Some of my favourite weddings happen when a couple turns to their own family land for the big day. This one did exactly that, with a marquee pitched in the fields on the family farm. It gave us rolling countryside for every portrait, a vintage tractor for the guests to admire, and a very good natured spaniel who stole more than a few scenes.
Getting Ready
The bride got ready at a local pub with her mum and her sister in law, who doubled as her bridesmaid. There was chat, a glass of fizz, and plenty of laughter while the hair and makeup came together. She wore a treasured piece of jewellery that had belonged to her late grandmother, a lovely way to carry family close on the day. Her dad arrived a little later for a first look, and his face said everything.
Groom Prep
Meanwhile back at the family farmhouse, the groom and his groomsmen and parents were getting ready in their own relaxed style, ties half done and plenty of jokes flying. There’s always a different energy on the groom’s side of a wedding morning, and this one was full of easy, good humoured chat.
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place in a beautiful country church, all weathered stone and stained glass. The groom’s face when he spotted his bride walking in said it all, and the vicar guided them through their vows with real warmth. Outside, guests lined the path ready to bombard the newlyweds with confetti – I’m always trying to encourage guests to throw the confetti up rather than at the couple.
A Confetti Welcome and a Very Special Guest
Back at the farm, the couple were welcomed into the marquee with a second round of confetti and an enthusiastic greeting from their spaniel, who clearly wasn’t going to miss out on the celebrations. The drinks station leaned into the farm setting with a few chicken themed cocktails, and the reception tables were dressed with loose, wildflower arrangements that felt right at home in the countryside.
Family Photos in the Fields
With their own land as the backdrop, we gathered the whole family for group photos in front of the marquee, the rolling fields stretching out behind them. It’s not every couple who gets to use their own back garden as a wedding photography location, and we made the most of it.
The Wedding Breakfast
The tables were set with simple, natural styling, and the wedding breakfast brought everyone back together under the marquee with the countryside view all around.
The Speeches
The speeches ran through the whole range of emotions, laughter one minute and a few tears the next. There’s nothing quite like watching a room full of people who love a couple getting the chance to say so out loud.
Golden Hour in the Fields
As the light softened into evening, the bride and groom slipped away for some time just the two of them, walking through the long grass with the veil catching the breeze. Although we were joined by some of the friends having a laugh! Golden hour in open countryside is hard to beat, and it’s exactly the kind of setting that makes a marquee wedding so special for photographs.
The Evening Party
As the sun went down, wooden letters spelling out the couple’s initials lit the way into the marquee for the evening. The first dance kicked things off, followed by a dance floor that barely emptied for the rest of the night, flower girls included in little dresses handmade by the bride’s mum. Later on, guests spilled out to the hay bales by the fire pits, tractor still parked nearby, chatting as the light faded over the fields.
With thanks to the team behind the day:
CA Hair and Make Up Wed2B (wedding dress), Lace and Favour (shoes and tiara), Azazie (bridesmaid dresses), Moss Bros (groom’s suit), Torsi Wooldridge (florist), Christie’s Catering, Catherine’s Cakes (tiered sponge cake, alongside a homemade fruit cutting cake), and The Voltaires (evening band). A special mention goes to Natalie of the Wedding Nanny she was absolutely amazing with the couple’s young daughter. If you have young children and are thinking about having help on the day she was fantastic.
If you’re dreaming of a marquee wedding on your own family land, take a look at my marquee and at home wedding photography page to see more, and get in touch.
