Yana Skakun
Cambridge·Cambridge University College (founded 1352)
Wedding Photographer at Corpus Christi College
Documentary wedding photography at one of Cambridge’s most iconic venues.
Introduction
Wedding photography at Corpus Christi College
A wedding at Corpus Christi College unfolds inside walls that have framed daily life since the fourteenth century, and I photograph it the way it deserves — quietly, as it happens. My approach is documentary: I follow the morning's nervous laughter, the held breath before the chapel doors open, the unguarded glances across Old Court. I am not staging a set of poses; I am keeping the day honest so you can feel it again years from now. Corpus is a compact, intimate college, and that intimacy shapes everything. Guests are close, sound carries across the enclosed court, and the light moves slowly down centuries-old stone. I work with small lenses and a low profile so the celebration stays the centre of attention. The college's tight, walled spaces reward a photographer who knows where the warm reflected light falls and when to step back. Cambridge weather and Cambridge light are both unpredictable in the best way — a grey morning can break into gold by the time you reach King's Parade. I read those changes constantly, ready for the confetti rush, the still moment in the chapel, and the late-afternoon glow against ancient brick. The result is a record of your wedding that looks and feels like the place itself: old, alive, and entirely yours.
Venue history
A brief history of Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College was founded in 1352 — unusually, not by a monarch or a bishop but by the townspeople themselves, through the religious guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary. That civic origin gives the college a distinctive character; it was built by and for the community of Cambridge, and that sense of belonging still lingers in its enclosed, human-scale courts. At its heart is Old Court, the oldest continuously inhabited enclosed court in Cambridge. To walk into it is to step into the medieval university almost untouched — worn stone, narrow staircases and a quadrangle that has sheltered scholars for nearly seven centuries. The college is also home to the Parker Library, whose collection of Anglo-Saxon and medieval manuscripts is among the most important in the world, a reminder that Corpus has always been a keeper of memory. Just outside the gate, on the corner facing King's Parade, stands the Corpus Clock — the gilded Chronophage with its devouring time-eater — a modern landmark set against the college's ancient frontage. Between the medieval and the contemporary, Corpus offers a wedding backdrop of rare depth, where every wall has a story and the city itself becomes part of the day.
Photography
Best photo opportunities at Corpus Christi College
- 1Photo Spot
Old Court — the oldest enclosed court in Cambridge, its weathered stone and shadowed cloisters giving portraits a timeless, almost medieval gravity.
- 2Photo Spot
New Court — the more open, grander quadrangle where group shots and processional moments have room to breathe beneath neo-Gothic facades.
- 3Photo Spot
The chapel — intimate and candlelit, perfect for ceremony coverage and the quiet, emotional close-ups that define a documentary set.
- 4Photo Spot
The Parker Library — a rare, scholarly interior whose ancient manuscripts and oak shelving make an extraordinary, story-rich backdrop for a couple's portrait.
- 5Photo Spot
The Corpus Clock — the gilded Chronophage on King's Parade, a striking and unmistakably Cambridge frame for a playful late-light portrait.
- 6Photo Spot
King's Parade frontage — the college's historic street face, where city, gown and crowd come together for vivid, in-the-moment street-documentary images.
On the day
Sample wedding day timeline
- 10:30
Preparations in college rooms — details, dress, and the morning's quiet anticipation in available window light.
- 12:30
Final touches and first-look or buttonhole moments; guests begin arriving through the gate.
- 13:30
Ceremony in the chapel — vows, readings and the exchange of rings in intimate candlelight.
- 14:15
Confetti and congratulations as you emerge into Old Court, surrounded by family and friends.
- 14:45
Drinks reception in the courts — candid coverage of laughter, toasts and reunions.
- 16:00
Relaxed group photographs in New Court, where there is room for larger gatherings.
- 17:30
Wedding breakfast and speeches in the hall — reactions, tears and toasts caught as they happen.
- 19:45
Golden-hour couple portraits across Old Court and out to the Corpus Clock on King's Parade.
- 21:00
First dance and the start of the evening celebration.
Planning notes
Logistics & access
- Ceremony licensing varies by room and year — confirm which spaces are currently licensed for civil ceremonies, or arrange a chapel service, with the college's events team.
- Confetti and petals are often restricted to specific areas in historic courts; check current rules and consider biodegradable petals for the Old Court exit.
- Evening music and amplified sound in a residential, central-city college are usually subject to a curfew — confirm finish times and noise limits when booking.
- Corpus is an intimate, compact college, so guest numbers and room layouts are limited; confirm capacity and which courts and halls are available with the venue's events team.
- Cambridge weather is changeable — have a wet-weather plan using the chapel, cloisters and covered staircases so portraits and confetti can move indoors gracefully.
Gallery
Corpus Christi College — moments & details
“Yana captured Corpus exactly as we felt it — the hush of the chapel, the confetti in Old Court, the golden light on the stone. The photographs feel like the day, not like poses.”
Eleanor & James
Corpus Christi College Wedding
Frequently Asked
Questions about Corpus Christi College weddings
When is the best season to get married at Corpus Christi College?+
Late spring and early autumn are wonderful — the light is long and soft against the ancient stone, and the courts feel at their most atmospheric. Winter weddings in the chapel are beautifully intimate by candlelight, while summer offers the longest golden hour for portraits across Old Court and out to King's Parade.
What are the ceremony options at the college?+
Couples typically choose between a civil ceremony in a licensed room or a chapel service. Licensing and available spaces can change year to year, so confirm the current options directly with the college's events team. I am happy to coordinate timings around whichever you choose so the coverage flows naturally.
How do guests get there, and where do you take couple portraits?+
Corpus sits right in the city centre on King's Parade, so it is easy to reach by train and a short walk from the station, though central Cambridge parking is limited. For portraits I use Old Court and New Court within the college, then step out to the Corpus Clock and historic frontage when the evening light is at its best.
Is there accommodation or anything nearby?+
Central Cambridge has plenty of hotels and guesthouses within walking distance, and the college itself may offer guest rooms — ask the events team about availability. Being in the heart of the city means restaurants, bars and the river are all close for guests staying over.
Do you travel, and how do you work on the day?+
I am a Cambridge-based documentary wedding photographer and I travel across the whole of the UK, so Corpus is very much home turf for me. I work quietly and unobtrusively, following the day as it unfolds rather than staging it, so your photographs feel honest and true to the place.
Planning a wedding at Corpus Christi College?
Let’s capture your day at Corpus Christi College
I’d love to hear about your plans — venue, date, and any ideas you already have. I reply within 24 hours.