Canterbury packs a thousand years of history into a city you can walk across in twenty minutes. Timber-framed lanes, the city walls, the River Stour and the cathedral towers above it all make it one of the most photogenic places to marry in the south of England.
We photograph and film weddings in Canterbury and across east Kent from our studio in Beckenham. The drive is about an hour and a half along the A2 and M2, so we arrive early, settle in and are ready before the first guest.
A city and its countryside
Weddings here often split into two settings: a ceremony in the city, then a reception in the fields and orchards outside it. Couples marrying at Howfield Manor in Chartham Hatch or Winters Barns, just outside the city, get old beams, open lawns and the kind of soft countryside light east Kent is known for. Many others choose a civil ceremony in the city and a long lunch at a restaurant or hotel nearby, which suits a smaller wedding. Our guide to wedding venues across Kent has more ideas.
Walking the old city
Canterbury is made for portraits on foot. Westgate Gardens and the river, the medieval Westgate Towers, the narrow lanes around the cathedral and the small bridges over the Stour are all close together. The centre is busy with visitors on a summer Saturday, so we plan the quieter corners and keep each stop short.
- Go early or late. The streets are calmest in the morning and after six, which is also when the light is softest.
- Use the river. Water and willow trees give a gentle, green backdrop even in the middle of the city.
- Ask about permission. The cathedral precincts and some private grounds have their own rules for photography and filming, so we check before the day.
Every kind of wedding
We photograph and film weddings of every faith and culture: church weddings, civil ceremonies, intimate weddings and elopements, Asian, African and fusion celebrations. One team can cover both photography and film. Photography starts from £830 and film from £1,430. See all our collections, or visit our Kent wedding photographer page.
Your questions, answered
Do you charge for travel to Canterbury?
Travel is included within 50 miles of Beckenham. Canterbury sits just beyond that, so we add the actual cost of getting there to your quote, with no mark-up, and tell you the figure up front.
Can we have portraits near the cathedral?
The streets around it are public and make lovely portraits. The precincts themselves have their own rules and may charge for entry or need permission for photography, so we check for your date and plan around it.
Do you cover small civil weddings in the city?
Yes. Our minimum is two hours, which suits a register office ceremony, a walk through the old city and a few portraits. Simple wedding films start from £950.
