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Patsy & Sam: Relaxed Tipi Festival Wedding in Bedfordshire

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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.

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Talia & Andrew: Summer Marquee Wedding in Hampshire

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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.

Alex & Max: Norfolk Beach Engagement Shoot

I’m always game for an opportunity to go to the beach, so when Alex & Max asked if we could do their engagement shoot by the sea the answer was a resounding yes!

The sandy Norfolk beach we met at was actually the very spot where they got engaged, so it was a particularly sentimental place for us to shoot at. I love that they brought along their golden retriever puppy Mango for the photos - talk about adding some serious cuteness into the mix!

I could have shot there for hours, but two backdrops really stood out to me: cute moments sat down in the sand dunes together, and capturing their love in front of those classic Norfolk beach huts, the vibrant colours of which perfectly complemented Alex’s sapphire engagement ring.

One of the most memorable things for me about engagement shoots is the opportunity to get to know a couple as we chat about their big day. Alex & Max’s wedding was booked for the following July at Kimbolton Castle in Bedfordshire, and it was so exciting hearing about everything they had planned.

Seaside engagement shoots like these always leave me feeling inspired and grateful for the job I get to do. It’s never lost on me how lucky I am to be working the job of my dreams and fab couples like Alex & Max make it even better!

Alex and Max cosy up in the sand dunes with their golden retriever.
Mago, the golden retriever, sits on the sand by Alex and Max's feet with sand on his nose.
Alex and Max embrace as they look into the distance outside a beach hut in Norfolk, in black and white.
Alex looks down and smiles as Max lovingly kisses her on the head, during their engagement shoot in Norfolk.
Alex's hand rests on Max's knee, displaying her oval sapphire engagement ring encircled by a halo of diamonds.

Are you engaged and looking for your Norfolk wedding photographer? I’d love to capture your engagement and wedding day in my relaxed, unobtrusive style.

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Claire & Kohei: Romantic Church Wedding and South Farm Reception

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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.

Annalisa & Matthew: Woodland Engagement Shoot in Bedfordshire

I’m always keen for a chance to catch up and chat all things weddings, so it was an absolute treat to meet up with Annalisa and Matthew in June for their engagement shoot. The big day was booked for October so it was lovely to capture them across two different seasons that year.

I’m never going to be the photographer that says you must have an engagement shoot before the big day - it’s totally up to you! But I’m always happy to help and will never turn down the chance to have a good natter and have a catch up before the big day. Plus, it’s always lovely having photos to incorporate into your wedding decor or pop on the wall at home.

Chicksand Woods in Bedfordshire is always a favourite spot of mine for engagement shoots. With huge tall trees as far as the eye can see and lots of opportunities for spotting cute dogs on walks, it’s always a great choice. And as a crazy flower lady, I can never resist the huge walls of purple rhododendrons that June treats us to.

With the soft light coming through the trees, lush greens and vibrant flowers, the woods was the perfect setting to capture the love and joy of Annalisa and Matthew’s relationship. I’m so pleased with the photos and to this day consider it one of my favourite engagement shoots ever.

By the time we said goodbye, I felt even more excited for their big day than I was before (if that's even possible!), and hopefully Annalisa and Matthew did too!

“Thank you soooo much! I like how we both have genuine smiles on our faces and this is all down to you. You made us feel so at ease & we both left feeling so confident and calm knowing you would be with us on our day. We couldn’t be happier, genuinely!”
— Annalisa & Matthew
Matthew gazes lovingly at Annalisa as she smiles at the camera, with vibrant purple rhododendrons in the backdrop.
Annalisa and Matthew share a smile while deep in conversation on a fallen tree trunk at Chicksand Woods.
Peeking through leaves to see Annalisa and Matthew posing together under a large tree at Chicksand Woods in Bedfordshire.
Annalisa and Matthew laugh as they embrace during their engagement shoot at a woods in Bedfordshire.

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

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