Sian and John married at Wootton Park in October 2023.
This one comes from the archive. I’ve photographed Wootton Park plenty of times since, but I wanted to bring it back because it shows another version of the venue entirely, later in the year, with the deeper colours and slightly quieter feel of an autumn wedding.
John is American, and a lot of his family had travelled over for the wedding, so there were little nods to both sides of the Atlantic throughout the day. That included everything from British and American lawn games to one very specific portrait request based on old family photographs.
Sian got ready at Wootton Park with her bridesmaids, while John’s morning started over in Stratford-upon-Avon.
A lot of John’s family had travelled over from America and were staying together in accommodation there. They were obviously coming over for more than a single night, so it made far more sense for John to get ready with them off-site before everyone headed across to Wootton Park.
Sian’s morning was fairly straightforward: hair, makeup, everyone gradually getting dressed and the usual point where a room full of people suddenly realises the ceremony is getting quite close.
Their ceremony took place outside beside the lake.
It wasn’t the legal part of the marriage. John’s cousin led the ceremony instead, which meant it could be much more personal to the two of them than simply working through the normal registrar script.
That also made the ceremony another little connection to John’s side of the family.
After the ceremony it was back to everyone for hugs, confetti and the drinks reception.
There was also a full crisp wall.
Or, for John’s half of the family, presumably a chip wall.
Either way, it was an actual wall covered in bags of crisps for guests to help themselves to, which has somehow become a perfectly normal thing to encounter at weddings.
Sian and John didn’t want a massive portrait session, but there was one photograph they specifically asked me to make.
The idea came from older wedding and family photographs on John’s American side of the family. Everyone would stand square to the camera, looking directly into it, with practically no physical affection and absolutely no requirement to look remotely pleased about what was happening.
They wanted their own version of that family-history style.
So rather than trying to make them laugh, cuddle or look lovingly at each other, I lined them up side by side and told them to give me absolutely nothing.
Which, to be fair, they nailed.
Then everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
I’m not going to attempt to recreate what was said. This wedding was three years ago and I hear far too many speeches to pretend I remember them all.
The photographs can handle that part.
After that, the formal part of the day gradually disappeared.
There was cake, a first dance and then everyone got on with the evening.
I can’t give you an elaborate story about exactly what happened because I genuinely do not remember.
What I do have are photographs of people drinking, dancing, shouting along to things and becoming progressively less interested in the camera.
Which is normally a decent indication that the evening was doing its job.
If you want your photos to feel like your day actually did.
No awkward posing. No staged moments. No turning your wedding into a photoshoot.
Most couples I work with want to spend the day with their people, not disappear for hours taking photographs. So I keep things simple. I document what’s happening, step in when you need me, and get you back to your wedding.
Big country house, registry office or somewhere in between, the job stays the same. Honest photographs of the people, atmosphere and moments that made the day yours.
Years from now, I want the photographs to take you straight back to it.