My favourite Lapstone Barn wedding story
Sometimes everything just clicks in ways you couldn’t hope for and being part of Lucinda and Charlie’s wedding was one of those times, one of the best wedding experiences I’ve had, full of love and laughter.
It all started a year earlier at their engagement party at Queenwood Golf Course. But, their Lapstone Barn wedding was actually day three of a four day long weekend wedding celebration spanning London and the Cotswolds.
It kicked off on Thursday with a small ceremony at Morden Park House. Then we were off to the Cotswolds for a small private dinner on Friday night, the main event at gorgeous Lapstone Barn on Saturday, and lazy brunch at Hillside Farms on the Sunday.
Here’s just a few highlights, starting off at the Fish Hotel with the boys, and a local cottage with the girls. Then onto Lapstone Barn where the band literally got everyone dancing on the tables after dinner…
Getting married at Lapstone Barn?
Tell me all about it.
If you’re getting married at Lapstone Barn and you like my work I’d love to have a chat. I only book 25 full weddings a year, and only one per weekend, so if you’ve got a date in mind let me know.
Spend your whole wedding day at Lapstone Barn
Fulham Palace works perfectly as either an all-in-one location for your whole wedding day, or just for your reception celebrations. I’ve seen ceremonies in the Great Hall and the cosier drawing rooms, but the Chapel is also available. All of them are perfect for a medium-size guest list and then you can invite more people to join afterwards.
In good weather the gorgeous archway entry into Fulham Palace’s courtyard makes for an impressive grand entrance as a married couple, perhaps in a classic wedding limo or even being piped in by bagpipes. Or you could have your confetti moment at the main door to the palace itself.
After some group shots and portraits around the Palace grounds, the Courtyard itself has plenty of space for your guests to spread out (and if it’s raining then either the Great Hall or the marquee have got you covered, literally).
I’ve seen the Courtyard play host to all kinds of wedding entertainment, from a harpist to string quartets to a roving brass band on stilts, as well as food suppliers ranging from oyster shuckers to popcorn and ice cream stands. And of course the Bovingdons team can keep everyone fed and watered with canapés and champagne.
For your wedding breakfast there’s a huge solid-walled marquee around the side of the Palace, a blank slate for you to style however you like in your wedding themes and colours. Or for medium-sized guest lists there’s the high-ceilinged Great Hall, which definitely gives your wedding breakfast that medieval banquet feel.
Then in the evening when it’s time to really kick back and party, the rear cafe rooms can accommodate a band and dance floor, with a pair of separate rooms for the bar, and a cheese table, and plenty of lawn space to spill out onto at the back.
Making wedding photos at Lapstone Barn
The very fact there’s a medieval bishop’s palace right in the heart of SW London makes it such a novel wedding venue anyway, but as a photographer the opportunities it offers to create striking images put it high on my list of favourite venues.
My top photo spot at Fulham Palace? Easy: their 3.5 acre botanic garden at the back of the Palace. It’s by far my favourite place on the grounds to create stylish, artistic portraits of you after your ceremony. And no, you really don’t need to be posers, I love my wedding portraits to feel as natural as possible!
After ducking through the decorative brick archway the walled garden feels like a tranquil urban oasis where you can wander hand-in-hand through winding paths amongst the flowerbeds, knotted garden and apple orchard, while I get my lens low in amongst the foliage and steal candid-feeling shots of you having a snuggle and enjoying those first few moments of married life together.
Two paths cross in the centre of the garden, each lined with trees or arching foliage, the perfect spot for a creative portrait that’s as much about the gorgeous location as it is about you, perfect for couples for don’t feel like natural posers.
In the SW corner of the gardens is a huge holm oak tree, believed to be over 500 years old and known as one the Great Trees Of London. It’s rightly roped off for its protection, but that area is surrounded by trees and when the sunlight is just right, filtering through the canopy of foliage, this part of Fulham Palace can make for some magical photographs with a forest-glade feel.
And if you’d like some photographs that capture both the Palace architecture and the natural beauty of the gardens there’s a lovely spot between the chapel and the main Palace building where we can make use of the climbing wisteria, the low-hanging canopies of nearby trees, and the ancient red brick of the chapel walls.
Where can you stay near Lapstone Barn?
Lapstone Barn has impressive on-site accommodation for couples, with a new development for guests opening in summer 2024. But there’s plenty more options to suit all budgets a short drive away:
- The Fish Hotel – hidden away near Broadway with stylish rooms, an impressive restaurant, and beautiful landscape views. Great for guests and couples.
- The Lodge at Broadway – a boutique hotel that’s great for guests, with block booking available. And it’s right next door to…
- The Lygon Arms – this popular 16th century Broadway hotel offers elegant rooms, award-winning dining, and a luxurious spa.
- Cotswold House Hotel – a Grade II listed Regency town house hotel in the heart of Chipping Campden, with restaurant, bistro, and spa.
- Premier Inn – the venerable staple of British budget hotels, I’ve stayed at the Chipping Norton one and it’s fine for a couple of nights.
- Cottages of Campden – a range of cottages to suit guests and couples, all set a couple of miles away in Chipping Campden.
I can personally vouch for The Fish Hotel as I met the groom’s party there for breakfast and it looked like a great place to hide away in the countryside. But if you’re not too fussed a Premier Inn does the job just fine and there’s plenty around.
Recommended Lapstone Barn wedding suppliers
Wedding Planners : Jeni Amey at Vanilla Rose Weddings | Florists : Jennie at Liberty Lane Flowers • Millie Richardson Flowers | Hair & Make-Up : Julie Read • Tamara Meade • Margot & Lace | Bands & Musicians : The Function Band • Will Benjamin | Magicians : Zap Magic • Matthew Le Mottee • The Bowler Hatted Magician | Videographers : Rolling Film | Stationery : Merrie & Bright | Accommodation : The Fish Hotel • Cotswold House Hotel • The Lodge at Broadway • Cottages of Campden
Getting married at Lapstone Barn?
Tell me all about it.
I book 25 all-day weddings a year, and only one per weekend, so if you’re getting married at Lapstone Barn and like my work let’s have a chat..