30 Sep Charlie & Sevinj’s Historic Ashby Manor Wedding
I received a last-minute call from Charlie asking me to photograph his wedding to Sevinj at the incredibly historic Ashby Manor in Ashby St Ledgers — with just one week’s notice.
Not a usual situation.
But when I discovered that the venue was the former home of Robert Catesby, one of the principal figures behind the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, I wasn’t about to turn it down.
Ashby Manor is still a private home, but Charlie had managed to secure the extraordinary location for their wedding.
And what a building. Steeped in history, the 14th-century manor has a real atmosphere about it. The grounds, Tudor outbuildings, cobbled paths and courtyards all feel as though they have barely changed over the centuries. You can almost imagine the sound of horses’ hooves and carriages echoing around the buildings.
And, apparently, it’s haunted too. I kept my eyes open.
This was a genuinely exclusive-feeling occasion. Just around 30 guests, with people travelling from all over the world. There was a definite air of old-world glamour about the whole thing, although I didn’t ask too many questions. I was far too intrigued simply taking it all in.
The weather was, shall we say, less than cooperative. Fortunately, Ashby Manor offered plenty of wonderful nooks, rooms and corners filled with antique furniture, which gave us plenty of opportunities to create some atmospheric photographs using a little creative lighting.
But the real event was the wedding breakfast.
Held within this magnificent historic home, the evening combined incredible food with live magic and live music. It felt less like a traditional wedding reception and more like being invited into another world for the evening.
And, as with all the best parties, the cool people were in the kitchen.
The kitchen at Ashby Manor was possibly the largest and grandest I’ve ever seen, and it became one of the social hubs of the evening. Guests gathered around, enjoying fine food and nibbles, supping brandy, smoking cigars and generally making themselves at home.
These guys certainly knew how to have a good time.
The party continued well into the night, with even the younger children still up and dancing away long after most sensible bedtimes had passed.
There was something wonderfully surreal about the whole day. A tiny gathering of family and friends, celebrating in a centuries-old private home steeped in history, with music, magic, great food and plenty of laughter.
It felt like we’d briefly slipped into another world.
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