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.

Southdowns Manor-Lauren&Jason

Lauren & Jason’s Wedding at Southdown Manor, Hampshire

Lauren and Jason’s wedding was a particularly special one for me, as it was the first wedding I photographed after the pandemic. After such an uncertain time, it felt wonderful to be back doing what I love and capturing precious memories for couples again.

With wedding restrictions still in place, guest numbers were limited to just 30, and masks had to be worn during the ceremony. It was certainly a different experience from the weddings we were used to, but none of the restrictions, or the on-and-off rain, could dampen the magic of Lauren and Jason’s day. Their love for each other shone through, making it a truly memorable celebration.

Fortunately, the weather gave us a few welcome breaks in the rain, allowing us to get outside and make the most of the beautiful gardens at Southdown Manor. These little windows of sunshine were perfect for capturing some relaxed couple portraits and creating a lovely collection of photographs despite the unpredictable conditions.

Southdown Manor is a beautiful wedding venue situated near Petersfield, Hampshire, in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Surrounded by picturesque countryside and lovely gardens, it offers a wonderful setting for a wedding, with plenty of opportunities for natural and romantic photographs.

Looking back, Lauren and Jason’s wedding marked an important moment, not just for them but for me as a photographer too. After months of uncertainty and postponed celebrations, being able to capture a couple's special day again felt incredibly rewarding.

Despite the restrictions, the masks and the changeable weather, Lauren and Jason created a beautiful celebration filled with love and happiness. It was a real privilege to be there to document it, and a reminder that even when things don't go quite as planned, the most important moments still shine through.

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