As a Surrey wedding photographer I try to be a good wedding parent and not choose favourites (although if I was pushed this would be up there with them, but shhhhh do not tell the others!) Jess and Katie’s outdoor barn wedding was everything a quintessential summer wedding in England hopes to be. With an outdoor ceremony and speeches, a dinner cooked outdoors on a spit and a dance floor that spills out into field bathed in the evening light. At the time of writing this, it is with a sadness that The Barn KT9 are no longer taking wedding bookings. Jess and Katie’s wedding was actually the last booking that the barn had and boy did they give it the send off it deserved!

WITH FIRST LOOKS, LOVING AND EMOTIONAL SPEECHES AND A DANCE FLOOR THAT SPILLED OUT ON TO THE FIELD IN THE EVENING LIGHT

This outdoor barn wedding (which is also hosted in the old hangar on the venue) was simply the best from start to finish. The couple got ready in the Shepard’s huts in the site with their wedding parties. It was a really relaxed and beautiful morning. Followed by the loveliest first look sessions that I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing. Both Jess and Katie were so loved up and into what each other had chosen for their wedding outfits. The couple walked down the aisle together, with a gorgeously celebrant led outdoor wedding ceremony. The speeches were given outdoors with guests sitting upon hay bales, and dinner was served inside the hangar as the sun was beginning to set. More speeches were given as pudding arrived and then after dinner we snuck into the fields with golden hour light for a few more couples portraits.

Thank you to Jess and Katie for sharing their day and to all of their wonderful suppliers for making their wedding day so special.

Venue: The Barn KT9

Catering: The Little Pasta Company

Outfits: Gormley & Gamble, Catherine Deane

Hair and MUA: Hannah Monk

Celebrant: Caz Perry

Band: Charles Can’t Breathe

If like Jess and Katie you are planning an outdoor barn wedding of some kind, here are some galleries of inspiration for you to feast your eyes on – Issy and Ollie’s DIY Marquee Wedding or perhaps Jo and Alex’s Relaxed Garden Marquee Wedding. If you are looking for a safe space with your photographer and are in an LGBTQ+ relationship here is a piece that I wrote about why we still need LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer statements.

Jo and Alex’s beautifully relaxed garden marquee wedding was nothing short of perfect. Held in Jo’s parents house in Surrey, the couple adopted a laid back approach to their wedding day. Which is something that is right up my street! With a tipi marquee in the garden, the couple had their ceremony performed by their best friends. This is an extremely personal touch to a wedding and one that is a wonderful tradition. With an outdoor wedding ceremony, Jo walked in accompanied by her father with her two best friends as bridesmaids. With personal touches and emotional readings, Jo and Alex’s ceremony was beautiful. The couples reception had cocktails and canapés.

Fun, Relaxed Garden Wedding VIBES!

I always love a connection as a wedding photographer. Which is why when Jo and Alex booked me I was so excited as they found me through one of their friends – who happened to be one of my past couples! They were great friends with my couple Emma and Roy, whom I had photographed their Henley-on-Thames registry wedding in lockdown. I then was lucky enough to photograph their full day with their Bury Court Barn wedding. So it was a pleasure to be back with all of these wonderful familiar faces, and also new ones too!

LIVE BAND, COCKTAIL BAR AND A WICKED MARQUEE DANCE FLOOR!

THANK YOU for LOOKING THROUGH JO + ALEX’S RELAXED GARDEN MARQUEE WEDDING

If you too are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony, please take a look at Ellen and Tom’s outdoor wedding or this outdoor Gate Street Barn wedding. If you would like to see my opinions on how much I love outdoor wedding ceremonies please take a look at why you should risk an outdoor wedding ceremony.

Kristy and Gabbie were ahead of their time when designing their wedding. Now, when I say that the couple were ahead of their time with their Chaucer Barn wedding, this is because they wanted an intimate wedding way before the wedding industry coined the term ‘micro wedding’.  During the pandemic, the term micro wedding was born to encapsulate smaller scale wedding set ups. When we had out first chat (way before the pandemic was even a thing) Kristy and Gabbie were really set on having an intimate wedding ceremony. They didn’t want hundreds of people, they wanted their VIP’s and an amazing party. This is what they got! Specialising predominantly Surrey wedding photography I was so excited to travel further afield for some Norfolk wedding photography. Not only that but Kristy and Gabbie’s day sounded incredible.

Intimate 30 Person Chaucer Barn Wedding 

The couple and I formed a lovely relationship over the year before their wedding. We travelled to the beach for a very rainy Suffolk engagement shoot and chatted a lot before the day about plans. Which meant that when photographing their intimate wedding it just felt like friends hanging out on a very special day.  The couple had a gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremony, followed by a relaxed reception in the gardens of Chaucer Barn. There are almost too many gorgeous places to take photographs in the ground of the venue, but we took our time and explored many of the locations for some natural couples portraits. Before speeches, and outdoor cake cutting and a fun wedding dance floor. It is fair to say that this Chaucer Barn wedding was one of my 2021 highlights!

What Kristy and Gabbie Said About Working With Me

“We are so glad we chose Jesse to capture our wedding. She did an amazing job, we absolutely love the photos and they capture the essence of the day brilliantly. Jesse is so friendly, warm and welcoming, she made us feel at ease immediately which is a hard task over a video call!

Each step of the wedding planning process Jesse was organised, quick to respond and happy to answer any question big or small! Our photos are incredible and even now all our friends and family are singing Jesse’s praises.”

Thank you for looking through Kristy and Gabbie’s Chaucer Barn wedding. If you too are looking for some more inspiration of Norfolk wedding photography then take a look at Aimee and Don’s Spixworth Hall Wedding.

If you are an LGBTQ+ couple and are looking for an LGBTQ friendly wedding photographer please take a look at Sian and Hannah’s Silchester Farm Wedding or Rosi and Shelley’s micro garden wedding reception. 

Upon meeting Tamara and Nick to discuss the possibility of photographing their Busbridge Lakes wedding, it was impossible not to fall in love with their spirit. Tamara is possibly one of the most genuinely lovely human beings that you will ever meet. With her infectious smile and kind hearted nature, chatting with Tamara and Nick was so effortless. The couple and I first met at Ole and Steen (one of my favourite Danish pastry joints in London). It was such a wonderful meeting, one of those first meetings when you walk away and are desperate for the couple to call and announce that they picked you!  Luckily they did and the rest you could say is history.

They decided before their wedding to have an engagement shoot in one of their favourite London spaces. You can see their couples shoot here in Greenwich Park.  Having a couples shoot before your wedding day can shake out some of those portrait jitters. Plus it is a wonderful excuse to get together and feel more comfortable with your photographer.

On the day of Tamara and Nick’s wedding there was electricity in the air. It was one of those stunningly hot English summer days where the sun beats down on your shoulders.  Tamara and her bridesmaids got ready in a quaint little Airbnb close to the venue, whilst Nick ventured to a local pub in Godalming. The couple decided to get hitched at the stunning venue of Busbridge Lakes. It is a wonderful venue in a nature reserve which allows marriage ceremonies outside by the lake. If like Tamara and Nick you are debating an outdoor wedding ceremony, take a look at my blog piece about why you totally should!

This lakeside location makes for the most breath taking scenery whilst saying your wedding vows

The couple had arranged for cocktails, an ice cream vendor and garden games. The tipi was decorated beautifully with floral arrangements by Lilly Lupin and on the day styling and co-ordination by Surrey Wedding Company.  The atmosphere of the wedding breakfast room was so stunning.  This wedding was so special and wonderful to be a part of, please do have fun looking through Tamara and Nick’s wedding day with smile on your face!

Gorgeous Outdoor BUSBRIDGE Lakes Wedding

A BIG thank you to all of Tamara and Nick’s AMAZING wedding suppliers who made their day so fantastic

Venue: Busbridge Lakes

Invitations: TavernCreative on Etsy 

Catering: Saracens Catering

Flowers: Lilly Lupin

Cake: M&S 

Dress: J and J Designs Bridal  

Veil: J and J Designs Bridal 

Bridal Shoes: Jimmy Choo 

Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal

Hair: Amanda White 

Make Up: Beauty Box 

Suit: Charles Thyrwitt

Groomsmen Suit: Formally Yours

Celebrant: Ginny Collins Celebrant

On Day Co-Ordination: Surrey Wedding Company

Tipi: Beautiful World Tents

Entertainment: Niall Keelaghan

DJ: Pro-DJ South-East

Videographer: Wandering Film Company

Second Shooter: Lucy Parakhina

Thank you for looking through Tamara and Nick’s wonderful Busbridge Lakes wedding. If like them you are planning a Surrey wedding then take a look at Jenny and Tom’s Surrey vineyard wedding for some inspiration.

From Outdoor Wedding Photography  in  a French Vineyard  to Gorgeous DIY Barn Weddings In Yorkshire

This year has been fabulous! There is not one wedding or family that I have photographed that I could compile as my one favourite. This is why this blog is handy as it is here to highlight all of my best moments of 2019. This piece will take you on a wild ride of emotions, laughter and natural moments captured by me. Not all of my families and weddings are able to be shown to the world, but just know that you are all so important to my year and have meant so much to me creatively. It will also let you into a few facts and numbers about my best blogs of 2019 and statistics that are scientifically compiled. However. That last statement was untrue, but I have it on great authority that the numbers are true (because they are accumulated by me)!

THIS YEAR I PHOTOGRAPHED …

…my first destination wedding in France which was extremely exciting. My lovely couple had an opportunity for outdoor wedding photography, conducted by their family, with food trucks, a home made cake and a first dance (also outside) in a romantic courtyard. I promise you that it will be up on my blog in full as soon as possible. Previous to this wedding I have only had the pleasure of calling myself a destination wedding photographer in Sweden. Gladly I can now add France to my list!

I CRIED AT APPROXIMATELY …

…all of my weddings that I was privileged enough to photograph. You would think that the more you are around a subject, the less emotional you would be. It turns out with weddings, this is not the case. It is not surprising – as a person my tear level is at a very high potency. But being involved in one of the most personal days of someones life, you get choked up, no matter how many times you have seen a ceremony or heard a speech. They are all different and wonderful and come with their own set of tear jerkers.

VINEYARD WEDDINGS DOUBLED…

…my portfolio (as I have said above my first wedding in France) which was held on a vineyard and also with a wedding at Denbies Wine Estate. Both were equally beautiful and wonderful and as you can imagine were accompanied by rather fine wines at dinner too! Having outdoor wedding photography is such a blessing, especially with turbulent weather forecasts in the UK!

MY COUPLES WERE COMPLETELY CREATIVE…

… in all aspects of their wedding days. This year alone five of my brides made their own wedding bouquets and I was present for eight home made wedding cakes! These beautiful days were merged with wonderful wedding suppliers as well as home made touches. This is something that is so special about wedding days, no two are ever alike and the creativity that is out in the world is fabulous.

I PHOTOGRAPHED MORE FAMILIES…

… than I ever have done before. This is such a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with past couples who have extended their families, but to also to make bonds with new people. Thanks to the wonderful world of the internet my business has been able to connect with families from all over Surrey and it has been amazing. This is something that I hope to continue to grow because being a family photographer in Surrey is something that I am deeply passionate about.

Vineyard, DIY, Barn and Village Hall Weddings with Outdoor Wedding

Photography and Fun Family Shoots – Lets See my 2019 BEST   bits!

A BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU 

TO ALL OF MY COUPLES, FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TRUSTED AND WORKED WITH ME THIS YEAR. YOU ALL REALLY ARE WONDERFUL AND I THANK YOU ALL SO  MUCH FOR BEING PART OF MY 2019. 

If you have enjoyed looking through my 2019 highlights and are interested in booking me for your wedding, take a look at my blog post about why we should work together or alternatively fill out this contact form below!

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There are so many beautiful Surrey wedding venues. It is almost hard to pick a few of my favourites. During my career I have predominantly worked as a Surrey wedding photographer. Surrey is my home and the more that I work in the surrounding areas the more I appreciate working with fellow suppliers. An element to planning a wedding is choosing the best venue for your day and during my photographic journey there are a couple of venues that have stolen my heart. So here goes (and in no particular order I might add).

DENBIES   WINE   ESTATE

Nestled in the Surrey Hills is the wonderful Denbies Wine Estate and Vineyards. As a child I have fond memories of visiting Denbies with my Grandmother and having lunch in their wonderful glass conservatory. Since my childhood the venue has taken a step and built on site accommodation for brides and grooms to stay and prepare for their weddings. This makes a massive difference to the timing of your wedding day and why it is one of my favourite Surrey wedding venues. As a couple you can get ready on site as well as having your ceremony and reception in the same place. There is no need to worry about accommodation or travel on the day of your wedding. This detail is wonderful but Denbies is also situated in glorious vineyards with beautiful scenery all around you. You can take your wedding party up into the vineyard hills together on a buggy ride as well as having a lovely secluded courtyard for your drinks reception.  This venue not only looks after its clients but also the suppliers. I was fed the most beautiful vegetarian mushroom risotto the last time I photographed here and it was divine. The glass conservatory is beautiful and gloriously bright which is always a welcome attribute to a photographer for speeches and detail shots.

PEMBROKE LODGE

As a Surrey wedding photographer, Pembroke Lodge is a dream location. Set in Richmond Park the venue is surrounded by the most gorgeous sprawling green scenery. On a clear day you can see the whole of the London skyline (which also allows a cracking sunset to be captured as well).  This venue allows you to have your ceremony and reception all in one place, which as I have said before is a wonderful attribute for a location. There is no stress or fuss about getting from one place to the next, everything you need is here. With wonderfully light rooms and lovely light decor, it is a photographers dream. Since photographing there this summer the venue have designed the most beautiful outdoor space for ceremonies. You can now have an indoor or an outdoor wedding ceremony and this I think is so appealing – especially with all these gloriously hot summers. Pembroke Lodge looks after you brilliantly. Their couples and their suppliers are their number one priority and the service that you experience here is sublime. This not only says a lot about the venue but also their value of client service too.

BUSBRIDGE   LAKES

If you are searching for a unique Surrey wedding venues then Busbridge Lakes may be your perfect match. The venue is a parkland made up of 40 acres and three lakes. It has the capability for outdoor ceremonies as well as marquee alternative spaces. As you enter the venue you travel through a cobbled courtyard to the enchanted lawn space surrounded by heritage trees and exotic birds. The wonderful attribute about Busbridge Lakes is that the space is a dry hire. You have the luxury as a couple to create your dream wedding with all the elements that you would like.  This service is unique in a Surrey wedding venues as many of the sites already have buildings and permanent structures. With Busbridge Lakes you are able to create, with the help of the lovely sites manager Bill, your dream wedding. With your dry hire site as an appealing attribute, the scenery will follow up as a close second. The landscape of the venue is breath takingly beautiful.

OATLANDS   PARK   HOTEL

An elegant hotel in the heart of Surrey overlooking Broadwater Lake sits the Oatlands Park Hotel.  The building is a Grade II listed house with a gorgeous ten acres of picturesque grounds and scenery. The wonderful thing about the hotel is that it caters to any celebration. Whether you are planning a big grand ceremony and reception or a quiet intimate setting with close family and friends. There are a selection of different rooms for you to choose from. The hotel interiors are beautiful. When searching for Surrey wedding venues it is important to think about the possibility of having rain on your wedding day. If this is so, Oatlands Park Hotel has the most gorgeous foyer which is excellent for group photographs and capturing some more intimate couples portraits too. Here is Fiona and John’s beautiful intimate wedding day for you to take some inspiration from.

GATE   STREET   BARN

When I photographed Alex and Hana’s Gate Street Barn wedding I was so impressed with everything about the venue. Nestled into the Surrey countryside Gate Street Barn is a beautiful barn venue with the beauty of the Surrey Hills surrounding it. Like some other venues you can stay in the onsite accommodation which is just a short walk away from the ceremony venue. With your reception just steps away, the move between ceremony and reception is seamless at this venue. With developments at Gate Street Barn the venue is expanding with a wonderful new orangery room and a space for a woodland wedding experience as well. There is also a cute tradition a the barn where if you are married on a date when one of their calfs are born they name the baby cow after you!

THE   BARN  AT      BOTLEY   HILL  

This venue is very beautiful and also very new. When I photographed at the venue last it was still being built. Botley Hill Barn is one of those Surrey wedding venues that is actually breath taking. The barn has floor to ceiling windows that showcase the stunning views of the Surrey Hills countryside. Which also lends handy if your weather is not playing ball, the tall windows call for some stunning couples portraits inside the venue. This venue is wonderfully experienced and houses the best suppliers in the industry. The main barn can fit 128 seated guests with room for more arrivals for your evening reception. There are adorable Shepards Huts on site for you to stay in if you choose to sleep on site.

BARNETT     HILL   HOTEL

The Barnett Hill Hotel is a wonderful gem situated in the Surrey countryside. The outside of the venue is so elegant and grand, with interiors inside to match.  The outside of the mansion is surrounded by 26 acres of beautifully designed gardens which are perfect for outdoor reception drinks and entertaining. Inside the mansion there are a number of rooms that you can get married in. All of these are such elegant entertaining spaces with a gorgeous hall and walk way between the rooms. Like other venues there is an option to get ready and stay on site to ease your wedding day plans. The day that I photographed at The Barnett Hill Hotel it rained torrentially all day which is where one of my favourite features came in handy. With their stunning gardens there is a lovely greenhouse that stores all of the young plants. This makes for a perfect rain cover for couples portraits!

THE   MILL   AT    ELSTEAD

Photographing Lisa and Nick’s Mill at Elstead wedding it was a truly wonderful experience. The Mill at Elstead is a lovely little venue in the Surrey countryside right on the site of a river that runs through it. Like other Surrey wedding venues I have showcased on here, The Mill at Elstead can house both your ceremony and your reception. This intimate venue allows you and your guests to have close knit feeling of togetherness. The dark wood interiors and brick walls add to the cozy ‘pub-like’ feeling. With the beautiful lake and lovely surroundings, there is no trouble finding a beautiful place to have couples portraits.  There is even a resident swan who is rather friendly who might greet you on the lake!

THANK YOU FOR READING ALL ABOUT MY FAVOURITE SURREY WEDDING VENUES

If you are looking at planning a Surrey wedding please do get in contact – however if you are thinking of something a little further afield why not check out this Beachside Cornwall Wedding. Since this piece I have gone on to express my love of my favourite London wedding venues for you to take a look at too.

FIVE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER

Are you currently searching and wondering how to choose a wedding photographer? It is baffling isn’t it.  With so many people to choose from with different approaches, aesthetics, practises and prices. This blog is hopefully going to make things a little easier for you. With five helpful and insightful points, this blog is going to give you a summary of why I believe we should work together. Hopefully some of the conversation surrounding my natural wedding photography style will resonate somewhere within you. If you wanted to scope out the lay of the land before we continue then here are some words on my photographic approach. Otherwise, lets get cracking with my five reasons why we should work together!

FIVE reasons why YOU should book ME to photograph your WEDDING in SURREY, Kent,

DENMARK and virtually anywhere across the UK and ABROAD

REASON ONE: YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH THE IMAGES

You have been squirrelling away on the web and came across my wedding website. Perhaps in your search bar you typed in “Natural Wedding Photography Surrey” and up popped my name. Scrolling though the pages you fell in love with my documentary style and approach to wedding photography.  If you are craving natural and relaxed portraits and fun wedding photography then this is the place for you. It is also probably why you stumbled onto this page. As a couple you want your wedding photography to hold a space and to tell the authentic story of your day.

Capturing a story is my favourite part of being a wedding photographer. I will be there to document your day just as it is. From every smile and heartfelt tear to every kiss and every spontaneous moment in between.  You are wonderful, beautiful and perfect just as you are and as your wedding photographer I will be present through all of it. No photographic gimmicks and glitter required, just the portrayal of how fabulous and amazing you are together.

REASON TWO:  EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

As a couple you want to know that you have entrusted your wedding to a professional with enough experience to withstand the heat. By heat I do not mean weather (although if last years heat wave was anything to go by I can safely say that I am well equipped). I have photographed over 50 weddings since beginning this journey in 2014. Rest assured I have encountered most types of weddings.

I have been present and photographed pub weddings, festival weddings, intimate weddings and over 200 attendee weddings, barn weddings, destination weddings, Surrey weddings, Christian weddings, Hindu weddings, Winter weddings, Summer and Spring weddings, LGBTQ weddings, registry office weddings, humanist weddings,  beach weddings, traditional weddings, alternative weddings, and stately home weddings.

The experience gained from all of these types of wedding days are extensive. I have photographed in the torrential rain, in the blistering sunshine and in the lowest light you can capture. All of these weddings have brought me to where I am today and I could not be more grateful. Providing the upmost VIP treatment for my clients is incredibly important to me. By taking a selected number of weddings per year means that I can give the most amount of dedicated time to each of my couples.

REASON THREE: YOU WANT PHOTOGRAPHS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

When you wondered how to choose a wedding photographer the main issue is whether you believe wedding photographs to be important. If, as a couple, you value wedding photography with the upmost importance then you are in the right place. You are not interested in the latest trends or fads (seriously does anyone say fad anymore?) Anyway. Together you are not looking for heavily staged and photoshopped images, but rather natural wedding photography. Within your wedding album thou shalt not apply an Instagram style filter.  You are interested and yearn for images that are a testament to the day that you both created together.  Wedding photographs that gain importance the more that you look at them over time. A visual reminder of the essence of the day with relaxed, candid and creative wedding photographs.

As your photographer I offer all of these important things to you. I will be there to give this all to you. From documentary wedding photography coverage to guided family portraits. There will be candid images of your guests enjoying your wedding reception as well as beautiful detailed room and decor images. Not to mention awesome and relaxed portraits of the both of you together. Taken in a relaxed manner with no formal ‘prom’ style portraits. Just images where you feel comfortable together and enjoying one an others company.

REASON FOUR: YOU WANT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO FEELS LIKE A FRIEND

Having your photograph take is a scary thing, believe me I have endured it. Those images of my smiling in this blog were taken by a lovely fellow wedding photographer and may I say being on the other side of the lens was nerve wracking. So I appreciate what a funny and momentous thing that this is for you. Choosing the right wedding photographer can make all the difference. Still left wondering how to choose a wedding photographer? I wrote about how you could ask an actual friend to photograph your wedding, but the consensus was not a necessarily positive one.

The alternative being, why not book a wedding photographer who feels like a friend? DING DING DING! Good news – I am not bossy, shouty, argumentative or set in my ways. My job as a wedding photographer is to listen to the both of you to find out what is important. I spend a lot of time getting to know my couples and always meet up before any serious paper work is filled out. Being open and honest with your clients is utterly important to me and getting on is my number one priority.

REASON FIVE: THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

A lot of my business comes through referrals from past couples who have worked with me. Now if this is not the biggest compliment, then I do not know what is. When someone has valued your time together enough to pass on your details to a loved one getting married it brings the biggest smile to my face. Being part of a wedding day it is important to do just that. Be part of the day. This is not insinuating that I steal the lime light, but rather I blend in to the surroundings. It is a huge acclamation when a wedding guest asks me how I know the couple getting married. I am fun and friendly to be around, yet still remaining professional and responsible enough to keep a time check. If you don’t believe me take a look at these rave reviews from my couples. If it makes any difference my mums are pretty proud of me too so they could provide you with a glowing reflection!

TA DA! MY FIVE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER

So there you have it, tips on how to choose a wedding photographer in a nutshell. It is so important to me that I connect with people who love what I do.  If you have made it to the end and have no desire to send me an email, this is the beauty of this industry. We are not the right fit and that is okay to acknowledge that. Ultimately you want a wedding photographer who cares about you and your wedding day.

If however you have reached this point and feel that we would bond very well over our love of natural wedding photography and a cold margarita or flat white coffee then do get in touch. We can have a conversation over Facetime or Zoom and I can send you my brochures with additional information. I work predominantly as a Surrey wedding photographer but this does not discourage my LOVE of weddings elsewhere, including Kent, London and destination weddings. Come and say hello because every wedding excites my creativity.

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Images of Jesse were captured by Rebecca Douglas Photography

My business goal last year to gain more LGBT wedding photography clients. This had been a dream of mine. I was brought up with same-sex parents. For this reason, I had always set my sights on celebrating as many LGBT marriages as possible! It was important to my mothers and as a wedding photographer it is important to me too. Fulfilling this goal in 2018 was just one of many highlights in my last business year. Read about how I strive to be an LGBTQ+ friendly wedding photographer and ally. 

Trying to arrange and choose images to showcase my best photographs of 2018 into one blog piece is always tough. As a wedding and family photographer, it is my sole job to capture all the moments during the sessions. The momentous to the small details. The images in this blog post are selected by what sparks happiness. Looking through my files and folders EVERY single wedding and family shoot has filled me with joy. This is largely down to my amazing families, couples and the company of wonderful wedding suppliers.

It always exciting when a couple or family decide to book you. It is extremely humbling when people put their trust in you. You are there to document some of the most important days in their life. Being able to photograph weddings and families is ultimately an honour and a privilege. This is a feeling that never goes away, even after everything that I shoot.

 

Setting goals, I have learned, is important for you and your business to enhance your creativity. I had always wanted to photograph a destination wedding and had always aspired to photograph more outdoor wedding ceremonies. Both of which were made possible in 2018 with thanks to my amazing couples.

 

This piece is very gushy about how lucky I am to be able to be doing this job. I promise not to waffle on too much. Taking pride in your work is something that I find tricky. I do not like to accentuate ‘me’ too much.

So in conclusion, this is the perfect opportunity to rave about my wonderful couples and families.

These are people amazing enough to send me beautiful cards. Each filled with lovely words about my photographs and approach. Practising a natural wedding photography style allows me to capture intense and personal moments throughout a wedding day. This is what creates ultimately such a close relationship with my couples.

 

However, before you feast your eyes on 2018 here is my 2019/2020 WISH LIST

With all this reflection it is time to publish my wishes and goals for 2019 and beyond. Therefore, emitting some wedding ju-ju into the universe will hopefully be fruitful – so here goes:

AN ELOPEMENT

Hopefully in Scotland with gorgeous rolling hills, windswept couples and whiskey wedding breakfast drinks. I am always lusting after wedding photographers who are able to capture elopements in such dramatic landscapes. Having Scottish heritage I am dying to get back to those highlands.

A WHITSTABLE BEACH WEDDING

One of my mum’s used to live in a small town in Kent called Herne Bay. We would spend weekends and summers days walking through the quaint streets of Whitstable and I would watch her eat oysters on the sea front. I am DESPERATE to bag an East Quay Wedding if any couples are in the process of booking one!

BRIDAL JUMPSUIT

Anyone who knows me or follows me on social media will know how passionate I am about a JUMPSUIT. I own officially too many but how many is to many really? I have always dreamed about photographing a bride in a jumpsuit from House of Ollichon so if you are a bride thinking about delving into a wedding jumpsuit then I AM YOUR GIRL.

A WEDDING AT THE BARBICAN

Plants are my jam. Spending hours at garden centres, pottering around in my beds and walking through the displays at Wisley are an absolute passion. The Barbican Centres Conservatory is stunning for simply this reason. THE PLANTS. The grand conservatory is majestic.

DESTINATION WEDDING IN ITALY

I mean… why not? The pasta, the sunlight, the gorgeous scenery. What is there not to love? Having photographed a destination wedding in Sweden and looking forward to 2019 where I am travelling to France, I feel that it is only right that the wedding ju-ju keepers be aware of my Italian intentions. I have specialist destination wedding packages. Get in contact if you are looking for a destination wedding photographer. Since writing this blog post I have had the pleasure of blogging my destination wedding photography France dreams with Grace and Craig’s outdoor vineyard wedding. 

A SAME SEX FAMILY SHOOT

Families come in all shapes, sizes and forms and I know that you are out there! I just need you to be able to find me. Photographing a same-sex family would fill me with such emotion. Creating a family is such a precious thing in life, however you achieve it. Whether it is through adoption, IVF or surrogacy. Above all, like weddings family shoots celebrate love in all its forms and I want to be there to capture it. Since writing this blog I have had the pleasure of photographing the most gorgeous LGBT family... here are to many more!

 

So therefore, without further deliberation I will finally let the photographs speak for themselves. Thank you to all my couples. To the gorgeous same-sex couples who let me fulfil my LGBT wedding photography goals. To the MANY couples who decided to get married outdoors this year (even with the promise of dodgy English weather). Ultimately a BIG thank you to all your trust.

 

Here is a look back at my favourite moments of 2018 with a big excited smile to the promise of what 2019 holds!

Thank you for looking through some of my favourite images of 2018. If you are interested in my LGBT wedding photography take a look at Siobhan and Amy’s Dodmoor House Wedding or perhaps my latest blog all about alternative wedding photography.

When couples enquire for my wedding photography I am always excited. However, when I was contacted by Frederikke it was possible that I was even more giddy than normal. She was planning the most gorgeous Scandinavian wedding in their family church with a garden reception at her parents home. The added bonus was that she was a fellow Danish girl. Frederikke wanted her wedding to be “a nice mix of Danish and English traditions” which was a wonderful combination. Her booking for me was perfection in a wedding enquiry.

Frederikke got ready in her family home on the morning of her wedding. It was the most glorious sunny day when I met Thomas and their at the church. When Frederikke arrived she was the most beautiful bride, stepping out of the car with her mother and father in her stunning Miss Bush Bridal dress. Frederikke recalled “walking down the aisle was so overwhelming and surreal – and went so quickly! I think my dad and I pretty much raced as we were so excited!”

After getting married in their families church (which was walking distance from family home) their guests enjoyed a beautiful garden reception. Frederikke recounted to me after her big day that her wedding “was the perfect elegant yet relaxed garden wedding – and it was so personal because it was in my childhood home”. There is something magical about weddings being held in places that feel so individual. The family dog Berta even made an appearance during the drinks reception and stole the show with her own flower crown.

The garden looked fabulous with wonderful flowers and greenery. The gorgeous marquee overlooking the party was decorated beautifully with flower arrangements by Rosie Orr. After the drinks reception guests retired for the afternoon to return a couple of hours later for the black tie wedding breakfast.

Although this was a Surrey wedding, you cannot take the Dane out of Denmark! Danish wedding traditions involve LOTS of speeches. They can go on for hours in fact and are not just specific to the father of the bride and the groom. I was lucky enough to catch the first few speeches (all in Danish) before I returned home. The Danes love a party and it was 12pm before the bride and groom shared the Danish traditional Waltz first dance.

So much of Thomas and Frederikke’s wedding was very personal, so to help convey they parts of their wedding that were most special to them I asked them a few questions about their experience.

Frederikke and Thomas’s Glorious Scandinavian Wedding 

Is there any advice you would give to other couples?   
Savour every minute! It passes so quickly and I just wish I could do it again. Try to let go of all the stress and organising and just be in the moment.

Do you have a moment during the day when you were most surprised? 
Several! My brothers speeches, but also my best friends spending the whole day creating the most gorgeous wedding book for me – with snapshots, messages, programs all collected in one place. I really did not expect that.

Is there anything from your day that you are particularly proud of? 
I think the general mood was just what I had hoped for – formal, yet relaxed, and plenty of time for people to get to know each other and mingle seamlessly. I was really happy about that. It didn’t feel stiff, or rushed. It was lovely. And also the whole setting was just what I wanted. My parents had worked so hard to get the garden looking beautiful – and it did. And all the flowers, food, marque and band were just spot on. Couldn’t have asked for better.

How would you describe your style choices for your day? 
I tried on lots of ‘traditional’ wedding dressing – with the lace etc. But in the end I wanted something more contemporary. So the dress I choose was minimal, yet feminine – with a big bow on the front that made it stand out. And the back out open, which also made it feel more modern. I also LOVED my veil. It was very thin silk tull, with little Swarovski crystals in it, that caught the light – so pretty!

Frederikke and Thomas were lovely enough to say some kind words about my Surrey wedding photography services

Honestly, it was the most natural thing ever having Jesse there. She managed to capture so many gorgeous intimate shots of the day and our guests – without even being noticed! She blended in and followed our photo plan with no trouble at all, and was so easy going and flexible – even when we were a little all over the place!

She stayed for a few extra hours, even when it hadn’t been the plan from the start. Lastly, the photos of my husband and I turned out so well. None of us are very good at being photographed, especially my husband – but it was so relaxed and we hardly noticed we were in a photo shoot. Can highly recommend Jesse to any couples getting married. You’d be in the best hands.

Outdoor Wedding Photography Surrey – Frederikke and Thomas’s Gorgeous Garden Wedding

THANK YOU FOR LOOKING THROUGH THIS GORGEOUS SCANDINAVIAN WEDDING

Catering: Kalm Kitchen Ltd
Dress: Miss Bush – luxury bridal boutique and Jesus Piero
Veil: Miss Bush – luxury bridal boutique
MUA: Suzanne Dezek
Flowers: Flowers by Rosie Orr
Ceremony: Church of St Lawrence, Chobham
Entertainment: Karizma Wedding & Party Band
Cake: Stable Cottage Cakes
Marquee: Inside Out Marquees

Thank you for reading about Frederikke and Thomas’s wedding and looking through their outdoor Surrey wedding photography. If you are planning a Surrey Scandinavian wedding or an outdoor ceremony then why not check out Ellen and Tom’s Outdoor Surrey Wedding. I recently revisited Frederikke and her newborn baby boy for a mother and baby shoot at home.

Ellen And Tom’s Natural And Relaxed Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

ELLEN AND TOM WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SAY SOME LOVELY WORDS ABOUT ME TOO:

Thank you Ellen and Tom

There you have it!

I think that you can agree that no one has ever laughed or been more cheerful than Ellen and Tom at their wedding! How cute were they? An didn’t their outdoor wedding ceremony rock? If you are planning an outdoor wedding ceremony as well for your wedding, why don’t you check out Thea and Henrik’s Outdoor Woodland Swedish Wedding on my blog?

Thank you to the wonderful suppliers that made Ellen and Tom’s day possible:

Flowers: Wild Thyme Flowers

Dress: Catherine Deane

Suit: Beggars Run

Entertainment: Smoove and Turrell

Catering: Vamos Paella

Hair: Hair By Jodie

Marquee: One Six Events

Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS

If you would like to have a chat about your wedding photography why not contact me and we can have a talk about your plans and where you are with planning? Perhaps you too are considering an outdoor wedding ceremony like Ellen and Tom? I would be happy to answer any of your questions hello@jessicagracephotography.co.uk

SINCE PHOTOGRAPHING ELLEN AND TOM’s WEDDING

Ellen’s sister and her partner booked me to photograph their destination wedding in France! They too had the most amazing outdoor wedding ceremony in a French vineyard and it was sublime. Like her sister, Grace’s wedding was relaxed, fun and was an absolute blast to photograph.