Elvaston Castle Wedding
JORDANNA & SHAUN

Jordanna and Shaun got married on 6 September 2025 at Elvaston Castle, with the ceremony in the Gothic Hall, afternoon tea in the same room, and the evening at Elvaston Village Hall, five minutes’ walk away. They had 50 guests in the day and 80 in the evening.

It was an intimate, unfussy wedding, and they told me up front not to expect anything serious. They were true to their word.

Why they chose Elvaston Castle

Elvaston is sentimental for them. It’s where they went on their first dates, years ago, when they were both skint and still working out what they were doing with their lives.

They didn’t want to spend thousands on a big event. They wanted a day with their closest people, somewhere that meant something to them.

We’re both stupid with one another. Please don’t expect a serious wedding… there’s going to be a lot of mucking about.

Getting ready at Breedon Hall

They both got ready at Breedon Hall Hotel in Breedon on the Hill, at different times, so they didn’t see each other. I started at 10am, and Lauren Sanderson did Jordanna’s make-up. Her mum drove her to the castle.

  • Getting ready at Breedon Hall Hotel
  • Friends helping Jordanna get ready
  • Jordanna having her make-up done
  • Wedding shoes and details laid out
  • The red-brick front of Breedon Hall Hotel
  • A stone doorway at Breedon Hall
  • Jordanna in her dress at Breedon Hall
  • Jordanna laughing with her bridesmaids before the ceremony

The ceremony in the Gothic Hall

The ceremony was at 1.30pm in the Gothic Hall. Jordanna’s best friend, Sam, walked her down the aisle.

Before the day, Jordanna told me the photos she was most excited to see were of Shaun waiting at the end of the aisle. She knew she’d treasure them.

  • The front of Elvaston Castle, a Gothic Revival house near Derby
  • Guests arriving at Elvaston Castle for the ceremony
  • The groom waiting for his bride inside the Gothic Hall
  • Guests seated for the ceremony in the Gothic Hall at Elvaston Castle
  • The ceremony under the vaulted ceiling of the Gothic Hall
  • The ceremony in the Gothic Hall
  • Jordanna and Shaun at the front of the Gothic Hall
  • Guests seated under the vaulted ceiling
  • Guests watching the vows in the Gothic Hall

The hall is dark and ornate, and the light inside is lower than outside. It’s a room that rewards patience: I worked with the window light and kept things natural, so the photos feel like the room did.

  • Jordanna and Shaun during their ceremony at Elvaston Castle
  • Jordanna and Shaun exchanging rings
  • Jordanna and Shaun laughing during the ceremony
  • Jordanna and Shaun during their vows
  • Shaun laughing during the ceremony
  • Jordanna and Shaun just married in the Gothic Hall
  • Guests clapping as Jordanna and Shaun are married
  • Jordanna and Shaun signing the register
  • Jordanna and Shaun walking back down the aisle

Confetti and celebrations

Confetti was outside the main doors of the Gothic Hall. Then everyone spilled out onto the terrace, and the mucking about started properly, boombox included.

They weren’t fussed about formal group photos, so we kept those to a couple of quick ones and spent the time on real moments instead. Jordanna’s maid of honour, Jordan, had flown in from Bermuda for the day, so I made sure there were photos of the two of them together.

  • The groom and best man in sunglasses outside the castle
  • Jordanna's bouquet
  • Flowers by The Flower Lady
  • The groom messing about with a boombox outside the castle
  • Sunlight outside the Gothic Hall after the ceremony
  • Jordanna and Shaun just married outside the castle
  • The couple in a castle doorway looking out to the gardens
  • Guests greeting the couple outside the Gothic Hall
  • Guests congratulating the couple outside Elvaston Castle
  • Shaun laughing with friends outside the castle
  • Jordanna and Shaun hugging a guest
  • Guests celebrating on the terrace
  • Jordanna and Shaun celebrating with guests on the terrace
  • Guests chatting outside the castle
  • Jordanna in a castle doorway
  • The bride with her bridesmaids in green dresses
  • The groom with his groomsmen in green suits

Portraits in the Italian Garden

For their portraits, we walked about 50 metres to the Italian Garden, my favourite spot at Elvaston. The topiary and the castle behind make a lovely backdrop, and it’s close enough that you’re back with your guests in no time.

Jordanna told me she’s awkward in front of a camera, and that the natural, unposed photos were the ones she was looking forward to most. So we kept it relaxed, and let the two of them make each other laugh.

  • Jordanna and Shaun in the Italian Garden at Elvaston Castle
  • The couple walking across the Italian Garden with the castle behind
  • Jordanna and Shaun in the Italian Garden in front of Elvaston Castle
  • The couple among the topiary in the Italian Garden
  • A wide view of the couple in the Italian Garden at Elvaston Castle
  • Jordanna and Shaun close together in the Italian Garden
  • Shaun in his green suit in the Italian Garden
  • Jordanna holding her bouquet in the Italian Garden

Afternoon tea and speeches

After the ceremony, the Gothic Hall was reset for afternoon tea from Wyatt’s, the tea rooms in the park. Inspired Hire styled the room.

  • Tables set for afternoon tea under the vaulted ceiling of the Gothic Hall
  • Afternoon tea tables with flowers in jars
  • Table details for afternoon tea at Elvaston Castle
  • Cake stands and flowers laid out for the wedding guests
  • The Gothic Hall set for afternoon tea after the ceremony
  • The wedding cake decorated with flowers

Speeches came after the meal, and there were five. Jordanna’s best friend Josh gave the “father of the bride” speech, then Jordanna and Shaun both spoke, followed by the two best men, Brett and Ant. Then they cut the cake in the hall.

  • Jordanna laughing during the speeches
  • Guests at afternoon tea listening to the speeches
  • The Gothic Hall during the speeches
  • A speech in the Gothic Hall
  • Guests laughing at the speeches
  • A wide view of the Gothic Hall during the speeches
  • Guests at the tables during the speeches

The evening at Elvaston Village Hall

From 5pm, everyone wandered over to Elvaston Village Hall, five minutes’ walk away, and relaxed in the grounds until the evening guests arrived at 7pm.

Their first dance was to Louis Armstrong’s “We Have All the Time in the World”. It’s a song that has meant a lot to them over the years, and the one they usually dance to at home. Chef Lucas served the evening food, and DJ Dave kept the dance floor going.

Jordanna and Shaun’s advice for couples

I asked them what they’d tell other couples planning a wedding. Shaun:

Make sure you give yourself time to enjoy the preparation. We gave ourselves a couple of years so we could enjoy the process of going to vendors, planning the day, and meeting the people who are key to a good wedding. Every time we went to a vendor, we turned it into a little “wedding date”, which really set the tone for the whole planning process.

And Jordanna:

Stuff is going to go wrong. Plans will change, things will cost more than you first thought, people might even get a little bit weird from time to time. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. You’re making a commitment to the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Who cares if your napkins aren’t the right shade of green?

Jordanna & Shaun’s slideshow

Planning your own Elvaston Castle wedding?

My Elvaston Castle wedding guide covers the Gothic Hall, the light inside, parking, and how a day works across the castle, the tea rooms and the village hall.

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Getting married at Elvaston Castle?

I’ve been photographing weddings since 2006, seven days a week.
If you’d like to check my availability, get in touch, or we can arrange a relaxed chat about your plans.

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