Gorwell Farm Wedding — Dorset

Gorwell Farm is a 17th-century stone barn tucked into its own secret valley just a couple of miles from Abbotsbury, near the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. The restored barn is light and airy with a south-facing terrace, and ceremonies can be held inside or outdoors at the wooded pagoda among the trees.

Photographing in this hidden valley feels special — you’re surrounded by countryside with the coast close by, and the seclusion gives the whole day a calm, away-from-it-all quality. The blend of old stone and natural light is exactly the kind of setting I love to work in.

Why Gorwell Farm photographs so beautifully

The barn’s bright, airy interior and that south-facing terrace mean plenty of natural light for the ceremony, dining and those warm afternoon moments outside. The honeyed stone gives me lovely tones to build images around.

Out in the valley and around the wooded pagoda, I have rolling fields, trees and big Dorset skies for portraits, with the bonus of the Jurassic Coast on the doorstep. As a flexible DIY venue, every Gorwell wedding looks different, and I shoot each one to match the couple’s own style.