Grittenham Barn-Sussex:Sarah & Seb

Sarah & Seb’s Wedding at Grittenham Barn, Sussex

“We absolutely love the photos, thank you so much. The presentation box was also a lovely surprise! We’ve already started to narrow down our favourites for printing and we’ve selected one image to go on a postcard for our thank you’s.”

It’s always lovely to hear how much couples love their wedding photographs, and knowing that Sarah and Seb are already choosing their favourites to print and share makes it all the more special!

Sarah and Seb’s wedding day took us to three fantastic locations across the beautiful Sussex countryside, each with its own unique character and charm.

The day began with preparations at Ryde House in Petworth before we headed to St Peter’s Church for the ceremony. This tiny, charming stone and flint church is a real hidden gem, dating back to at least 1057 and set within the spectacular grounds of Seaford College in East Lavington. With its historic character and beautiful surroundings, it was a wonderful place for Sarah and Seb to exchange their vows.

After the ceremony, the celebrations continued at Grittenham Barn in Tillington, nestled in the stunning Sussex countryside between Petworth and Midhurst. Grittenham Barn is a beautiful rustic venue, surrounded by lovely gardens, with a lake and orchard providing plenty of opportunities for photographs. And, of course, we mustn't forget the donkeys, who added an extra bit of character to this already wonderful setting!

The weather was a little hit and miss, with the sun only making a few appearances throughout the day. Thankfully, we managed to catch some lovely bursts of sunshine, particularly later in the afternoon, creating some beautiful opportunities for relaxed couple portraits and natural moments among the gardens and countryside.

With three fantastic locations, a historic country church and a gorgeous rustic barn reception, Sarah and Seb’s wedding was a real pleasure to photograph. Each setting brought something different to the story of their day, and I loved capturing all those special moments along the way.

Here’s a selection of photographs from their wonderful wedding day, along with some lovely words from Sarah and Seb. Thank you both for trusting me to capture your memories. It was a pleasure to be part of your celebrations, and I hope you enjoy looking back on these photographs for many years to come!

Brookfield Barn-Sussex-Camilla & Russell

Camilla & Russell’s Sunny September Wedding at Brookfield Barn, Sussex

Brookfield Barn, nestled in the beautiful Sussex countryside, was the perfect setting for Camilla and Russell’s wedding. With its contemporary rustic style, stunning lakeside location and sweeping countryside views, it’s a wonderful venue for a relaxed and memorable celebration. And with a glorious sunny day in September, the setting couldn’t have been better!

Camilla and Russell are dear friends of mine, so it was a real privilege to be asked to photograph their wedding. After the delays and uncertainty caused by Covid, their special day had been a long time coming, which made finally being able to celebrate together all the more meaningful.

The photographs really capture just how happy they both were to be celebrating their wedding at last. There was such a lovely atmosphere throughout the day, with plenty of smiles, laughter and genuine moments of joy shared with family and friends.

Brookfield Barn provided a beautiful backdrop for their photographs, with the lake, countryside views and stylish rustic surroundings making the most of the September sunshine. It was a pleasure to capture Camilla and Russell enjoying every moment of their long-awaited wedding day.

Photographing the wedding of dear friends is always something special, and being able to preserve these memories for Camilla and Russell made the day even more meaningful for me.

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.”

Highdown Vineyard, Jennifer & Aaron

Jennifer & Aaron’s Wedding at Highdown Vineyard, Sussex

Another wonderful wedding day at Highdown Vineyard! It had been around 18 months since I last photographed a wedding at this fantastic venue, so it was lovely to be back, this time capturing the special day of Jennifer and Aaron. They were certainly lucky with the weather too, enjoying a beautiful sunny day in this gorgeous Sussex setting.

Before the ceremony and reception at Highdown Vineyard, I spent some time photographing Jennifer and her family as they got ready at their family home. There’s always something special about these quieter moments before the celebrations begin, with the excitement building and everyone putting the finishing touches to their preparations.

Jennifer and her dad then made their way to Highdown Vineyard in a beautiful silver Jaguar S-Type. What a stylish arrival! The classic car added a lovely touch of elegance and charm to the day, making for some wonderful photographs along the way.

Jennifer looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress, and the ceremony was filled with some really sweet and tender moments. One of the highlights was seeing Jennifer and Aaron’s son proudly hand over the rings, playing such an important part in bringing their family together. It was a lovely personal touch and a moment I'm sure they will treasure in their photographs for years to come.

After the ceremony, the celebrations continued with a beautifully arranged reception, expertly set up by the team at Highdown Vineyard. With its picturesque vineyard setting and lovely countryside views, it's always a pleasure to photograph weddings here, and the sunshine made the surroundings look even more inviting.

The day continued with speeches, a sword cake cutting, the first dance and plenty of dancing. DJ Paul Fish kept the celebrations going, with some traditional folk dancing adding a wonderful burst of energy and fun to the evening!

From the relaxed family preparations and classic Jaguar arrival to the emotional ceremony and lively reception, Jennifer and Aaron’s wedding was full of lovely moments and personal touches. It was a real pleasure to return to Highdown Vineyard and capture another wonderful celebration at one of my favourite Sussex wedding venues.

Thank you, Jennifer and Aaron, for having me along to photograph your special day. I hope these photographs bring back all the happiness, laughter and love of your wedding for many years to come!

Shout outs to suppliers for the day go to:

Natalie & Emily - Make up & Hair styling

Velvet Birdcage - https://www.velvetbirdcage.co.uk

Amazing Grace Cars - http://www.amazinggraceweddingcars.com

The Cake Box - https://www.the-cake-box.co.uk

Green Fingers - https://www.greenfingersflorists.com

DJ Paul Fish - https://www.paulfishproductions.com

Great day with fabulous family, friends, suppliers, love and kind weather ….

Town Hall-Worthing:Naomi & Daniel

Naomi & Daniel - Photographs from their Worthing wedding

This was the first of my Worthing based weddings this year and first time photographing in the Worthing Chambers, with it’s fantastic high ceilings and high slim windows, allowing for some lovely light to fill the room. Naomi chose not to have getting ready shots, so it was straight to the ceremony where an emotional Daniel arrived, holding back tears of nerves and excitement in readiness for the unfolding. Naomi arrived shortly after with her Dad, oozing smiles and donning her stunning white wedding dress, accompanied with her beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.

Some couples hold back the emotion, keep it hidden in the English kind of way that we do but not Naomi & Daniel. The tears of joy and the sweet similes between them, especially during their wedding vowels, really showed off the love for us all to see. Lovely moments of embrace between them, which are shown here.

Following the ceremony, I drove Naomi & Daniel to the reception at the Thomas & Becket, for the guests to dine and drink in the company of the newly weds.

Here are a collection of images from the day.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You absolutely captured the love and happiness that was in abundance that day! X

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-Sussex:Tracey & John

A sunny Sussex is always going to make a great day for a wedding and fortunately, the sun shone for Tracey and John.

The Wedding venue was Ghyll manor, a charming 17th century manor nestled in the Sussex countryside, in the village of Rusper, near Horsham.

I arrived early to photograph Tracey getting ready in the hideaway Ghyll cottage, which made for some wonderful bridal prep photographs. 

It's always good to meet new suppliers at weddings and I was lucky to meet Jane from Wedding Hair At Home, who did a wonderful job in styling the bride and bridesmaids hair.

The Terrance Room held the Ceremony with approximately 80 guests. It's quite a tight space when everyone is present, so photographing Tracey and Jon had it's challenges but I love the way I captured the little looks and the smiles throughout. 

Wedding styling on the day was created by the wonderfully talented Jane @ special creations by Jane - sample of her beautiful work in the terrace room, photographed below. 

The last image is the look of love and really encapsulates the radiance of the couple during their first dance. I love this photograph because they look really lost in each other, enjoying their own moment, even though there are 80 or more onlookers.

St Mary's Church-Horsham-West Sussex:Georgina & Chris

I was lucky enough to meet Georgina and Chris at a wedding fair in Brighton West Sussex and was delighted to get the chance to work with them! 

I knew photographing Georgina and Chris was going to be a joy, as it was so clear that they were incredibly excited about their day and genuinely smitten with each other, which I knew would make for some really natural, beautiful photographs. 

The pre wedding shoot took place in the same location as the ceremony would be held, at St Mary's Church in Horsham, West Sussex. The church holds fond memories for me personally, which makes it a really special venue. 

 The 12th century church is set in a quiet, picturesque location at the far end of the causeway and is the oldest building in the town. Inside the church is spectacular and holds some modern twists amongst some of the ancient interior.

The photographic shoot was a chance to set the scene, to test the likely light, outside on the day and for Georgina and Chris to have some less formal photographs, which they could use as invites for their Sussex wedding. 

I love the colours and obvious love between Chris & Georgina, which all came together in the shots. Her are a few from the day.