Yana Skakun
Cambridge·Cambridge University College (founded 1511)
Wedding Photographer at St John's College
Documentary wedding photography at one of Cambridge’s most iconic venues.
Introduction
Wedding photography at St John's College
St John's is the most romantic college in Cambridge — the only one that straddles the River Cam, joined by the famous Bridge of Sighs, with the fairytale silhouette of New Court (the "Wedding Cake") rising on the far bank. Founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, St John's combines the largest and most ornate Tudor gatehouse in the city with a sequence of riverside courts that, for a wedding photographer, are simply unmatched. My approach at St John's is documentary and river-led. The college unfolds in a procession of spaces — the heraldic Great Gate, the Tudor First and Second Courts, the Wren-era Third Court, the covered Bridge of Sighs over the Cam, and the gothic-revival New Court with its cloisters and lantern tower. Between them runs the river, with punts, willows and the Backs, giving golden-hour portrait options that no other college can offer. Most St John's weddings are alumni-led — preparation in a Fellow's set, ceremony in the soaring Victorian chapel by George Gilbert Scott, drinks in one of the courts or the Combination Room, and dinner in the panelled Hall. With its bridges, riverside cloisters and Tudor grandeur, it is one of the most cinematic weddings I cover in England.
Venue history
A brief history of St John's College
St John's College was founded in 1511 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, on the site of the medieval Hospital of St John the Evangelist. Like its sister foundation Christ's, the college was established through the efforts of her confessor John Fisher, and its magnificent Great Gate — completed around 1516 and richly decorated with the Beaufort arms, yales and portcullis — is the finest Tudor gateway in Cambridge. The college grew westward toward the river through a sequence of courts: First Court (Tudor), Second Court (an exceptional Jacobean composition of 1602, considered one of the finest in England), and Third Court, completed in the seventeenth century. In 1831 the college crossed the Cam for the first time, building New Court — a vast neo-Gothic range with cloisters and an ornate lantern, nicknamed the "Wedding Cake" for its tiered, decorated silhouette. Linking the older courts to New Court is the Bridge of Sighs, completed in 1831 and named for its loose resemblance to the bridge in Venice. Covered and traceried, crossing the river beside the older "Kitchen Bridge" of 1712, it is one of the most photographed structures in Cambridge and a defining backdrop for St John's weddings. The college chapel, rebuilt by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1869 with its soaring tower, completes a venue of extraordinary architectural variety and romance.
Photography
Best photo opportunities at St John's College
- 1Photo Spot
The Bridge of Sighs — the covered 1831 bridge over the Cam, the single most romantic backdrop in Cambridge, from the riverbank or a punt.
- 2Photo Spot
New Court cloisters and the 'Wedding Cake' — the neo-Gothic range with its lantern tower, ideal for dramatic portraits.
- 3Photo Spot
Second Court — the Jacobean court considered one of the finest in England, perfect for formal couple portraits.
- 4Photo Spot
The Great Gate — the ornate Tudor gateway with Beaufort heraldry, framing arrivals.
- 5Photo Spot
The river and the Backs — punts, willows and golden-hour light along the Cam.
- 6Photo Spot
Chapel interior — Gilbert Scott's soaring Victorian Gothic for ceremony coverage.
On the day
Sample wedding day timeline
- 11:00
Bridal preparation in a riverside Fellow's set — dress, details, light off the Cam.
- 13:00
Guests gather in First Court beneath the Great Gate.
- 13:30
Chapel ceremony under Gilbert Scott's tower — vows, readings, choir.
- 14:30
Confetti exit into First Court — biodegradable petals on Tudor stone.
- 15:00
Drinks reception in Second Court or the cloisters; family groups against the Jacobean range.
- 16:30
Couple portraits on and around the Bridge of Sighs and along the river.
- 18:30
Wedding breakfast in the panelled Hall — speeches and college silver.
- 20:30
Golden-hour portraits by the Bridge of Sighs and on the Backs.
- 21:30
First dance — the day closing beside the river.
Planning notes
Logistics & access
- St John's weddings are normally reserved for members of the college and their families; enquiries are made through the college's Catering and Conference Office.
- The chapel is the principal ceremony venue; outdoor civil ceremony options are limited and should be discussed with the college early.
- Confetti is biodegradable petals only, at designated exterior points — never on the bridges or inside courts.
- Amplified music must end by 23:00 in line with college regulations.
- Rain plan: the cloisters of New Court and the Hall provide superb sheltered portrait and reception spaces.
Gallery
St John's College — moments & details
“The Bridge of Sighs at golden hour is the photograph we'll have on the wall forever. Yana knew exactly where to be as the light came off the river — the whole day looks like a film.”
Grace & Oliver
St John's College Wedding
Frequently Asked
Questions about St John's College weddings
Can you get married at St John's College without an alumni connection?+
St John's gives priority to members of the college and their immediate families. Couples without a connection may enquire through the Conference Office, but availability is limited and bookings are usually made well over a year in advance.
Can we be photographed on the Bridge of Sighs?+
The Bridge of Sighs is the college's signature backdrop and features in most St John's wedding portraits, photographed from the riverbank, the Kitchen Bridge and by punt. Access onto the covered bridge itself is subject to college arrangements on the day.
Where does the ceremony take place at St John's?+
The principal ceremony venue is the college chapel, Sir George Gilbert Scott's soaring 1869 Gothic building with its landmark tower. The college can advise on civil ceremony options elsewhere on site.
Can guests stay overnight at St John's?+
Yes — during the vacations the college can offer en-suite and standard student rooms, and a number of guest rooms are available year-round. Wedding parties commonly block-book rooms for family and the bridal party.
What is the cost of a St John's College wedding?+
St John's quotes bespoke through its Conference Office; venue hire, catering and accommodation are priced separately and reflect the college's scale and riverside setting. Cambridge college weddings of this calibre typically begin in the high four figures for venue hire.
Planning a wedding at St John's College?
Let’s capture your day at St John's College
I’d love to hear about your plans — venue, date, and any ideas you already have. I reply within 24 hours.