WILTSHIRE
LARMER TREE GARDENS
Editorial Photography for Weddings
Tollard Royal
THE IDEAL VENUE FOR COUPLES WANTING TO CREATE A ROMANTIC & CASUAL VIBE
Larmer Tree Gardens is one of those wedding venues that feels a little bit magical, and I’m not just saying that because I got married there! It’s tucked away in the Wiltshire/Dorset countryside, right on the border. What I instantly loved about it was the beautiful gardens that surround you.
Woodland paths and peacocks wandering around. It’s not the kind of wedding venue that you see every day and that makes it particularly special when it comes to wedding photography. The venue feels relaxed and whimsical with the roman folly and the theatre stage.
As a wedding photographer, I love how much variety there is here. You can get married outdoors surrounded by the gardens, wander off for portraits beneath the trees, and stumble across all sorts of lovely little corners along the way. The theatre stage is such a brilliant feature, giving the venue a real personality of its own.
The famous music festival (which I’ve also been to!) adds to the creative/alternative vibe. Larmer Tree Gardens has so much character, and it’s a beautiful spot for couples who want something a little bit different.
– EMMA AND LUCAS
“The images were so raw and beautiful. Everything we could have wanted.”
THE INFO
Larmer Tree Gardens is beautiful by day, with its colourful gardens, wandering peacocks and outdoor ceremony spaces, then comes alive at night with music, dancing and a festival-like atmosphere.
LOCATION
Tollard Royal, Salisbury, SP5 5PY – 01725 516971
I LOVE LARMER TREE
I’ll let you in to a little secret – my favourite spot to take photos at Larmer Tree Gardens is behind the car park in these wide open rolling fields. At sunset it has the most beautiful light – and I don’t see many other photographers taking advantage of it. That’s not to say that the gardens and wandering peacocks and architecture are to be looked over. But there are so many great spaces for couple photos.
It’s no surprise, then, that I absolutely love it when couples ask me to be their Larmer Tree Gardens wedding photographer!
A BIT ABOUT IT
Now, I know you’re not here for a history lesson but there are wedding venues with a little bit of history, and then there are places like Larmer Tree Gardens.
The story begins with a rather unusual tree. The original Larmer Tree was a wych-elm believed to have started growing sometime between 901 and 1000 AD. Its name is thought to come from the old Anglo-Saxon word ‘Lavermere’, and over time it became a marker for parish and county boundaries. There’s also a lovely story that King John would meet his huntsmen beneath its branches.
Fast forward to 1880, and General Augustus Lane Fox, later known as General Pitt Rivers, inherited the Rushmore Estate. It was here that he set about creating something extraordinary. Rather than simply building a private garden, he wanted a place that would inspire and entertain both his estate workers and visitors.
And so, the Larmer Tree Pleasure Grounds were born.
Following the General’s death in 1900, the gardens gradually fell into decline. Thankfully, in 1991, his great-grandson Michael Pitt Rivers began an ambitious restoration project, bringing the gardens back to life.
Today, the gardens continue to host music festivals, celebrations and weddings, bringing people together in the very same grounds created over 140 years ago.
And honestly, that’s what makes Larmer Tree Gardens so special. It’s not simply a beautiful wedding venue. It’s a place built around sharing moments, creating memories and enjoying the company of others. Which, when you think about it, is pretty much what a wedding is all about.
CHURCH WEDDING?
If you’re looking for a traditional church wedding, St Peter ad Vincula in the nearby village of Tollard Royal is just a five-minute drive from Larmer Tree Gardens. It’s a beautiful 13th-century village church, and with space for up to 150 guests, it’s a lovely option for couples who want a church ceremony followed by a relaxed garden reception. I photographed Jemma and Thom’s wedding there!
Of course, you can also get married at Larmer Tree itself, with a choice of unique indoor and outdoor ceremony spaces. From saying your vows beneath the Roman Temple to making the most of the gardens, there are some really lovely options here. I particularly love the idea of an outdoor ceremony surrounded by greenery, with the peacocks wandering around and all the character of the gardens providing the backdrop. It’s a venue that makes even the ceremony feel a little bit different.
THE RECEPTION
One of the things I love about Larmer Tree Gardens is how much space there is to enjoy after the ceremony. The gardens are perfect for drinks, garden games and a bit of wandering with your guests, while the Victorian buildings provide some really characterful spaces to bring everyone together. And then there’s the Singing Theatre, an incredible open-air stage that gives the whole place a wonderfully festival-like feel. It’s easy to imagine guests enjoying a drink in the sunshine, the peacocks wandering past, and everyone gradually making their way towards the party. Honestly, more weddings should feel a bit like a garden festival!
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