Pendley Manor Wedding Photography

History Of Pendley Manor

I’ve photographed about 20 weddings over the years at Pendley Manor, and the architecture and gardens make for beautiful photographs.

Local mill owner Joseph Williams commissioned architect Walter Ryan to build a new Tudor style manor house on his newly acquired land near Tring. He completed construction of this grand house in 1872. The family and descendants then occupied this splendid Victorian Manor until 1983.

The most recent private owner was the BBC show jumping commentator Dorian Williams. After the Second World War he developed it as a centre for adult education and the arts.

He founded the Pendley Open Air Shakespeare Festival in 1949, which continues to run to this present day to sell out audiences. The grounds have two landscaped open-air theatres, and there’s also an indoor theatre which has permanently occupied the former stable block on the estate since the 1970s. To this day it still presents a full programme of drama and musical performances.

The house was more recently purchased by a property company in 1983. Then in 1989 a hotel company stepped in and purchased the building and set about extensively refurbishing the house. Once the works completed, it opened as a wonderful country house hotel.

Photographing Weddings At Pendley Manor

Pendley Manor attracts many couples through its doors for their wedding celebrations. They can host anything from small intimate weddings in the main house through to larger wedding receptions for up to 200 guests in their contemporary ballroom.

The picture opportunities at Pendley Manor are fabulous! Both indoors and outside you’ll be spoilt for options.

In particular I love the inside of the old house; the intricate grand staircase with its huge arched window is pretty amazing for wedding photographs. Most photographers make a beeline for this wonderful centrepiece to the house. The light streaming through the huge ornate window illuminates the interiors majestically come rain or shine.

The peacocks on the estate are very special too and they are not shy,. In fact, they may even photobomb your official pictures on the day!

If you’d like to discuss your Pendley Manor wedding photography requirements, I’d love to hear from you, or if you’d like to learn more about hosting your wedding at Pendley Manor click here.