Photography tips for a Wild, outdoor The Keeper and The Dell Wedding in Norfolk

As a relaxed wedding photographer, I’ve photographed my fair share of cool, romantic, fun outdoor weddings at The Keeper and The Dell in Norfolk. Over the years I’ve been a recommended photographer and it’s always such a joy to go back. This place is seriously special wedding venue, so here’s everything you need to know about holding your wedding at this wonderful, unique Norfolk venue.

Where to get ready for your wedding at The Keeper and The Dell?

The beauty of getting married at The Keeper and The Dell is that the location is so easy to access from the fine city of Norwich and other Norfolk villages. So, even if you don’t live locally, there’s a whole host of hotels and Air BnB’s to get ready at for your wedding bridal (and groom!) prep. 

Some of my Keeper and The Dell brides have had their bridal prep at Haugh Farm (a very short drive away), others at the glorious Old School house literally down the road. A little further away I’ve also photographed brides and grooms getting ready at outdoors, rustic places like Round the Woods and more traditional hotels like Wensum Valley Country Club. The great thing about some of these venues is that lots of family and friends, or bridesmaids and groomsmen, can stay their too. There will be such an excited buzz in the air on the morning of the wedding!

Don’t forget that The Keeper and The Dell also have on-site glamping options with their two gorgeous Hygge Huts, so if you want to be on-site from the day before, you can have a relaxing morning getting wedding ready outdoors on site. One of my past brides had filled the Birch Garden with glamping bell tents from Norfolk Bells, so that she and her many bridesmaids could get ready their together; it was an amazing morning.

Options of where to hold your wedding ceremony at The Keeper and The Dell

Of all the times I’ve photographed weddings at The Keeper and The Dell, I don’t think there’s been many where the wedding ceremony has been in the same spot. This is one of the best things about the Keeper and The Dell; the flexibility to really make the wedding your own – there’s never a carbon copy of other Norfolk weddings here! 

First up, Wedding Ceremonies in The Birch Garden. The first wedding I ever photographed was of Jo & John who had their humanist wedding ceremony in the Birch Garden. I fell in love with this venue straight away when I saw the vintage, wooden chairs decorated in ribbons and flowers. With their guests sat under the shade of the trees; there was a slight breeze in the air and while they said their handwritten, vows the leaves rustled gently overhead. Bliss.

Alternatively, you can hold your Ceremony in front of the Marquee with guests sat in The Dell. It’s a really beautifully unique spot for a wedding ceremony – the dell is a gorgeous grassy spot that’s been shaped in to an amphitheatre, so your guests can sit in terraces rows watching your ceremony. When the bride or groom walk down the hill to meet their soon to be husband or wife, it’s a really atmospheric moment. I can’t think of any other wedding ceremony venues that offer a space like this!

Not forgetting the Devotion Den, this is the perfect ceremony space for doing ‘the legal’ bit after an outdoor ceremony, or even for your entire wedding if you’ve got an intimate number of guests. It’s a gorgeously styled, rustic hideaway. 

Lastly, you can hold your wedding ceremony on The Terrace in front of The Barn. With your guests sat on hay bales covered in crochet blankets or the vintage wooden chairs, this area is particularly romantic. It’s a really versatile space that will turn in to a campfire area for s’mores and late night conversations in to the evening, sat under the stars.

Ideas for your Keeper and The Dell Wedding Reception

As I’ve mentioned before, the beauty of Norfolk venue The Keeper and The Dell is that you can literally make your wedding whatever you want it to be. 

Generally, lots my past brides have chosen to have their wedding breakfast in the rustically decorated marquee, with flowers and greenery hanging overhead and banqueting style tables. However, other couples like Nicola and Ben, chose to have the ultimate relaxed dining on the Terrace. You could choose to have alfresco luxury grazing platters in the barn, or local food trucks have always been a firm favourite with my past couples too. From Paella to Pizza to Burritos and other street food, with crepes or Ronaldo’s ice cream for desert – make your wedding breakfast whatever you want it to be! 

For your background music, I’ve seen people playing their own playlists from The Cabin Deck, DJs in the Devotion Den and guitarists and bands playing on the Terrace. I’ve got lots of recommendations for musicians if you’d like them. 

Your Speeches at The Keeper and The Dell could be done from the top table in the marquee during your wedding breakfast, from the Cabin Deck with your guests gathered below or with an ice-cream in hand on the terrace. I’ve also seen some really memorable speeches after dark under the stars when everyone was gathered round the camp fire.

Your Evening Party and Dancing at The Keeper and The Dell

Whether you decide on a band or a DJ for your evening entertainment, I’ve seen them set up in all the different spaces at the venue and they all have their own pro’s and con’s. 

The Barn is small when a band is inside, but it’s very atmospheric and the dancing spills out on to the terrace too. It also has the benefit of being near the camp fire and bar so everyone stays together. The Marquee offers lots of space for a dance floor and can be amazing when it’s full, but bear in mind that your wedding guests will drift up back to the bar and sit round the campfire too, so sometimes your dance floor might will seem a little empty and lose the atmosphere. There’s also the option of The Devotion Den – this can be a really good space that is intimate but with plenty of space to spill out on to. If you don’t want your dance floor to be on The Terrace but don’t want to go as far as the marquee, this can be a fantastic middle spot.

The parties at The Keeper and The Dell are always at full whack, with some serious dance moves being thrown and the drinks flowing, between toasting marshmallows over the fire and watching the stars. 

Making your wedding photography at The Keeper and The Dell unique

Every wedding at The Keeper and The Dell is as unique as the couple getting married, so it stands to reason that the relaxed photography I offer at The Keeper and The Dell is unique to you, too. I’ve photographed Norfolk weddings here many times but I always find new places to take my couples for their relaxed portraits and group photos. It’s already been said, but this Norfolk wedding venue is special and so ideal for a luxury but relaxed wedding photographer. There are so many rustic spots to photograph in, from sitting outside the hygge huts, lounging on the cabin deck, having a quiet moment in the devotion den, wandering in the paddock with the goats, strolling down the quiet, picturesque country lane outside or pausing under the fairy lights and festoon lights with the trees overhead…I could go on, but I’ll stop there. With The Keeper and The Dell as your Norfolk wedding venue, your couples portraits and group photographs will be utterly gorgeous.

If you’re looking for a photographer from your wedding at The Keeper and The Dell, you can find out more about what I offer here; I’d love to hear from you. 

For ideas from my past couples weddings at The Keeper and The Dell, you can check these galleries here: Hannah & Alex / Jo & John / Nicola & Ben / Vicky & George / Lynne & Bruce / Brittany & John.