Sian & Ben’s Wedding at South Farm near Cambridge.

Set in the gently rolling countryside on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire lies South Farm, a hugely popular wedding venue that is always packed with bookings up to 3 years ahead and it is easy to see why.

Sian & Ben live in St Albans which is closer to London but fell in love with the venue when looking around the Cambridge area for somewhere to host their December wedding. For exclusivity and the perfect balance between rustic charm and elegance it can’t be matched in the Cambridge area.

Pre-Ceremony Preparations.

South Farm host weddings throughout the year and are busy in every season. Sian & Ben’s wedding was only a few days before Christmas so guests were already in the relaxed party spirit. For a Wedding at South Farm the bridal party have exclusivity of the venue’s bridal suite and spent the morning relaxing in the two rooms. One of the rooms has sofas for where the guests can sit back and enjoy a glass or two of fizz and the adjoining room is perfectly designed for hair and make-up with large illuminated mirrors. I spent a chilled couple of hours with the ladies as they enjoyed music, exchanged gifts and chatted excitedly while getting ready for the big day ahead.

The groomsmen spent the morning at the nearby Fen Bridge Farm, a bed and breakfast which is conveniently located just a mile from the wedding venue and owned by the same people. The light and airy rooms make it the perfect place for getting ready and it’s location is ideal, close enough not to have to worry about travel or traffic but far away enough that there is no danger of bumping into the bridal party.

Winter Wedding.

Depending on the time of year and the weather there are both indoor and outdoor options for the ceremony of a wedding at South Farm. For Sian and Ben’s winter wedding the ceremony was indoors in the beautifully converted ‘Old Dairy”. During warmer months and days there is the option to tie the knot outside on the lawn in front of the Summerhouse.

After the ceremony everyone congregated on central courtyard to greet the newlyweds with a shower of confetti before heading back inside to enjoy drinks and nibbles. Myself and the happy couple then took a few minutes out to wonder around the grounds for a few couple portraits. The house itself is tastefully painted in keeping with the surrounding grounds while the wooded area and tree lined driveway make a perfect backdrop for the more traditional wedding photos.

Tudor Barn

The Tudor Barn with its stunning original elm beans is a magical setting for the wedding breakfast and caters for over 140 diners. The top table is perfectly placed at one end with the bar at the other. Sian and Ben’s guests enjoyed a sit down meal followed by great speeches which were the perfect mix of amusing anecdotes and genuine heartfelt love for the couple.

For the evening a live band performed as guests assembled in the Horse Barn area with it’s fabulous glass dance floor to witness the first dance and party long into the cold Cambridgeshire night.

South Farm is a wedding venue set in 20 acres of rolling countryside just outside of Royston in Hertfordshire and under 15 miles from the stunning city of Cambridge. It is home to some beautifully maintained gardens, picturesque buildings and a small number of farm animals including chickens and pigs.

As one of my favourite local venues in the Cambridge area I can’t wait to go back for my next wedding. If you are thinking of choosing South Farm as your wedding venue and would like a photographer with a relaxed approach then I would love to hear from you. You can view my portfolio here.

Damien Vickers

Cambridge Wedding Photographer