Nottingham wedding photographer capturing relaxed countryside weddings at Willow Marsh Farm in East Leake.
Lois and Tom’s beautiful Willow Marsh Farm wedding in East Leake, Nottinghamshire took place on a warm September day surrounded by family and friends.
Located near East Leake in Nottinghamshire, Willow Marsh Farm is a wonderful countryside wedding venue with a relaxed atmosphere and rustic character that photographs beautifully throughout the day.
From the intimate converted stable where ceremonies take place to the surrounding farm grounds that provide perfect portrait locations, Willow Marsh Farm offers so many opportunities for natural, storytelling wedding photography.
As a Nottingham wedding photographer, I always love returning to venues like Willow Marsh Farm where the setting encourages genuine moments and relaxed celebrations.
A Willow Marsh Farm Wedding in Nottinghamshire
Lois and Tom chose Willow Marsh Farm for its laid-back countryside feel and the character of the venue. With around 80 guests joining them, their wedding felt intimate, joyful and full of laughter from start to finish.
Soft green tones ran throughout the styling of the day, complementing the natural surroundings of the farm.
The Beautiful Converted Stable Ceremony Room
One of the most special features of a Willow Marsh Farm wedding is the ceremony space itself. The venue’s converted stable creates an incredibly warm and intimate setting for exchanging vows.
Wooden beams, rustic textures and soft lighting give the space so much character. Long wooden benches line the aisle and the natural tones of the room complement the countryside surroundings beautifully.
From a photography perspective, the ceremony space works wonderfully — the textures and soft light help create a warm atmosphere while still allowing the emotion of the moment to take centre stage.
Confetti Moments at Willow Marsh Farm
After the ceremony, guests gathered outside the barn doors for a joyful confetti moment. This part of the day is always full of laughter and excitement as the couple walk back through their guests.
Spaces like this at Willow Marsh Farm work beautifully for candid photography, capturing genuine reactions and spontaneous moments between friends and family.
Portrait Locations Around Willow Marsh Farm
Another reason Willow Marsh Farm is such a lovely venue for wedding photography is the variety of portrait locations around the grounds.
For Lois and Tom’s portraits we explored several areas of the venue. One of my favourite spots was an old rustic boat tucked into the landscape, which created a really unique backdrop. We also spent some time photographing them on the steps of the bridal cottage and wandering through the surrounding farm grounds.
These quieter moments away from the celebrations allowed Lois and Tom to relax together for a few minutes, resulting in natural portraits that reflected the joy of the day.
Drinks Reception and Garden Games at Willow Marsh Farm
After the ceremony and couple portraits, guests gathered outside to enjoy drinks in the garden while the celebrations continued.
One of the lovely things about a Willow Marsh Farm wedding is how much space there is for guests to relax outdoors. Friends and family spent the afternoon chatting, playing lawn games and enjoying the countryside setting while the atmosphere slowly built towards the evening celebrations.
It was during this part of the day that Tom had control of the music, which meant plenty of old-school emo and rock songs playing in the background — something I personally loved while photographing all the candid moments unfolding around the garden.
These relaxed moments during the drinks reception are often where some of the most natural photographs happen. Guests catching up, laughing together and enjoying the sunshine always create wonderful documentary-style images that reflect the atmosphere of the day.
One of the most unique touches was a live illustrator (Jam Illustrations) capturing moments from the celebration as it unfolded, something guests loved watching throughout the afternoon.
Dining and Speeches in the Willow Marsh Farm Barn
The celebrations continued inside the beautiful barn at Willow Marsh Farm, where guests gathered for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
Originally built as the farm’s winter machinery barn, the space has been thoughtfully transformed into a warm and atmospheric setting for weddings. Large glazed barn doors open out towards the marsh, bringing the surrounding countryside into the space, while a central skylight fills the room with natural light throughout the day.
For Lois and Tom’s wedding, the barn looked wonderful set up with long wooden banqueting tables and cross-back chairs, creating a relaxed yet elegant setting for dinner with their family and friends.
The barn works brilliantly for speeches as well. The open layout allows everyone to see and hear the speakers clearly, while still feeling intimate with around 80 guests seated together. From a photography perspective, the natural light from the glazed doors and skylight helps create bright, natural images during this part of the day.
Fun Couple Photography – Champagne Spray
Later in the evening Lois and Tom stepped outside the barn with a bottle of champagne for a few fun photos together.
I love moments like this during a wedding day, they’re completely spontaneous and full of energy. As soon as the cork popped there was plenty of laughter (and plenty of champagne spray) which made for some really joyful images.
The rustic stone and timber exterior of the barn at Willow Marsh Farm also creates a great backdrop for relaxed evening photos like this, with the textures of the building adding character to the scene.
Evening Celebrations at Willow Marsh Farm
As the evening celebrations began, guests made the most of the last of the sunshine outside the barn before heading in for dancing.
One of the lovely things about a Willow Marsh Farm wedding is how easily the day flows between indoor and outdoor spaces. Friends and family gathered outside with drinks, chatting and enjoying the warm evening light before the party really got underway.
Inside the barn, the dancefloor quickly filled as the music started and guests celebrated late into the evening. These moments are always some of my favourite to photograph — full of movement, laughter and the kind of candid moments that really capture the atmosphere of the day.
Planning a Willow Marsh Farm Wedding?
If you’re planning a Willow Marsh Farm wedding, it’s a venue that lends itself perfectly to relaxed celebrations and natural photography. The rustic architecture, countryside surroundings and intimate ceremony space all help create an atmosphere where real moments can unfold naturally.
Willow Marsh Farm Wedding Photographer
If you’re planning a Willow Marsh Farm wedding and are looking for relaxed, natural photography, I’d love to hear about your plans. As a Nottingham wedding photographer, I regularly photograph weddings across Nottinghamshire and the East Midlands. Please use my Contact Page to enquire about booking me
You can also check out more of my work & previous weddings I’ve shot by taking a look at my blog.
You can see more of my wedding work here: Nottingham Wedding Photographer
If you’re still currently choosing your venue, you might find my guide to the best wedding venues in Nottingham helpful.
Wedding Suppliers:
Wedding Venue: Willow Marsh Farm
Wedding Dress: Made With Love Bridal from The White Outlet
Bride’s Shoes: Be Mine
Groom’s Suit & shoes: Slaters Menswear
Florist: The Leicestershire Flower Farm
Stationery: No Ordinary Weddings
Hair: Claudia’s Hair
Makeup: BethanyJoy Bridal
Bridesmaid Dresses: Six Stories
Caterer: ABJ Catering
Live Illustrator: Jam Illustrations
Confetti: Shropshire Petals
Willow Marsh Farm Wedding Photography FAQ
Where is Willow Marsh Farm located?
Willow Marsh Farm is a countryside wedding venue located in East Leake, Nottinghamshire, close to Nottingham and Loughborough.
Can you get married in the stable at Willow Marsh Farm?
Yes, the venue has a beautiful converted stable that creates an intimate and atmospheric ceremony space.
Are there good portrait locations at Willow Marsh Farm?
Yes — the venue has several lovely spots for couple portraits including rustic farm buildings, the bridal cottage steps, and characterful features around the grounds.
How many guests can Willow Marsh Farm accommodate?
The barn can seat around 130 guests for the wedding breakfast, with additional space for evening celebrations.
Some weddings host up to 200+ guests for evening receptions, depending on layout and outdoor use of the grounds.
Do couples get exclusive use of Willow Marsh Farm?
Yes. Weddings usually include exclusive use of the venue for a full weekend, giving couples time to set up, celebrate, and stay overnight with close family or friends
Willow Marsh Farm Address:
Willow Marsh Farm, Loughborough Rd, East Leake, Loughborough LE12 6NZ
