Cambridge Orchard Wedding: Fiona & Oliver

Fiona & Oliver: A Cambridge Orchard Wedding

The stunningly brilliant Cambridge orchard wedding of Fiona & Oliver in July 2018 at Turnpike Orchard in Barton, Cambridgeshire.

Turnpike Orchard at a glance

Turnpike Orchard is a family-owned private orchard in Barton, in the countryside just outside Cambridge. It is not a conventional wedding venue: when Fiona and Oliver married there in July 2018, it was only the third wedding the family had hosted. The day was built from scratch in the orchard, with a marquee from Fairytale Marquees, catering by Little Piggy, and music from the Cambridge University Ceilidh Band and the party band Groovetube. There is no published capacity, licence or accommodation information, so speak to the owners directly.

This was my first ever Cambridge orchard wedding and how enjoyable it was. The Cambridge orchard wedding venue at Turnpike Orchard in Barton, Cambridge really is a hidden gem in the rural Cambridgeshire countryside. This family-owned, private venue is so exclusive that this is only the 3rd wedding they’ve ever hosted!

Fiona and Oliver decided upon using the orchard venue as soon as they saw what site has to offer. Having lived locally they knew exactly what the area brought and used this local knowledge to ensure their dream wedding was made into a reality.

Their joint passion for travel and Fiona’s lifelong dance background was at the heart of the wedding day, topped off with an energetic and captivating performance from party band Groovetube later in the evening. Preceding this was a live performance by the incredibly talented Cambridge University Ceilidh Band

The Ceilidh is a traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering. In its most basic form, it simply means a social visit. In contemporary usage, it usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing, either at a house party or a larger concert at a social hall or other community gathering place.

It was very gratifying to have been given the opportunity to document a wedding as special as this. From the moment I received the enquiry, I found Fiona and Oliver’s plans both intriguing and exciting, and it was great to see how precisely they kept to their vision. They really pulled it off and I’m delighted to be able to share a selection of their images here.

I wish this joyful couple, Fiona & Oliver, all the best in the future.

Photographing a Cambridge orchard wedding

Fiona and Oliver’s day was built around dancing, so the best pictures came after dinner. The Cambridge University Ceilidh Band got everyone up, and Groovetube kept the floor full later on. Before that, the open orchard gave us room for confetti and a short portrait session, and the long July evening meant there was still good light outside once the party had started.

Turnpike Orchard wedding questions

Can you get married at Turnpike Orchard?

Fiona and Oliver held their wedding there in July 2018 with a marquee in the orchard. It is a private family property rather than a listed wedding venue, so check with the owners and with Cambridgeshire’s registration service about where the legal ceremony can take place.

How many guests can an orchard wedding near Cambridge hold?

At a private site like Turnpike Orchard, numbers depend on the marquee you hire and what the owners allow. There is no published capacity, so ask the family and your marquee company.

Where are the best photo spots at an orchard wedding?

From Fiona and Oliver’s day: the open orchard for confetti and portraits, and the marquee dancefloor once the ceilidh starts.

How much does a Cambridge orchard wedding photographer cost?

£2,500, all in for the whole day. UK travel is included, and you get 800+ edited photos plus 100+ previews the next day. See everything that’s included.