Apton Hall · Rochford, Essex
Apton Hall wedding photographer: my guide to getting married at Apton Hall
Apton Hall is the venue I photograph at more than anywhere else, and I'm lucky to be one of their recommended photographers. As an Apton Hall wedding photographer with more than 45 weddings there behind me, I know the place well: where the light falls at each time of day, which doors the staff close before the ceremony, and the spot on the farm road where the sun drops below the horizon.
This guide is everything I'd tell you over a coffee if you'd just booked Apton Hall. It follows the day in order, from getting ready to the last dance, with the photo spots I use at each stage. At the bottom you'll find every Apton Hall wedding I've written up on my blog.
At a glance
Where: Apton Hall Road, Rochford, Essex SS4 3RH. A restored farm set around a central courtyard
Ceremony spaces: the Stables (up to 115), the New Barn (up to 180), the Courtyard (up to 180) and the Walled Garden (up to 100). See Apton Hall's ceremony spaces
Wedding breakfast: the New Barn, up to 200 with the extension open
Evening: the Cow Shed (up to 200), with the Snug Bar next door
Getting ready: the Beauty Barn from 8:30am, then the Dovecot and the Granary
Exclusive use: from 11am, last dance at midnight
Rooms: eight bedrooms, including the Dovecot honeymoon suite. See accommodation
Venue details from Apton Hall's website. Check with the team for the latest.
On this page
Getting ready · Ceremonies · The courtyard · Group photos · Sunset · The New Barn · The evening · If it rains · Guest info · Real weddings · FAQs
The team and the food
Why Apton Hall is so easy to work at
I'll start with the thing that makes the biggest difference. The Apton Hall staff are the best I work with, and I mean that. They look after the guests, and they look after the suppliers too. Every photographer, florist and DJ I've talked to about Apton Hall says the same: the team go out of their way to make our jobs easier, and that means we can give you a better service.
The food is the other thing guests always talk about. Feeding that many people well, in a short space of time, is one of the hardest jobs at any wedding. Apton Hall get it right every time.
The morning
Getting ready: the Beauty Barn, the Dovecot and the Granary
Your morning usually starts in the Beauty Barn, round the back of the venue, while the Dovecot is being prepared. It has lovely light and plenty of room, and the mirrors are spotless, which matters more than you'd think. A smeary mirror shows up in every reflection photo.
Around 11am you move over to the Dovecot, the Grade II listed building that becomes the honeymoon suite. Just before you go across, I take the dress over myself. There's a hook hanging from one of the beams that's perfect for it, and the dress hanging in the Dovecot makes one of my favourite detail shots of the morning. In the summer, if the weather's good, I'll sometimes hang it from one of the shuttered doors around the courtyard instead, but only when it's dry and calm so the dress stays clean.
The Granary sits above the Coach House and is free from midday. It has wooden walls, sofas and a view down over the courtyard, so you can watch guests arrive without being seen. Usually one half of the couple and their party use the Dovecot and the other uses the Granary, but there's no fixed rule. At Carly and Nick's wedding they swapped it round: the boys used the Dovecot and Carly got ready in the Granary.
The ceremony
Ceremonies at Apton Hall
You've got four choices at Apton Hall.
The Stables is the main indoor ceremony room. The old brickwork gives everything a warm colour in the photos. One of my favourite moments of any Apton Hall wedding happens here. While you walk across from the Dovecot, the staff close all the shuttered doors so nobody sees you coming. Just before the ceremony starts they open them again and natural light comes flooding back into the room. There are fire exit signs at the front and back of the room, and I remove them from every photo, so you'll never see them in your gallery.
The New Barn is used for bigger ceremonies, up to 180 guests. I've photographed a ceremony there for a larger wedding, and it made a nice change.
The Courtyard ceremony takes place under the wooden gazebo in the middle of the courtyard. On a warm day it's gorgeous, with your guests sat around you and the old buildings all round. The Walled Garden is the most secluded option, for up to 100 guests, with rose beds and the open farmland beyond.
Straight after
Confetti, and a few minutes on your own
Confetti usually happens as soon as you walk out of the ceremony. The guests line up in the courtyard, which gives me that first shot of you both as a married couple walking through them.
Then the Apton Hall team take you both away for a drink and a few minutes on your own. It's the first time all day it's just the two of you.
Drinks reception
The courtyard at Apton Hall
After the ceremony everyone gathers in the central courtyard. Because the buildings wrap around it, everybody stays together in one place, and there's usually music, either live or through the outdoor speakers. It's a lovely atmosphere.
For me it's the best part of the day for natural photos. People are relaxed, catching up and laughing, and nobody is thinking about the camera. A lot of my favourite Apton Hall photos come from this hour.
Groups and portraits
Group photos and couple portraits
For the big group shot of everyone, I go up to the Granary and lean out of the upstairs window while all your guests gather in the courtyard below, with the Dovecot behind them. Shooting from up high means every face can be seen, and it's one of my favourite photos of the day.
The rose garden tucked behind the Granary is where I do a lot of the smaller family groups and some of my couple portraits. It's quiet, it's close to your guests, and you're not away from your own drinks reception for long. Family groups take around a minute and a half to two minutes each, so eight groups is done in about 15 minutes and you're back with your guests with a drink in your hand.
The pond garden at the back is lovely for photos and is where guests tend to drift with the garden games. Later in the day the sun comes down that side, and the light through the trees is beautiful.
Golden hour
Sunset on the farm at Apton Hall
This is the one I'd tell every Apton Hall couple not to miss. We head out the back of the venue towards the farmer's fields. The land is low and flat, with no tall trees or buildings in the way, so you watch the sun go all the way down to the horizon. There's a quiet tarmac road out there too, and some of my favourite photos I've ever taken at Apton Hall are of couples walking along it as the sun sets.
The best light comes 45 minutes to an hour before the advertised sunset time, so that's when we head out. I keep an eye on the time on the day and come and find you when the light is right, so it's one less thing for you to think about.
The wedding breakfast
The New Barn
Every part of the day at Apton Hall has its own room: one for getting ready, one for the ceremony, one for the meal and one for the party. Everything can be set up first thing in the morning, so there's no room turnaround halfway through the day and no guests waiting outside while tables go in.
The New Barn has bi-fold doors onto the courtyard for warmer days. For bigger weddings the extension at the back opens up and doubles the space, up to 200 guests.
The evening
The Cow Shed, the Snug Bar and the courtyard lights
The Cow Shed is the party room, and the bar is in the same room as the dance floor. That's better than it sounds. At venues where the bar is somewhere else, half your guests end up in a different room all night. Here they stay with you. For anyone who'd rather sit down with a drink, the Snug Bar next door has a wood burner and comfy seating.
As it gets dark, the lights around the courtyard come on. On a summer evening, with people still sat outside as the sun goes down, it's one of the loveliest scenes of the day.
Good to know
Is Apton Hall noisy with Southend Airport nearby?
It's a question couples ask, and the answer is no. Apton Hall isn't on the flight path. You'll very rarely hear a plane, and when you do it's usually a little Cessna going over.
Wet weather
What happens if it rains at Apton Hall?
Rain at Apton Hall isn't the problem couples fear it will be. Once the ceremony is over, the Apton Hall team have kindly helped me clear the Stables, moving the chairs towards the back of the room. That leaves a big, warm space with the same lovely brickwork, and it's ideal for family groups and your couple portraits. Nobody has to stand in the rain, and the photos still look like Apton Hall.
For your guests
Practical information for your guests
Apton Hall sits in open farmland between Rochford and Canewdon. That's a big part of why it's so lovely, but it means a little planning for your guests goes a long way. Here's what I tell couples.
Parking
There's plenty of free parking on site, so guests driving in won't have to worry about finding a space or paying for one.
Getting home: book taxis in advance
This is the one I'd really stress. Apton Hall is semi-rural, so you can't count on hailing a cab at midnight or getting one quickly on an app. Ask guests to book their taxi home well before the day, especially on Fridays and Saturdays in summer. Nobody wants to be stuck in a dark country lane at the end of a great night. If you include a local taxi number with your invitations or on your wedding website, your guests will thank you for it. A good local firm is Andrew's Taxis, on 01702 200200.
Staying over
Apton Hall has eight rooms on site: the Dovecot suite for the two of you, and seven en-suite rooms in the Coach House. They're yours exclusively on the day, with check-in from 12:30pm, and breakfast is served in the Granary the next morning.
For everyone else, there are three good options a short taxi ride away:
- The Cherry Tree, Stambridge Road, Rochford: the closest, just down the road. It only has a handful of rooms, so it's best for close family who book early.
- The Rochford Hotel, Bradley Way, Rochford: around 20 en-suite rooms, with a bar and brasserie, in Rochford town.
- Holiday Inn Southend, at London Southend Airport: the biggest option, good if lots of guests want to stay together.
See Apton Hall's accommodation
Less mobile guests
All the main wedding spaces are on the ground floor: the Stables, the New Barn, the courtyard and the Cow Shed. Guests who find steps difficult can follow the whole day easily, from the ceremony to the dance floor. The Dovecot suite and the Granary do have stairs, which is worth bearing in mind when you plan getting ready.
Real weddings
Real Apton Hall weddings
Every Apton Hall wedding I've written up on my blog, with the full story and lots more photos.
Questions couples ask
Apton Hall wedding FAQs
Where do you get ready at Apton Hall?
In the Beauty Barn from 8:30am, then the Dovecot from around 11am and the Granary from midday. One half of the couple usually uses the Dovecot and the other the Granary, but you can swap.
How many guests can you have for the ceremony?
Up to 115 in the Stables, 180 in the New Barn or the Courtyard, and 100 in the Walled Garden.
Where are the best photo spots at Apton Hall?
The courtyard for the drinks reception, the rose garden behind the Granary for groups and portraits, the pond garden for evening light, and the fields and farm road behind the venue for sunset.
What happens if it rains at Apton Hall?
The team help me clear the Stables after the ceremony, and that becomes a warm, dry space for groups and couple portraits with the same brickwork backdrop.
How long do group photos take?
Around a minute and a half to two minutes per group, so eight groups takes about 15 minutes.
When are sunset photos taken?
Around 45 minutes to an hour before sunset, out on the farm behind the venue.
Is it noisy because of Southend Airport?
Hardly ever. The venue isn't on the flight path, and the odd plane you hear is usually a small light aircraft.
Can you have an outdoor ceremony at Apton Hall?
Yes, under the gazebo in the Courtyard (up to 180 guests) or in the Walled Garden (up to 100).
Is there parking at Apton Hall?
Yes, there's plenty of free parking on site for guests.
Do guests need to book taxis at Apton Hall?
Yes, book ahead. Apton Hall is semi-rural, so taxis can't be relied on late at night. Ask guests to book their ride home before the day.
Where can guests stay near Apton Hall?
Apton Hall has eight rooms on site: the Dovecot suite and seven Coach House rooms. Nearby, The Cherry Tree and The Rochford Hotel in Rochford, and the Holiday Inn at Southend Airport, are all a short taxi ride away.
Is Apton Hall accessible for less mobile guests?
All the main wedding spaces (the Stables, New Barn, courtyard and Cow Shed) are on the ground floor. The Dovecot suite and the Granary have stairs.
Do you photograph same-sex weddings at Apton Hall?
Yes, and I love doing it. Everything in this guide applies to every couple.
Are you a recommended photographer at Apton Hall?
Yes, I'm on Apton Hall's recommended suppliers list, and it's the venue I photograph at most, with more than 45 weddings there so far.
Getting married at Apton Hall?
I'd love to hear about your day
If you've booked Apton Hall, or you're thinking about it, check my availability and we can have a chat about your plans.
