Cat & Sai’s Wedding at Ardington House, Oxfordshire

The legends that are Cat and Sai.

One of the best parts of being an Oxfordshire wedding photographer is meeting people like these two. From our very first call, I knew they were my kind of people. I remember hanging up and thinking, “I love these two — I really hope they choose me.”

They did.

A Beautiful Ardington House Wedding

Their wedding took place at the stunning Ardington House, set in the leafy Oxfordshire countryside — and conveniently about two minutes from where I live in Wantage.

I shoot a lot of weddings at Ardington House, and it’s genuinely one of my favourite venues in Oxfordshire. Not just because it’s close to home, but because it really does everything a wedding venue should.

It’s a grand Georgian manor house steeped in history. Elegant. Timeless. Honestly, it’s Bridgerton-level stunning. There’s Temple Island, where you can hold your ceremony (which Cat and Sai did), a river running through the grounds, swans gliding across the water, a leafy tree-lined avenue, little bridges, vast open fields, and a beautiful marquee for the reception.

From a photography point of view, an Ardington House wedding gives you endless opportunities. Around every corner, there’s another incredible backdrop.

Bridal Prep at Ardington House

One of the great things about weddings at Ardington House is the layout. Typically, the bride gets ready in the master bedroom, while the groom and guests are in another section of the house, completely separate. It works perfectly for capturing bridal prep, groom prep, and guest energy without anyone accidentally bumping into each other too early.

When I arrived, Cat was upstairs with her bridesmaids in the master bedroom. The room is huge, with big windows that flood the space with natural light. There are mirrors everywhere, which bounce the light beautifully and create loads of opportunities for those sneaky reflection shots I love.

Downstairs, guests had started gathering in the country kitchen — which genuinely looks like something out of a Jamie Oliver show. Rustic charm, but with all the modern touches.

The “Traditional Pre-Wedding Shower Beer”

At one point, a guest casually mentioned he was about to have his “traditional pre-wedding shower beer.”

Now, that’s not a sentence I’d ever heard before.

Naturally, I was intrigued.

After a quick chat (and full permission), I followed him upstairs to document the moment. It wasn’t nearly as questionable as it sounds — just one of those funny, slightly ridiculous traditions that makes a wedding personal. It made for a brilliant photo and hopefully a good laugh for Cat and Sai when they see their gallery.

These are the moments I love capturing — the unscripted bits that make a wedding truly yours.

A Temple Island Ceremony

When it was time for the ceremony, guests were ushered down to Temple Island to take their seats. That left Cat to have her father reveal and those final quiet moments before being driven across in the buggy to the island.

Temple Island at Ardington House is one of the most romantic ceremony locations in Oxfordshire. Surrounded by water and framed by trees, it feels intimate even with a full guest list.

Sai looked so excited waiting for Cat. It was written all over his face — like he just wanted to see her and be married already.

He held it together until the very last moment as Cat walked down the aisle with her dad, who scrubbed up very nicely, I might add.

Drinks, Canapés & Autumn Portraits

After the ceremony, everyone headed back to the house for drinks and canapés from Fingers & Forks.

They are always exceptional. Not only is the food incredible, but they genuinely look after suppliers too — which makes a big difference on a long wedding day.

Ardington House is an absolute dream for wedding photography. With the leaves starting to turn, I couldn’t resist taking Cat and Sai to the front avenue, where autumn leaves covered the ground. It was the perfect seasonal backdrop.

And you simply can’t shoot an Ardington House wedding without photographing the back of the house. In the afternoon, the sun bathes the Georgian façade in warm light, creating those soft, editorial, almost Vogue-style portraits.

Marquee Reception & A Packed Dance Floor

While we were taking portraits, the rest of the guests made their way to the marquee in anticipation of two things — Cat and Sai… and food.

Dinner was, as expected, outstanding. Fingers & Forks absolutely smashed it. It’s also my brief moment to sit down, have a coffee, and recharge before the evening really gets going.

I love a first dance — especially when couples use that time to just be together. No rushing to fill the dance floor. No pressure. Just a moment.

With Cat and Sai, it genuinely felt like no one else was in the room.

Then the party started properly.

The dance floor was packed. The bar was rammed. The hair got bigger as the night went on, and the laughter didn’t stop.

When I was a kid, the dance floor at a wedding was for one thing and one thing only — knee slides. Cat and Sai’s wedding was no exception. Except this time, it wasn’t the kids leading the charge. It was Sai’s dad, who I’m told was walking a little differently the next morning.

Once again, the older generation showing us how it’s done.

An Ardington House Wedding I Won’t Forget

I had so much fun at Cat and Sai’s wedding. Right at the end of the night, just as I was about to leave, Sai said, “Leave your car here and come party with us.”

If I didn’t have another wedding the next day, I absolutely would have.

Next time though, Sai. I promise.