A fantastic wedding day in the Sussex & Surrey countryside!
Read moreHighley 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."
Quex House-Kent: Tracy & Mark
“All you need is love"
In the summer of 2019, Tracy & and Mark tied the knot at Quex House, in the quaint village of Birchington- On- Sea, Kent, not too far from Margate, one of my favourite southern coastal towns!
Quex estate dates back to the 15th century and was the perfect venue for Tracy and Mark, unique and a little quirky. The house is incredible, with richly coloured, regency decorated rooms. The featured gardens boast an ornate fountain, sweet victorian walled gardens and a funky cactus filled greenhouse!
Tracy & and Mark added some lovely touches to the venue, showing their love of art & music. They even designed an outside tent for the little ones to play in, which seemed to attract a good number of adults too! Much to the delight of all the guests there was the added attraction of the local Woodland View llamas, who came to visit, bringing some calm before turning things up with the evening reception.
A wonderful couple, a fabulous heartfelt day, full of love and fun!
Horsham-Sussex:Gill Pike florist
I met Gill at a Sussex wedding venue in preparation for an upcoming themed, Alice in wonderland wedding. I had been asked by another local supplier, Special Creations by Jane to photograph some details of the day, including some of Gills floristry delights.
It was during the photo shoot that Gill asked me if I would be interested in photographing some of her wedding props and accessories, so she could potentially sell and display the items on her website.
So, on a sunny February day I travelled to the countryside "Gill Pike florist camp" and took a series of photographs of vintage glassware, milk churns, vintage ladders, milk churns, jugs and crates. I took a number of photos inside with the use of a portrait LAMP, with soft window light and a bunch of photos outside in the sunshine, using the natural backdrops.
So this was a product photography shoot, something a bit different, fun and challenging. Gill was a delight to work with, generous with her hospitality and her floristry workshop is really something very special and unique. See Gill's website http://www.gillpikeflorist.co.uk for full contact information.
Here are some of the photographs from the day:
The products are beautiful and add a magic to any wedding day.
