A Magical Wedding at Dodford Manor Barn
Karlie & Ollie’s Wedding at the Stunning Dodford Manor Barn
I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing Karlie & Ollie’s wedding at the stunning Dodford Manor Barn in Northamptonshire. If you’ve been following my work, you’ll know I’m a big fan of this beautiful barn-style wedding venue. It’s practically on my doorstep, so I always feel super lucky to work there!
Now, there’s a fun little backstory to this day. I actually met Karlie a few years ago at another wedding I photographed for her friend at the Stanwick Hotel. She loved the photos from that day and the way I worked, so she booked me for her own big day. What an honour!
Karlie and Ollie went for full-day coverage, which meant I was there from bridal prep all the way through to the evening party. They made sure I stayed late to catch everyone’s best dance floor moves and the fabulous sparkler send-off with their friends and family – always such a great way to end the night!
We had a lovely chat before the wedding to go through their plans, and I could tell right away these two were going to have the best time. They were full of energy, clearly head over heels in love, and ready for the day of their lives.
On the day itself, I got to the Staverton Hotel bright and early to capture Karlie and her bridal squad getting ready. It’s a pretty common spot for Dodford Manor brides to prep since it’s just around the corner from the venue. We spent a good hour or so there, soaking up the excitement before heading off to Dodford for Karlie to finish getting ready.
Karlie was such a joy to photograph—so full of life! She was a bit nervous in the morning, which is totally normal, but I reassured her she was in for the best day. The morning flew by, and soon enough, I was at the venue capturing guests arriving and greeting Ollie, who looked incredibly sharp in his military uniform.
Before the ceremony, we did a first look between Karlie and her dad, which is always such a sweet moment to photograph. Her dad was beaming with pride, and it made for some truly heartwarming shots.
Then, it was time for the main event! Once all the guests were seated and Ollie was in place, Karlie made her entrance. She was full of emotions as she walked down the aisle, and it was such a privilege to capture every moment. The ceremony was simply stunning—so much love and laughter, with a few happy tears thrown in for good measure.
After their “I do’s,” it was official – Mr and Mrs! They made their way down the aisle for a fun confetti throw before heading outside for the drinks reception. We snapped some group shots and couple portraits during this time, which were so much fun.
Karlie and Ollie wanted to spend most of their time with friends and family, so we did all the couple portraits during the drinks reception. I always love sneaking off with the couple later in the day for some golden hour shots, but I totally respect their choice to just enjoy the day with their loved ones.
And let’s not forget, Karlie and Ollie’s dogs made a special appearance! Of course, they had to have a portrait with the newlyweds, which was just adorable.
The rest of the day went by in a blur of smiles, hugs, and non-stop laughter. Everywhere I looked, people were having the best time, and I was there to capture it all. The dance floor was an absolute riot – nearly every guest got up to show off their best moves. To cap off the night, we gathered everyone for some sparkler photos, which looked truly magical.
A huge congratulations to Karlie and Ollie – I wish you a lifetime of happiness! And a massive thank you for choosing me to capture your incredible day. Also, big shoutout to the team at Dodford Manor – you knocked it out of the park!
