Jenny & Callum: A Browning Bros Wedding
The brilliant Browning Bros Wedding of Jenny and Callum in July 2018 at Chalkney Water Meadows.
Chalkney Water Meadows at a glance
Chalkney Water Meadows, the Browning Bros wedding venue, sits in open countryside near Colchester in Essex, with a lake at the centre of the site. It hosts only around fifteen weddings a year and offers on-site glamping, so most guests stay the night. Ceremonies are held by the lake and the meal and party are in giant tipis. Listings put guest numbers at roughly 100 to 180 or more, and there are glamping bell tents plus two lakeside cabins.
A festival wedding by the lake at Chalkney Water Meadows
Chalkney Water Meadows, the Browning Bros wedding venue, sits in open countryside at Wakes Colne near Colchester, with a lake at the centre of everything. It only hosts around fifteen weddings a year, and with glamping on site most guests stay the night, so it feels more like a small festival than a wedding venue.
Jenny and Callum built their day around music: live performances during and after the ceremony, the Harriers on stage in the evening, and a DJ set of their own choosing to finish. Nicola from Bespoke Celebrant Ceremonies married them, and food came from Hogit Catering with a Redstone pizza van later on.
As always, nothing was posed or staged. What follows is the day as it happened, from getting ready to the last song.
Planning a wedding here? My Chalkney Water Meadows wedding photographer guide covers the venue, the light and timings, and there are two more real weddings there: Rebecca & Tom and Tara & Jack.
This was my first Browning Bros wedding and what a day it was. The Browning Bros Wedding Venue at Chalkney Water Meadows really is a hidden gem in the rural Wakes Colne countryside with a beautiful lake at the heart of everything. The venue only holds around 15 weddings a year, giving it an extra frisson of excitement. With its idyllic, endless green surroundings and the fun twist of on-site glamping, this really does feel like a true festival wedding.
Jenny and Callum decided upon using the Browning Bros Wedding venue as soon as they saw what the site has to offer. They had a very specific wedding in mind and they managed to truly realise it with their choice of partnership. Music was at the heart of the wedding day with live performances during and after the ceremony, followed by an eclectic mix of sounds chosen by the couple later in the evening. I must thank Callum and Jenny for introducing me to a track by Lee Dorsey called Give it Up. (trust me it’s amazing, look it up!)
Browning Bros Wedding Photography
I must thank the wonderful staff at Browning Bros, in particular, Nat, Archie and Helen who ensured the day ran smoothly from moment to moment. They have a real talent for making the hard work they do look effortless. I know both Jenny and Callum were absolutely delighted with how the entire day went.
Additional big thanks to the brilliant Nicola from Bespoke Celebrant Ceremonies who conducted the brief ceremony in the warm and contemporary way that she’s made her own.
Kind words:
“We cannot thank Matt enough for our photos, he has captured our day perfectly. We really cared about picking the right photographer as you spend so much time with them on the day and Matt made us feel at ease and he slots in perfectly. So many people commented on how great he was and we truly couldn’t be happier with the service he provides. The photos truly are fantastic. Thank you so much”
Venue: Browning Bros
Hair: Bridal Hair by Jennie
Food: Hogit Catering
Pizza: Redstone Pizza Van
DJ: Fox and Braces
Band: Harriers
Dress: Enzoani
Outside Bar: Chin Chin Mobile Cocktail Bar
Celebrant:Bespoke Celebrant Ceremonies
If you’re still looking for a wedding photographer for your Wedding please get in touch HERE
Photographing a Chalkney Water Meadows wedding
Music ran through Jenny and Callum’s July day at Chalkney Water Meadows. There were live performances during and after the ceremony, which Nicola from Bespoke Celebrant Ceremonies led, and the Harriers played on stage in the evening before a DJ set of their own choosing. With glamping on site most guests stayed the night, so the mood was closer to a small festival. I photographed it the way I always do, nothing posed, from getting ready through confetti, speeches and portraits to the last song.
Chalkney Water Meadows wedding questions
Can we have our ceremony at Chalkney Water Meadows?
Jenny and Callum had a celebrant-led ceremony by the lake, with live music during and after it. Check with Browning Bros whether you need a separate legal ceremony, as I could not confirm a marriage licence for the pontoon.
How many guests can Chalkney Water Meadows hold, and can guests stay?
Listings give a range of roughly 100 to 180 or more guests. The venue hosts around fifteen weddings a year and has on-site glamping, so most guests stay the night, in bell tents or the two lakeside cabins.
Where are the best photo spots at Chalkney Water Meadows?
From Jenny and Callum’s wedding: the lake at the centre of everything, the tipis, the open green surroundings and the sunset light in the evening.
How much does a Chalkney Water Meadows wedding photographer cost?
£2,500 all in for the whole day, with UK travel included. That covers 800+ edited photos and 100+ previews the next day. See everything that’s included.
Have you photographed weddings at Chalkney Water Meadows before?
Yes. Jenny and Callum’s festival-style wedding in July 2018 was my first Browning Bros wedding, with live music from the ceremony to the last song.
