Surrey Wedding Photographer at the Luxury Country House of Lord Beaverbrook

Private Birthday Celebration at Beaverbrook Luxury Country House Hotel

One of the things I love about my job is witnessing families I photograph go though different milestones in their life, including big birthdays. On this occasion, my clients invited me to Beaverbrook Country House near Leatherhead to capture their loved one’s 80th birthday celebration. It was an intimate family lunch followed by cake and family time at Beaverbrook’s stunning gardens.

Nestled in the gently rolling Surrey hills near Leatherhead, Beaverbrook feels at once grand and welcoming. A place where you sense the stories of the past quietly echoing through the corridors, mingling with the laughter and excitement of celebrations unfolding today. Beaverbrook is the quintessential English country house, a former home to William Maxwell Aitket, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, a press mogul and a friend of Winston Churchill. Formaly known as Cherkley Court, the house was build in the second half of the 19th centrury for Abraham Dixon, a metal exporter. The house was acquired by Lord Beaverbrook in 1910 who lived there for the next 50 years and enterntained many well known figures such as Winston Churchill, Bonar Law, H.G. Wells and many others. From the late nineties, for a couple of decades, the house went through restoration, changes in menagement and ultimately in 2017 opened as “Beaverbrook” - an exquisite country house hotel and a space that hosts weddings and parties of all kinds.

And it was a wonderful venue for the milestone birthday gathering I photographed. The family made a booking for a private dining space inside, a room decorated with wood panneling and elegant mahogany furniture. It was a lovely space where the family could enjoy a meal and instantly feel relaxed. After blowing candels on an impressive mustang shaped cake, we stepped outside for family portraits.

Wedding Photography at the Luxury Home of Lord Beaverbrook

In addition to being a venue for private gatherings, events and parties, Beaverbrook’s elegant interiors and 470 acre gardens can be hired as an intimate wedding venue. Working as a wedding photographer, I am always drawn to venues that feel authentic, where the atmosphere is as important as the architecture. Beaverbrook is exactly that sort of place. It is grand and sophisticated yet warm and welcoming. From the moment I stepped in, the staff greeted me with warmth and kindness, directing me to where I needed to go.

I was inspired by the beautifully decorated gardens, seeing photo opportunities in every nook and corner. For a couple who wishes to have their wedding portraits taken here, the choices are limitless. From the stunning view of the surrounding Surrey Hills, to the stone garden temples, wide garden paths thoughtfully planted and alive with seasonal colour, views of the house itself - t - there is something for every taste.

If you’re thinking about Beaverbrook for your wedding or celebration, I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit. Take a walk through the gardens, linger over tea in the Morning Room, and imagine how your day might unfold. It really is a place where memories are made.

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Surrey Wedding Photographer

My name is Mina, I am a professional family and wedding photographer working across London and Surrey. As a wedding photographer, I strive to capture the emotion and unique personalities of my clients during their wedding day. I use documentary style photography to portray the day unfolding, working with natural light to create relaxed, candid shots of you and your family and friends having a good time. My photography style is unobtrusive, professional and fun. I will give direction for big group shots and intimate couples shots to make sure I get the best possible picture, but otherwise I work quietly and discreetly to capture natural moments of you and your wedding party enjoying themselves. Please visit my wedding photography page for more information.

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Get In Touch

If you’d like to talk more about photography at Beaverbrook or any other Surrey venue, I would love to hear from you. Please get in touch by sending an email to mina@minamilanovic-photography.com or fill out the contact form below.

Richmond Upon Thames Wedding Photographer | York House Wedding

York House Wedding Venue | Richmond upon Thames Wedding

I have been incredibly lucky over the years to have photographed several weddings (and a couple of music events) at York House in Twickenham. Back in the day, when I lived just down the road it was one of my favourite places to visit on a weekend and enjoy the magnificent gardens which stretch all the way to the River Thames. York House serves as the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, and is licensed for wedding ceremonies and other events. The beautiful Grade II listed building provides several rooms for wedding ceremonies, certain rooms can be hired for wedding receptions, and the stunning gardens are the perfect backdrop for wedding photography.

York House Wedding

I was contacted by a couple last year and asked if I could photograph their multi-cultural wedding at York House in Twickenham. I was immediately excited by the prospect of photographing a wedding there, and was incredibly pleased when the couple confirmed they wanted my photography services for the day.

An Intimate Wedding at York House in Twickenham

It was a small intimate wedding, with many friends and family members coming from different corners of the world, including Germany, Argentina and Colombia to celebrate their love. It was a gorgeous ceremony, filled with poetry, music, laughter and lots of emotions.

Wedding Portrait Photography

While the guests were enjoying a glass of champagne and a picnic in the gardens of York House, the wedding couple and myself snuck out for a brief moment of quiet, and to take a few wedding portraits. As the wedding took place on the last day of school, the gardens were teeming with excited school children, so certain places like the Sunken Garden were out of question for photography. Luckily, elsewhere was quiet so we settled by the river to take wedding portraits. The River Thames provided a stunning backdrop, so I photographed the couple together and individually at the same location.

The Wedding Dress

The bride wore an intricate lace gown with stunning trim detail and shaped trail. The gown was from Justin Alexander with Lillian West and was purchased from London Bride UK. It was absolutely breathtaking, fitting the bride like a custom-made dress.

The flowers were a gift from the bride’s Argentinian family as many of them couldn't make it to the UK ceremony. The lovely folk from Streets in St Margaret’s created the gorgeous wedding bouquet and other flower arrangements. Streets Florist & Greengrocer is a small family business where I used to buy flowers, as well as fruit & vegetables during my Saturday morning routine in St Margaret’s; thinking of it always brings fond memories of my life in my 20s and early 30s.

This specific York House Wedding was truly special. From the people who attended, to the details throughout the wedding ceremony, to the fun picnic in the gardens, and the wedding couple’s attire. It had it all - class, elegance, joy, laughter, tears and lots and lots of love.

I am a professional wedding photographer based in Surrey. I work all across Surrey, London and the South East, documenting wedding days as they unfold - from the wedding preparations through to the first dance.

You can read more about wedding photography here, and you can look through the various packages on offer on my Prices page. In addition to the whole-day and half-day packages, I offer hourly-based photography coverage, so if you are planning a wedding and would like to discuss your requirements, please get in touch. I would love to hear from you.

Richmond upon Thames Wedding Photographer | Summer Wedding at York House

An Intimate Summer Wedding at York House

York House in Twickenham is one of those rare places that feels like a secret. Nestled beside the River Thames and surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens, it is a venue that offers the perfect backdrop for an intimate summer wedding. It is also one of my all time favourite London wedding venues. This 17th century stately home in the heart of Twickenham is one of London’s hidden gems, offering several rooms for private functions, including weddings. Tucked away from the busy town centre, the house feels calm and welcoming.

I photographed this small wedding at the peak of summer - on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, and everyone (including myself) were melting in the heat. The kind of day where even in the shade, you could feel the warmth radiating through the stone walls and across the lawns. Guests fanned themselves with orders of service, laughter echoed through open windows, and despite the heat, there was a wonderful sense of joy and celebration in the air.

London Wedding Photographer at York House

The day began with couple portraits in the peaceful, well kept gardens tucked behind the house. We didn’t really plan this with waeather in mind - it was more about the couple wanting to have that time together so they could enjoy the post-ceremony drinks with friends and family. However, it turned out to be a great decision, as even at 10 am the temperature was in the high 20Cs.

We wandered slowly through the garden, letting the morning unfold naturally and stopping where we found areas we all liked. There were so many beatiful corners to stop by - the Japanese gardens, the bridge overlooking the sunken garden and by the river. Each spot felt like a small moment of calm before the excitement of the day began. Of course, we couldnt walk past the The Oceanides fountain without stopping for a quick photo.

Wedding Ceremony at Loggia Room, York House

After a calm and sun-soaked morning in the gardens, we returned to the house for the final preparations before the ceremony. A brief conversation with the registrar and a few deep breaths, all was set for the start of the wedding ceremony. The ceremony took place in the beautiful Loggia Room — one of York House’s most beloved and popular spaces, filled with soft natural light and a sense of quiet grandeur. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony that was both intimate and deeply moving.

Stepping outside onto the patio in front of Loggia room, the couple was welcomed with a shower of flower confetti - a moment of pure joy, captured against the back drop of York House. The joy on everyone’s faces and the timeless feeling of this image always puts a smile on my face.

Following a quick round of relaxed group photographs and a gentle wander through the gardens, the couple along with a small group of loved ones, made their way to the river. Waiting for them was a boat (curtesy of Richmond Bridge Boat Hire), a personal touch that added so much charm to this already perfect day. The wedding party boarded the boat which took them downstream towards Richmond. The breeze off the water was a welcome relief from the heat, and the sunlight danced across the surface of the Thames. It was a quiet, reflective part of the celebration - a chance to simply be together and take in the joy of the morning.

Richmond Wedding Photographer

Hi, I am Mina, a wedding and family photographer with a love for natural, minimally posed wedding photography. My approach is simple: I work unobtrusivelly to capture your day unfold using documentary-style photography. I want you to feel at ease, be fully present, and enjoy the day. I am here to capture the tender moments, the big feelings, and everything else in between that make your story uniquely yours. Based in Surrey, but photographing love stories all over (including London, Surrey, the South East and abroad).

Contact me

If you are planning your wedding and are looking for someone to document it in a relaxed and genuine way, I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me by email or phone at:

📧 mina@minamilanovic-photography.com
📞 07793 677 867

Or just fill out the contact form by clicking on the button below.

I am looking forward to hearing from you!

~ Mina

Post Wedding Photo Shoot / London Wedding Photographer

I was delighted to hear back from Paulina and Chris, who I photographed in autumn last year for a set of engagement photographs. This time, they asked me if I could take a few post-wedding photos, which was my first! Due to timing issues at the wedding ceremony, they couldn't have their couples photos taken and so we chose a London location they both liked and headed out on a chilly April afternoon to have a few photos taken. Paulina braved the cold in a stunning dress, with an attitute which would put some professional models to shame, and Chris was a natural in front of the camera. Their attitude and energy on the day made the session really relaxed and fun, and made my job so easy! Thank you to both of you for a fun afternoon, I had a great time and I hope you enjoy the photos. I wish you a lifetime of happiness together!

If you are thinking about having a post wedding day photoshoot, or you are looking for a wedding photographer, please get in touch - I would love to hear from you!

Oaks Farm Wedding / Surrey Wedding Photographer

Oaks Farm Wedding Venue

Oaks Farm is a lovely Surrey wedding venue a few miles from Croydon and Bromley on the Surrey/Kent border. I photographed a wedding here for the first time on a foggy crisp day a week or so before Christmas. 

Winter Wedding Photography

Clare and Chris exchanged their wedding vows in a beautiful ceremony in the stables building, before moving to the barn for some bubbly and their wedding breakfast. We took a bit of time away from the guests for a short stroll around the gardens and for a couples photoshoot. I really enjoyed photographing this winter wedding - there was a little bit of fog still present and the light was a bit dim - it all created a very special atmosphere.

To see a selection of photos from the day, please scroll down. If you are looking for a wedding photographer in Surrey or London, and would like to enquire about photography for your wedding, please contact me with your questions, I would love to hear from you!