The day started with a moment of confusion. As I arrived, the grounds were full of Year 6 children on residential and Year 2 classes exploring the hall on a WWII visit. Being a primary teacher as well as a photographer, I genuinely paused to check I hadn’t turned up for work instead of a wedding – Thankfully, I was in exactly the right place! It’s been a busy few weeks, with more weddings than usual filling my calendar. But every wedding has its own personality, and this one at Beaumanor Hall was no exception.
Beaumanor Hall is a stunning venue, full of character and beautiful light. One feature I’d been looking forward to photographing was the stained-glass window behind the main staircase. There was just one challenge: the staircase remained in use by visiting school groups until only a couple of minutes before the ceremony. That meant a very quick lighting setup, a little last-minute improvisation and a reminder that wedding photography rarely goes exactly to plan!
Fortunately, the rest of the day unfolded beautifully.
There were blue skies, warm sunshine and plenty of excitement as the groom and his groomsmen finished getting ready, complete with a banana for energy and a top-up of liquid luck before heading into the ceremony..
The ceremony was filled with the moments that matter most. Quiet smiles exchanged across the aisle. Little glances between parents and the couple. The anticipation before they finally became husband and wife. Even the rose petals had been carefully and meticulously arranged by the groomsmen before guests arrived, after much discussion!
After the ceremony, we stole a few peaceful minutes together in the grounds. Those portraits are never about standing awkwardly and smiling at the camera. They’re about giving couples a chance to breathe, take in everything that’s just happened and enjoy a few moments together before returning to celebrate with everyone they love.
The celebrations continued at The Beacon Inn in Leicestershire, where guests were already relaxing with drinks and waiting to welcome the newlyweds. The afternoon was full of conversation, laughter and stories during the speeches, with children chasing bubbles across the gardens, disappearing beneath tables and making regular visits to the sweet cart, as did the adults! (Jazzies are always a weakness!)
Days like this always remind me that being a wedding photographer is about far more than creating beautiful photographs.
Your photographer is one of the only people who spends almost the entire day alongside you. Sometimes that means quietly documenting everything from the background. Sometimes it means stepping in to gently organise family groups, noticing that a chair needs moving before a photo, keeping an eye on timings when the schedule starts to drift or helping things run smoothly without anyone really noticing.
That’s always my aim: to help the day feel relaxed, natural and enjoyable, while capturing the genuine moments that you’ll treasure for years to come.
