summer weddings

Rachael & Lawrence: Elegant Summer Wedding at The Manor House, Castle Combe

If there was ever a wedding I had eagerly awaited, it had to be Rachael and Lawrence’s who had asked me to capture their day after I had done the same for her brother Piers and his wife Katie a few years previously! It was wonderful to reunite with their lovely family at the incredible Manor House in Castle Combe to celebrate another special chapter.

The morning started at Rachael’s family home as she got ready with her parents and bridesmaids. She looked absolutely stunning in her Suzanne Neville gown which she had customised by asking them to add a big bow on the back which looked so elegant. Her bouquet of white and red roses with touches of greenery was the perfect finishing touch, and I love how her dad proudly drove them to the ceremony in his vintage Mercedes.

Their outdoor ceremony was held in a pavilion on the lawn under a grand old oak tree and August sunshine, and it was such a special moment to capture the pair’s excitement as they met at the end of the aisle. They exchanged their vows between pillars of gorgeous flowers as their closest family and friends looked on.

Confetti was thrown as they walked back down the aisle of newlyweds, and I love the shot of everyone strolling across the lawn under the bright blue sky towards the drinks reception. Rachael and Lawrence took advantage of the wedding car to take a little moment to themselves, enjoying a quiet drive through the pretty Wiltshire village next to their venue.

This was a drinks reception with a twist as they had booked axe throwing for everyone. And I think I can safely say I’ve never seen a more badass bride that Rachael, axe-in-hand! It was such a memorable touch and I am sure it will be a talking point for years to come!

The Bybrook Room was beautifully set for dinner, with historic touches like redroses entwined around candelabras, wax seals on the menus and sloe gin favours.

Great speeches had everyone laughing and everyone enjoyed a fantastic dinner before heading upstairs for the evening’s festivities. And of course I couldn’t resist taking Rachael and Lawrence out to take a dramatic night time portrait, backlit on the garden staircase.

The evening started with a literal bang as a gold confetti canon marked the end of their first dance, and everyone joined them to dance the night away.

Thank you so much for having us capture your truly wonderful day, Rachael & Lawrence! We wish you every happiness for the future and will remember your day fondly for years to come.

Thank you so much for sending these over, we were delighted to receive them. They portray such a sense of vivid excitement and enjoyment from the guests and everyone looks genuinely happy to be there sharing the occasion!

You won’t know this but there are a couple of people in there who it’s really hard to get a smile from and they’re positively beaming! We really enjoyed seeing our guests having a wonderful time and their reactions to everything so thank you for capturing those moments.
— Rachael & Lawrence
Rachel's bridesmaids, in red bridesmaid dresses, help her into her Suzanne Neville a-line satin wedding gown.
Lawrence watches as Rachel is escorted down the aisle by her father during their wedding ceremony in the grounds The Manor.
Rachel and Lawrence recite their vows in the pavilion at The Manor in Wiltshire, with guests watching.
Between red floral arches, Rachel lovingly places the wedding ring on Lawrence's finger.
Bride and Groom axe throwing at their wedding reception at The Manor in Wiltshire.
Three bridesmaids in red dresses smile beside Rachel, holding white and red bouquets.
Timeless wedding tablescape with candelabra adorned with red roses and greenery in The Bybrook Room at The Manor.
White three-tier buttercream wedding cake adorned with red and pink roses beside beautiful floral pillar.
Laughing together, the newlyweds decent the stone staircase in the grounds of The Manor wedding venue in Wiltshire.

Are you getting married at The Manor House in Castle Combe and looking for your wedding photographer?

I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

Sarah & Nick: Joyful Outdoor Wedding at South Farm, Royston

Late August brought with it a warm sunny day for Sarah & Nick’s wedding at South Farm in Royston, one of my favourite venues!

Sarah and Nick decided to break with tradition by getting ready together in the Coach House Suite. They shared in the excitement of the day as Sarah had her makeup done and Nick got changed into his outfit, a three piece grey checked suit with pale blue tie which was just perfect for a summer wedding. With time to spare he headed off with his mates to the local pub, ensuring that Sarah’s dress still remained a surprise later on!

Sarah looked absolutely radiant in her halter neck wedding dress, paired with a beautiful flower crown and bouquet in hues of pink, yellow and orange. It was such a special moment to capture her accompanied down the aisle by her daughter and two sons, to a beaming Nick at the end of the aisle.

Their ceremony took place in the charming Summer House, a little cabin perched on a pond in the beautiful South Farm gardens. Their friends and family watched from the lawn as they said their vows with the biggest smiles on their faces.

Confetti took place in front of the farmhouse, with family and friends showering them in petal confetti before a relaxed drinks reception in the garden.

I’ve photographed at many venues over the years and South Farm has to be one of the most beautifully landscaped places I’ve ever had the pleasure of shooting at. It’s filled with beautiful flowers and foliage all year round and there are endless spots to shoot in! We loved exploring the grounds for their portraits and it was clear these two are made for each other as they spent every minute smiling and laughing together.

Everyone enjoyed a fantastic dinner, topped off by a great speech by Nick’s best men. And a true highlight of the day had to be the adorable moment when Sarah got the opportunity to cuddle a tiny piglet!

As the sun set, the evening celebrations kicked off with Sarah and Nick’s first dance to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder. The dance floor quickly filled and we left everyone to dance their hearts out and celebrate into the evening.

Thank you Sarah & Nick for having us capture your wedding! We loved spending the day with you both and wish you every happiness.

featured suppliers

Venue: South Farm
Dress: Richard Designs

The Summer House ceremony space at South Farm wedding venue in Hertfordshire on a summer's day.
Sarah's summer bridal bouquet in hues of pink, yellow and orange.
Smiling flower girl in pink dress with flower crown holds pink and yellow bouquets.
Sarah in her halterneck wedding dress, holding her summer bridal bouquet as her sons, in navy suits, walk her down the aisle.
Seated guests watch on as Sarah and Nick recite their vow in the Summer House at South Farm wedding venue.
Sarah and Nick walk outside through the blue doorway at South Farm to a flutter of confetti from wedding guests.
Groom with two groomsmen wearing three-piece grey checked suits, pale blue ties, and white rose buttonholes.
Groomsmen holds a microphone for best man reading his speech in the Tudor Barn at South Farm.
Sarah and Nick gaze lovingly into each other's eyes on the wooden bridge at South Farm wedding venue in Hertfordshire.

Are you getting married at South Farm and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

Emily & Robert: Summer Wedding at Chicheley Hall

Set at a beautiful stately home on a sunny August day, Emily and Robert’s wedding day was nothing short of a dream to photograph! Nestled in the Milton Keynes countryside, Chicheley Hall made the perfect setting for their day and provided a grand and elegant backdrop for their celebrations.

My day started with capturing the girls getting ready at the Hall, with my second shooter photographing Robert and his groomsmen as they got ready at home in a nearby village. Both of their mornings were relaxed yet filled with excitement and it was so lovely to capture them getting ready with family and friends.

Their ceremony took place in the mansion house, with light pouring in through the grand windows as they said their vows against beautiful arrangements of soft pink, lilac and cream roses. Emily made a showstopping entrance she walked down the grand staircase, arm in arm with her father, to meet Robert at the end of the aisle.

What I love the most about stately homes is the endless locations for photos and we really made the most of it. Their confetti run looked fantastic against the grand backdrop of the hall, and guests enjoyed reception drinks in the beautiful gardens behind the house. And of course we had to take photos indoors too, a favourite of mine being a black and white shot of the newlyweds by the staircase windows, taken through the chandelier.

After their wedding breakfast and heartfelt speeches, we sneaked out during the golden hour to capture them against that beautiful warm light that everyone dreams of for their wedding photos! The day ended on a high as instead of a first dance, everyone hit the dancefloor at once to party the night away and celebrate this new chapter in Emily and Robert’s story.

Congratulations you two and thank you for having us along for the ride! We loved capturing your day and wish you every happiness for the future.

We’ve had a look at our photos (whilst on the beach!) and they look absolutely amazing! Thank you so so much, I know you’ve put so much effort into them and we are so grateful you captured our day so beautifully. We are so happy with them.
— Emily & Robert

featured suppliers

Venue: Chicheley Hall
Florist: Ivy Amelia Florals
Hair & Make up: Jema Jakes Makeup Artist & Beauty
Band: Oomphf

The exterior of Chicheley Hall wedding venue in Buckinghamshire on a beautiful summer's day with lush lawn and blue sky.
Mansion House, Chicheley Hall set out for Emily & Robert's wedding ceremony with white Chiavari chairs and soft pink flowers.
Groom and two groomsmen, in blue three-piece suits with pink ties, sit in front of a grand fireplace at Chicheley Hall.
Emily's mother smiles, adjusting her pink mother-of-the-bride hat in a gold mirror.
Emily smiles as her dad walks her down the aisle with Chicheley Hall's beautiful marble columns in the background.
Emily and Robert recite their vows in a sunlit Mansion House at Chicheley Hall wedding venue in Buckinghamshire.
Mansion House, Chicheley Hall set out for Emily & Robert's wedding reception with white Chiavari chairs and round tables.
Emily and Robert hold hands as they walk towards the grand facade of Chicheley hall in their wedding attire.
Newlyweds share a quiet moment in the grounds of Chicheley Hall as the sun's golden glow shimmers behind.
Two wedding guests in suits play football in the grounds of Chicheley Hall in Buckinghamshire.

Are you getting married at Chicheley Hall and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

Helen & Ben: Rustic Summer Wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns

The beginning of August brought Helen and Ben’s fantastic wedding day, set at Bassmead Manor Barns near St Neots. Their relaxed countryside wedding was filled with beautiful pastel hues and made for the perfect summer celebration surrounded by their favourite people.

My day started with capturing the girls getting ready, buzzing with excitement in their matching floral dressing gowns, each embroidered with their initials in a lovely gift from Helen. She looked radiant in her Rosa Clara dress, which she paired with a summery bouquet of pastel pinks and blues. I loved capturing her dad hugging her after he saw Helen in her dress for the first time - a really lovely moment and one of my favourite photos to this day.

Their ceremony took place in the Rickety Barn, a gorgeous rustic setting adorned with fairy lights twisting around the barn’s beams. They said their vows in front of their nearest and dearest and it was so lovely to see the joy on their parents’ faces as they applauded at the end of the ceremony.

We braved the blustery weather to capture the newlyweds with their friends and family in front of the iconic Bassmead bridge, and then took a little walk around the grounds with Helen and Ben for their couple photos. We had so much fun shooting as they laughed together and enjoyed each other’s company in a little calm moment amidst the wedding madness.

Before dinner guests enjoyed heartfelt speeches, the highlight of which had to be Helen and Ben delivering a speech together in a wonderful break from tradition. In the evening, they had hired a tuktuk for guests to take photos in as a nod to their love of travelling.

The evening celebrations began as Helen and Ben cut their wedding cake: a stack of chocolate brownies topped with a cake painted with delicate cherry blossoms. Their friends and family joined them on the dancefloor to boogie the night away and we left after capturing their fabulous dance moves.

Congratulations Helen and Ben! We loved your day from start to finish and wish you both a wonderful life together.

We just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for photographing our wedding on Saturday. You were amazing battling the winds and making us laugh even though it was a bit of a challenge! Your stamina to keep going and energy was fantastic. You also went above and beyond your role for helping with my dress and the button holes. Thank you! We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to others.
— Helen & Ben

featured suppliers

Venue: Bassmead Manor Barns
Florist: Flowers by Suzanne
Dress: Rosa Clará via Morgan Davies
Suit:
Moss Bros
Hair & Make up: Izzy Wild
Cake:
One Part Love
Band: 2plo
Tuk tuk: Ride my Tuk Tuk

Make-up artist applies eyeshadow to bride in hair rollers and floral robe in Bassmead Manor Barn's Bridal Boudoir.
Groom and his groomsmen cheers in blue suits white shirts and pale blue ties.
Father of the bride hugs his daughter tightly in an emotional moment.
Bride and groom share their first kiss as husband and wife.
Wedding ceremony guests crowd round with their phones to take photos of the bride and groom.
Four smiling bridesmaids stand either side of the bride with pink, white and blue bouquets, and pale blue dresses.
Four groomsmen in blue suits laugh as they pick up the smiling groom at Bassmead Manor Barns.
Groom kisses bride on the forehead during a quiet moment in the grounds of Bassmead Manor Barns.
Bride and Groom wander hand in hand through the grounds of a Cambridgeshire wedding venue.
Bride and groom share magical first dance beneath the fairy light lit beams of Bassmead Manor Barns, in black and white.

Are you getting married at Bassmead Manor Barns and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

Catherine & Michael: Rainy Summer Wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns

On a rainy July morning, I returned to Bassmead Manor Barns to capture the lovely Catherine and Michael tie the knot. Despite rainy showers coming and going throughout the day, it certainly didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits and we had so much fun photographing them celebrate this exciting new chapter with family and friends.

The Rickety Barn was the perfect cosy spot for their ceremony, and Catherine looked radiant walking down the aisle in her floaty lace dress, arm in arm with her dad. She carried a summery bouquet by the Flower Story: pink and white roses mixed with lush greenery and white veronicas. Michael stood proudly beside her, both of them all smiles as they said their vows in front of the most important people in their lives.

Guests threw petal confetti as they walked back down the aisle, and joined them for celebratory cocktails in the gardens as the rain stopped with perfect timing. We made the most of the beautiful grounds for their photos, and one of my favourite shots has to be during their couple portraits when the wind suddenly picked up and lifted Catherine’s veil into the air!

Before dinner, guests enjoyed fantastic speeches that had everyone laughing, before enjoying some of the best wedding food in the business! Later, they put up a wall of Krispy Kremes for evening nibbles whilst the venue got everything ready for the evening’s celebrations.

After a joyful cake cut, everyone hit the dancefloor and we loved capturing their moves before leaving them to dance the night away. It was the perfect end to their fantastic wedding day.

Thank you to Catherine and Michael for not only asking us to capture your day but making us feel so welcome too! We wish you a lifetime of happiness.

I’m not exaggerating when I say waking up this morning to see an email from you with the photos felt like Christmas morning!

We’ve just sat with a cup of tea looking through them all, feeling like I could laugh and cry seeing each one. We couldn’t be happier with the quality of your work and feel so grateful that we chose you to capture our day.
— Catherine & Michael

featured suppliers

Venue: Bassmead Manor Barns
Florist: The Flower Story
Decor: White Emporium
Cake: Two Little Cats
Dress: Atelier Emelia via Morgan Davies
Suit:
TM Lewin
Hair and make up: Izzy Wild

Pink and white rose bridal bouquet mixed with lush greenery and white veronicas.
Father of the bride escorts his daughter down the aisle at Bassmead Manor Barns, in black and white.
Brides and groom laugh as they join hands during their barn wedding ceremony.
Groom places wedding ring on bride's finger during their wedding ceremony at Bassmead Manor Barns.
Bride and groom walk down the aisle at Bassmead Manor Barns, smiling as guests throw petal confetti.
Three wedding guests enjoy conversation and cocktails after the ceremony.
Outside, two bridesmaids in pale green dresses, stand either side of bride in floaty white lace bridal gown.
Bridge Barn at Bassmead Manor barns decorated in pink and white for the wedding reception.
Bride and groom share a kiss on the bridge at Bassmead Manor Barns surrounded by summer foliage.
In the Bassmead Manor Barns gardens, the bride smiles as her veil is blown into the air by the wind. The groom is standing next to her smiling at her.
Three female wedding guests dance in the fairy light lit Bridge Barn.

Are you getting married at Bassmead Manor Barns and looking for your wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.