Coltsford Mill Wedding Photographer & Videographer

A waterside barn venue with lakes and gardens

Coltsford Mill is in the Surrey countryside, near Oxted. The venue's own pages describe an exclusive-hire waterside barn venue on a 12-acre estate with two lakes, the Willow Pool and the Mill Pool, both fed by the River Eden, as well as lawns, a fountain, cascading pools and a bridal cottage garden.

We photographed and filmed one wedding here: Suzanne and Michael on 22 October 2022. It is the one wedding in this guide, a day with two dogs, an autumn lawn and a wooden gazebo.

For current venue details, explore Coltsford Mill.

01 / October 2022 / Suzanne and Michael

Suzanne and Michael: two dogs, a gazebo and a tree of red leaves

Suzanne and Michael married on 22 October 2022. The photograph at the top of this page is the two of them beneath a tree of bright red leaves, Michael in a navy suit with an orange waistcoat, Suzanne in a lace-topped gown, with their two dogs sitting in front of them.

Two dogs, one in a teal bow tie, sniff a bouquet of white flowers held out at the edge of the picture. Out on the lawn, Suzanne and Michael walk hand in hand with the dogs on their leads, a weeping willow and a wooden gazebo behind them and autumn colour in the trees.

02 / The spaces / From the venue's own pages

The Watermill Barn, the Mill Room and the Bar

The venue's wedding page names the Watermill Barn, an oak-framed building with large windows overlooking the gardens. It says the barn is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 150 guests, seats up to 150 for dining and holds up to 200 in the evening. The Mill Room is licensed for civil ceremonies for up to 95 guests, has a separate bride's doorway and shows the original watermill workings behind glass.

There is also a licensed Bar for refreshments and the drinks reception, and a terrace with seating, patio heaters and canvas umbrellas. The grounds include the two lakes, a fountain, cascading pools and lawns. The venue's pages do not say whether dogs are welcome, so ask when you enquire.

03 / Staying at Coltsford Mill / From the venue's own pages

A wedding cottage and a honeymoon suite

The venue says the Wedding Cottage is included from 11am on the wedding day as part of its exclusive hire. It has a kitchen, a lounge, a bedroom and an en suite bathroom, plus a large dressing room under the eaves with a shower, where the page says the bride and bridesmaids can get ready. The Mill Room serves as the honeymoon suite on the wedding night, with a continental breakfast the next morning. The venue also publishes a list of local accommodation for guests.

Planning your photographs at Coltsford Mill

A few things worth asking the venue, and how we would plan around the answers:

1. Where you marry: the Watermill Barn or the Mill Room, the two licensed spaces on the venue's page. Tell us your choice so we can arrange the day around it.
2. Getting ready: ask when the Wedding Cottage is yours on the morning, since that is where the first photographs happen.
3. Rain: agree an indoor option with the venue when you confirm the order of the day. The barn, the Mill Room and the Bar give you indoor choices.
4. Group photographs: we do as many as you like and typically recommend around 15, which usually take about 20 minutes. Choose a spot on the lawn with room, and keep a sheltered backup.
5. Portraits: we usually take a portrait walk of about 15 minutes, with photo and video together. The lawn, the gazebo, the lakes and the trees give you several backdrops. In October the light goes early, so we check sunset times for your date in advance and agree the plan with you.

One team for the photographs and the film

Cam and Beth have photographed and filmed over 400 weddings together, so a waterside barn with lakes, lawns and a cottage garden is familiar territory. You get one conversation about the timetable, one set of questions for the venue and one plan for the portrait walk.

The photo and video team package carries a £120 deposit and a £400 saving over booking photography and videography separately. We are based near Cardiff, and travel across England and Wales is included in standard full-day packages. When the drive is over two hours we always stay in a hotel the night before and cover it.

Questions about a Coltsford Mill wedding