Looking for a wedding photographer for Monkey Island Estate? I'm Bradley, photographer at Dream Team Films. I photograph and film weddings at Monkey Island Estate in a relaxed, candid way, so you can get on with enjoying your day.

Every photo on this page comes from one wedding on the island.

Monkey Island Estate at a glance

Why Monkey Island Estate is a gift for a photographer

Monkey Island Estate is a private island in the River Thames at Bray, near Maidenhead in Berkshire. The Duke of Marlborough made it his fishing retreat in the 1700s, and his two buildings, the Pavilion and the Temple, are both Grade I listed and still stand at the heart of the hotel.

You cross a footbridge and the rest of the world stays on the bank. Seven acres of lawns, the river on every side and two Georgian pavilions, all to yourselves.

The Monkey Room in the Pavilion has a ceiling of painted monkeys fishing, punting and playing cards, finished by 1738. Edward VII took tea under the walnut trees here.

It is ten minutes from Windsor and an easy drive from our base in Berkshire, just off the M4.

The best photographs happen at Monkey Island Estate

The footbridge. Every guest arrives on foot over the water. It makes a natural first frame for the two of you, and for the wedding party crossing together.

The River Room. This is where most civil ceremonies happen, with the Thames through the windows and the lawn straight outside. The light off the water is soft and even, which is kind to everyone in the room.

The lawn by the river. Couples can marry outside here, and after the ceremony it is where the confetti walk, the hugs and the drinks all happen. Wide and green, with the river behind you.

The Marlborough Ballroom. Chandelier, art deco panelling and panoramic river views. A handsome room for the wedding breakfast, and once the lights go down it is made for the first dance.

The riverbank at golden hour. The island faces the water in every direction, so there is always a stretch of bank catching the last of the evening light. This is where I take the portraits that end up framed on the wall.

The fire pits at night. The River Room patio has fire pits for the evening. Warm light on faces, the river dark behind, and the relaxed moments you only get late on.

How I work

I am there to capture real moments, not to run a long list of poses. I have been praised for being discreet and for staying out of the way of the day.

When you want a few portraits, I give gentle direction and keep it quick. Fully candid, or with some creative direction: you choose.

I usually cover the day from the final touches of getting ready until an hour after the first dance. Before the wedding, I like to walk the grounds with you so we can plan the best spots for your time of year.

I keep my colour natural, and I love a timeless black and white.

Photography, film, or both?

• Photography. See my candid wedding photography.

• Film. Anastassia and I make story-driven wedding films. You get a short film to share soon after the day, and a longer film to keep for the family.

• Hybrid. I shoot both photo and film myself. Hybrid wedding photography and film suits weddings held in one place, and at Monkey Island Estate the ceremony, drinks, dinner, dancing and your bed for the night are all on one island.

If you are looking for a Monkey Island Estate wedding videographer as well as a photographer, booking both with one team means one plan, one timeline and no one in each other's way.

I am also a licensed drone pilot. Drone rules differ from venue to venue, so I always check with Monkey Island Estate before your day.

Planning a wedding in Buckinghamshire too? See my Hedsor House wedding photography guide.

Monkey Island Estate wedding photography: your questions

Where is Monkey Island Estate?

Monkey Island Estate is in Berkshire, on an island in the Thames at Bray-on-Thames, just outside Maidenhead. It is ten minutes from Windsor and under an hour from central London. The postcode is SL6 2EE.

How many guests can Monkey Island Estate hold?

Up to 130 guests in the Pavilion, and up to 300 in a marquee on the Temple Lawn. The Marlborough Ballroom seats 130 for dinner and the River Room seats 100.

Can you get married outside at Monkey Island Estate?

Yes. The venue offers civil ceremonies in the River Room or outside on the lawn, so you can say your vows with the river behind you. Check with the venue for your date.

How do guests get onto the island?

On foot, over the footbridge from the car park on the mainland. There is free parking before the bridge. The venue also has two boating ramps, so you can arrive by boat if you want a grand entrance.

What happens if it rains at Monkey Island Estate?

The River Room and the Marlborough Ballroom both have big windows onto the water, so we still get river light indoors. Rain on the Thames looks lovely on film, and the windows give us dry portrait spots.

Can you stay at Monkey Island Estate?

Yes. There are 40 bedrooms, 29 in the Temple on the island and 11 in the Barn on the mainland, plus the Grade I listed Wedgwood Suite for the two of you. Breakfast the next morning is private in every package, which makes for relaxed photos of you both before you leave.

Getting married at Monkey Island Estate?

Tell me your dates and I will let you know if I am free.