A fantastic wedding day in the Sussex & Surrey countryside!
Read moreHorsted Place - Helen & Steve
Helen & Steve’s Wedding at Horsted Place, East Sussex
Horsted Place truly has the wow factor! From the moment I first met Helen and Steve for their wedding consultation, I was completely taken with this stunning venue. Its beautiful Victorian Gothic architecture, elegant interiors and gorgeous grounds make it an absolute dream for wedding photography. I think I might even have been more excited than the couple!
Helen and Steve planned an intimate, relaxed wedding, surrounded by their closest family and friends. It was the perfect setting for a day filled with personal moments, beautiful surroundings and plenty of opportunities for natural photographs.
I started the day by photographing Steve and his groomsmen before making my way to the bridal suite, where Helen was putting the finishing touches to her preparations. She looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress, which complemented the character and elegance of Horsted Place beautifully. After capturing a few lovely photographs with her maid of honour, I followed Helen as she made her way through the pretty gardens and along the path to Little Horsted Church.
There was something really special about this part of the day. Rather than travelling to the ceremony by car, Helen was able to enjoy a peaceful stroll through the beautiful grounds on her way to the church. It was such a lovely, unhurried moment and a wonderfully unique way to begin her wedding ceremony.
Although I wasn't able to photograph the service itself, I captured some lovely moments before and afterwards, documenting the excitement, emotion and happiness shared with their family and friends.
We then returned to Horsted Place for family photographs and relaxed couple portraits, making the most of the magnificent architecture and beautiful gardens. With such a stunning venue, a lovely couple and gorgeous weather, the conditions couldn't have been better!
Helen and Steve's wedding was a real pleasure to photograph. The combination of Horsted Place's historic charm, the intimate atmosphere and Helen's beautiful walk through the grounds made their day feel truly magical.
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.”
South Stoke Barn-Claire&Bill
Claire & Bill’s Summer Wedding at South Stoke Barn, West Sussex
Claire and Bill celebrated their wedding in the summer of 2021 at South Stoke Barn, near Arundel in West Sussex. Although I’d visited Arundel many times over the years, I’d never discovered South Stoke before, tucked away between the River Arun and the beautiful South Downs. What a lovely find!
South Stoke Barn is an original 19th-century granary barn that has retained much of its historic character. With its rustic charm and idyllic countryside setting, it was the perfect venue for Claire and Bill’s wedding, offering a wonderful backdrop for a relaxed and intimate celebration.
The day began at a gorgeous thatched cottage, where Claire and her bridesmaids were getting ready. With lovely countryside views and a peaceful atmosphere, it was a fantastic place to enjoy those precious moments before the ceremony. I always love photographing the preparations, capturing the excitement, little details and laughter as everyone gets ready for the big moment.
Claire and Bill had planned their day exactly as they wanted it: relaxed, personal and full of romance, fun and laughter. There was no pressure for everything to be overly formal, just a lovely opportunity to celebrate their marriage with the people closest to them.
One of the highlights for me was having a little time with Claire and Bill away from their family and friends. The sunshine was on our side, and we were able to explore some of the lovely surroundings, making the most of the rustic textures and sweet countryside backdrops for their couple portraits.
I love these quieter moments during a wedding day. They give couples a chance to pause, spend a little time together and enjoy being newly married, while I capture natural photographs that reflect their connection without making things feel too posed.
South Stoke Barn and its surrounding countryside provided a beautiful setting for Claire and Bill’s wedding, and it was a real pleasure to discover this hidden gem for myself. A charming historic barn, a gorgeous thatched cottage and a couple who knew exactly how they wanted to celebrate made for a truly lovely Sussex wedding.
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
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.
Steyning-Sussex:Leigh, Miles and Blue
On a beautiful lit May afternoon I met Leigh, Miles and Blue.
Leigh contacted me because she wanted to capture some memories of Miles in the natural surroundings of his childhood. The shoot at Buncton Farm, Wiston, Steyning was close to where i spent my late teenage years and I've always had an affection for Wiston, it's church and amazing woodland. Spent many an escape up on the top of the close by Chanctonbry too, so this shoot had a personal edge.
I had purposely made sure we shot in the late afternoon, to hope for a lovely late spring light. It really paid off and shows through the natural softness of some of the images, which needed hardly any re-touching.
Leigh & Miles were an absolute pleasure to photograph, with the shoot unfolding very naturally, without my direction, which is when I most love being a photographer.
I hope you enjoy the images and if you would like a similar photo session, please contact me.
A few kind words from Leigh as left on my Facebook business page:
I am so pleased with the results of my photo shoot with Daren! He captured moments between myself and my son perfectly - I am so grateful and cannot decided which photos to display! Thankyou you made the whole experience so relaxing and enjoyable!
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.
Ghyll Manor - Eleanor & Mark
A beautiful summers day poured down on Ghyll Manor for the beautiful wedding of Eleanor & Mark. An idyllic wedding set in the beautiful Sussex countryside. Ghyll Manor is an elegant 17th century country-house, set in gorgeous private gardens, with lake and summer house.
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