Maria & Tom | Chippenham Park wedding
What do you get if you cross a boiling hot summer’s day, multiple locations across Cambridge and Suffolk, plenty of tears - happy ones - and an Italian reception theme that was la dolce vita? Well it’s Maria and Tom’s black tie wedding at Chippenham Park, of course!
Maria and Tom snapped up my last available date in August of 2025, for their deeply meaningful yet electric day across two counties. It was already sweltering when I arrived in the morning to meet with bride Maria at the University Arms hotel in Cambridge City centre, and groom Tom was getting ready down the road at The Gonville. Both hotels had been chosen as they were in the vicinity of Our Lady of the Assumption & The English Martyrs, one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the country. I kid ye not, it was massive!!
Tom and the boys took a short stroll in their tuxedos through Cambridge to the church, while Maria and her girls (and me) fought through the Cambridge Saturday traffic by car. The ceremony was a major part of the day and Tom remarked in his speech that it was obvious to everyone, whether they had an affinity to the church or not, that they felt the weight of occasion. He was right!
We all piled into our various modes of transport (a Rolls for the newlyweds, a coach for guests, and me in my VW T-Roc) and headed off to the reception, at one of my fave Suffolk wedding venues Chippenham Park. I’m a recommended supplier there you know.
The sun was beating down and it made the perfect backdrop for Maria and Tom’s theme, which was a heavy helping of Italian culture. They’d got engaged in Italy along the Amalfi Coast, and it had a special place in their hearts. Aperol spritz’s were served during the drinks reception, and the marquee was decorated beautifully and thoughtfully to reflect the Italian vibe, not forgetting the limoncello shots 🍋
Following their speeches - where I felt that I’d got to know a bit too much about groom Tom, courtesy of his brother - the party was underway. The dance floor filled fast (and stayed that way), and by the time it was time for me to depart, it felt less like a formal reception and more like the best kind of house party, just set in he most beautiful of wedding venues in the countryside.
A city ceremony, a country celebration, scorching sunshine, and a proper party to finish: the perfect blend of heartfelt tradition and modern, joy-filled energy. Hopefully the 190 photos I selected for this blog convey that depth of feeling. More like this, please!
What they said:
“We were lucky enough to have Sally photograph our wedding day back in August and honestly couldn't recommend her more. From our initial call and looking through her photos on Instagram, we knew we were in safe hands. We wanted natural, authentic, relaxed photos that would really capture the emotions of the day and she achieved that and more for us. We were blown away by our final gallery and all of our family/friends have commented on how beautiful the photos are. Sally is super friendly and made us feel totally at ease in front of the camera (something out of our comfort zone!) and that's reflected in the photos. We're so happy we found her - honestly couldn't recommend enough!! Thank you Sally!”
Suppliers:
Venue - Chippenham Park
Dress - Chislehurst Bridal
Groom’s suit - Tailor Made London
Flowers - Emily Tallulah Flowers
Cake - Elifs Pattisserie
Hair - Liane Forte-Henson
Makeup - Makeup by Kelly Frances
Band - Uptown Showdown
Catering - Crown Catering Cambridge
Pizza Van - Pizza Passione
Videographer - Wed.lock Films
You made it to the end! If are marrying at Chippenham Park, or even if you just like the look of my photos and would like to see if I can capture your wedding day wherever it is, please contact me to see if I’m available on your date HERE