Notley Abbey Wedding Photographer

Venue Spotlight

Looking for a wedding photographer at Notley Abbey? 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 Notley Abbey, on the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire border near Thame.

Why Notley Abbey Is Perfect For Weddings

Notley Abbey is an exclusive-use wedding venue built on the site of a twelfth-century Augustinian abbey, set in private riverside grounds beside the River Thame near Long Crendon. Honey-coloured stone, mullioned windows, Gothic doorways and centuries-old trees give it a romance and sense of history that very few venues can match.

Inside, you'll find the vaulted Monks' Refectory, the oak-beamed Abbot's Hall and elegant drawing rooms with open fireplaces. Outside there are lavender-lined formal gardens, a walled garden, a dovecote, sweeping lawns and a long tree-lined avenue. The whole estate is yours for your wedding day and night, with nine bedrooms including a dedicated wedding suite.

Notley Abbey is also beautifully flexible. You can marry in the Monks' Refectory, the Abbot's Hall or outdoors in the gardens, with up to 164 guests for the ceremony and wedding breakfast and up to 250 in the evening. The in-house team takes care of the food and drink, and dry hire is available for cultural celebrations with your own caterers.

My approach fits Notley Abbey 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.

Notley Abbey at a Glance

Exclusive-use, Grade I listed abbey estate near Thame and Long Crendon
Founded as an Augustinian abbey in the twelfth century
Once the country home of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh
Ceremonies in the Monks' Refectory, the Abbot's Hall or the gardens
Nine bedrooms, including a wedding suite for the newlyweds
Private riverside grounds with lavender, a walled garden and a dovecote
In-house catering, with dry hire available for cultural celebrations

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Eight Centuries of Stone and Story

Notley Abbey has been welcoming people for over eight hundred years. Founded by Augustinian canons in the twelfth century, its honey-coloured stone, mullioned windows and riverside grounds beside the River Thame create a setting that feels quietly magical. Arriving here, you instantly sense you're somewhere with a story, and your wedding becomes the newest chapter.

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The Country Retreat of Olivier and Leigh

Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh made Notley their country home for sixteen years, and that sense of glamour and warmth still lingers. Today the whole estate is yours, with nine bedrooms including a wedding suite, a dedicated team looking after the food and drink, and the freedom to relax and enjoy it with the people you love.

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Refectory, Hall or Lavender Garden

Choose between the vaulted Monks' Refectory, the oak-beamed Abbot's Hall or an outdoor ceremony among the stone and lavender of the gardens. Up to 164 guests can join you for the ceremony and wedding breakfast, with room for 250 as the evening gets going, so the abbey adapts to whatever kind of celebration you have in mind.

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Gothic Doorways and an Avenue of Gold

For photography, Notley is extraordinary. Weathered Gothic doorways, ivy-clad walls, a tree-lined avenue that glows in autumn and a white gate framed by old trees give us endless variety just steps from your guests. It's a place where natural, timeless portraits almost create themselves, with the history of the abbey in every frame.

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Sparklers, Fireworks and Candlelit Stone

Whatever the weather, the abbey's mullioned rooms and sheltered doorways keep the day flowing beautifully, and an umbrella dash through the gardens can become a favourite photo. After dark, sparklers, fireworks and the glow of old stone make for an unforgettable finale. Get in touch and let's talk about your Notley Abbey wedding.

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The History of Notley Abbey

Notley Abbey was founded between 1154 and 1164 by Walter Giffard, 2nd Earl of Buckingham, and his wife Ermengard. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and St John the Baptist, it became home to Augustinian canons and grew into one of the largest and richest Augustinian houses in the Oxford region.

The great stone barn that now serves as the Monks' Refectory dates from the late twelfth or thirteenth century, and the estate still has its historic dovecote beside the River Thame. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, Notley was closed in 1538. Its remaining buildings later became a farmhouse, and the house was revived in the 1890s.

Notley's most famous chapter began in 1944, when actors Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh bought the abbey after their London home was damaged in the war. They lived here until 1960, and Notley became their much-loved country retreat.

Today Notley Abbey is Grade I listed and has become one of the most romantic wedding venues on the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire border. For photography, that history is everywhere: in the worn stone thresholds, the arched doorways and the ancient trees that have watched over the estate for centuries.

Did You Know?

Notley Abbey was founded in the twelfth century by the 2nd Earl of Buckingham.
It was home to Augustinian canons until Henry VIII dissolved it in 1538.
The Monks' Refectory barn dates back to between 1199 and 1298.
Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh lived at Notley from 1944 to 1960.
The estate is Grade I listed and covers around 28 hectares.
The River Thame runs through the grounds, past a historic dovecote.

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Notley Abbey FAQs

Who is a good wedding photographer for Notley Abbey?

I'm Tom Stenlake, a natural documentary wedding photographer based in Northamptonshire. I've photographed weddings at Notley Abbey, know the Monks' Refectory, the Abbot's Hall, the gardens and the tree-lined avenue, and offer photography and CAA-licensed drone coverage.

What is your photography style at Notley Abbey?

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 that suits the abbey's honey-coloured stone beautifully.

How many wedding guests can Notley Abbey accommodate?

Notley Abbey varies in capacity between indoor and outdoor weddings. Please check with the venue.

Where can we get married at Notley Abbey?

You can marry in the vaulted Monks' Refectory, the oak-beamed Abbot's Hall or outdoors in the gardens among the ancient stone and lavender.

Can we stay at Notley Abbey?

Yes. There are nine bedrooms, including a wedding suite reserved for the newlyweds, and the venue is exclusive use for your wedding day and night.

Can we bring our own caterers to Notley Abbey?

Notley Abbey's in-house team provides the food and drink as standard. Dry hire with external catering is available for cultural celebrations, so speak to the venue about the options.

Where are the best places for wedding photographs at Notley Abbey?

The Gothic arched doorways, the honey-stone frontage, the walled and formal gardens, the tree-lined avenue with its white gate, and the old trees in the grounds, which are stunning in autumn. I choose locations based on the light and weather on the day.

What happens if it rains at our Notley Abbey wedding?

The mullioned windows, drawing rooms and stone doorways give us beautiful sheltered spots, and a quick dash across the gardens under an umbrella can make for some lovely, characterful portraits. I always plan around the weather.

Can you fly a drone at Notley Abbey?

Unfortunatley not, the venue is within the FRZ for RAF Halton and Haddenham airfield. It is forbidden to fly within a restricted airspace

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 Notley Abbey?

Notley Abbey is on Aylesbury Road, near Long Crendon and Thame, on the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire border. The postcode is HP17 8TN.

Planning a wedding at Notley Abbey?

Visit the official Notley Abbey website for wedding packages, availability, accommodation and information about planning your wedding.

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How to find Notley Abbey

Notley Abbey sits in private riverside grounds off Aylesbury Road, between the villages of Long Crendon and Haddenham and just outside the market town of Thame. It feels wonderfully secluded, yet it's easy to reach from London, Oxford and the Midlands.

Address: Notley Abbey, Aylesbury Road, near Long Crendon and Thame
Postcode: HP17 8TN
Nearby: Thame, Long Crendon, Haddenham, Aylesbury and Oxford
By road: Close to the A418 and the M40
By train: Haddenham and Thame Parkway station is a short taxi ride away, with direct trains to London Marylebone
Accommodation: Nine bedrooms on site, with more hotels and inns in Thame

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

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Planning a Notley Abbey Wedding?

If you're getting married at Notley Abbey and you'd love a photographer who will capture the people, the atmosphere and the history of the place without turning your day 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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