Bethany & Liam | Swancar Farm Wedding
Bethany and Liam got married at Swancar Farm on a soft, grey-skied June day, and I don’t think I’ve ever photographed a couple who laughed quite so much. From the first glass of fizz in the morning to sparklers outside the farmhouse at the end of the night, the whole day felt warm, relaxed and full of fun.
Swancar Farm sits just outside Nottingham at Trowell, with oak-beamed barns, a red brick farmhouse, a pretty courtyard and open fields all around. It suited these two perfectly. Here’s the story of their day.
Meet Bethany & Liam
Bethany and Liam met in a bar in 2019. In Bethany’s words: “Liam asked for my number and we met up a week later and the rest is history!”
They moved into their first home together in 2021, and they share it with a labradoodle who gets taken on plenty of scenic walks. “We love making each other laugh and never take ourselves too seriously,” says Bethany, and honestly, that line sums up their whole wedding day. They love a holiday too, and seeing new places together, which leads nicely on to the proposal.
The Proposal
Liam whisked Bethany off to Iceland for a last-minute long weekend. After a relaxing day at the Blue Lagoon, they headed out at night to see the northern lights.
“We were lucky enough to see them and as the locals say they started ‘dancing’ for us too,” Bethany told me. “It was just after we’d stopped being amazed by the sight of this natural wonder that Liam got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Safe to say I wasn’t expecting it but was overjoyed. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.”
I mean, how do you top that? A proposal under the northern lights is going to take some beating.
Why They Chose Swancar Farm
Bethany and Liam love a rustic look, with exposed beams, stone and old-style decor, but with a modern twist. Their own home is decorated that way, so they wanted a venue that felt like them.
“As soon as we visited Swancar we were blown away with the different spaces the venue had to offer and how magical it felt being there,” said Bethany. Having now worked there, I can see why. In one day you get a beamed ceremony barn, a courtyard made for confetti, gardens with an iron gazebo, a lovely old farmhouse and quiet lanes through the fields, all within a few minutes’ walk.
Personal Touches
Bethany told me they’d picked songs that reflected both of them and decorations that added a personal touch, “plus any opportunity to celebrate love and put our name out there I’ve taken!” You could see it everywhere you looked.
The tables were dressed with pink and ivory roses, greenery and tall candles, and every guest had a little Let Love Grow seed paper heart to take home and plant. In the evening, giant light-up LOVE letters glowed beside the dance floor, and a magician wandered between the guests while they waited for the first dance.
Getting married at Swancar Farm? Have a look at my Swancar Farm wedding photographer page, or drop me a message. I’d love to hear all about your plans.
Bridal Preparations
The morning started early, with Bethany getting ready alongside her mum, her two bridesmaids and her nan. Hair and make-up were well under way when I arrived, the fizz was flowing and there was a lot of laughter in that room.
I love bridal prep for moments like these. Nobody’s posing, everyone’s chatting, and I can quietly catch the little things: a shared joke, a proud mum, a nan who couldn’t stop smiling. Then it was into the car and off to Swancar Farm with a big grin from the back seat.
The Ceremony
Bethany and Liam married at 1.30pm in the ceremony room at Swancar Farm, under those big old oak beams. I was at the front for the ceremony, which is my favourite spot, because it means I can see both their faces as they say their vows.
There were happy tears, a few laughs and an awful lot of smiling at each other. The room was packed with family and friends, and when it came to holding hands for the vows, you could feel how much everyone was willing them on.
Drinks Reception at Swancar Farm
Straight after the ceremony, guests lined up in the courtyard for the confetti exit. Swancar’s courtyard is brilliant for this, with red brick buildings on every side and plenty of room for everyone to get a good throw in. We had pink confetti, bubbles and a fair bit in Liam’s hair by the end.
After that came the hugs and congratulations, which are some of my favourite pictures of any wedding. The drinks reception carried on in the courtyard with music from the day band, The Burgundys, while I took a few family groups and caught guests catching up and laughing together.
Couple Portraits at Swancar Farm
Once the groups were done I borrowed Bethany and Liam for their portraits. The sky was soft and grey, which is actually lovely light for portraits, so we headed out of the courtyard to the lane that runs beside the fields. It’s quiet, green and open, and I just let them walk and chat. They didn’t need any directing, they were too busy making each other laugh.
From there we wandered back into the gardens to the iron gazebo, surrounded by hedges and hydrangeas, and then round to the front of the farmhouse. Its red brick, sash windows and front door make for a classic, timeless picture, and Liam’s kiss on the doorstep is one of my favourites from the whole day.
Before we went back to the guests I spotted the tall oak-framed window in the barn and sent Liam to stand in it. It shows off the building beautifully, and it was a nice quiet moment for him before the speeches.
Bethany and Liam’s evening ended with twilight portraits outside the farmhouse. Here’s how I photograph twilight portraits.
Wedding Breakfast and Speeches
The wedding breakfast was in the oak-beamed barn, with round tables, dusky pink chair sashes and flowers by Fleur De Lys Flowers running down the top table. Guests were called in at half three, and the speeches came first, before the meal, which I always think is a great idea. Everyone can relax and enjoy their food afterwards.
The speeches were full of laughter. Liam spoke beside the stone fireplace with Bethany grinning up at him, and there were a few happy tears around the room too. These are the moments I watch the guests as much as the person speaking, because the reactions tell the story.
The Evening Celebrations
Evening guests arrived at half seven, and the magician kept everyone entertained before Bethany and Liam cut the cake and took to the floor for their first dance at 8pm. With the LOVE letters glowing behind them, it was a gorgeous first dance, close and smiley and just a little bit giddy.
Then evening band Half Cut got everyone up. The dance floor was full from the first song, and one of my favourite moments of the night was Bethany dancing with her nan under the party lights.
Twilight Portraits at Swancar Farm
As the light faded, I took Bethany and Liam back outside to the front of the farmhouse for some twilight portraits. The lit windows glowing against the deep blue sky are hard to beat. We finished with sparklers, drawing a heart around them and then writing LOVE in light, which felt like the perfect way to end a day so full of it.
Swancar Farm Wedding Suppliers
Bethany and Liam, thank you so much for having me along. Your day was full of laughter from start to finish, and it was a real joy to photograph. Here’s to many more adventures, scenic walks and holidays together.
Planning your own wedding? I’d love to hear from you.
Planning your own wedding near Nottingham? Have a look at my Nottingham wedding photographer page.
