Lydia and Austin celebrated their wedding at Hoveringham Village Hall in Nottinghamshire, with a relaxed humanist ceremony, an afternoon enjoying the late summer sunshine and an evening filled with live music.
It was one of those weddings where everyone was simply there to have a brilliant time with the couple. Nothing felt overly formal, and with so many of their friends involved in the music industry, the evening celebrations were always going to be something a little different!
A Humanist Wedding Ceremony at Hoveringham Village Hall
My coverage started at Hoveringham Village Hall, where I arrived to capture guests making their way into the main hall ahead of the ceremony.
With everyone seated, the bridesmaids made their way down the aisle, followed by Lydia, who walked in alongside her sister.
The humanist ceremony was led by a close friend of the couple, making everything feel particularly personal. There were also readings and speeches from Lydia’s mum and Austin’s dad, adding some lovely moments throughout the ceremony.
After the first kiss and a big cheer from everyone, Lydia and Austin made their way back down the aisle as a married couple before heading outside for confetti.
Confetti, Garden Games & Drinks at the Cricket Ground
With the confetti photographs done, everyone spent a little time mingling in the courtyard at Hoveringham Village Hall before heading across to the nearby cricket ground.
While the main hall was being prepared for the wedding breakfast, guests enjoyed a few hours outside, making the most of the late summer sunshine.
There were garden games at the cricket ground, and The Reindeer at Hoveringham, the pub alongside the cricket ground, had made its garden available for wedding guests to enjoy a drink.
It was a really relaxed afternoon, with everyone chatting, catching up and enjoying themselves without feeling like they needed to be anywhere in particular.
Wedding Breakfast & Speeches at Hoveringham Village Hall
After a few hours enjoying the sunshine, everyone made their way back to Hoveringham Village Hall for the wedding breakfast.
Once everyone had finished eating, it was time for the speeches, and there were plenty of them!
We had speeches from Lydia, Austin, the two best men, and Lydia’s brother and sister.
There were some brilliant stories throughout, particularly from Lydia’s brother and sister, who certainly had plenty to share about their sister!
With the speeches finished, everyone headed back outside into the courtyard to enjoy the last of the late summer sunshine while the main hall was transformed once again, this time ready for the evening celebrations.
Live Music, an Open Mic & a Brilliant Evening Celebration
The evening started with Lydia and Austin’s first dance, but what followed was a little different from your typical wedding reception.
With so many of their guests working in the music industry, including plenty who perform in wedding bands themselves, the couple had arranged a live band and an open mic session.
Guests were encouraged to get up and perform alongside the band, and there was certainly no shortage of people willing to get involved!
Lydia joined in on vocals, while Austin got involved with his trumpet, making the evening feel even more personal to the two of them.
It was a fantastic way to finish the wedding, with everyone getting involved and enjoying the music.
From a photography point of view, weddings like Lydia and Austin’s are exactly what I enjoy capturing. A relaxed day, a great crowd of people and plenty of genuine moments happening naturally, without needing to organise or direct everything.
A brilliant Nottinghamshire wedding and a lovely couple to spend the day with!
HOVERINGHAM VILLAGE HALL WEDDING PHOTOS
Planning your own wedding at Hoveringham Village Hall? If you’re looking for relaxed, natural and documentary wedding photography without spending your day posing for photographs, take a look at my approach to wedding photography or get in touch to check availability.
You can also explore more of my real wedding stories, watch my wedding slideshows and photofilms, or take a look through my wedding planning hints and tips.
HOVERINGHAM VILLAGE HALL WEDDING VENUE INFORMATION
Hoveringham Village Hall is a traditional village wedding venue in the Nottinghamshire countryside, located in the village of Hoveringham, between Nottingham and Southwell.
The venue combines historic character with modern facilities, with a spacious Main Hall, the smaller Minkley Room and a kitchen available for wedding celebrations. The Main Hall can accommodate approximately 120 seated guests, making it suitable for couples planning anything from smaller celebrations to larger wedding receptions.
One of the things that makes Hoveringham Village Hall appealing is the flexibility it offers. Couples can arrange the spaces to suit their wedding, with the Main Hall providing room for ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and evening entertainment.
For Lydia and Austin’s wedding, the Main Hall was used throughout the day, with guests enjoying the courtyard and nearby cricket ground while the room was rearranged between the ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations.
From a wedding photography point of view, Hoveringham Village Hall works particularly well for couples wanting a relaxed, informal celebration. Having the different parts of the day taking place around the village gives plenty of opportunities to capture guests enjoying themselves naturally, without everything feeling too structured.
Address - Gonalston Lane, Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire, NG14 7JH
Contact Info - https://www.hoveringham.net/home.htm | Tel: 07967 590092 (booking clerk) | enquiries@hoveringham.net