Brunswick House was the perfect setting for Emma and Stephen’s ceremony. The historic building’s textures and urban character made a striking backdrop for their vows. Things began at 3:30, a celebrant officiating the intimate gathering, guests welcomed by the soft sound of a pianist.

I love working with natural light, and Brunswick House’s low light was a real creative challenge. I leaned on my flash to make sure every moment landed, from the vows to the guests’ reactions, which is part of the fun of photographing a venue like this.

One of the quiet luxuries of a micro wedding is time. With a smaller guest list, Emma and Stephen could slip away for a little while, and we made the most of Brunswick House and the streets around it. The urban textures, the stairwell, a quick wander out into the city, it all made for relaxed, characterful portraits that felt completely them.

As the evening unfolded, guests were called through to the elegant dining room for dinner, followed by heartfelt toasts in the Smoking Room. Then came the cake, cut with plenty of laughter and served around the tables. The whole evening had that easy, close feeling a smaller wedding does so well.

As the guests filtered into the Orangery, I grabbed a quick moment with Rosie and her bridal party for some portraits. The Orangery is lit beautifully by natural light, exactly what I love to work with, and it lends the whole ceremony an elegant, airy feel.

The ceremony was wonderfully sweet, their daughter insisting on stealing a little of the limelight along the way. Before long Rosie and Will were pronounced husband and wife, and our newly married couple led their family and friends out into the courtyard.

Alrewas Hayes recently added a large gazebo, which means the celebrations carry on whatever the weather. After a quick confetti shot, guests settled in to enjoy the drinks menu and canapés. I usually give everyone around twenty minutes to congratulate the happy couple before we move into the group shots and portraits.

I also used this time to slip around the rooms and catch the finer details, the wedding breakfast tables set and waiting, dressed beautifully for Rosie and Will’s guests.

I like to keep the group photos as short as possible. The real magic of any wedding is in the natural, candid moments, so on this occasion we gathered the bridesmaids and immediate family for a quick, easy session and left it there.

Then a short session with the newlyweds, usually just ten or fifteen minutes. If a couple want longer, that is no problem at all, I let Rosie and Will decide what they were comfortable with, offering gentle guidance where it helped, and we came away with some really lovely frames.

The wedding breakfast took place in the Lakeside, a calm, tranquil space that would later host the evening reception too. Rosie and Will made their entrance with their daughter close by their side, while the staff made sure every glass was primed for the toasts.

The speeches were the usual wonderful mix of laughter and tears. I love catching guests completely absorbed in the moment, maybe even quietly wiping an eye. Once they were done, everyone tucked into the food, which is exceptional here, and I took a moment to back up the day’s photos and recharge.

I love an early summer evening, that moment when the formalities are done and everyone can truly relax. I kept taking natural photographs as the night unfolded, evening guests arriving, selfies all round and the drinks menu thoroughly sampled, before we moved into the traditional cake cutting and first dance.

The guests were in great spirits as the band worked through their set, and there is nothing I enjoy more than catching a room full of people letting loose on the dance floor as the night draws on.

For a full day, I usually start about two hours before the ceremony. It gives me time to capture those quiet bridal prep moments, say hello to the other half, and take a slow walk around the venue to find the little details that tell the story of the day.

I popped upstairs to meet Olivia, there with her bridal party and her little one, getting ready for the big day. I caught some lovely candid frames before a heartwarming moment with her dad, the kind every wedding seems to bring. The room was full of beaming smiles and a few happy tears. Outside, friends and guests were already seated, ready for the ceremony.

With the finishing touches done and the bridal party ready, the morning had that lovely settled hum to it, everyone in place, the day about to begin.

Warwick House offers three spots for a civil ceremony, the grand Banqueting Hall, the elegant Warwick Room, and the choice for today, an outdoor ceremony. A light summer breeze kept everything fresh, and the spot looked straight out of a fairytale, an abundance of cherry blossom around the quaint wedding hut.

The bridesmaids set the stage, making their way in first, but the real showstopper was Olivia, entering arm in arm with her dad. With my second shooter alongside me, we caught the moment from several angles at once.

We usually have ninety minutes to a couple of hours during the drinks reception. It gives everyone a chance to raise a glass to the newlyweds before we slip away for the group shots and a few romantic portraits. As always, Olivia and Ashley set the pace, some couples love being in front of the camera more than others, and my style stays relaxed, with just a few posed frames mixed in to give the album some variety.

Olivia and Ashley and their bridal party looked gorgeous, and we spent the time gathering the group shots and a set of relaxed couple portraits. A few posed frames here and there, the rest left to happen naturally, exactly the variety that makes a wedding album sing.

As things slowed down, only to rev up again for the evening party, guests wandered the venue, snapping selfies, raising a glass to the bride and groom and soaking up the moment. I strolled around at a leisurely pace, catching the candid frames that make a wedding feel like itself. Then, as the evening guests began to arrive, we headed back to the Banqueting Hall for the best parts, the cake cutting, the first dance, and the dance floor coming to life as the night drew on.

I join Liam in the ceremony room as he waits for his bride. It is a beautifully lit space, the chandeliers and foliage adding to an already enchanting setting. The light here makes my job easy, and there is a real sense of anticipation as the room settles and the first notes begin.

Faye looks simply beautiful as she walks down the aisle with her dad, and with so much natural light pouring in, the moment is an easy one to capture. It is a thoughtful service, full of heartfelt vows and plenty of happy tears.

Vows exchanged and rings on, Faye and Liam are married. They turn to their friends and family as husband and wife, and the room lifts with applause before everyone spills out to celebrate.

We head outside for the group photos, where the landscaped gardens give incredible backdrops. I keep this part of the day on the shorter side, so Faye and Liam get to spend more time with each other and their guests.

Then we take a romantic stroll around the serene grounds for the couple portraits. Every couple is different, so I let Faye and Liam decide how long we spend here. My style is relaxed and easygoing, though I can never resist a few artfully posed frames, and the landscaped gardens complement them perfectly.

As the autumn evening falls, the day takes a slower pace. Guests drift between the Pebbles suite and the botanical bar, dressed in fresh florals, as the evening arrivals begin to appear. I keep capturing the natural, relaxed moments before we head back into the Bookends suite for the time-honoured traditions of the cake cutting and first dance.

The dance floor is always a fun time for a wedding photographer. It becomes the focal point of the evening, and there is nothing quite like watching the reserved day guests transform into the ones who close the place down. Cake cut, first dance done, the night belongs to everyone now.

With exclusive use of the Hall, the morning at Pendrell offers an intimate space for bridal preps. I usually arrive a couple of hours before the ceremony, taking a relaxed stroll around to capture the personal touches the couple have added.

Upstairs, Alice and her bridal party are mid-transformation. No instructions needed, I let the girls enjoy their moment and snap candid, editorial-style photos. Downstairs, the groom and his groomsmen are already suited up, naturals in front of the camera. Outside, kids are making the most of the garden tree swing (and yes, I may have sneaked a turn myself).

The Morning Room sits ready for the ceremony – white satin chairs, the gypsophila aisle, that clean classical vibe Pendrell does so well. Upstairs once more to check on Alice as her dad is called to fetch her, and his smile when he sees her in her dress is the kind of moment that needs no caption. By the time the bridesmaids start their descent, the day is properly underway.

Out onto the private driveway for the confetti shot at the fountain wall, then guests drift to the gardens to find Alice & Rikhi, grab a drink, and explore the rest of the venue. Meanwhile, I steal the couple and the immediate bridal party for portraits.

The Ballroom at Pendrell does double duty – it’s available for ceremonies as well as breakfasts. For Alice & Rikhi, it’s the breakfast venue: classic, elegant, with mirrored walls catching the light from every angle. The kind of space that makes the room itself part of the photograph.

The bride and groom make their grand entrance and guests find their seats, buzzing with anticipation for the speeches. This is one of my favourite parts of the day; the funny anecdotes, the heartfelt confessions, the short-and-sweet, the long-and-elaborate. What I’m really watching for is the spontaneous reactions: the laugh you didn’t know was coming, the tear from someone in the back row.