuring a chalkboard sign.
Rustic wooden barn venue decorated for an elegant suffolk wedding reception with round tables and string lights overhead.
Elegant table setting with white linens, vintage silverware, white plates and a decorative maple leaf name tag.
Autumn themed dessert table with cupcakes, decorative pumpkins, and autumn foliage on rustic wooden surface.
Rustic wedding table centerpiece with glass bottle vase, pink flowers, and wooden log slice on white tablecloth.
Wedding guests enjoying a meal at long tables in a rustic timber-framed room with large windows.
Guests gather at autumn decorated rustic suffolk wedding reception venue with string lights and wooden beams overhead.
Guests share joyful laughter during a black and white wedding reception dinner at an elegant suffolk venue.
Wedding guest in an orange dress holds up a champagne glass during a toast.
Aerial view of Otley Hall; a suffolk rural mansion surrounded by autumn trees and farmland under cloudy skies.

Just before sunset, Jake and Amy went for a quiet wander through the grounds, and I followed at a distance to make some nice pictures. I don't mean it to sound stalkerish, but I did end up hiding in an apple tree, taking photos of two people kissing, so take from that what you will.

A couple stands nestled together under autumn trees in a romantic wedding portrait with soft golden light.
Newlyweds walk hand in hand through a sunlit garden during golden hour with n autumn inspired floral bouquet.
A romantic black and white tilt-shift wedding photo shows a couple embracing in an orchard at dusk.

As evening hit, DJ Dave B fired up the playlist, and The Vine Pizza Van filled what little room was left in guests' stomachs. And then on the dance floor I had my first introduction to Chappell Roan when Pink Pony Club hit the speakers. Watching Amy and her friends belt it out like they were 14 again at a school disco was an absolute joy. Consequently I've since been obsessed with The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess, which has resulted in my eight-year-old now prancing around the house singing Pink Pony Club, completely oblivious to the meaning of the song

Evening outdoor scene at a suffolk wedding venue with string lights illuminating a covered patio area as guests gather near tall pine trees.
A group gathers at a table during sunset under an illuminated tent canopy at an outdoor wedding.
Wedding guests gather for drinks and conversation at a rustic venue decorated with string lights overhead.
A group of wedding guests gathered around a wooden table laugh together.
A group of four laughing bridesmaids in satin dresses outside at night.
Black and white photo of people socialising at a an evening wedding reception with a couple kissing in the background
A pizza being prepared in a pizza van by a chef wearing blue gloves.
A pizza being prepared in a pizza van as a chef with blue gloves works in the background.
People gather at night outside a suffolk wedding venue with dim lighting and a pizza van trailer in the foreground.
Evening outdoor gathering with string lights and wooden furniture creating a cozy ambiance through open doors.
A black and white photo capturing a candid dancing during a dimly lit evening wedding reception.
Person in patterned dress raises hand while dancing at a suffolk wedding with colourful light trails in foreground.
A black and white photo of a person dancing and holding a bottle with string lights and bokeh in the background.
A black and white nighttime scene shows people dining at outdoor tables under string lights along a dimly lit patio area.

I absolutely loved my visit to Otley Hall. The venue is stunning, the team are lovely, and the addition of nosy peacocks and over-familiar cats ticks all my boxes. Conveniently it's also very close to my house, so if anyone else fancies getting married there, please do give me an excuse to go back.