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!

Horsted 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.

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.”

Quex House-Kent: Tracy & Mark

Tracy & Mark’s Quirky Summer Wedding at Quex House, Kent

“All you need is love.”

Back in the summer of 2019, Tracy and Mark tied the knot at Quex House, in the quaint village of Birchington-on-Sea, Kent. Just a short distance from Margate, one of my favourite seaside towns in the south, it was a real pleasure to photograph their wonderfully individual wedding.

The Quex Estate dates back to the 15th century and was the perfect setting for Tracy and Mark, with its unique character, fascinating history and wonderfully quirky details. The house itself is incredible, with richly coloured rooms and elegant Regency-style interiors, while the gardens offer an equally charming mix of traditional and unusual features.

From the ornate fountain and pretty Victorian walled gardens to the funky greenhouse filled with cacti, there were so many interesting backdrops for wedding photographs. It's a venue with real personality, and I loved exploring its different corners throughout the day.

Tracy and Mark added their own lovely touches, reflecting their shared love of art and music. One particularly thoughtful addition was an outdoor tent where the younger guests could play and enjoy themselves. Although it was designed with the children in mind, it seemed to attract quite a few adults too!

And then came one of the day's most unexpected highlights: a visit from the local Woodland View llamas! They provided a wonderful talking point and a little moment of calm and amusement before the celebrations gathered pace for the evening reception.

I love weddings where couples feel free to do things their own way, filling the day with personal details and unexpected surprises. Tracy and Mark's celebration was a perfect example, with so much warmth, creativity and fun woven into every part of it.

A wonderful couple, a fabulous historic venue and a heartfelt day filled with love, laughter, art, music and even a few llamas! It was an absolute pleasure to capture their special day and all the little moments that made it uniquely theirs.

Amberley Castle-Sussex: Lorraine and Ross

Lorraine & Ross’s Romantic Wedding at Amberley Castle, Sussex

Amberley Castle is such a magical wedding venue, with its medieval architecture, beautiful gardens and tucked-away corners full of character. It was a real pleasure to photograph Lorraine and Ross’s special day in such a breathtaking setting.

From the moment I arrived, the castle provided the most wonderful backdrop for their wedding. Its historic stone walls, romantic surroundings and beautiful grounds make it a truly unique place to celebrate, with plenty of lovely locations for natural wedding photographs.

Lorraine and Ross were an absolute joy to photograph. They both looked so happy and relaxed, which made capturing their connection feel completely effortless. I love those moments when couples can simply enjoy being together, forgetting about the camera and allowing their personalities to shine through.

We explored some of the beautiful gardens and quieter corners of the castle grounds, making the most of the soft, golden afternoon light. It added a lovely warmth to the photographs and complemented the romantic atmosphere perfectly.

Alongside the couple portraits, capturing the candid moments shared with family and friends was just as important. The little glances, genuine smiles and spontaneous interactions often become some of the most treasured photographs, telling the story of a wedding in a way that feels natural and personal.

It was a real privilege to photograph Lorraine and Ross’s intimate celebration at Amberley Castle. With such a wonderful couple, a stunning historic venue and beautiful afternoon light, it was a day filled with opportunities to create photographs they can look back on for years to come.