Nick and Amy’s Sun-Drenched Wedding
There is something truly special about an April wedding that feels like the height of June. When I arrived at Swancar Farm Country House in Trowell for Nick and Amy’s big day, the Nottinghamshire countryside was absolutely glowing. As a wedding videographer covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, you always hope for that "golden hour" magic, but on this particular Wednesday in April, we had it from 9:00 am until sunset.
The day began at The Old Stables - the charming private cottage on-site where Amy and her bridesmaids were getting ready. The atmosphere was incredibly relaxed - exactly how a wedding morning should be. Between the laughter and the breakfast spreads, I spent time capturing those quiet, candid moments that really set the tone for the final film.
One of the best parts of the morning was moving the bridal gown and later the groomsmen into the conservatory. While the original prep rooms were lovely, the conservatory offered that beautiful, soft morning light, perfectly diffused by the windows. As a filmmaker, I’m always hunting for the most flattering light for my couples, and these little adjustments make a world of difference in the final cinematic look. It was a bit of a mission moving Amy's dress through the narrow corridors - being 6'5" certainly helped keep it off the floor! - but getting it into that conservatory light was well worth the effort.
Nick and Amy’s story is a classic Nottingham tale. They first met at Windblowers, the well-known music shop in the city that Nick runs. Amy was a customer there, and that shared passion for music became the foundation of their relationship. Amy is a talented clarinet and saxophone player, and as Dave (Father of the Bride) mentioned in his speech, she even incorporates her musical gifts into her work as a teacher.
Nick arrived at the venue in his Mercedes, and one of the most important moments we captured was the hug between Nick and Amy’s dad right after he stepped out of the car. It was a raw, authentic interaction that I knew would become a cornerstone of the edit.
The ceremony took place in The Gallery - a space full of character and intimate charm. Much like a previous wedding I filmed at the Renaissance at Kelham Hall, Amy made a breathtaking entrance from behind a screen, rounding the corner to a visibly emotional Nick.
The ceremony, led by the Nottinghamshire Registration Service, was a masterclass in "nervous energy" turned into beautiful joy. They shared personal promises that were incredibly moving; Amy’s promises were so raw and real that they became the "backbone" of the film’s audio, bookending the story from start to finish.
Pro Tip: Amy’s dress from Beau Belles actually had pockets - which came in very handy for the tissues when the happy tears started flowing!
After the ceremony, we headed outside for the confetti and group photos. Because it was such an intensely bright day, we chose the front of the house for the portraits. By positioning everyone there, the sun was blocked by the building itself, giving us a large area of clean, even shade.
This is a vital tip for any Nottinghamshire wedding: avoiding direct sunlight means your guests aren't squinting and you don't get harsh shadows across faces. It made for much more flattering photos and video. While the guests enjoyed the drinks reception and the sounds of the saxophone, we took Nick and Amy off for some portraits around a stunning vintage Citroen DS.
The speeches at Swancar Farm are always a highlight, but Andy (the Best Man) really raised the bar. Nick and Andy have been best friends for over 30 years, having met back in 1994. They’ve actually been each other's Best Men before, and Andy felt he needed to "upstage" his previous performance from years ago.
He went all out, recording a full parody of "Somebody’s Got Your Back" from Aladdin. He’d even had his sons record the backing tracks at school and college. The lyrics told the story of their 30-year friendship, and seeing Nick’s reaction as the whole room joined in was priceless. It’s these deeply personal, one-off moments that make a wedding film so special to look back on.
As the evening set in, we took Nick and Amy out for those iconic Swancar Farm sunset portraits. We headed into the fields behind the house where the light was catching the grass perfectly, creating those warm sun flares that look so beautiful on film. We also took a drive down the long lane to capture silhouetted moments with the country house in the background.
The night finished with a bang:
If you’re currently planning your wedding at this stunning venue, here are a few tips from a videographer's perspective:
For this wedding, I also provided wedding content creation. By mounting my phone to my camera rig throughout the day, I was able to capture the entire day in a more casual, social-ready format. This meant Nick and Amy had all their best moments to watch back the very next day, including a "look back" reel. This is a service I’m officially rolling out for all my 2026 and 2027 wedding bookings.
Nick and Amy, thank you for letting us be a part of such a musical, emotional, and sun-drenched day. It was an absolute pleasure to capture your story at Swancar Farm.
The Creative Team:
Every Nocturne film begins with a conversation — about your story, your energy, and how you want your day to feel. We only take on a limited number of weddings each year to keep every film personal and intentional.
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Cinematic wedding films for modern romantics — crafted by filmmaker Tom Kinton, blending fine-art cinematography with authentic storytelling across the Cheshire, North Wales, Shropshire, the rest of the UK and Europe.
