Cotswold Wedding Photography
Louise is a professional photographer based in the Cotswolds and specialising in Weddings & Portraits.
Louise lives in Blockley, Gloucestershire, near Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold close to many of the Cotswolds' most beautiful wedding venues.
As a wedding photographer, Louise loves getting to know the couple & feels privileged to be part of their very special day. She has a friendly & relaxed style which enables her to get the best out of the people she photographs.
Louise also offers contemporary, fun family portraits either at her Cotswolds studio in Blockley or at a location of your choice.
Louise is a member of the SWPP, the Society of Portrait & Wedding Photographers - a worldwide trade association for professional photographers.
As with an awful lot of wedding couples this year, Bryony & Liam had changed their wedding date three times due to the Covid19 pandemic. Ever-changing rules for weddings made it completely impossible to plan anything. They made a last minute decision to go ahead with their micro-wedding in Henley-on-Thames, with the ceremony in Henley Registry Office and seven guests (if you include Bryony’s little baby niece…who did legally have to be included in the numbers!). Eight including me!
We were now all pretty used to wearing masks, so everyone except the bride & groom were wearing them indoors for the lovely simple ceremony.
At this point on the run up to Christmas no receptions were allowed to go ahead. They could throw confetti though, and then everyone headed down to the river for some outdoor photos.
The weather was just AMAZING for a cold December day – blue skies and lovely golden winter sunshine, so it was a great opportunity to take some relaxed photos of Bryony & Liam with their guests along the Thames with pretty Henley in the background. They both looked so happy.
We made use of the band stand there for some group photos, and everyone had a cup of tea in paper cups from the kiosk….I mean never mind champagne and canapes, what more could you want!!
A perfect small and intimate micro-wedding in the midst of a global pandemic!
With 2020 in full swing, and Covid19 also in full swing, most of the weddings I’d had booked for this year had been postponed or cancelled. Depending on the state of the pandemic, wedding guest numbers were constantly being changed from none at all (in full lockdown) to 15, to 30 and back again! In September we were on the verge of wedding guest numbers being changed back down from 30 to 15. Lucinda & Andrew therefore made a very quick decision to bring their Hyde House Wedding forward by a few days so that they could go ahead with 30 guests!
Hyde House is one of my most local and most loved venues in Stow-on-the-Wold here in the Cotswolds. I know it well and was very much looking forward to photographing their small but joyful wedding there on a beautifully sunny day.
There girls got ready upstairs in the barn as usual, with the help of Lucinda & Andrew’s gorgeous dog Rupert! (such a lovely colour)
Lucinda & Andrew used a lot of their friends & relatives as suppliers, with hair by Jessie Scarth, and makeup by David Llobera.
The boys were getting ready over in the Fosse Manor where the new library is a great place for photos.
Amanda & Reuben who have a business called Heavenly Scent created all the wonderful flowers for the day.
Lucinda was by now in the final stages of getting ready and looked stunning. I absolutely LOVE the collar on that dress, and those cowboy boots! The dress was from Pritchard & Moore.
The ceremony was held in The Grange, where Andrew and his Groomsmen (including Rupert of course) were waiting along with their socially distanced guests wearing masks.
Lucinda, the bridesmaids, her Dad and step-Dad walked in the sunshine from the barn to the Grange. The ceremony was then underway.
There was a slight hiccup when Lucinda & Andrew were asked to read their personal vows which they seem to have forgotten about! It made everyone laugh though and lightened the atmosphere!
Rings were squeezed on to each other’s fingers, and the lovely ceremony ended with a kiss. They also had a cuddle from Rupert, and the all-important register was signed.
The newly married couple and their guests then made their way back over to the barn for confetti. We did the family group photos in the sunshine by the pretty arbor. I then took Lucinda & Andrew for a lovely walk round the grounds for some photos of them on their own.
At this point in the year receptions were allowed…at other points they weren’t, so Lucinda, Andrew and their guests were lucky to be able to have a sit-down dinner and enjoy the delicious Hyde House food!
When the weather is nice enough for a sunset, the views at Hyde House are stunning overlooking the Cotswold Hills. Lucinda & Andrew were lucky enough to have one of those special days!
Speeches were after the meal, followed by the cake cutting, with the amazing cake made by Lucinda’s Aunt Marcia (spot the hilarious cake-topper!)
Due to Covid restrictions, no dancing was allowed at weddings all year. At this stage the first dance only was allowed to go ahead, with the music being organised by Groomsman James. It was strange not to have all the guests join them on the dancefloor after the first dance…fingers crossed we will all be able to dance again in 2021!
I finished off the photos with a shot under the arbor. This Hyde House Wedding was such a lovely one to photograph and I wish Lucinda and Andrew all the very best for the future.
2020 – well, what can I say…2020 didn’t quite pan out how any of us expected it too! After postponing and cancelling lots of my booked weddings for 2020, Sian and Andy were my first couple to go ahead with their Covid secure Barns & Yard wedding! This was quite a daunting prospect for them, the venue, me, and all the suppliers involved.
This was my first time photographing a Barns & Yard wedding: a luxury barn wedding and events venue at Hanley Hall in Worcestershire, surrounded by the Malvern Hills.
I did a few getting ready shots of the girls before the ceremony…all masked up of course (which I found out is a complete nightmare when you wear glasses!)
All the stunning flowers at this Barns & Yard wedding were by Jenny Fleur Florist, who also decorated the barn, which looked amazing inside ready for the Covid secure socially-distanced ceremony!
Andy the groom was looking rather dapper, along with his elbow-bumping (no more hand-shaking obviously!) best men as they greeted the guests, whose numbers had to be reduced to less than 30. Little did we know earlier in the year that there would be no more big weddings for a LONG time.
The guests were entertained by talented pianist Jake Henry.
Sian arrived in her wedding car with bridesmaids, flower girl and her father to walk her down the (very short!) aisle where Andy was nervously waiting.
And so the ceremony was under way with all guests socially distanced in their bubbles. This was before the law changed later in the year which meant all guests had to wear masks.
The ‘reception’ in the courtyard was also very different – at this point in the pandemic no food or drink could be served, so the guests had to awkwardly say their congratulations with none of the usual hugging and whilst clutching their own bottle of water!
It didn’t stop the fun & laughter though.
A video had been put together for Sian & Andy from guests that were no longer able to come to their wedding due to the new Covid rules.
We were allowed to do socially distanced group photos, and I could take some photos of the gorgeous couple Sian & Andy by the stunning lake.
We are now all beginning to get used to all these new Covid rules & regulations, but for my first Covid wedding, Sian & Andy made their very special day really good fun to photograph and I wish them all the best for the future. As long as we can all still laugh in the face of a Pandemic I think we’ll be OK!
Alex & Ethan were lucky to have their Hyde House wedding…an actual full wedding day…at Hyde House in Stow-on-the-Wold, just before lockdown and Covid restrictions really kicked off in 2020.
It was a chilly day at the end of February, but the main problem was the wind, we’d had storm after storm on the run up to the wedding, and today was a stormy day!
It was all cosy and calm upstairs in the barn though where Alex & the girls were getting ready. Hair & makeup was beautifully done by Anna White.
The boys were in the manor house in the lovely new Groom’s Room.
Alex & the girls were putting final touches to their wedding attire, and everyone, especially Alex, looked stunning.
Alex now had to walk from the barn to the Grange in very high winds…even though it’s not far, everyone got blown to bits! The Grange looked so lovely though and they had a very relaxed ceremony taken by the wonderful Gloucestershire registrar, Jean, who never fails to put nervous couples completely at ease.
It was back to the barn for their reception, where the pianist Joe Pike entertained with his amazing piano playing.
We did the group photos upstairs as it was still too gusty outside, but we did manage to get outside to the arbor for a few couple photos.
The barn looked gorgeous for the wedding breakfast, and the gin favours warmed everyone up!
And the speeches were done before their meal
We did a few more photos indoors in their newly decorated honeymoon suite – it’s gorgeous in there now with the beautiful copper roll-top bath.
The cheese cake was cut to kick off the evening celebrations…writing this during the Covid Pandemic, I wonder when we will be able to enjoy an evening party again, soon I hope!
The evening disco was provide by the brilliant Dukebox Discos.
I always stay till after dark at Hyde House to get a photo of the bride & groom under the arbor.
Kate & Adam had their wedding just before Christmas at the gorgeous wedding venue Lapstone Barn. Lapstone Barn is just outside Chipping Campden here in the Cotswolds, and just a stone’s throw from where I live, so I love working there!
As expected for a December wedding it was pretty freezing (but no snow unfortunately!), and also really windy with big downpours every now & then. Lapstone Barn has just the right amount of covered areas so that I can still take outdoor photos (I get wet, but the wedding guests don’t!)
Kate, her mum & sister were getting ready in the lovely Hayloft upstairs at the barn, so not far to go to the ceremony downstairs once they were all dressed, and no need to go outside! It’s a beautiful room to get ready in.
Both hair and makeup were expertly done by Hattie King.
Meanwhile the boys were getting themselves ready downstairs. The buttonholes, and all other flowers were provided by Sue from The Baytree at Chipping Campden. The orchids looked amazing, such bright colours.
Nice socks Adam!
The barn where the ceremony was to be held was decorated beautifully with flowers and a flower ring from Baytree Chipping Campden. The ceiling drapes, chair sashes and lanterns were by my good friends Lyla & Ian from The Cotswold Wedding Company who always do such an amazing job.
As guests started arriving, the amazingly talented harpist Jemima Phillips played. And finishing touches were being carried out up in The Hayloft before a very proud Dad came in to see his beautiful daughter.
The ceremony was then underway, and was followed by confetti and group photos in the courtyard – it really was freezing so we did some groups inside when Kate (and me!) got too cold!
I did make Kate & Adam go outside in the rain with a brolly for some wintry photos while we were blasted by the arctic wind!
The guests were then seated for their wedding breakfast. The food at Lapstones is some of the best of all the Cotswold venues – I was lucky enough to eat what the guests were eating and it was delicious!
Food was followed by speeches (involving silly hats), evening guests and the cake cutting a bit later on.
The stunning and scrumptious looking cake was by Helen at The Crumb Cakery.
The evening’s festivities included dancing (of course), a sweet table, photo booth by Booth Xperia, and sparklers. The DJ was Tony Nanton from Sugar Bumps. A perfect winter wedding!
If you would like to book me for your wedding at Lapstone Barn in the Cotswolds, head to my website for more information.
Cheryl & Niall’s Cotswolds Winter Wedding at Hyde House was on a day in between Christmas and New Year – Twixtmas – when most people are still snuggled up on their sofa’s watching films and eating chocolates! Not Cheryl & Niall – they and all their family & friends were up for a party at Hyde House!
We were pretty lucky with the weather all day, it was freezing cold and windy, but it didn’t rain, so we were able to get outside for photos.
The girls were getting ready upstairs in the barn. Makeup was beautifully done by Katie Morley – always nice to see someone so happy in their work!
And hair by a friend of Cheryl’s Amanda Piggott. Cheryl and all her bridesmaids & flower girls looked absolutely beautiful.
It was then time for Dad to come in, and a few groups before Cheryl had her chat with the registrars.
Meanwhile Niall and the boys were ready and greeting guests in the manor house before going over to The Grange for the ceremony.
The ceremony barn – The Grange – was beautifully decorated by The Cotswold Wedding Company, who also styled the other barn for the wedding breakfast and drinks areas.
The Vyne String Quartet played beautifully during the ceremony, and the day was also videoed by Roger from Diamond Films – it was great to work with him again.
The ceremony in The Grange was then underway – I love photographing in there, it’s always such lovely light whatever the weather.
Everyone then headed back over to the reception barn to throw confetti. After months of seemingly non-stop rain (apart from today) the grass was extremely soggy, so I advised everyone to stay on the pavement!
Acoustic singer songwriter Alex Harry entertained everyone during the drinks reception.
And the bride, Cheryl, did the table plan herself.
And the speeches got underway after the guests had eaten.
The Best Man was VERY relieved once his speech was out of the way!
We did some after dark photos before the dancing got underway. The arbor at Hyde House provides the perfect backdrop for that, and there were a few spraklers flying around!
The cake was cut, and bouquet thrown…Cheryl did very well not to get it tangled up in the overhead decorations!
With Niall’s family being Irish there was a lot of Irish jigging going on. The evening DJ and disco floor provider was Premier Beats Entertainment, the love letters also by The Cotswold Wedding Company. Fantastic day and great fun to photograph!
Click here to see more info about my wedding photography if you are interested in booking me for your Cotswolds Winter Wedding or Hyde House Wedding: Louise Bowles Photography.
We had a crisp cold and sunny day for James & Amanda’s winter wedding at The Slaughters Manor in Lower Slaughter. This was a welcome respite from previous endless rainy days, and the pretty stream that runs through Lower Slaughter was looking very full!
James & Amanda had exclusive use of the gorgeous manor house for their wedding day. It’s such a beautiful wedding venue here in the Cotswolds with friendly staff who make everyone feel very welcome.
Amanda was getting ready in one of the very spacious suites upstairs, and this is where I joined her to start photographing the day.
Amanda’s beautiful bouquet, and all the other flowers were done by The Broadway Florist.
Amanda’s makeup was done by Jodie Croft, who kept everyone entertained all morning while Christmas carols were playing on the radio. She was also very clever in helping me get some beautiful photos – a pleasure to work with!
And Amanda looked stunning, as did her lovely bridesmaids!
Meanwhile. the boys had arrived downstairs, looking very dapper in their blue tweed suits and pink ties.
Ad the final touches were being done with the girls.
WHAT A DRESS! I MEAN WOW!
The ceremony was held downstairs in the elegant restaurant which looked very pretty with all the colourful flowers.
As this was just before Christmas it was going to get dark very quickly, so we got straight on with photos outside before the beautiful winter light faded.
The steps at the front of the manor were MADE for that dress!
The snooker room makes for a cool photo
And it was downstairs again for the wedding breakfast in the restaurant – the food here at Slaughters Manor is outstanding – they had an amazing five course meal.
The decided not to have formal speeches, so just enjoyed a lovely relaxed evening with stunning food in the company of their favourite people.
After all that food they still had room for a doughnut wall, and an AMAZINGLY scrumptious and Christmassy looking wedding cake created by Cakes by Mrs F.
We haven’t had great weather this year, 2019, to be honest, so Lauren and Matt were so lucky to have beautiful autumn weather for their Ellenborough Park Wedding. The Ellenborough Park Hotel is one of my favourite wedding venues here in the Cotswolds – there are so many beautiful places for photos inside and out.
Lauren had her hair & makeup done at the hotel, and we had a very calm and relaxing morning while the girls were getting ready.
The boys were also at the hotel looking very smart in their blue suits.
And the last finishing touches were done before the ceremony which took place in the chapel. Lauren’s stunning dress was from Taffeta & Lace, and the flowers by Abbey Meadow Flowers.
The ceremony was then under way!
The Bristol String Quartet played beautifully before the ceremony and during the signing of the register.
Lauren & Matt smiled and laughed ALL day – they were so happy together!
They were so easy to photograph as they were smiling all the time!!
Their wedding breakfast was in the De La Bere Court, which looked amazing.
The look of amazement on everyone’s faces was brilliant!
The evening went on with cake cutting and their first dance back over in the De La Bere Court – finishing with Pizza! The scrumptious looking cake was by Storyteller Cakes. Fabulous day with lovely smiley people!
Vicki & Mike’s Mickleton Hills Farm wedding took place in the autumn, and the beautiful way they decorated the barns gave the day a very autumny feel. The weather didn’t really behave itself, it was an extremely soggy day, raining ALL day long, only stopping half an hour before sunset! But that didn’t stop Vicki & Mike having an amazing day.
I just loved all the pumpkins made from books, and the gorgeous flowers were by another very local supplier Abbie Digweed.
Mickleton Hills Farm is a very local wedding venue to me here in the Cotswolds, and has recently been refurbished and expanded to a very high standard by the lovely owners David & Sammy.
There are lovely cottages on site which meant both Vicki and Mike could get ready there in separate cottages…also making it much easier for me to photograph them when everyone’s all in once place!
The barns were beautifully decorated with pumpkins and conkers.
And of course Abbie Digweed’s lovely flower arrangments.
Vicki & Mike, who both looked stunning, were ready for action as guests arrived in the pouring rain, helped in with big umbrellas by David & Sammy.
And of course sheilding Vicki from the rain as she came across for the ceremony!
All the beautiful flower girls and page boys were Nicki’s nephews & neices!
Confetti was allowed inside thank goodness!
It did rain all day, but the great thing about Mickleton Hills Farm is that there is plenty of room inside for group photos, with the beautiful backdrop of Abbie Digwood’s flower hoop.
Just before it got dark it did actually stop raining, hooray! So we went for a little walk up their very soggy but still beautiful driveway.
The wedding breakfast was set up in the new barn, with delicious food by Orchard Catering.
There was a crazy golf course set up by 9 Hole Event Hire outside in the games area (luckily under cover!) which was lots of fun for all the little ones, and bigger ones!
We did a few more photos outside before the cake cutting and first dance got under way.
The delicious looking cake was done by Belles Cakery
This kicked off a fun evening of dancing with fantastic music by the band The Highjackers.
Fantastic day with lovely people despite the miserable weather!
Emily & Jake held their wedding at The Wool Barn which is part of the Frampton Court Estate in Frampton on Severn. The Wool Barn is an amazing timber framed barn dating back to the 1550’s and a very unique wedding venue.
I started the morning photographing the girls getting ready in a nearby cottage.
Loved Emily’s Vivian Westwood shoes!
Emily’s sister did her hair
The boys were looking very smart at the barn, with Emily & Jake’s son being page boy, and daughter a flower girl.
They were doing a Great Wedding Bake Off later, so guests brought their amazing cake creations in to the barn before the ceremony.
Emily & Jake had planned an outdoor ceremony in the house gardens, but the Great British Weather didn’t quite comply with their plans. It was very very windy, and so the ceremony was moved to the barn – which was just as lovely.
Emily arrived in Jake’s Dad’s vintage car, quite a sight coming in to the main driveway of the house.
Despite being slightly blown to bits, Emily’s bridesmaids and flower girl looked really stunning in their bright red vintage dresses.
Emily & Jake had a humanist celebrant, which made the ceremony very personal and quite different from a standard registrar ceremony.
Thankfully the weather wasn’t too bad after the ceremony – still very gusty, but not raining. So all the guests were able to have Pimms & canapes in the beautiful house gardens.
Emily & Jake’s family & ushers all helped out serving drinks, and they stocked their own bar as well.
There were a few spots of rain every now & then, but it wasn’t too bad!
I just LOVE these dresses!
They had a roasted hog self-service buffet, and no seating plan, in line with the very relaxed vibe of their whole day.
The stormy weather gave rise to a lovely rainbow!
The private house of the Frampton Estate gives a stunning backdrop for photos
The speeches were then underway
After some difficult cake tasting, Emily & Jake announced the winner of The Great Wedding Bake Off!
They removed all the tables & chairs themselves to make way for a dance floor. They jigged away all night to a Ceilidh band, who got pretty much everyone up dancing. Great fun & a wonderful day.
