Wedding at Came House

Dina and Stuart wanted to showcase the beautiful Dorset countryside that means so much to them both. Stuart grew up in the nearby village of Blandford and Came House provided the perfect backdrop for their event. They celebrated their love for one another in the gorgeous Church of St Mary’s in Blandford, while the party took off back at the outstanding Came House Estate. They asked me to capture their event for them and this is their story.

Weddings at Came House, Dorset: A Historic Family Estate

Came House was built in 1754 by John Damer and Francis Cartwright. Its sprawling estate and perfectly manicured gardens meant that Came house cemented itself as a jewel of Dorset Architecture.

The addition of the existing Domed Conservatory by renowned architect, Charles Fowler, still provides a stunning backdrop for couple’s ceremonies on the estate. Regardless of the time of year, this Palladian House just 10 miles from the Jurassic Coast, will enchant your guests from the moment they arrive. 

Dina and her bridal party were entertained in The Master suite at Came House. Came House boasts enormous windows which allows not only stunning views of the grounds but streams of soft, natural light to fill the rooms. Working alongside such a professional team of hair and make-up artists in Tara Sanger and Grace bailey made it so easy and comfortable for everyone. Not to mention Pierra photography.

We were able to take the bridal party to marble steps in Came House as a wonderful impromptu setting for gifts to be shared which was a lovely touch.

Part of the reason Dina and Stu chose Came House was that it was close to Stu’s family home in Blandford. Generations of his family had been married at the beautiful St Mary’s Church in Blandford and it was a tradition this couple wanted to continue. Guests were transported in vintage route masters to the village church to witness their vows.

The Georgian Gothic style of St Mary’s Church dates back to the 14^th Century and steeped in history. Through its impressive stained-glass windows, you can see the banks of the River Stour. During the intimate ceremony, the guests were treated to a live performance by one of Stu’s groomsmen, Tom, and he brought the house down.  Dina was escorted through the village and down the aisle by her bridal party, father, aunts, uncles and cousins. A real family affair as that is at the heart of the family’s culture.

Once back on the vintage route masters, the guests arrived at Came House for a live performance by the Iraqi drumming band. The band led Dina and Stu into the venue and proceeded to treat everyone to a traditional Iraqi dance and drum party. The bride and groom were lifted into the air and paraded around the venue to the cheers of all the guests.

As the finished, the wedding party were invited onto the beautiful lawns to enjoy a canape and drinks reception. After some obligatory group shots, I took the couple off for some candid portraits in private around the grounds. We then ventured back inside to utilise the stunning period rooms in Came House.

Guests were invited over to the marquee for the wedding breakfast but not before the choregraphed entrances of the bridal party, grooms party, parents and the bride and groom themselves. The party atmosphere was in full swing and allowed for some incredible footage of everyone enjoying the vibe.

The wedding breakfast was provided by the incredible Fossil Catering who looked after everyone so well. Coupled with the precision organisation skills of Melanie at Bellissimo Weddings, it was one of the best events to work at as a Wedding Videographer in Dorset.