Bride and groom on the jetty crabbing on the River Crouch at wedding venue Brandy Hole Kingsman Point Kingsmans Farm Road, Hullbridge, Hockley SS5 6QB

Sian & Tom’s Wedding at Brandy Hole

It is not often that I have the opportunity to photograph a wedding close to home. This past weekend presented one such rare occasion. In fact, the final image from the wedding captures a view of my hometown, South Woodham Ferrers, as a twinkling lightscape across the River Crouch. Brandy Hole must be the only wedding venue that affords me this unique perspective.

The venue’s name itself holds an intriguing history. The River Crouch was a notorious smuggling route, particularly during the 18th century. Legend has it that smuggled goods, including brandy, would mysteriously disappear from witnesses’ memories after a strategically placed offering appeared on their doorsteps the following morning.

Thankfully, the wedding day of Tom and Sian was devoid of any illicit activity (to my knowledge). However, it did feature a rather well-dressed crabbing expedition! While the venue transitioned for the evening festivities, the guests embarked on a lighthearted crabbing adventure, with all crustaceans being respectfully returned to the river upon our return.

The ceremony commenced at All Saints with St Peter Church on Maldon High Street, preceded by a celebratory toast at The OAKhouse, conveniently located next door.

A particularly heartwarming moment involved Zoe of The Scrummy Yummy Cake Company. While I am accustomed to admiring Zoe’s creations at weddings, this was the first occasion I had met her in person. Her daughter served as a flower girl, and the cake (along with the entire dessert table spread) was perfect for the nautical theme. 

This wedding perfectly embodied Tom and Sian’s personalities and was an absolute joy to capture.

While Brandy Hole is no longer available as a wedding venue, you can still find local inspiration. Scroll down for some suggestions, or browse the other weddings showcased on my website.

  • A smiling woman in a blue T-shirt sits in a kitchen while having her hair done.
  • Bridesmaid prep: makeup.
  • Wedding schedule on the wall.
  • Zoe KNOT YOUR AVERAGE BRIDE hair and makeup artist laughing with the mother of the bride. Getting ready at home in South Woodham Ferrers, a bookshelf on the left.
  • Two people hug in a kitchen, a woman holding a mug, wearing a grey shirt, looks on.
  • A bridal bouquet of white pink and blue flowers.
  • A girl sitting in a chair holding a workbook and pencil, looking at the tv.
  • Bride and mum hug at bottom of the stairs.
  • Buttonholes on a chair.
  • Woman in living room smiles at camera.
  • Zoe KNOT YOUR AVERAGE BRIDE hair and makeup artist working on a bridesmaid long fair hair. The table is full of makeup and hair products.
  • TED BAKER Luceey Blue Floral Pumps and DC white and gold trainers.
  • Woman in dressing gown sat on a dining room chair, reflected in a mirror.
  • White anemone as part of a bridal bouquet.
  • Man in navy wedding suit and grey waistcoat walking in front of a dark wood panelled walk outside.
  • Groom in a navy suit and grey waistcoat with his groom party, walking down King Street in Maldon. CM9 5DX.
  • Groomsman drinking from a hip flask walking down walking down King Street in Maldon. CM9 5DX.
  • The groom and friends walking down Princes Road in Maldon on way to the wedding.
  • The groom and friends in their suits on the swings in the park on Princes Road in Maldon.
  • The groom and friends wearing suits on the swings in the park on Princes Road in Maldon.
  • The groom and friends walking through the park on Princes Road in Maldon.
  • Oakhouse Bar and cafe 35 High St, Maldon CM9 5PF.
  • Groom and friends drinking beer sat outside the Oakhouse Bar and cafe 35 High St, Maldon CM9 5PF.
  • Groomsmen walking down Maldon High street.
  • Groom with a beer sat outside the Oakhouse Bar in Maldon.
  • Woman wearing floral blue dress holding a tray of button holes. On the high street arriving at wedding.
  • Groomsmen putting on buttonholes.
  • Buttonholes for a wedding on a tray on a table, pints of beer around, outside the Oakhouse.
  • Wedding guests with drinks chatting in the street.
  • Two people looking at the camera outside a bar in Maldon. Begonias in hanging baskets hang down from above.
  • Groom hugging his friend outside the bar near the church in Maldon.
  • Outside the Oakhouse on 35 High St, Maldon, CM9 5PF. Wedding guests and the groomsmen gather, one man is drinking a cup of tea. A branch of M&S in the background.
  • Two women, wedding guests are laughing together in the Maldon High Street. Natwest and Greggs in the background.
  • Man in blue suit and grey waistcoat standing in Maldon High Street, a branch of Natwest behind him.
  • The groom talking to the vicar before the wedding. All Saints’ Church Maldon High Street Maldon Essex  CM9 4QE
  • Groomsmen stood in the entrance of All Saints’ Church Maldon High Street Maldon Essex  CM9 4QE. Wimpy and Greggs in the background.
  • Wedding guests are gathering on Maldon high street. Natwest and Greggs in the background.
  • All Saints’ Church Maldon High Street Maldon Essex  CM9 4QE
  • Woman fixing buttonhole for a man in the street.
  • Groomsmen holding the wedding order of service.
  • People sat in the pews before a wedding ceremony at All Saints' Church in Maldon.
  • Bride arriving at the church on Maldon high street, wearing HALORY, Guipure lace sheer panel wedding dress by Ted Baker. A branch of Wimpy in the background.
  • Bridesmaids arriving on Maldon high street near Greggs.
  • People arriving at a wedding in Maldon at the church. Branches of Intertek and Wimpy on the street.
  • Maldon High Street: Natwest, Greggs, Intertek, Templeman Opticians and Wimpy. The choir lined up on the path to welcome the bridal party to the church.
  • Bride and groom singing during their wedding.
  • View of just bride and grooms legs and they are sat in chairs in a church. TED BAKER Luceey Blue Floral Pumps. HALORY, Guipure lace sheer panel wedding dress by Ted Baker.
  • Bride and groom sat in chairs during ceremony. TED BAKER Luceey Blue Floral Pumps. HALORY, Guipure lace sheer panel wedding dress by Ted Baker. The vicar at All Saints' church in Maldon is giving a talk during wedding.
  • Family and friends in church singing hymns.
  • Best man holding ring box.
  • Newly married couple kiss during wedding ceremony. All Saints’ Church.
  • People singing hymns at wedding.
  • Wedding ceremony at All Saints’ Church.
  • Bridesmaid in Jolie Moi Navy 1950s cap sleeve lace dress, holding flowers, standing in the light of window in
All Saints’ Church Maldon High Street Maldon Essex  CM9 4QE
  • Flower girls standing in the light of a church window.
  • Newlyweds walking down the aisle.
  • Bridesmaid and groomsman walking down the aisle.
  • Bride and groom greeting the guests outside the church.
  • Bride in Ted Baker dress outside the church.
  • A small baby in a carseat.
  • A woman with white hair and a blue and white dress looking surprised.
  • A flower girl wearing a white dress holding a wicker basket of confetti. Outside the church in Maldon high street.
  • Black and white photo of All Saints with St Peter Church of England Maldon High Street Maldon Essex  CM9 4QE.
  • Bride's brother holding her bouquet.
  • Mother of the bride in a teal, white and orange outfit, and a large peach hat.
  • People stood along Maldon High Street waiting for newly married couple. Branch of Wimpy in the background.
  • Newlyweds, family and friends stood in the gateway to the All Saints' church in Maldon. Natwest, Greggs, Templemann Opticians, and Wimpy in the background. Bride wearing a Ted Baker lace panel dress.
  • Newly married couple leaving the All Saints’ Church on Maldon High Street in Essex CM9 4QE. They are walking through a confetti tunnel in the sunshine.
  • Newly married couple leaving the All Saints’ Church on Maldon High Street in Essex CM9 4QE. They are walking through a confetti tunnel in the sunshine.
  • Newly married couple leaving the All Saints’ Church on Maldon High Street in Essex CM9 4QE. They are walking through a confetti tunnel in the sunshine.
  • Newly married couple leaving the All Saints’ Church on Maldon High Street in Essex CM9 4QE. They are walking through a confetti tunnel in the sunshine.
  • Newly married couple leaving the All Saints’ Church on Maldon High Street. The sun glaring down in the confetti.
  • Flower girl outside the Maldon church, looking at the camera, her mum looks on, Zoe of the Scrummy Yummy Cake Company in South Woodham.
  • All Saints with St Peter Church of England Maldon.
  • People stood on Maldon High Street in front of Greggs. They are seen through the Land Rover window as the bride and groom leave.
  • Groom in the driver's seat of the Land Rover, his wife sat next to him.
  • Bride sat in the front of a Land Rover.
  • Newly married couple kiss next to their Land Rover.
  • Land Rover parked outside Brandy Hole wedding venue.
  • A wedding bouquet on the deck by the River Crouch.
  • On the jetty at the Brandy Hole on the deck next to boats on the River Crouch. The newlyweds hold hands. The boat is called Calamita.
  • Newly weds are kissing by a small boat on the River Crouch.
  • Bride wearing Ted Baker wedding dress called Halory. Holding a wedding bouquet on the jetty at Brandy Hole by the River Crouch.
  • On the jetty at the Brandy Hole on the deck next to boats on the River Crouch. The newlyweds kiss.
  • Bride and groom holding hands outside by the River Crouch at the Brandy Hole.
  • Bride and groom walking up the stairs from the jetty by the River Crouch at the Brandy Hole.
  • Bride wearing Halory wedding dress by Ted Baker. She's standing by the River Crouch.
  • Bridesmaid is outside in the sunshine, the River Crouch and boats in the background. Wearing Jolie Moi Navy 1950s cap sleeve lace dress.
  • Woman with blonde bob length hair, laughing and holding a bottle of Budweiser.
  • Bridesmaid wearing a navy suit jacket to keep warm.
  • Blue and white vases and jars, white flowers and green foliage. Wedding breakfast table details at Brandy Hole.
  • DaCastello Merlot
  • Table dressed for a wedding at The Brandy Hole wedding venue in Essex.
  • Bride and groom enter the wedding breakfast.
  • Guests clapping.
  • Blue marble cake by Zoe of the Scrummy Yummy Cake Company in South Woodham at an Essex wedding venue. The Brandy Hole.
  • Brother of the bride giving a speech, holding a glass of white wine.
  • Man in a suit with a grey waistcoat, he's raising a glass of white wine at the end of the speech.
  • Seafood wedding breakfast at the Brandy Hole.
  • The Brandy Hole wedding venue on the River Crouch. Blue and white bunting.
  • Wedding guests sat around the top table at the Brandy Hole.
  • A cask of Yakima Gold from Crouch Vale Brewery at a wedding. Stack of red cups on the table.
  • Man from South Woodham Ferrers holding a Nikon camera by the River Crouch.
  • People chatting at wedding breakfast.
  • The River Crouch. Looking out over to Hawbush Creek and South Woodham.
  • The Scrummy Yummy Cake Company.
  • The Scrummy Yummy Cake Company.
  • Dessert table by The Scrummy Yummy Cake Company.
  • Best man leaning on the doorframe and smiles at the camera.
  • Wedding guests taking seafood theme treats from the table.
  • Mother of the bride laughing.
  • Woman with brown shoulder length hair wearing a dark dress with white floral pattern.
  • Man kisses a woman in a white top on the side of her face.
  • Groom and a guest smiling, she is wearing a green dress with black spots. The bar in the background.
  • A small baby asleep on a man's lap after drinking milk.
  • People sat at round tables during a wedding, they are smiling and clapping.
  • Mother of the bride standing up to give a wedding speech, she's holding the speech on paper and a microphone.
  • Wedding guests at round tables in the Brandy Hole.
  • A couple sat next to each other holding hands.
  • Woman with fair hair sat at the table with other wedding guests. At The Brandy Hole wedding venue.
  • Four people sat around a wedding breakfast table at the Brandy Hole.
  • Blue and white bunting on the ceiling for the Brandy Hole, guests watching speeches.
  • Top table raising a toast during wedding speeches at the Brandy Hole in Hullbridge.
  • Bride wearing Halory wedding dress by Ted Baker. Holding it between her knees as she helps the flower girl climb over to the jetty by the River Crouch.
  • Jetty on the River, boats.
  • Bride and groom on the jetty crabbing on the River Crouch at wedding venue Brandy Hole Kingsman Point Kingsmans Farm Road, Hullbridge, Hockley SS5 6QB
  • A crab in a bucket.
  • Wedding guests kneeling on the decking with crabbing buckets.
  • A crab on a net held up by a man in a suit on the River Crouch.
  • Woman in a dress and suit jacket holding a glass of champagne on the jetty in Hullbridge on the river.
  • A crab caught on the River Crouch by a wedding guest at Brandy Hole.
  • Crabs in a bucket, bottom of bride's dress in view.
  • Woman in a Monsoon Augustina Embroidered Dress, in dark navy and white. Holding a glass of red wine and waving at someone. Outside on the River Crouch Jetty at the Brandy Hole.
  • Wedding guest in a mauve lace dress and pale blue jacket. A boat and the Brandy Hole behind her.
  • Evening light, wedding guests on a jetty on an Essex river.
  • Evening light over the River Crouch looking out to South Woodham Ferrers.
  • Bride in a lace long dress is laughing on the jetty. A wedding at Brandy Hole Kingsmans Farm Road, Hullbridge, Hockley SS5 6QB. Kingsman Point.
  • A guest with long brown hair, a blanket wrapped around her, holding a blue cup.
  • Woman in wedding dress by Ted Baker standing on the roof of a Land Rover.
  • Woman in wedding dress by Ted Baker standing on the roof of a Land Rover. Groomsmen standing around.
  • Woman in wedding dress by Ted Baker standing on the roof of a Land Rover with bridesmaid.
  • Groom smiling at camera with Brandy Hole in the background.
  • View of the River Crouch from Brandy Hole in Hullbridge, Hockley. South Woodham in the distance.
  • Cutting the wedding cake.
  • Groom eating the cake.
  • Mother and son dancing at a wedding.
  • Dancing at a wedding. Bunting on the ceiling.
  • Bride and groom dancing at their wedding at Brandy Hole in Hullbridge.
  • Wedding guest with tattooed arms in the air dancing with friends.
  • Bride and groom dancing together at their wedding reception at Brandy Hole in Hullbridge. Blue and white bunting on the ceiling.
  • Bride and groom dancing together at their wedding reception at Brandy Hole in Hullbridge. Blue and white bunting on the ceiling and smoke in the background.
  • Flower girl dancing in the coloured lights at the wedding reception.
  • Newlyweds kissing, the DJ playing music on his laptop behind them.
  • Dance floor scenes at the Brandy Hole in Hullbridge.
  • Guests out on the decking at Brandy Hole at night.
  • Woman holding a champagne flute laughs at the camera.
  • Mother and her daughter the bride hug on the dance floor.
  • Dance floor scenes, mother of the bride dancing with a groomsman.
  • Woman in floral dress and pink jacket dancing with her daughters.
  • Woman in a pale blue floral off the shoulder dress is dancing with the bride at The Brandy Hole wedding venue in Hockley.
  • Bridesmaid wearing Jolie Moi Navy 1950s cap sleeve lace dress drinking from a hip flask as people dance. The green DJ lights behind her.
  • The Brandy Hole venue at night.
  • Woman with dark hair and sparkly butterfly top dancing and her hair is in motion.
  • Busy wedding reception as the bride and guests dance.
  • Man lifting up bridesmaid at wedding reception. Her shoes in the forefront of the photo.
  • Conga line at a wedding reception.
  • Conga line wedding reception.
  • A small boat on the River Crouch at night. View from Brandy Hole Kingsmans Farm Road, Hullbridge, Hockley SS5 6QB. Lights of South Woodham Ferrers can be seen across the river.
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