Lucy & Richard
An outdoor celebrant wedding
Wondering whether it’s possible to call the shots when it comes to your ceremony? It is! A celebrant wedding is just the ticket for couples who want to do things their way. Lucy and Richard took this approach – with a summer casuals dress code for the legal bit in the morning and tails and posh frocks for the afternoon. It was all so relaxed and a joy to capture.
Lucy and Richard got married at one of my favourite Northamptonshire venues – Deene Park. They chose the walled garden for their ceremony and reception, with a drinks reception in the long border gardens.
The freedom of outdoor celebrant wedding ceremonies
Lucy and Richard turned tradition on its head and did the legal bit first thing in the morning. At 9am, as the florist was creating arrangements, the stylist tying chair sashes, and the venue team checking all the things, Lucy and Richard gathered in casual summer clothes with just their witnesses (and me and my camera) under the garden pavilion, to get legally married. And then they headed back to their hotel to get ready for their wedding day!
And after the day, they reminisced that it was a great decision. It meant they could pick their own timings rather than having that set by default from the registrar’s availability. It also meant their main ceremony could be completely personalised with no standard lines, fixed format, or must-have moments. And there was an added unexpected bonus too… It got all their nerves out of the way early doors, which meant they could enjoy their time getting ready and relax into their main ceremony more.
The freedom of unhindered photography
I have a soft spot for celebrant wedding ceremonies too. I’ll be discreet no matter what, but there’s more freedom to move about. Which means I can get easily get different angles and views, rather than being limited to one spot. The variety makes for a much more interesting set of photos.
Another thing which helps me tell a wedding story better is working as a team of two. Dominique joined me to capture Lucy and Richard’s wedding and she added so much. Richard’s reaction as I photographed Lucy walking down the aisle, candid photos of the guests while I did the portraits and group photos, people arriving while I captured the couple getting ready… It’s particularly useful at a large venue like Deene Park when you’d otherwise lose so much time just walking from one part of the venue to another.
Planning an outdoor celebrant wedding?
Sign me up! I’m always ready for wedding photography at Deene Park! So if you like what you see here and would like relaxed, natural photos for yourselves, I’d love to hear from you. Your first step is to get in touch and check my availability. And if luck is on my side, I’ll remember to attach my brochure too!
Credit where credit’s due
Photography: Sarah Vivienne Hi, hey, hello! | Venue: Deene Park | Celebrant: Ceremonies by Nicola West | Florals: Julia Dilworth | Lucy’s dress: Serendipity Brides | MakeUp: Hannah Finn | Cake: Amelia Rose Cake Studio | Catering: Portfolio Events | Styling: The Little Details Company | Car: Exclusive Cars | Band: The Distractions