Dan & Ellie’s Town Head Estate Wedding
A gorgeous late September wedding beside Windermere, with an outdoor ceremony, confetti everywhere, a cheeky donkey and a dance floor full of life.
A day full of laughter on the shores of the lake
Dan and Ellie wanted to enjoy their wedding, spend time with their favourite people and have photographs that felt like them. Town Head Estate gave us a brilliant setting for exactly that.
The weather was fantastic, with enough wind to keep things interesting, and the whole day had such a lovely atmosphere. From the morning preparations to the last stretch of the party, there was always something happening and someone having a good laugh.
If you are considering the venue for your own day, my Town Head Estate wedding photography guide is the place to explore the setting and photography opportunities in more detail.
A brilliant preparation space and a relaxed start
I travelled down in the morning and met Aaron, the videographer, in the car park. We had a good chat about the plans before I went inside to catch up with the venue team and make sure we all knew how the day would run.
Then it was time to see Ellie and the girls. The dedicated preparation space at Town Head is fantastic: a lovely place to get ready, with room for everyone and some beautiful window light for the final photographs.
I photographed the preparations, then headed out to catch up with Dan and the guys. We made a few relaxed, fun pictures and a handful of more formal ones, keeping it to just a few minutes before I returned to Ellie.
A reveal with the bridesmaids
Once Ellie was ready, we finished the preparations with a reveal for her bridesmaids. Their reactions were brilliant, followed by plenty of laughter together outside before the ceremony.
A little wind, a beautiful setting and a lot of confetti
It was quite a windy day, but the ceremony could still go ahead outside. With the gardens around them and their friends and family gathered together, it was a superb setting for Dan and Ellie to get married.
After the ceremony came a brilliant confetti walk. There was confetti everywhere, big smiles and that lovely rush of excitement as everyone headed into the drinks reception.
Time to enjoy being married
Town Head works so well for a relaxed drinks reception. Dan and Ellie had time to catch up with everyone while I photographed the conversations, reactions and little moments happening around them.
We gave them around fifteen to twenty minutes before starting the requested family pictures. There was no need to rush straight from the ceremony into a long list of photographs. If you are planning your own timings, my wedding planning timetable explains how to leave room for photographs and time with your guests.
A few family photographs, then a good bit of fun
After the family groups, we spent a little time with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. We made a classic group photograph, then kept things moving so their characters and friendships could come through.
Dan and Ellie did not want lots of formal pictures or anything too posed. Working alongside Aaron was great: we could keep everything relaxed and let the couple enjoy themselves.
A lot of it was simply walking, talking and giving their personalities room to come out.
Walking, talking and a surprise guest
For their couple photographs, we went for a wander around the grounds before walking down towards Windermere. Nothing complicated: a little time together and plenty of opportunity to laugh.
On the way, we met Eddie, the rather cheeky donkey. He trotted over and decided Ellie’s flowers looked far too tempting. Dan ended up keeping the bouquet out of reach, and Eddie very nearly stole the limelight.
A little time together overlooking Windermere
Once we had negotiated our way past Eddie, we headed onto the jetty for a few photographs. We only needed around five minutes there before making our way back to the celebrations.
The lake gives Town Head such a distinctive setting, but the photographs never needed to become a lengthy photoshoot. Dan and Ellie could enjoy the view, have a moment together and get back to their friends and family.
A beautiful room and speeches full of warmth
Back at the venue, I photographed the room before the celebrations moved inside. Dan and Ellie still had plenty of time to enjoy being with their guests, which was exactly how they wanted the day to feel.
The speeches were not too long, but they were great to photograph: lovely reactions around the room, plenty of laughter and a wonderfully warm atmosphere at the top table.
Afterwards there was more time for drinks and conversation as the evening guests began arriving and the party gathered pace.
This crowd certainly brought the party
Dan and Ellie came onto the floor for their first dance and the evening turned into a properly lively celebration. Their friends and family were completely up for it.
With a live band and a saxophonist playing later, there was so much energy in the room. It was a superb finish to the day, full of the kind of unguarded, joyful moments I love photographing.
Dan & Ellie’s wedding suppliers
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this such a brilliant wedding. Here is the team credited in my post from the day.
“We were so pleased with our wedding photos from Chris! He made us feel at ease on the day and his great coordination made sure we got everything we wanted captured in a timely manner so we could spend more time enjoying our day. Thanks again Chris x”
Google review · October 2026
Explore Town Head Estate
For more about the venue and how I photograph weddings here, visit my Town Head Estate guide. If you are still comparing locations, you can also explore other lakeside settings across the Lake District.
Useful things to know
Can you have an outdoor ceremony at Town Head Estate?
Dan and Ellie married outdoors in late September. Although it was windy, the weather allowed the ceremony to go ahead outside. For your own wedding, discuss the ceremony arrangements and wet-weather plan directly with the venue.
Where did Dan and Ellie have their couple photographs?
We wandered through the gardens and grounds before heading down to the Windermere jetty. That gave them a mix of garden and lakeside photographs, with an unexpected appearance from Eddie the donkey along the way.
Do we have to pose for lots of wedding photographs?
No. Dan and Ellie preferred a relaxed approach, so much of their time together involved walking, talking and enjoying themselves. We made a few requested family groups, then kept the rest natural. You can read more about my wedding photography style.
How long did the jetty photographs take?
We spent around five minutes on the jetty itself. That was part of a longer wander through the grounds and down to the lake, rather than the total time away from the reception.
Can you photograph the preparations at the venue?
Yes. I photographed Ellie and the girls in Town Head’s dedicated preparation space, then caught up with Dan and his groomsmen before returning for Ellie’s final preparations and bridesmaid reveal.
Where can I find more information about wedding photography here?
My Town Head Estate wedding photography page explores the venue in more detail. To ask about your date and tell me about your plans, get in touch here.
