There's something lovely about an early summer wedding, especially when it takes you from a beautiful village church to a stunning country manor surrounded by the Staffordshire countryside.
Back in June 2022, I had the pleasure of photographing Natalie and Kieron's wedding alongside my lovely friend Holly Jo Photography. We've worked together on several weddings, and I'm always grateful for the trust she places in me. It's also a lovely opportunity to catch up with familiar faces, and this wedding was particularly special in that respect, as I spotted quite a few people I knew from my school days!
Groom preparations before the ceremony
My day began at Kieron's parents' house, where I photographed Kieron and his groomsmen getting ready for the wedding.
There was plenty going on, with that familiar mix of excitement, anticipation and the last few things to sort before heading off to the church. I love photographing this part of a wedding day because it captures a different side of the story, from the banter between friends to those quieter moments before everything begins.
Once everyone was ready, it was time to head to St Wystan's Church in Repton.
A beautiful ceremony at St Wystan's Church, Repton
I'd wanted to photograph a wedding at St Wystan's Church for a long time, so I was delighted to finally have the opportunity.
It's such a beautiful church, with a lovely atmosphere for a wedding ceremony. There was something special about seeing the couple's day unfold in this historic setting before everyone made their way to the reception.
One little practical note if you're planning your own wedding here: parking around the church can be tricky at busy times, particularly when the school is open, so it's worth factoring that into your arrangements.
After the ceremony, we headed to one of my favourite types of wedding setting: a beautiful country manor tucked away in the countryside.
A return to the beautiful Alrewas Hayes
Alrewas Hayes is a stunning wedding venue, and I was so pleased to be back. In fact, this was my second visit in the space of a week!
Set in the Staffordshire countryside, the venue has a wonderful sense of space and seclusion. It's the kind of place where the surroundings do so much of the work, with the beautiful grounds providing a natural backdrop for wedding photographs.
I love venues that give couples room to enjoy their day while offering plenty of opportunities for photographs that feel natural rather than overly staged. Alrewas Hayes has that lovely country house feel, making it a wonderful setting for a wedding celebration.
It was a pleasure to photograph another wedding here, and I'd absolutely love the opportunity to return for a wedding of my own as the lead photographer.
Capturing the moments that matter
As the day moved into the evening, there was still plenty to photograph, including the couple's first dance.
Those moments are always lovely to capture. The formalities of the ceremony are over, everyone has settled into the celebrations, and the couple finally get to enjoy being newly married with their family and friends around them.
It was a lovely way to round off my coverage before packing away my cameras and heading home.
For me, wedding photography has always been about more than simply recording what happened. It's about remembering the atmosphere, the people who were there and all those little moments that bring the memories flooding back years later.
This wedding brought together a beautiful church ceremony, a gorgeous countryside venue and plenty of familiar faces. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to be part of it alongside Holly.
Getting married at Alrewas Hayes?
Alrewas Hayes is such a beautiful place to celebrate a wedding, and I'd absolutely love to photograph another wedding here as your lead photographer.
If you're planning your wedding at Alrewas Hayes, St Wystan's Church or another lovely venue across Derbyshire and Staffordshire, I'd love to hear all about it.
My approach is relaxed and documentary-led, capturing the real moments, the people you love and all the little things that make your wedding yours.
Get in touch and tell me about your plans. I'd love to hear from you!
