Bestwood Lodge

Bestwood Lodge is a historic country house hotel set within Bestwood Country Park on the outskirts of Nottingham, and it has a very different atmosphere from the modern, neutral wedding venues you see everywhere. The building began life as a royal hunting lodge and much of its character comes from the dark timber, period architecture, staircases, balconies and decorative details that run throughout the interior. There are several spaces available for ceremonies and receptions, including the distinctive Chapel Suite, the Ballroom and smaller rooms for more intimate celebrations, while the hotel also offers accommodation for couples and guests who want everything in one place. Outside, the surrounding parkland gives the venue a completely different feel, with large areas of greenery and woodland that contrast nicely with the darker, more dramatic interiors.

Photographically, Bestwood Lodge is interesting because the building already has a strong identity. I have worked there before and the first thing that stands out is that you do not need to create character because the place already has plenty of it. The wood panelling, large windows, mirrors, staircases and architectural details give me opportunities to layer photographs, frame people through doorways or use the light in ways that would simply not exist in a standard hotel room. Some areas inside are naturally darker, but that is not necessarily a disadvantage, it simply means working with the light rather than trying to make every room look bright and airy. When it works well, the darker surroundings can create photographs with a much richer and more cinematic feel, while stepping outside into the country park gives us a completely different look within minutes.

I think Bestwood Lodge suits couples who like venues with history and personality and who do not necessarily want everything to feel polished, white and contemporary. There is enough going on visually inside that the building becomes part of the story rather than just a background, and the surrounding park gives couples plenty of outdoor space without needing to travel elsewhere. For wedding photography, that combination is very useful because the pictures can change dramatically throughout the day while still being made at the same venue. It is the sort of place where I would rather embrace the building exactly as it is, use the darker wood, architecture and period details and then contrast that with the softer outdoor photographs, because that is what makes Bestwood Lodge recognisable in the first place.