🌿 Summer Garden Wedding at the Walled Garden, Beeston — Documentary Moments in July Sunshine
Getting Ready at The Orchard Hotel & Restaurant
The Orchard Hotel and Restaurant on the Nottingham University Campus
This beautiful summer wedding began at The Orchard on the University of Nottingham campus such a calm, light-filled space to start a wedding day. I joined the bride for those final getting-ready moments before briefly catching up with the boys for their last few relaxed shots (and a pre-ceremony drink in the bar… priorities, obviously).
Once everyone was ready, I travelled with Holly Jo Photography to the venue. Working alongside Holly is always a joy, our styles naturally complement each other and being great pals, the whole day just flows.
Outdoor Ceremony at The Walled Garden Beeston Fields, Nottingham
The gardens here are simply gorgeous, one of those venues where the setting quietly does so much of the storytelling for you. The ceremony took place outdoors, relaxed and beautifully unforced, exactly the kind of atmosphere I love to document.
Guests arrived slowly, soaking up the July sunshine, and the couple’s spaniel made a cheerful appearance to say hello (expertly supervised by a friend). Meanwhile, children claimed the front lawn for an enthusiastic game of football, joyful chaos in the best way.
It was a day full of movement, interaction and those fleeting in-between moments that make documentary photography so rewarding to capture.
A Day of Candid Storytelling
As a second photographer, my role is to observe and anticipate to notice the interactions happening just beyond the main focus. While Holly guided the couple portraits, I stayed in the background capturing alternative angles, reactions, quiet gestures and the wider atmosphere of the day unfolding.
From guests chatting with drinks in hand to laughter drifting across the gardens, the whole celebration felt easy, warm and genuinely present. These are the moments I’m always drawn to unscripted, honest and full of life.
Documenting weddings like this reminds me why I love second shooting. There’s space to watch, wait and tell the broader story, the moments happening between the moments.
Why Outdoor Summer Weddings Work So Beautifully
Outdoor ceremonies invite a different pace. People linger. Conversations stretch. Children run freely. The light changes gently across the day. And for photography, that means natural storytelling everywhere you look.
When a wedding gives guests room to simply be, the images follow naturally.
Planning Your Wedding Coverage
If you’re planning a wedding and want relaxed, documentary coverage that focuses on real moments rather than posed scenes, I’d love to hear about your plans.
I photograph micro weddings and intimate celebrations all year round, and they’re always welcome in my diary.
Full day coverage is limited each season to ensure every couple receives the attention and storytelling their day deserves.
👉 Get in touch to check availability and tell me about your plans.
