If you love the idea of getting married surrounded by lush greenery, Japanese gardens, and the calm hum of nature, Matara Centre wedding photography is your dream come true. This Gloucestershire gem is like no other – part botanical paradise, part artistic haven, and 100% magical.
Inside a Matara Centre Wedding – Plants, Pyjamas and Pure Happiness
We recently photographed the most wonderfully quirky wedding here, and honestly, we could’ve stayed snapping forever. From pyjama vows to hand-fasting, Freddo hunts, and drone shots over stone circles – this day had everything.
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Matara Centre is a unique Cotswolds venue near Tetbury (GL8 8YA) set in 28 acres, licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies, and flexible for celebrations from 25 to around 200 guests.
If you want Matara Centre wedding photography that feels real and fun, we’re THE MAYS (Marta May Photography) – TWIA National Winners (2023) and now TWIA judges – shooting in our DOCU-ART style (candid documentary moments + cinematic portraits).
CHECK OUR AVAILABILITY FOR MATARA
Getting Married at the Matara Centre – Where Nature Meets Art
The Matara Centre, tucked away near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, is one of the most unique Cotswolds wedding venues we’ve ever photographed. It’s bursting with plants: tropical leaves, exotic trees, colourful blossoms, all perfectly balanced between manicured gardens and wild woodland.
KEY FACTS: MATARA CENTRE WEDDINGS
1. Location: Kingscote Park, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8YA.
2. Setting: 28 acres of grounds and gardens (a proper “wander and breathe” venue).
3. Guest size: intimate enough for 25, big enough for up to 200.
4. Ceremonies: licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies (so your plan B can still feel like plan A).
5. Main reception space: The Hillarium can host up to 150 for a sit-down wedding breakfast.
6. Photo vibe: Japanese gardens, glasshouses, courtyards, woodland paths, and soft light everywhere (brilliant for natural documentary + creative portraits).
7. Planning tip: build in a short “wander portrait” pocket – Matara rewards 10–15 minutes of exploring.
There’s even a tranquil Japanese garden, complete with ponds, stone paths, and that serene feeling that makes everyone instantly relax. It’s the kind of place that feels like it’s been designed for natural, documentary-style wedding photography.
Everywhere you look, there’s soft light, texture, and detail – the orangery, the greenhouse, the open courtyards, and the circular lawn framed by sculpted hedges. Matara isn’t just a venue; it’s a living, breathing work of art.
Morning Magic – The Pyjama Ceremony
This wedding started in the most unforgettable way: an early-morning civil ceremony in pyjamas. Yes, you read that right. The couple wanted their legal ceremony to feel relaxed and fun – just the two of them and their closest family, giggling their way through vows before the big celebration began.
We loved it. It was raw, unfiltered, and so them. These are the moments we live for as photographers, where personality takes centre stage, and tradition gets a playful twist.
The Main Ceremony – Hand-Fasting, Ring Warming, Singing, and Joy
Later, after a quick transformation out of pyjamas and into wedding attire, everyone gathered for the main celebrant ceremony in the stunning indoor space at Matara.
Their celebrant led a beautifully personal ceremony that mixed traditional vows, live singing, and a hand-fasting ritual, a symbolic and emotional moment that had everyone smiling (and a few happy tears too).
From a documentary wedding photography point of view, this kind of ceremony is a dream. The soft natural light filtering through the greenhouse windows, the bursts of colour from the plants, and the laughter echoing off the walls – it all came together perfectly.
Confetti, Freddo Hunts & Reception Fun
After the “I do’s”, everyone spilled out onto the front lawn for confetti, a joyful blur of colour and motion. Guests cheered, the couple beamed, and we captured that perfect mix of chaos and happiness.
Then came the reception drinks and, our personal favourite, a Freddo hunt. Yep, hidden chocolate frogs scattered across the gardens. Adults were as competitive as the kids, and it made for some of the funniest candid photos of the day.
Between drinks, laughter, and sunshine, we also shot group portraits on the lawn, the light was perfect, and everyone looked so effortlessly happy.
Couple Portraits – Too Many Gorgeous Spots to Choose From
If you’re planning Matara Centre wedding photography, prepare to be spoiled for choice. Everywhere you turn is a potential portrait location.
We started inside the house with its gorgeous textures and soft, diffused light. Then wandered through the gardens, orangery, greenhouse, and forest paths, before flying the drone for a few cinematic frames of the stone circles, they look incredible from above.
And the Japanese garden? Pure peace. The reflections, the greenery, the composition, it’s like photographing inside a dream. The hardest part was choosing when to stop!
Speeches, Cake & The One-Song Photo Challenge
As the sun dipped lower, everyone gathered inside for speeches and dinner, full of laughter, heartfelt moments, and a few emotional surprises.
Then came the cake cutting, followed by something we’d never seen before: a one-song photography challenge. The goal? As many fun, creative group shots as possible during one song.
It was chaotic, hilarious, and totally brilliant, the kind of energy we wish every wedding had.
After that, the dance floor opened and didn’t stop for hours. Matara’s warm lighting and plant-filled interiors gave everything a soft, cinematic glow, perfect for our DOCU-ART approach.
Why We Love Matara Centre Wedding Photography
There are wedding venues… and then there’s Matara Centre. It’s one of those places that makes you fall in love with your craft all over again.
It’s endlessly photogenic, lush gardens, stone architecture, golden light bouncing through glasshouses, and yet it still feels deeply personal and calm.
It suits any couple who wants something a little different: creative, soulful, and grounded in nature.
FAQs
1: Where is Matara Centre (postcode)?
It’s near Tetbury in Gloucestershire, postcode GL8 8YA.
2: How many guests can Matara Centre host?
Matara can work for smaller weddings (around 25 guests) and scale up to around 200 guests.
3: What’s the Hillarium at Matara?
The Hillarium is Matara’s main reception space with a dome – and it can host up to 150 guests for a seated wedding breakfast.
4: How much time do we need for couple portraits at Matara?
Usually 10–20 minutes is plenty. We often split it into two short pockets so you don’t disappear from your guests, and you still get the “wow” backdrops.
5: Is Matara good for relaxed, unposed photography?
Yes. The venue naturally creates moments – guests drift between gardens, courtyards and glass spaces, which is perfect for documentary-style storytelling.
6: Are Marta May Photography and THE MAYS the same team?
Yes — Marta May Photography is our brand name, and THE MAYS is us: Marta + Artur, husband-and-wife team.
Thinking About Your Own Matara Centre Wedding?
If you’re planning a Matara Centre wedding, we’d love to capture it for you. This venue is pure magic, a photographer’s playground and a couple’s sanctuary.
We know the best light, the hidden corners, and the perfect spots for portraits that feel real, cinematic, and uniquely you. Get in touch to check availability and see more of our Cotswolds wedding photography here.
Your story deserves to be told beautifully – with laughter, colour, and a touch of cinematic magic.
