Elms Meadow Wedding Photographer

Venue Spotlight

Looking for a wedding photographer at Elms Meadow? I'm Tom Stenlake, a natural documentary wedding photographer and CAA-licensed drone pilot based in Northamptonshire. Every photo on this page was taken by me at Elms Meadow in Pytchley.

Why Elms Meadow Is Perfect For Weddings

Elms Meadow is an exclusive-use tipi wedding venue set on a working arable farm in Pytchley, in the heart of Northamptonshire. Four giant, interlinked Nordic-style tipis sit in a secluded spot surrounded by open countryside, golden fields and a wildflower meadow, giving you a relaxed festival feel with real countryside charm.

The farm has been in the same family for around 250 years, and that personal, down-to-earth approach runs through everything. You have the whole venue to yourselves from 9am until 12:30am on the day, with time to set up the day before, so you can style it exactly the way you want and make it feel completely yours.

Elms Meadow is a blank canvas in the best possible way. Bring in your own caterers, from a laid-back barbecue or street food to a formal wedding breakfast. Inside, wooden floors, fairy lights, a lounge area and indoor and outdoor firepits create a warm, cosy atmosphere, while the tipi sides can be raised on sunny days to open up views across the meadow.

My approach fits Elms Meadow perfectly. I specialise in couples who don't particularly enjoy having their photograph taken, so there's no endless posing or turning your wedding into a photoshoot. I become part of the celebration, capture the genuine moments around me and give you a little guidance when it helps.

Elms Meadow at a Glance

Exclusive-use tipi wedding venue in Pytchley, near Kettering, Northamptonshire
Four giant interlinked Nordic-style tipis
Set on a family-owned working arable farm with views over a wildflower meadow
Up to 150 guests, with seating for around 120 for the wedding breakfast
Outdoor ceremonies on the lawn, with All Saints Church within walking distance
Access from 9am to 12:30am, plus set-up time the day before
Bring your own caterer, with a staffed bar on site
Wooden floors, fairy lights, lounge furniture, and indoor and outdoor firepits
Tables, benches and chairs included
Luxury toilets, quiet generator and plenty of parking
Dog friendly

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A Tipi Wedding in the Heart of the Countryside

Tucked away on a family-owned farm in Pytchley, Elms Meadow feels like your own private corner of Northamptonshire. Four giant Nordic-style tipis sit in a quiet spot surrounded by open fields and a wildflower meadow, with big skies all around. It's relaxed, characterful and full of festival spirit, the perfect setting for couples who want a wedding that feels completely different.

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Your Venue, Your Way

The family behind Elms Meadow have farmed this land for around 250 years, and their warm, personal approach shows. You have exclusive use from 9am until 12:30am, plus time to set up the day before. Bring your own caterer, style the tipis exactly how you like and make the whole day feel like a celebration with friends, not a production.

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Flexible for Every Kind of Celebration

Say your vows outdoors on the lawn looking across the fields, or walk to All Saints Church in the village and come back for the party. The interlinked tipis welcome up to 150 guests, with seating for around 120 for the wedding breakfast, and the sides can be raised on sunny days to open everything up to the meadow.

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Golden Fields and Wildflowers

For photography, Elms Meadow is a dream. Long grass, wildflowers, farm tracks and golden fields surround the tipis, so we can create natural, timeless portraits just a few steps from your guests. Late summer evenings bring soft, warm light across the meadow that suits my relaxed documentary style perfectly.

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Rain or Shine, Day Into Night

If the weather turns, the tipis become even cosier, with wooden floors, fairy lights and firepits glowing inside. As evening falls, the dance floor fills and the atmosphere becomes pure festival, and I'm right there in the middle of it. Get in touch to check your date, and let's plan photographs as relaxed and joyful as your day.

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The History of Elms Meadow and Pytchley

Elms Meadow sits on the edge of Pytchley, a small village between Kettering and Wellingborough whose name is thought to mean the wood or clearing of Peoht. The village appears in the Domesday Book, when its land was held from Peterborough Abbey.

In the reign of Elizabeth I, Sir Euseby Isham built Pytchley Hall here, a fine H-shaped house of local ironstone with mullioned windows and pinnacled gables. Euseby was knighted by King James I in 1603 and died at Pytchley in 1626. The hall later became the headquarters of the famous Pytchley Hunt before it was demolished in 1829. Its gateway was moved to Overstone Park and its porch rebuilt at Glendon Hall.

The village church of All Saints dates back to the late 12th century, with a tower from around 1200 that was heightened around 1427. It's within walking distance of Elms Meadow, which makes it a lovely option for couples who want a church ceremony followed by a tipi celebration.

Elms Meadow itself is part of an arable farm that has been in the same family for around 250 years. That long connection to the land is part of what makes the venue feel so personal and relaxed.

Did You Know?

Pytchley is recorded in the Domesday Book.
The village gave its name to the famous Pytchley Hunt.
Pytchley Hall was built by Sir Euseby Isham in the Elizabethan era and demolished in 1829.
The hall's old gateway now stands at Overstone Park.
All Saints Church in Pytchley has parts dating back to the late 12th century.
The farm at Elms Meadow has been in the same family for around 250 years.
The four giant tipis are Nordic in style and linked together into one space.

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Elms Meadow FAQs

Who is a good wedding photographer for Elms Meadow?

I'm Tom Stenlake, a natural documentary wedding photographer based in Northamptonshire. I've photographed weddings at Elms Meadow, know the tipis, the meadow and the fields around the farm, and offer photography and CAA-licensed drone coverage.

What is your photography style at Elms Meadow?

Natural documentary storytelling with genuine moments and lightly guided portraits. My editing uses true-to-life colour with subtle warmth, flattering skin tones and a timeless finish, which suits the relaxed, rustic feel of a tipi wedding perfectly.

How many wedding guests can Elms Meadow accommodate?

Elms Meadow can host up to 150 guests, with seating for around 120 for the wedding breakfast inside the four interlinked tipis.

Can we have an outdoor wedding ceremony at Elms Meadow?

Yes. Ceremonies can be held outdoors on the lawn, looking out across the countryside. All Saints Church in Pytchley is also within walking distance if you would like a church ceremony. Speak to the venue about the legal side of your ceremony.

Is Elms Meadow exclusive use?

Yes. You have the whole venue from 9am until 12:30am on your wedding day, plus time to set up the day before.

Can we choose our own caterer at Elms Meadow?

Yes. Elms Meadow lets you bring in your own caterer, so you can choose anything from a relaxed barbecue or street food to a formal wedding breakfast. The venue runs a staffed bar on site.

Where are the best places for wedding photographs at Elms Meadow?

The wildflower meadow, the golden fields and farm tracks around the venue, and the tipis themselves with their fairy lights and firepits. In late summer the light across the fields at golden hour is beautiful. I choose locations based on the light and weather on the day.

What happens if it rains at our Elms Meadow wedding?

The tipis are cosy and atmospheric whatever the weather, with wooden floors, fairy lights and firepits. I plan around the forecast, and if we get a break in the rain we can head into the meadow for a few minutes without keeping you away from your guests.

Can you fly a drone at Elms Meadow?

When weather, venue permission and airspace regulations allow. I'm a CAA-licensed, insured drone pilot and always coordinate with the venue before any flight. The open farmland around Elms Meadow makes for beautiful aerial shots of the tipis.

How do you approach group photographs?

Clear, quick, fun and friendly. We agree a sensible list before the wedding so I can organise everyone efficiently and get you back to enjoying the celebration.

Do you offer pre-wedding shoots?

Yes, as an optional add-on. Pre-wedding shoots aren't included in my packages as standard, but they're a relaxed way to get comfortable in front of the camera and see how I work before the big day. Availability depends on the location and distance, so just ask and I'll check dates and options for you.

Where is Elms Meadow?

Elms Meadow is on Isham Road, Pytchley, Northamptonshire, NN14 1EW, between Kettering and Wellingborough and close to the A14 and A43.

Planning a wedding at Elms Meadow?

Visit the official Elms Meadow website for availability, the venue brochure, recommended caterers and information about planning your tipi wedding.

Visit the venue's website

How to find Elms Meadow

Elms Meadow is tucked away on Isham Road on the edge of the village of Pytchley, between Kettering and Wellingborough. It feels wonderfully secluded, yet it's easy to reach from across Northamptonshire and beyond.

Address: Elms Meadow, Isham Road, Pytchley, Northamptonshire
Postcode: NN14 1EW
Nearby: Kettering, Wellingborough, Northampton and Corby
By road: Close to the A14 and A43, with links to the M1
By train: Kettering and Wellingborough stations are a short taxi ride away
Parking: Plenty of on-site parking for guests
Accommodation: No rooms on site, but hotels and B&Bs in Kettering and the surrounding villages are nearby

I highly recommended all couples protect their wedding - Get a free quote from Wedinsure

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Planning an Elms Meadow Wedding?

If you're getting married at Elms Meadow and you'd love a photographer who will capture the people, atmosphere and fun of your tipi wedding without turning it into one long photoshoot, I'd love to hear what you're planning.

I specialise in couples who hate having their photograph taken. You don't need to know how to pose or spend hours away from your guests. I'll give you a little direction when you need it, capture everything else naturally and be right there enjoying the day with you.

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