summer weddings

Patsy & Sam: Relaxed Tipi Festival Wedding in Bedfordshire

Looking back on Patsy & Sam’s day to write this blog post was so much fun. It was an absolute dream: a relaxed, festival-style day with a gorgeous tipi as the heart of their celebrations.

I love how they blended tradition with the laid-back vibes of a festival, kicking the day off with a heartfelt ceremony at All Saints Church in Milton Ernest where they said their vows in front of family and friends. Patsy looked radiant in her lace Justin Alexander gown, and Sam looked smart in a double-breasted three piece suit.

After the “I do’s” and a shower of confetti, the newlyweds hopped into a horse-drawn carriage to take them to their reception. The tipi was adorned with vibrant wildflowers, pink and white paper lanterns and a Krispy Kreme doughnut wedding favour at each guest’s seat on the tables.

Guests enjoyed garden games, barbecue food and fab speeches, and the fantastic weather brought us a gorgeous golden hour that made for some beautiful couple portraits of Patsy & Sam. But the real magic happened on the dance floor, including a show-stopping rendition of the Dirty Dancing dance, with Patsy's daughter joining in for the grand finale moment of the big lift!

From the heartfelt ceremony to the joyous celebrations, Patsy & Sam's wedding was a true reflection of their love story and relationship. It's days like these that remind me why I love being a wedding photographer. Thank you both for having us capture your amazing day!

I’m speechless... you only made me cry about 50 times! The one with my mum doing up my dress, the one with my dad on the stairs.... Honestly they are just beautiful! Thank you for capturing every special moment.
— Patsy & Sam

featured suppliers

Venue: Tipi on private land in Bedfordshire
Dress: Justin Alexander via George James Bridal

Mother of the bride kneels in a pool of natural light beside a window, fastening Patsy's bridal gown, in black and white.
Patsy's bridal party, in elegant white and pale taupe bridesmaid dresses, make their way to the church.
Patsy, in a beautiful Justin Alexander strapless lace wedding dress, beams as her father walks her down the aisle.
Patsy and Sam share a kiss as their guests, who are gathered around, shower them in confetti.
Sunlight filters through the trees as guests make their way to the double hat tipi at a festival-themed wedding.
Patsy and Sam's tipi wedding reception with rustic tables, fairy lights and summer wildflower centrepieces.
Sam kisses Patsy's hand as they stroll in the summer sunlight at their festival-themed wedding.
Patsy and Sam embrace as the golden summer sun sets between the trees behind them.
fairy-lit tipi at Sam and Patsy's festival-themed wedding in Bedfordshire.

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

Talia & Andrew: Summer Marquee Wedding in Hampshire

I first met bride Talia through the Bedford creative community, so when she enquired with me about her wedding photography I knew it was going to be a fantastic day!

Their wedding was held in Hampshire on family land, with the ceremony taking place in a little wooded clearing which used to be an old chalk mine. It made for the perfect location for their vows, with the trees surrounding them as they said their vows in front of guests sat on hay bales. It was nothing short of special, with a friend conducting their ceremony and lots of readings from their nearest and dearest making it truly personal to Talia and Andrew and their story as a couple.

They left their joyful ceremony to petal confetti thrown by friends and family, and we walked out of the clearing to continue the celebrations in a nearby field. The marquee they’d set up earlier in the week looked fantastic, with tables set up with luxurious charcuterie boards and fabric chandeliers hanging from the ceilings.

The field offered more than just a view, with hay bales, hula hoops, garden games and bouncy hoppers bringing a relaxed and fun energy to the day. Nearby, they had set up glamping tents for their guests to stay in which allowed everyone to party away into the night without worrying about a taxi home!

After dinner, emotional speeches flowed, with Talia’s speech always standing out in my memory. It’s not often you have brides doing speeches but I’m always a big fan of the girls having our say too!

Golden hour beckoned and we took a little walk with Talia & Andrew to capture them in the nearby fields as the sun set. You spend a surprisingly small amount of time alone together on your wedding day and I always love to give a couple a chance to have time out and have a catch up with each other in the wedding madness!

As the day dimmed, the marquee lit up, with music and dance marking the perfect end to Talia and Andrew's memorable day. As always we captured everyone pulling shapes on the dancefloor and we left them all to party the night away!

Thank you Talia & Andrew for bringing us along for the party. We had a great time!

You are amazing. I can’t quite believe how many millions of
beautiful photos there are. We absolutely blooming love them all.
— Talia & Andrew

featured suppliers

Venue: Marquee on private land in Hampshire
Dress: Hayley Paige
Headpiece: The Wild Rose Accessories
Hair: Riot Hairdressing
Florist:
Louise Bailey Flowers
Band:
The Lockerbillies

Andrew mingles with guests before his rustic outdoor wedding ceremony.
Wedding guests greet one another amidst lush foliage for Talia and Andrew's outdoor ceremony.
Talia's bridesmaids button her backless wedding dress as light cascades in through the window, in black and white.
Talia's father walks her down the aisle as guests in summer wedding attire look on in awe.
Guests sit on haybales either side of a hessian aisle, witnessing Talia and Andrew exchange vows under a rustic floral arch.
Talia and Andrew walk hand in hand amongst flurries of petal confetti thrown by family and friends.
Charcuterie board beautifully arranged to feed hungry guests at Talia and Andrew's rustic marquee wedding.
Bride Talia holds a microphone, delivering her speech as groom Andrew watches on with a beaming smile.
Guests outside the marquee laugh as they ride a toy tractor, pushed by another guest holding a young child.
Talia and Andrew stroll hand in hand past the glamping tents at their outdoor wedding in Hampshire.

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

Claire & Kohei: Romantic Church Wedding and South Farm Reception

Claire and Kohei’s wedding brought me back to South Farm, one of my all time favourite venues that just gets better and better every time I visit! Their sunny day was full of love and emotion and we loved every moment.

We arrived in the morning to photograph them getting ready at the Farm which is always such a calm and lovely place to get ready. I instantly fell in love with Claire’s style, having picked out a delicately embroidered gown by Ellis Bridals which was paired with a bouquet of peonies, dahlias and pops of vibrant pink scabious.

They said their vows at the nearby St John the Baptist church in Royston in front of their nearest and dearest, and started their married life to a joyful confetti moment in the sunshine.

Back at South Farm guests enjoyed ice cream and drinks in the gardens as we sneaked off for photos. I’ve had the pleasure of shooting many weddings at South Farm over the years, but Claire & Kohei’s had a first for me as we headed off in the tuktuk to take photos on a boat in a nearby reservoir. It was such a lovely serene moment away from the wedding madness.

They had their wedding breakfast in the Tudor Barn in front of a pretty backdrop of 1000 origami paper cranes, each one made by hand. It was such a lovely nod to Kohei’s Japanese roots and looked absolutely gorgeous! Another lovely personal touch took place after dinner, with Kohei’s family putting on a little concert for us all in the Old Dairy.

And of course we couldn't resist jumping into the pen for photos with the adorable piglets! It's always the highlight of a South Farm wedding and so much fun to shoot.

Thank you Claire and Kohei for having us capture your day! We wish you both every happiness.

Thank you so so much we LOVE them! You have done such a wonderful job of catching the emotions on our day and there is so much warmth coming for the images. I especially love the ones at the reservoir and tuk tuk but I was also so thrilled at how many wonderful pictures you guys captured of all our guests!
— Claire & Kohei

featured suppliers

Venue: South Farm
Florist: Clare Jones Floral Designs
Dress: Ellis Bridals via Bellissima Weddings
Hair & Makeup: Knot Your Average Bride
Suit: Slaters
DJ: DJ Gary
Videographer: Joshua Boyce Films

Claire pets the pigs at South Farm whilst Kohei looks on with a smile.
Claire wearing floral bridal pyjamas admiring her white peony and dahlia bouquet on the morning of her wedding at South Farm.
St John the Baptist church in Royston on a sunny day, with vibrant blue skies and lush green trees.
Wide angle of St John the Baptist church in Royston as Claire and Kohei join hands to exchange vows.
The Tudor Barn at South Farm elegantly set for the wedding reception with white peony centrepieces and origami paper cranes.
Claire and Kohei enjoy a serene moment in a row boat on the reservoir near South Farm.
Wedding guests raise their champagne glasses in the Tudor Barn at South Farm.
Kohei holds a microphone, poised to give his groom's speech, against a backdrop of origami paper cranes.
A silhoette of Claire and Kohei sharing a kiss in front of a sunset at South Farm. The sky has vibrant blue, gold and orange tones as the sun sets.
Wedding guests applaud as Kohei's family performs in the Old Dairy at South Farm.
Claire and Kohei cut their naked summer berry wedding cake.

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.

Elisabeth & Simon: Blissful Summer Wedding at Woburn Sculpture Gallery

Elisabeth & Simon’s wedding day started off very close to home for me as the church they married in was less than a 5-minute drive away! It’s always lovely shooting in my home town and their day was of course no exception.

On the run up to the day, I always ask couples about any particular details that are important for us to capture. I’m always a girl for detail photos, but knowing the context is always important and I hear so many wonderful stories as a result! Elisabeth had chosen a beautiful satin Justin Alexander dress with a statement bow on the back for her wedding day, but the most important detail of all was the top she paired with it. She told me that her talented mother had made it from scratch, made from sheer organza adorned with lace. I love touches like this and it made her outfit all the more special.

We headed to St Andrew’s Church in Bedford for their ceremony which featured singing from her choir friends, a truly lovely touch which made it even more joyful and emotional! One of my favourite shots has to be Simon and his dad laughing aloud as they wait for the ceremony to start. It’s always stuck in my mind when I think of this day and it was lovely to see it again whilst choosing photos for this blog post.

The Sculpture Gallery in Woburn Abbey hosted the celebrations for the rest of the day. It’s one of my favourite venues and it was such a joy to return after Alex & Dean’s day just a few months prior. The gallery looked gorgeous with pink roses and white hydrangeas on the tables setting the scene for dinner and speeches later on.

A beautiful golden hour got us out and exploring the gardens after dinner, and as night approached the Pasadena Roof Orchestra took centre stage for Elisabeth & Simon to start the evening celebrations with their first dance.

Thank you both for having us photograph your incredible day! We loved every moment. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Sculpture Gallery opens its doors again one day soon for more magical days like yours.

We are both so happy with our photos, there are so many we will treasure forever. We both loved seeing all the moments from each others mornings as well. They were all absolutely worth the wait and have brought back so many happy memories of our day!
— Elisabeth & Simon

featured suppliers

Venue: Woburn Sculpture Gallery
Dress: Justin Alexander via George James Bridal
Suit: Allen’s of Olney

A pearl hair comb is carefully added to the bride's textured updo.
Simon's face beams as Elisabeth joins him at the altar of St Andrew's church in Bedford for their wedding ceremony.
Simon holds Elisabeth's veil and dress as they explore the grounds of Woburn Sculpture Gallery in Bedford.
Simon embraces Elisabeth amidst lush foliage, their eyes locked in a tender gaze at Woburn Sculpture Gallery.
Wedding guests gather inside Woburn Sculpture Gallery, featuring grand paintings and impressive columns. In black and white.
Wedding guests enjoy outdoor games on the lawn at Woburn Sculpture Gallery, with one raising his arm in victory.

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

Hannah & Gerard: Summer Outdoor Marquee Wedding in Bedfordshire

Early June gave us Hannah & Gerard’s gorgeous wedding day, and a never ending supply of sunshine to go with it too! With their ceremony at a local church in Silsoe and the reception in a marquee on Gerard’s family farmland, their day was personal and lovely through and through.

Hannah looked gorgeous in her dress which featured eye-catching lace appliqued around the waist, her hair in a chic updo and carrying a bouquet of white peonies, purple roses and clematis. Gerard looked smart in a navy blue wool jacket which he paired with grey chinos and brown boots.

A classic red London bus took Hannah and bridesmaids to the little church in Silsoe where they held their ceremony. Her proud mum walked her down the aisle and I just loved the way she beamed when she met Gerard at the altar.

Their friends and family showered them with confetti as they started their married life, and everyone hopped aboard the bus to head to the marquee.

From homemade signs of their favourite quotes to a cute little basket inviting guests to feed the family sheep, before we’d even got to the marquee it was clear they had thought of every little detail. The marquee was decorated by the fabulous Gemma at The White Emporium, with lilac lanterns hanging from the ceiling and potted lavender and herbs along the tables.

Upon arrival guests enjoyed welcome drinks, canapes and plenty of garden games which were met with lots of enthusiasm. A particularly animated game of tug-of-war brought out everyone's competitive side – well done to Team Bride for clinching the win!

After dinner we enjoyed lots of fantastic speeches, the highlights of course being Hannah’s (I’m always thrilled when a bride does a speech!) and Gerard who kicked his off by shouting into a microphone: “WE’RE F***ING MARRIED!”. Lots of cheers and applause ensued!

The evening celebrations continued with the bride and groom taking to the dancefloor and kicking off the party with an upbeat first dance to a Beatles song. We loved their day from start to finish and it was such a joy to capture. Congratulations Hannah & Gerard and thank you for having us there for the ride!

I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the photos. They’re amazing and we’re pleased with them. You captured some amazing moments. Thank you thank you.
— Hannah & Gerard

featured suppliers

Venue: Marquee on private land in Bedfordshire
Dress: Brides & Bustles
Florist: Wild Orchid Designs
Make up: SB Beauty
Styling: The White Emporium
Videographer: White in Motion

Hannah smiling as she sees her wedding bouquet of purple roses and clematis for the first time.
Hannah's bridesmaids hug her after seeing her in her wedding dress.
View from above of Hannah walking down the aisle of the church. Guests smile as they look on from the pews.
Hannah and Gerard laugh as they walk hand in hand, showered by vibrant confetti.
Wedding marquee in the Bedfordshire countryside with bright blue sky and fluffy clouds.
Tables in the wedding marquee, decorated with lavender in terracotta pots, with white and lilac lanterns hanging overhead.
Three wedding bouquets of white peonies, purple roses.
Hannah and Gerard enjoy quiet moment on a rustic bench surrounded by vibrant greenery.
Gerard shouts through a megaphone during his speech. Hannah covers her ears beside him.
Bride and groom playing tug of war at their marquee wedding.

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