Michaela and Miles got married in the little village they call home – Marston Trussell in Northamptonshire. With Miles’ family farm on one side, their home and the church on the other, everything they needed (apart from a conveniently-placed pub!) was right on their doorstep. There’s something extra special about celebrating love right where life happens with an at-home wedding.
The preparations
Michaela got ready at the farm with her bridesmaids, full of shared excitement and the satisfied buzz of everything coming together.
Miles and his groomsmen – and furry ring-bearer, Roo – got ready just down the road at home. And they carefully planned time for a quick trip across the Leicestershire & Northamptonshire border for a pre-wedding pint at The Coach and Horses in nearby Lubenham.
The arrivals
With pints polished off and spirits high, the boys (and Roo) welcomed guests to the church of St Nicholas in Marston Trussell. The arrivals are by far one of my favourite parts of a wedding to capture, and today was no exception. Hugs lingered, happy hellos turned into deep reunions, and the atmosphere grew warmer as everyone gathered.
Green-fingered genius Vicky from Paisley Flower Company had worked magic with the flowers. Milk churns burst with bright colour at the entrance, and a river of beautiful blooms lined the aisle. It felt like walking into happiness.
The ceremony
It was standing room only when Michaela arrived! Marston Trussell church may be small, but it’s amazing how many people you can fit inside when you need to! There was plenty of room for Roo to run down the aisle with the rings, though!
The Archdeacon of Northampton conducted the ceremony and brought calm and charm in equal measure. His effortless, relatable, and light-hearted approach made the church feel like a living room full of friends. He truly set the tone for a fun celebration.
Outside, in a nod to their rural farming roots, a pitchfork guard of honour greeted Michaela and Miles. I loved capturing the guests giggling as they tried to fit under the raised forks in their wedding hats! After confetti, they jumped into a green Triumph Spitfire – complete with clattering cans. Miles doused his groomsmen in fizz just before driving off and, luckily, they took it well and still gave the car a push start! The expressions on people’s faces were a picture – literally!
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The drinks reception
Guests were towed back to the family farm by tractor and trailer, and a glorious wildflower border welcomed them to the sailcloth marquee. Michaela and Miles planted the border themselves months before, hoping it would flower for their wedding. The flowers clearly understood the assignment and hit the peak of their blooms right on time!
We’d now been joined by a total of three dogs (best day ever!) – Roo the ring-bearing spaniel, Doug the yellow lab, and Honey the golden retriever. The guests of honour happily lapped up the attention and were very pleased everyone had come to see them. They tried their best to charm guests out of their canapes, and I promised I’d keep their success rate a secret!
After a game of Ushers vs Flower Girls tennis, we took some family group photos. And a very enthusiastic crowd gathered for Michaela to throw her bouquet.
The portraits
While the guests made their way into the marquee, Michaela and Miles took a quiet moment for some portraits together beside their wildflower border. Naturally, we included the dogs – but getting all three of them to look at the camera at the same time was quite the feat! Even so, we pulled it off. Doug, however, never did catch his tail!
The wedding breakfast
The marquee felt like something out of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with leafy trees softening the tent poles and bright florals giving a burst of colour to every table. Their stationery was thoughtfully designed with little nods to their lives: wildflowers, golden oats from the family crop, paw prints, and the wisteria from their cottage. Every detail told a story and felt like them.
A nominated chef on each table donned an apron and hat to carve the roast. They all seemed to enjoy the opportunity to dress up, and it was a lovely sociable way to serve food and enjoy good conversation. Their cake, lovingly made by Michaela’s godmother, featured their dogs snacking on the cake (they say life imitates art…), and they cut it with a family-heirloom sword, which added a little drama.
The party
Michaela and Miles booked me until late to capture the evening party, which was so much fun! The personalised cocktails got things started, the dance floor filled up in seconds, and the party took on a life of its own. I love how a party unites the generations with everyone coming together on the dancefloor to show off their best moves and reveal a little bit (or quite a lot) of their wild side. The kind of night you’ll talk about for years.
Are you planning a wedding at home?
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The creative team
Photography
Photos by me, Sarah Vivienne – hi!
Dreaming of pictures like these? Make yourselves at home and have a good look around.
