Gildings Barn-Surrey:Robyn & Jonny

A fantastic wedding day in the Sussex & Surrey countryside!

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Steyning, West Sussex: Amy & Matt

Amy & Matt’s Sunny Countryside Wedding in Steyning, Sussex

What a wonderful, sunny day in Steyning for Amy and Matt’s wedding! After the delays and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, it was fantastic to see their long-awaited wedding day finally become a reality.

There was a lovely sense of anticipation from the very beginning. From Amy and Matt’s bedroom window, you could just catch a glimpse of the reception marquee sitting on the horizon of the South Downs. It was such a beautiful sight and a little reminder of the celebrations waiting just around the corner!

The day began with a beautiful ceremony at historic Steyning Parish Church, before everyone made the short journey to the family farm for the reception. The setting was absolutely stunning, with lush green fields, a gorgeous marquee and the rolling South Downs stretching out into the distance. Chanctonbury Ring sat perfectly on the horizon, providing a quintessentially Sussex backdrop for their wedding photographs.

With the sunshine, beautiful countryside and the relaxed atmosphere of a marquee wedding, it was a real pleasure to capture Amy and Matt’s celebrations. There’s something particularly special about a countryside wedding, where everyone can come together, enjoy the surroundings and celebrate without feeling rushed.

My documentary approach to wedding photography was a perfect fit for Amy and Matt. Rather than spending the day posing for the camera, I love capturing things as they naturally unfold: the laughter, the little glances, the interactions between family and friends, and all those fleeting moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

After everything they had been through to get to this point, Amy and Matt could finally relax and enjoy the wedding they had been waiting for. It was wonderful to be there to document it all and create a collection of photographs that would bring those memories back for years to come.

Kind words from Amy & Matt

“We loved the way Daren captured our wedding day and really enjoyed his documentary style as neither myself or my husband are particularly keen on posing for photos. We have so many beautiful photos to look back on and Daren was amazing with communications to ensure the album was just as we wanted and arrived safely.”

Sopley Mill-Dorset: Helen and Sam

Helen & Sam’s Halloween Wedding at Sopley Mill, near the New Forest

Helen and Sam booked me for half a day to photograph their Halloween-themed wedding at the stunning Sopley Mill, set on the edge of the beautiful New Forest. It was a wedding I’d been particularly looking forward to, combining a wonderfully unique theme with a venue in one of my favourite parts of the country!

The New Forest has always been somewhere I love visiting, and after researching Sopley Mill, I knew it would be a fantastic setting for their celebrations. This beautifully renovated watermill is surrounded on both sides by the River Avon, with uninterrupted views across the picturesque water meadows. It has so much character and makes a lovely backdrop for wedding photography, especially in the autumn.

Helen and Sam booked me to photograph their ceremony, followed by a selection of relaxed couple portraits and more traditional family photographs before I left them to enjoy the spooky side of their celebrations!

I always love seeing couples put their own stamp on their wedding day, and a Halloween theme offers so many opportunities for personality, creativity and a little bit of fun. Sopley Mill’s historic character and riverside surroundings provided the perfect setting for Helen and Sam’s alternative autumn wedding.

The weather was typically October, with mostly overcast skies and the occasional appearance of sunshine. Thankfully, we still had some lovely opportunities for photographs around the mill and its beautiful surroundings.

Some people to thank:

Make up by Helens friend, Emily Hogan.

Helens sister and brother sang in the ceremony

https://www.gracebaileybridalhair.com/meet-grace

http://sopleymill.co.uk/

https://www.redcherrycatering.com/

www.sweettreatcakes.co.uk

Source: sopley-mill-halloween-wedding

Amberley Castle-Sussex: Lorraine and Ross

Lorraine & Ross’s Romantic Wedding at Amberley Castle, Sussex

Amberley Castle is such a magical wedding venue, with its medieval architecture, beautiful gardens and tucked-away corners full of character. It was a real pleasure to photograph Lorraine and Ross’s special day in such a breathtaking setting.

From the moment I arrived, the castle provided the most wonderful backdrop for their wedding. Its historic stone walls, romantic surroundings and beautiful grounds make it a truly unique place to celebrate, with plenty of lovely locations for natural wedding photographs.

Lorraine and Ross were an absolute joy to photograph. They both looked so happy and relaxed, which made capturing their connection feel completely effortless. I love those moments when couples can simply enjoy being together, forgetting about the camera and allowing their personalities to shine through.

We explored some of the beautiful gardens and quieter corners of the castle grounds, making the most of the soft, golden afternoon light. It added a lovely warmth to the photographs and complemented the romantic atmosphere perfectly.

Alongside the couple portraits, capturing the candid moments shared with family and friends was just as important. The little glances, genuine smiles and spontaneous interactions often become some of the most treasured photographs, telling the story of a wedding in a way that feels natural and personal.

It was a real privilege to photograph Lorraine and Ross’s intimate celebration at Amberley Castle. With such a wonderful couple, a stunning historic venue and beautiful afternoon light, it was a day filled with opportunities to create photographs they can look back on for years to come.

Source: amberley-castle-wedding

Shermabury-Henfield-Sussex: Michelle and Mark

Michelle & Mark got married just a stones from where they live! Just opposite their home, hidden half a mile down a country track is St Peter’s Church, set on the bank of the river Adur. It’s one of the oldest Churches in Sussex and described in the Doomsday book, with archeologists dating the chuch back to 1135 - it’s a fascinating place to be married and special too as only a few people get married there each year. It’s also a place which holds fond memories with me as i spent some years living in the area, having spent sunny afternoons picnicking by the river. I was always curious to see a church, so far removed from anywhere and never thought i’d be asked to photograph a couples wedding!. I felt very fortunate to be asked to photograph the occasion.

Michelle & Mark only wanted me to capture a few hours of the day, some photographs at their home & at the church, with close family and friends - very intimate & wonderful.

Sullington-Hinesh & Janisha Engagement

So wonderful to finally have the opportunity to photograph love and happiness again, after being kept away from such special moments, for so long! I arrived to photograph Janisha & Hinesh shortly after Janisha had said “yes” to Hinesh’s proposal! I always feel so honoured to be allowed in to share such a special moment of togetherness. Hinesh had organised a surprise escape to the country, with the perfect rustic retreat, tucked away in the Sussex countryside.