A Completely Unscripted Autumn Farm Wedding in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire
There are some weddings where, as a photographer, you know almost immediately that you've landed yourself in the middle of something really special.
This was one of those weddings.
Set on the groom's parents' beautiful farm in Cheddington, Buckinghamshire, this autumn wedding was relaxed, personal, incredibly joyful and completely centred around the people who mattered most to the couple.
There was no elaborate schedule of photographs. No disappearing off for hours for portraits. No pressure to make the day look like a traditional wedding.
In fact, they didn't want couple portraits at all.
They wanted me to photograph the day exactly as it unfolded.
And I absolutely loved it.
A wedding that was completely about the people
From the very beginning, it was obvious that this wasn't going to be a wedding where everything revolved around a carefully choreographed timeline.
The couple had chosen close friends and family to be their celebrants, making the ceremony feel incredibly personal and intimate.
There was so much emotion, but it never felt staged.
There were tears, huge smiles, laughter and those little moments between people that you can't manufacture.
This is exactly why I love documentary wedding photography.
You aren't asking everyone to stop what they're doing and pose for a photograph.
You're allowing the day to happen.
And I'm there to notice it.
An autumn wedding on the family farm
The setting couldn't have been more perfect.
The groom's parents' farm gave the whole day a wonderfully relaxed countryside feel, while the beautifully styled marquee brought a touch of elegance to the celebration.
Autumn light, seasonal flowers, thoughtful details and a marquee filled with the people they loved.
It was beautiful without feeling overly formal.
And that was really the magic of the whole day.
Everything felt incredibly considered, but nothing felt forced.
No couple portraits. And that's absolutely fine.
One of the things I particularly loved about this wedding was that the couple knew exactly what they wanted from their photography.
They wanted documentary wedding photography.
Aside from the usual formal family groups, they didn't want to spend their wedding day posing for photographs.
No disappearing off for an hour.
No elaborate couple posing.
No pressure to perform for the camera.
Instead, they wanted to be with their guests and actually experience their wedding.
And that's exactly what they did.
Of course, I photographed them together throughout the day. But I photographed them as they actually were, rather than stopping the whole wedding to manufacture moments.
For me, that's the beauty of documentary wedding photography.
You don't need to create the emotion when it's already happening all around you.
A second photographer and another perspective
My good friend Julie joined me for the day and covered the groom preparations, giving us a second perspective right from the beginning.
While I was with the bride and her side of the wedding, Julie was able to capture what was happening with the groom and his friends.
I love having that second angle on a wedding like this because there is simply too much happening for one photographer to see everything.
And when the whole point of the photography is to tell the story of the day as it really happened, having another pair of eyes makes such a difference.
And then there was the dancefloor...
Oh, the dancefloor.
It was never empty.
Honestly, I didn't want to leave.
There was so much energy, so much laughter and so many people completely throwing themselves into the celebrations that I could have happily stayed photographing it all night.
Unfortunately, the couple had booked me until 8.30pm.
And yes, I did go over.
Just a little.
Because when you're having that much fun photographing a wedding, it's quite difficult to simply pack your cameras away and walk out!
It was one of those evenings where you could feel how much everyone genuinely enjoyed being together.
And that's something you can't manufacture.
This is why I love documentary wedding photography
Looking back at this wedding, it's the moments that weren't planned that I remember most.
The emotion during the ceremony.
The laughter between friends.
The reactions from family.
The little things happening in the background.
The atmosphere as the evening gathered pace.
And, of course, that dancefloor.
This couple didn't need a huge list of photographs to remember their wedding by.
They needed photographs that would take them back to how it actually felt to be there.
That's what documentary wedding photography means to me.
It's not about ignoring the beautiful details or the formal photographs. We'll still make sure you've got the important family groups and the photographs you'll want to print and put on your walls.
It's about not allowing photography to take over your day.
You get to be present.
You get to laugh with your friends.
You get to cry during the ceremony.
You get to dance until you can't dance anymore.
And I'll be there quietly documenting it all.
Suppliers
Wedding Decor
THE WHITE EMPORIUM
Wedding Planner
JUST SEVENTY
Florist
TYTHE FLOWERS
Bridal Gown
Planning a wedding that's completely your own?
If you're planning a wedding where the people, the atmosphere and the experience matter more than following a traditional wedding photography checklist, I think we might be a very good fit.
Maybe you're getting married at home, on the family farm, in a marquee or somewhere completely unexpected.
Maybe you don't want hours of couple portraits.
Maybe the thought of being followed around by a photographer all day makes you slightly nervous.
Or perhaps you simply want to spend your wedding day actually being married, rather than constantly stopping to have your photograph taken.
That's exactly the kind of wedding I love photographing.
I photograph weddings across Derbyshire, Buckinghamshire, the Midlands and throughout the UK, and I'm always happy to travel wherever your plans take you.
If you want wedding photographs that feel like your wedding rather than a collection of poses, get in touch. Tell me what you're planning, what matters to you and what you absolutely don't want from your photography. We can have a chat and see if I'm the right photographer for you.
