Yana Skakun
Cambridge·Cambridge University College (founded 1326)
Wedding Photographer at Clare College
Documentary wedding photography at one of Cambridge’s most iconic venues.
Introduction
Wedding photography at Clare College
Clare College is, in many photographers' eyes, the most quietly beautiful wedding venue in Cambridge. The second-oldest surviving Cambridge college, founded in 1326, it sits squarely on the Backs between King's and Trinity Hall, with its honey-coloured Old Court bridging the River Cam by way of Clare Bridge — the oldest surviving bridge over the river. What sets Clare apart, though, is the gardens. The Master's Garden and the Fellows' Garden, laid out across the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, are widely regarded as the finest in any Cambridge college. My approach at Clare is documentary and garden-led. The College has a softer, more intimate feel than King's or Trinity — Old Court is a single perfectly proportioned quadrangle rather than a series of competing spaces, the chapel is jewel-box small, and the gardens give an unbroken vista from the Cam to the avenue of horse chestnuts on the Backs. For couples who want Cambridge grandeur without the tourist scale, Clare is a serious choice. Many Clare weddings are alumni-led, and the rhythm of the day reflects College tradition — preparation in the Master's Lodge or a Fellow's set, the ceremony in the chapel or under the cherry tree in the Master's Garden, a punt or short walk along the Cam between ceremony and dinner, and dinner in the Old Hall with candlelight and silver. It is, photographically, one of the most coherent and beautiful weddings I cover.
Venue history
A brief history of Clare College
Clare College was founded as University Hall in 1326 by Richard de Badew, Chancellor of the University, making it the second-oldest surviving Cambridge college after Peterhouse. After financial difficulties in the 1330s, the foundation was refounded and re-endowed in 1338 by Elizabeth de Clare — the granddaughter of Edward I, three times widowed by the age of thirty, and one of the great patronesses of fourteenth-century Cambridge. The College has carried her name ever since. The medieval college was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1521, and the rebuilding that followed — beginning with the river range in 1638 and continuing through the chapel of 1763 — produced the unified, beautifully proportioned Old Court that visitors see today, executed in soft Ketton stone over a span of nearly eighty years. The chapel itself, designed by Sir James Burrough and completed by Sir James Essex, is a small classical jewel with a domed lantern and exceptional plasterwork. The Master's Garden, on the river side of Old Court, is the College's photographic heart — laid out in the 1690s and continuously cultivated since, famous for its old roses, herbaceous borders and the great cherry tree under which many summer ceremonies take place. Clare Bridge, built in 1640 by Thomas Grumbold, is the oldest surviving bridge over the Cam in Cambridge — its weathered balustrade of fourteen stone balls (one famously sliced through, by tradition because the builder was underpaid) is one of the most photographed features in the city.
Photography
Best photo opportunities at Clare College
- 1Photo Spot
Clare Bridge with willows — the 1640 bridge from the river bank, with weeping willows and punts drifting past, ideal for couple portraits at golden hour.
- 2Photo Spot
Master's Garden roses — herbaceous borders, climbing roses against Ketton stone walls and the great cherry tree, perfect for intimate, romantic portraits.
- 3Photo Spot
Fellows' Garden borders — wider lawn views with the Old Court bridge range behind, beautiful for full-length walking portraits.
- 4Photo Spot
Old Court courtyard — the unified seventeenth-century quadrangle photographed at any time of day, with the chapel and gatehouse providing classical symmetry.
- 5Photo Spot
Chapel interior — small, classical, lit by clerestory windows, available-light portraits with the domed lantern above.
- 6Photo Spot
The Backs lawn at golden hour — the broad expanse between Old Court and the river, with the avenue of horse chestnuts catching the evening light.
On the day
Sample wedding day timeline
- 11:30
Bridal preparation at the Master's Lodge — relaxed coverage of dress, details, morning light through Georgian sash windows.
- 13:00
Guests arrive in Old Court; processional and chapel warm-up captured from the gallery.
- 13:30
Chapel ceremony or Master's Garden ceremony under the cherry tree — vows, readings, blessing.
- 14:30
Confetti exit through Old Court — biodegradable petals on Ketton stone.
- 15:00
Drinks reception on the lawn beside the Master's Garden; family group photographs against the chapel and Old Court.
- 16:00
Punting interlude — short relaxed punt along the Cam between Clare Bridge and the Mathematical Bridge, captured from the bank.
- 17:00
Couple portraits in the Master's Garden and on Clare Bridge — slow walking session in golden afternoon light.
- 18:30
Wedding breakfast in the Old Hall — speeches, toasts, candlelight and college silver.
- 20:30
Golden-hour couple portraits on the Backs lawn under the horse-chestnut avenue.
- 21:30
First dance in the Old Hall — atmospheric, lantern-lit, the day closing in the heart of the College.
Planning notes
Logistics & access
- Ceremonies are licensed in the College Chapel and the Master's Garden (the latter weather permitting, with a chapel rain plan).
- Maximum guest capacity for the Old Hall wedding breakfast is 80 — Clare is best suited to intimate, family-scale weddings rather than large celebrations.
- No confetti is permitted inside Old Court or any College interior — biodegradable petals only, at designated exterior locations.
- College regulations require all amplified music to end by 23:00; quieter acoustic coverage may continue afterwards in agreed locations.
- Rain plan: the Old Hall provides an outstanding interior portrait location, with chapel detail shots available throughout the day.
Gallery
Clare College — moments & details
“Yana captured Clare exactly as we knew it — the roses in the Master's Garden, the punt back from the chapel, the candlelight in the Old Hall. She moves through the day so quietly you forget she is there, and then the photographs arrive and you remember everything at once.”
Beatrice & James
Clare College Wedding
Frequently Asked
Questions about Clare College weddings
Do you have to be a Clare alumnus to marry at Clare College?+
No. While the majority of Clare weddings have an alumni connection, the College does accept bookings from non-alumni couples, subject to availability and the discretion of the Conference Office. Bookings are typically made 12 to 18 months in advance.
Who can be married in the Clare Chapel?+
Chapel weddings are open to current and past members of Clare College, members of their immediate family, and (at the Dean's discretion) couples with a meaningful connection to the College. The chapel seats 100 comfortably and is one of the most intimate ceremony spaces in Cambridge.
Can we hold the ceremony in the Master's Garden?+
Yes — the Master's Garden is licensed for outdoor civil ceremonies between May and September, weather permitting, with a chapel rain plan as fallback. The cherry tree at the centre of the garden is the traditional ceremony location and one of the most photographed spots in the College.
Is accommodation available in the College for guests?+
Yes — Clare offers en-suite student rooms during the long vacation (typically July to September) and a small number of guest rooms in Old Court year-round. Most wedding parties block-book 15 to 30 rooms for immediate family and bridal party.
What is the approximate venue hire cost?+
Venue hire at Clare College including chapel ceremony and Old Hall dinner typically starts from around £6,500 to £9,000 for non-alumni couples, with alumni discounts available. Catering, drinks and accommodation are quoted separately. The Conference Office provides bespoke proposals.
Planning a wedding at Clare College?
Let’s capture your day at Clare College
I’d love to hear about your plans — venue, date, and any ideas you already have. I reply within 24 hours.