Lord of the Rings Wedding at a Medieval Devon Pub
Charley and Jake’s Lord of the Rings inspired wedding at The Rattery Church House Inn was one of the most creative and personal celebrations I have photographed. Set in the Devon countryside on a moody November day, their wedding blended fantasy and folklore with authentic emotion and atmospheric portraits. With a guest list straight out of Middle Earth, a truly medieval wedding venue, and pagan wedding rituals, this was a wedding that bravely and brilliantly committed to its theme.
Uniquely, this was the third time I photographed Charley and Jake. I first photographed their engagement shoot, and then exactly one year ago I documented their legal ceremony at Cockington Court. Today was their larger and more personal celebration. It was also a real pleasure to see and chat with some of the same guests from the year before. After a few relaxed preparation photos at Charley’s accommodation, it was time for the short drive to venue.
The Rattery Church House Inn is an eleventh century inn, and one of the oldest pubs in the country. Walking into the pub genuinely felt like stepping into a medieval fairytale inn, full of wizards, elves and hobbits. Guests had taken the fancy dress brief seriously, and even the staff were in costume! There were wands and bows and arrows everywhere. It was chaotic in the best possible way and immediately set the tone for the day.
The ceremony itself was personal and unique. With no chairs and no formal aisle, Charley walked past the bar to where her friends and family had gathered. The ceremony was filled with spooky spells, pagan rituals, crystals and broomsticks. It was unpredictable, heartfelt and wonderfully untraditional.
After the ceremony we headed outside for group photos, before taking advantage of the grey November light for couples portraits. The nearby church and graveyard made the perfect backdrop. The result was a set of images that felt atmospheric, artistic and surreal.
To keep guests entertained, Charley and Jake had hired the village hall for drinks, bull riding and axe throwing. Photographing Gandalf on a mechanical bull is honestly not something I ever expected to do when I became a wedding photographer, but here we are.
The attention to detail throughout the day was spot on. Guests drank ale from Prancing Pony mugs and I was even provided with a themed costume myself. We then returned to the pub for a medieval feast and some hilarious and emotional speeches. Live music and dancing carried the celebrations into the night. There was laughter, chaos and enough merriment to rival a Hobbit birthday party.
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