Conservatory Vows & Street Portraits at The Rochford Hotel
We recently had the honour of capturing a beautiful wedding at The Rochford Hotel in Essex. It was a busy day with a full media team—we were working alongside another photographer and videographer—but the collaboration flowed perfectly.
We started our coverage about an hour before the ceremony. This is always a great time to settle in and capture those candid moments of guests arriving and greeting the groom and his groomsmen. One detail that really stood out to us was the guest book alternative: a painting at the entrance that guests could add to throughout the day. Such a creative idea that leaves the couple with a piece of art to hang in their home!
Light, Space, and That Dip
The ceremony took place in the hotel’s conservatory. For photographers, this room is a dream. It’s large, bright, and floods with natural light, featuring solid wooden benches that give it a lovely traditional feel.
One of the best things about this space is the layout. Unlike many venues where we are stuck in one spot, here we could navigate freely down both sides of the room. This allowed us to get plenty of alternative angles and reaction shots without ever being in the way.
As the ceremony wrapped up, the couple walked back down the aisle and nailed a perfect “dip” kiss right at the end! It created a stunning photo and video moment before they headed out through the double doors into the garden.
Garden Groups & Street Style
The garden at Rochford Hotel is perfect for the drinks reception. It’s spacious enough for everyone to mingle comfortably and has some great spots that work beautifully as backdrops for the formal group photos.
After the family shots, we stole the couple away for a bit of variety. We shot some classic portraits around the front of the hotel, but then we decided to get a little urban. We took a walk down the road for some alternative street-style photos. It’s always fun to mix up the scenery and get something a little different from the standard “wedding venue” look.
Speeches & Magic Tricks
We headed back inside to the bar area for the speeches. This room offers a much more intimate, cozy vibe compared to the bright conservatory, which meant it was a bit darker.
This was the perfect time to flex our new lighting gear! We utilized a mix of continuous video light and off-camera flash to ensure the speakers looked crisp and sharp, while keeping that warm, ambient atmosphere of the bar. The speeches wrapped up with a bang—literally—as the magician performed an impressive champagne bottle trick right on the dance floor!
It was a fantastic day at a venue that really offers the best of both worlds: a bright, airy ceremony and a cozy, party-ready reception.
Venue Spotlight
The Rochford Hotel
Bradley Way, Rochford, Essex SS4 1BU
If you are considering The Rochford Hotel for your big day, here are a few photographer’s tips:
The Ceremony Room: The conservatory is the star of the show here. The natural light is fantastic, so you don’t need to worry about heavy lighting rigs during your vows.
Parking is Easy: It sounds boring, but it matters! There is easy parking right outside, which makes life so much easier for your guests (and your vendors unloading gear).
Lighting for the Evening: The bar area is intimate and romantic, but can be dark. Make sure your photographer is comfortable using flash or video lights (like we are!) to capture the best quality images during speeches and the first dance.
