Emily and Will’s day was everything you could hope for from an English countryside wedding—elegant, personal, and full of thoughtful touches. Set in West Sussex, their outdoor wedding combined a traditional church ceremony with a beautifully relaxed marquee reception in the gardens of a private home.
After exchanging vows in a nearby church, guests made their way back to the house for a summer cocktail hour by the pond. The gardens provided the perfect backdrop for the reception, with shaded corners, floral borders, and open lawns lending an effortlessly English feel to the celebrations. It’s easy to see why an outdoor wedding is such an enduring choice: the atmosphere is always just that little bit softer, the celebrations a little more free-flowing.
Emily’s bespoke wedding dress deserves a special mention—an intricate design featuring floral and leaf motifs, with a detachable overskirt for the evening that brought a real sense of drama to the dancefloor. Their cocktail hour was filled with personality, from a live painter capturing the scene in real time to a surprise mariachi band that had guests smiling from ear to ear.
As the sun dipped lower over the Sussex countryside, the marquee came alive with laughter, speeches, and the start of a brilliant party. Shooting outdoors in this kind of setting always gives the day an extra sense of lightness—something that feels perfectly in tune with the kinds of weddings we love to document.
Planning your own outdoor wedding? We’d love to help capture it exactly as it felt—natural, relaxed, and full of life. Get in touch to find out more about working together.
Vendors
Photography — The Falkenburgs
Hair and Beauty — Cesca
Food — Gastro Catering
Music — Truly Medley Deeply
Stationery — The Full Montage
Second photographer — Tom Aizenberg
