Highley Manor - Yanna & Daniel

In July 2024, I had the pleasure of photographing Yanna and Daniel's beautiful wedding at the enchanting Highley Manor, nestled in the Sussex countryside near Balcombe, Haywards Heath. The venue, rich in history and charm, provided the perfect backdrop for their special day.

Highley Manor's storied past adds a unique touch to its grandeur. Once home to the renowned poet Percy Bysshe Shelley in the 19th century, it later served as a base for the Canadian army during World War II. Today, it stands as a meticulously restored country house hotel, dedicated exclusively to hosting weddings. Surrounded by immaculately landscaped gardens with sweeping views of the South Downs, it's easy to see why Yanna and Daniel fell in love with this venue.

Their outdoor ceremony took place beneath the romantic wooden pavilion, adorned with vibrant rainbow-colored wildflowers, masterfully arranged by Karen from Blossom and Bee Floristry. The delicate addition of bubble confetti, paired with the striking yellow butterweed scattered across the nearby fields, infused even more color into the day—brightening the slightly overcast weather.

I was commissioned to photograph their day until the reception, with the couple opting for a more intimate evening celebration shared only with family and close friends. This growing trend among couples allows me to focus on capturing the core of their day, and I’m always happy to accommodate.

Yanna and Daniel kindly shared these thoughtful words with me:

"Thank you so much for the beautiful photos and for capturing our day—we absolutely love them! The bubble shots came out perfectly, and the yellow flowers added such a vibrant touch."

Brookfield Barn - Hannah & Tom

Stunning wedding day at Brookfield Barn, with the gorgeous Hannah & Tom. Such a fun couple, who made the most of every single moment of their day. They couldn’t have been luckier with the weather, with the sun out in a blaze of glory!

I photographed a fairly relaxed Hannah getting ready with her Mum and bridesmaids at Birchwood Cottage, a sweet airbnb, tucked away down a local country lane. Final preparations took place at Brookfield Barn, before Hannah walked to meet Tom, to say “yes”.

It was the hottest day of the year, during a very dry spell and you can see from the pictures, taken out on the golf course, just how yellow the grass was. Despite the sweltering heat, the wedding party were determined to wear their full wedding attire for most of the day, especially for the family and friends photos.

Hannah & Tom are both fun, warm and genuine & the day was simply a pleasure for me to be part of. The only downside was that (even against Hannah’s advice), I admitted to Tom that I support Spurs! This resulted in me being treated to plenty of banter from Tom & his groomsmen for the rest of the day! :-)

Brookfield Barn hosted seamlessly, with perfect attention to detail. It’s such a picturesque location, in a beautiful countryside setting.

Steyning, West Sussex: Amy & Matt

Wonderful sunny day in Steyning for Amy & Matt’s wedding, which finally took place after the delay caused by the pandemic! From Amy & Matts bedroom window you could just get a glimpse of the reception marquee on the south downs horizon, adding to the anticipation!

Beautiful wedding ceremony at the historic Steyning Parish Church, before taking the short trip to the lush green fields of the farm & reception. The marquee setting was stunning, with the south downs & Chanctonbury Ring sitting perfectly on the horizon.

“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 got married in the summer of 2021 at South Stoke Barn, near Arundel, West Sussex. I have visited Arundel many times over the years, yet i’d never discovered South Stoke, which is nestled between the River Arun and the South Downs. South Stoke Barn is an original nineteenth century Granary Barn. It is practically unchanged from its original form and really was an idyllic location for Claire & Bills wedding. Claire & her Bridesmaids got ready in a gorgeous thatched cottage, with lovely countryside views, a great setting to relax before the ceremony. Claire and Bill had planned their day exactly how they wanted it, really relaxed, with a great mix of romance, fun and laughter. I was fortunate to have a little time with them, away from their family and friends, so we could explore the sunshine and sweet backdrops.

Southdowns Manor-Lauren&Jason

Lauren & Jasons wedding was my first since the pandemic and so really marked a special moment for all of us. The number of guests was still limited to just 30 and masks had to be worn during the ceremony.. The restrictions and the on & off rainy day, didn’t dampen the magic, with Lauren and Jason’s love really shining throughout. Fortunately there were some sunny breaks in the rainy weather, so we could capture photographs in the wonderful Southdown Manor gardens. Southdown Manor is situated in the heart of the Southdowns national park, in Petersfield, Hampshire.

Sopley Mill-Dorset: Helen and Sam

Helen and Sam booked me for a half day to photograph their halloween styled wedding at the stunning Sopley Mill, set on the edge the wonderful New Forest.

I had been particularly looking forward to this wedding as the New Forest has always been one of my favourite places and having researched Sopley Mill i knew it was a fantastic setting. Sopley Mill is a renovated watermill, surrounded on both sides by the Avon River with uninterrupted views across the water meadows.

Helen & Sam booked me to photograph their wedding ceremony, a few couple photos and a selection of more traditional family photographs before leaving them to the spooky stuff!

The day was generally quite overcast although the sun did show itself on occasion - it was October! The only downside was that i wasn’t on hand to catch the rest of Helen and Sam’s day, as I’m certain it would have been a lot of fun to capture. Really grateful to have been part of their amazing day though and wish them much happiness together.

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

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.