When I first met Sarah & Kate it was clear to me that they really cared about photography.  For their wedding photography they wanted their coverage to be natural and authentic – which is exactly how I like to capture my couples’ wedding days.

‘Definitely no cheesy smiles at the camera or standing around taking portraits for an hour.’

From their wedding consultation they really liked the idea of having a pre-wedding photography session and then full day coverage on their wedding day, which was taking place at The Ashes Barns Wedding Venue in Staffordshire.  This is a stunning venue five minutes down the road from me, and boasts rustic charm and beautiful grounds to make the perfect backdrop for your wedding day.

After a great pre-wedding session at Rudyard Lake, near Leek, I could see how much fun they were together and loved capturing that in my photography.  I’m all about authentic documentary photography showing a couple’s connection, which S&K’s relationship showcased perfectly.

Ashes Barns Wedding In Staffordshire

On the morning of their wedding I was happy to see blue skies as I made my way to photograph Sarah and her family staying at a local farm.  Before heading in to say hello I sent my drone up to capture the location and the surrounding countryside.  I then managed to locate Sarah upstairs in the final stages of her bridal preparation. I spent some time capturing Sarah’s morning build-up then concentrated on documenting some of her family enjoying a few games of pool in the games room.  Then it was time to see Kate getting ready in the bridal suite at The Ashes, which is a lovely room with warm lighting and a rustic feel.

Kate mirrored Sarah’s excitement and chilled mood.  Like Sarah’s coverage I captured the atmosphere in the room and Kate’s prep before the ceremony.  As the day progressed I worked my way through all the things I like to capture in the morning, like the details in the ceremony/reception room, and suppliers adding their final touches to their work.

Authentic Wedding Photography

Sarah and Kate had made arrangements to meet at the entrance of The Ashes and arrive together in a beautiful vintage car.  With the vehicle being so old it was only traveling up the drive and was purely for the experience and photography.  It did look lovely and when seeing them exit the car it was clear it made them very happy.  

As the wedding timeline progressed into guests arriving, it wasn’t long before I was capturing the gathering of family and friends, and not forgetting S&K’s dogs, who were being chaperoned to be part of the wedding ceremony.

The ceremony was lovely, taking place in the west barn bathed in beautiful sunlight, adding to the rustic feel that The Ashes provides.  It was an emotional time, with some tears and laughter.  The highlight for me was including their dogs for the signing of the register.  Their exit into the drinks reception led immediately into a confetti shot taking place near the courtyard archway.  From this point on, I stood back and captured everyone naturally, enjoying drinks, food and each other’s company.  After some groups and a few portraits, everyone made their way into the barn to be seated for the meal and speeches.

Sarah & Kate were announced into the barn to cheers and applause by their family and friends, it was a lovely atmosphere!

The speeches were heartfelt and full of emotion, it was clear from the words spoken that their wedding day was very important and the people celebrating it with them meant an awful lot.

Golden Hour Wedding Portraits

As their wedding meal came to an end we headed out for some golden hour portraits. We caught a good 20 mins of this, which made for some atmospheric shots by the lake.  S&K’s final few photos here were of them celebrating by spraying some bubbly.  The photos I captured of Sarah & Kate on The Ashes’ drive really captured their relationship well – they looked very happy, laughing with moments of absolute contentment.

Soon it was time to cut the cake and hit the dance floor!  S&K’s family and friends didn’t disappoint, taking full advantage of the dancefloor and enjoying the closing hours of what was a brilliant day.

Thank you Sarah & Kate for having me as your wedding photographer, here are my usual 50 images from their wedding day.