Relaxed Outdoor Wedding at Meadow Gardens Ely | Outdoor Cambridgeshire Wedding

K & J’s relaxed summer wedding at Meadow Gardens Ely was the perfect example of how beautiful outdoor weddings can be. Just outside Ely, this venue has such a lovely countryside feel, making it ideal for couples who want a day that’s laid-back, fun and focused on spending time with their favourite people. With around 80–100 guests and beautiful August sunshine, the whole day had such a joyful and relaxed atmosphere.

A Meaningful Ceremony Under the Willow Tree

The ceremony took place outside beneath a beautiful willow tree, which had special meaning for the couple. Both K & J grew up with grandparents who had willow trees in their gardens, so getting married under one felt really personal to them. It actually reminded me of my own Grandma’s garden too, which made the moment feel even more special.

A Festival-Style Reception

The couple had food trucks serving some seriously tasty food, Pig-casso's was my personal favourite. If you want incredible burgers and loaded fries I would definitely recommend! They also had Italian style Pizza as the grooms Italian side had made it all the way over from Italy for the day.

One of the funniest moments of the day was when guests started racing each other on the bouncy hoppers. It made for some brilliant photos and definitely got everyone laughing.

Their dog also made an appearance for some photos, which always adds a lovely personal touch to a wedding day. I’m a massive dog lover so as soon as a dog comes out they steal the show!!!

Quick Couple Photos in the Summer Sunshine

For couple photos, we kept things really simple and relaxed. We spent about 5–10 minutes wandering through the long grass near the ceremony area. Keeping couple portraits short like this means the couple can quickly get back to their guests while still getting some beautiful natural photos together.

Music, Campfires and a Beautiful Evening

As the evening went on, the very talented Tommy Philpot played near a little wooden gazebo area while guests gathered around the campfire. It was such a lovely atmosphere. People were sitting, chatting, singing along and just enjoying the evening together. Because many of the guests were close friends and family, the whole thing felt incredibly relaxed and welcoming. You could tell everyone was genuinely having a great time, which is always my favourite kind of wedding to photograph.

Why Outdoor Weddings Are So Special

Outdoor weddings like this are always such a joy. When the weather is kind, there really is no better lighting than natural light, and having all that space makes the day feel relaxed and easy for everyone.

Venues like Meadow Gardens Ely are perfect for couples who want something a little different from a traditional wedding venue. With the tipi, food trucks, live music and space to create different areas for guests to enjoy, it really does feel like a celebration rather than a formal event.

And when you add sunshine, great music and a group of people who just want to have fun together, it makes for a truly special day.

If you're planning a relaxed outdoor wedding in Cambridgeshire or Suffolk and love natural, candid photography, I’d love to hear about your plans.