Hebe and Adam's day was the private-land wedding at its best. A tipi in a family field, a bar under canvas, and a storm that rolled over halfway through the speeches and made every line land harder. Nobody had a plan for the thunder and nobody needed one.
Leicestershire is a county of villages and farms with a few big houses in between, and its weddings reflect that. Church then marquee is common. Tipi or sailcloth in a field on family land is common. The country house hotels around Melton and Market Harborough take the rest.
It is also the county closest to home for me. I am in Bedford, so Leicestershire is a morning's drive and I know its roads in a way I do not know Devon's.
I'm Chris Oxley. I film weddings at country houses and private estates across the UK.
I started this because when I got married in 2015, we didn't have a videographer. I wanted to build something I wished had existed for us. Films that hold up years later. A real record of a real day, not a montage of prompted moments.
I handle the consultation, the filming, the edit, the grade, and the delivery. I film a limited number of weddings a year, and I'm personally at every one.
Recognition: TWIA Regional Finalist
Venues Include: Grantley Hall, Froyle Park, Storrs Hall, Brympton House and 15+ leading venues
Most Leicestershire weddings I have filmed have had a church in them. Village church at one or two, then a drive of ten or twenty minutes to a marquee, a tipi or a barn. The drive is short enough that guests do it in convoy and long enough that I can get ahead.
Private-land weddings run on their own time. There is no coordinator moving people along, which means the day breathes and the film has room in it. It also means someone in the family is running the show, and they are usually the most interesting person to watch.
Guests are local, or from Nottingham, Birmingham and London in that order. The day starts mid-morning and the party ends when the licence says so.
Many wedding videographers arrive with a shot list. I don't. I arrive early, stay quiet, and pay attention. The film comes from what actually happens. I might offer the occasional quiet prompt when it matters, but I'm not staging moments or running through the same poses as everyone else.
I tend to work with couples based in and around London who want something honest. A real record of a real day. Not a highlight reel built from the same five moments as everyone else's.
I film fifteen weddings a year. That number lets me edit every film personally, respond to every email myself, and still show up fully present on your day. Every frame graded and cut by me. No outsourced editing. No house style.
"We don’t even know where to start! Hiring Chris to shoot our wedding video was the BEST decision we made for our wedding. From the first meeting we had to discuss his style and approach, we knew we were on to the right person. Chris’ attention to detail is parallel to none."
"We weren’t originally going to get a videographer but it was worth every penny. The whole day is so much to process that you forget bits after. Having this video to treasure forever was the perfect way to cure the wedding blues."
"Before meeting Chris, we weren’t sure how to appear on film. After working with him, we felt completely comfortable, and he captured every organic moment we wanted."
If you are marrying on private land, give someone who is not you the job of the timeline on the day. A parent, a friend, a hired coordinator for the day. The film is better when you are not looking at your watch.
Tipis and sailcloth tents in August are hot until about six. Plan the speeches for when the sides come up and the air moves.
Field weddings need a power plan, a loo plan and a rain plan, and all three are on the film if they go wrong. Ask your marquee company what they do about mud.
Church then field is a lovely shape. Give me the route and I will be at the field when the cars arrive.
If you are marrying in Leicestershire, in a house, a barn or a field, send me your date and venue. I take on a limited number of weddings a year so that I can edit every film myself, and I will come back to you personally within a day.
Send your date, venue, and the collection you're leaning towards. If you're not sure, just outline your plans and I'll suggest the right approach. I'll come back to you personally within 24 hours.