If you've always dreamed of tying the knot in a fairytale castle but thought it wouldn't be possible stateside, stop right here. As it turns out, there is no need to cross the Atlantic to find a Cinderella-esque location fit for royalty. Wadley Farms, with its grand facades, intricate stonework, and sweeping surroundings, rival their European counterparts, delivering breathtaking romance without the need to touch down on distant shores.
Once you enter the castle, your jaw will literally drop as you feast your eyes upon the expansive 4500 sq. ft. great hall which features two grand staircases and a 38 ft stone fireplace.
The second floor includes an elegant bride’s dressing room complete with a balcony that overlooks the vineyards, as well as a groom’s dressing room, and an 1,800 ft upper chamber with a fireplace which, in all, creates the perfect setting as the bridal party gets ready for the day.
With 2 grand staircases at your disposal, you have the ability to create a very unique and memorable wedding procession. This bride opted to have the groomsmen enter the ceremony by descending down one staircase, while the bridesmaids descended through the other, eventually meeting in front of the fireplace to begin their walk down the aisle. Perfection!!
The Grand Staircase is a prized feature for brides who have dreamed of making an unforgettable entrance to their wedding. For this bride in particular, you could literally hear guests gasp as she delicately stepped down the carved oak staircase.
Whether you're envisioning a big day rooted in rustic charm or maintaining a more fairytale spin, Wadley Farms is the perfect blend of both worlds and can seamlessly encapsulate you and your guests in its exquisite beauty. After all, tasteful touches like sheer white curtains, stained wood seating, and romantic lighting fixtures bode perfectly against a timeless wooden palette. Just imagine, saying your "I do's" in the expanse of this breathtaking great hall.
Both grand staircases climb from the Great Hall to the upper chamber, revealing its immense vaulted ceiling and arch wood beams. This creates the perfect backdrop to showcase the bride and her stunning dress.
Wadley Farms boasts an expansive 23-acre property which consists of lush gardens, stunning vineyards, and large stone towers that look like they were plucked straight from a fairytale. The style of this wedding was reminiscent of a Victorian princess and Caidance definitely looked the part in her delicately designed wedding gown. It was my first time shooting at the Castle at Wadley Farms and I have to say, this was such an impressive venue and the perfect setting for this fairytale wedding.
The reason behind bridesmaids is simply that a bride needs the support of her close friends and relatives around her to prepare for her wedding day and help it flow seamlessly. But most important of all, a bridesmaids can help to settle things down and reaffirm that this is what you want and hopefully, help you laugh and let loose after such a beautiful and albeit angst provoking occasion.
When it comes to a winter wedding, plans tend to be rooted more indoors, rather than outdoors. Imagine our surprise however when were greeted the most exquisite sunshine for the wedding formals outside of the great castle. Yes, it was still a chilly winter day, but the air was calm, and the temps were quite bearable for the season.
And now came, the groom toss which I'll admit, scares me a little bit every time. This is the highest I've ever seen a groom tossed up in the air and while I don't necessarily encourage this kind of thing (for obvious reasons), I'll certainly try to capture a great photograph of it if it does happen.
As a wedding photographer, I always look forward to shooting at highly regarded venues like The Castle at Wadley Farms. I had heard so many great things about this castle and seen stunning wedding photos taken by other photographers, so I was excited to see it for myself. And Wadley farms did not disappoint – it was even more breathtaking in person, and I was so happy to capture the unique love that the bride and groom share with its stunning facade in the background.
It would be a crime against all fairytale weddings if I did not take pictures of the bride twirling in her wedding dress. After all, how many of us envisioned this moment when we were little girls while twirling our little hearts out? Moreover, when you spin in a wedding dress, the train comes out and moves in the air. Catch that moment and you have a winning photo.
If you time your wedding just right, and luck is also on your side, then you can capture some AMAZING Shots as the sun sets.
From the moment you arrive you can’t help but notice the luxurious and opulent style of the venue. We were so thankful that there were plenty of areas for photo ops inside the venue where could get shots of family and friends while keeping them warm and comfortable.
Cocktail hours in the Great Hall encourage guests to explore the historic castle at their leisure, and many couples cut their cake at the foot of this Grand Staircase. It’s a beautiful place to raise a toast and enjoy an enticing array of hors d’oeuvres.
Weddings are full of touching moments, but that special dance between a parent and a child is in a league of its own. These dances pack a whole lot of love and signify the special bond that parents and their children hold. It’s also a special moment that parents get with their children before they enter their new life as a married individual.
The first dance is seen as a metaphor for your relationship and how you’ll move together through life. The entire wedding is meant to be an expression of your relationship together, but the first dance is your opportunity to show what makes you unique. Personally, I've never seen a first dance made more unique than this one that took place in front of a breathtaking fireplace jutted on each side by a pair of grand staircases.
And now, its time to DANCE and the eventual SEND-OFF! Again, the grand staircases are worth their weight in photography gold when it comes to getting bird's-eye shots of the dance floor.
