When love just flows
Emily and Isaac’s wedding felt just right. Nothing forced, everything unfolding naturally around the people and things that matter most to them. It felt authentic, creative, and completely them. And I loved capturing the relaxed joy and playful energy of the day for them.
Creativity everywhere
Emily works as a landscape architect for Tom Stuart-Smith, and Isaac is an incredibly talented filmmaker, so the day was always going to look amazing. But what really stood out was how the whole day felt – relaxed, personal, and so very them.
Personal touches
Everything had heartfelt and personal touches. Emily’s colleagues helped with the flowers. One of the bridesmaids made their cake. Dad’s little red car made its cheerful appearance. The sweetpeas in Emily’s bouquet were grown by her mum. Emily wore vintage family heirloom jewellery that connected her to the generations before. And their portraits were taken in a tree avenue her dad planted years ago. How gorgeous is that?!
Breaking convention (in the best way)
They took traditions and made them their own. Ribbon wands instead of confetti. Mismatched bridesmaids in their own choice of dress. Linen suits for the groomsmen in soft greens and creams to suit the season. Speeches from Emily and the bridesmaids. Time spent with their guests rather than disappearing for endless posed photos. These two really knew what mattered!
Home-spun feeling
This kind of beautiful setting and effortless joy takes a lot of thought and planning! So much hard graft went into gardening, opening a hedge to connect the garden with the field, levelling a ridge-and-furrow field to create flat ground for the tipi, hedgerow foraging, styling the tipi… and their friends and family were part of it all which brought everyone together and brought a wonderful feeling of closeness to the day.
“Thank you Sarah for the photos which are so amazingly perfect.
Emily & Isaac
We all love them and are so impressed.
You captured so much of the day and it’s lovely to see it all again.”
The magic begins
Emily and Isaac got married at All Saints church in Yelvertoft village in Northamptonshire, and honestly, the joy was infectious from the moment Emily walked down the aisle. Isaac’s face just lit up when he saw her – a genuine moment that made everyone smile.
What I loved about their ceremony was how personal it felt. There were all the usual traditions. And then, while they were signing the register, some (super talented!) friends provided some acoustic music, and before you knew it, everyone was pew-dancing and singing along. It turned what could have been a quiet formal moment just for them into something really special that connected everyone and set the tone for a fun celebration.
And instead of confetti? Ribbon wands. Genius move! All the fun and colour of confetti, but the guests waved them around for ages, and no one had to pick bits out of their hair afterwards! As a photographer, I was secretly thrilled because ribbon wands last longer than 1.43 seconds of confetti chaos! And yes, I’m stealing this idea for future recommendations!
After the ceremony, off they went in Emily’s dad’s vintage red Citroën – with Emily popping out of the sunroof with her bouquet, cans making the most joyful racket behind them, and everyone cheering them off. It was playful, joyful, and couldn’t have suited them better!
A garden that tells a story
The reception was at Emily’s family home in Elkington in Northamptonshire, and the garden – WOW! Emily and her parents created the incredible garden together over the years. Tree-lined paths, flower borders bursting with colour and the kind of scent that stops you mid-step, beautiful spaces to relax. You could feel the care and time that had gone into crafting every corner, as if just for this day.
Emily and Isaac drove right into the middle of their drinks reception and the little red Citroen sat proudly in the middle of the lawn as a much-loved family member! There couldn’t have been a lovelier setting for them.
The celebration continues
The tipi was set up in a field next to the house. Inside, it was another world with foraged branches providing structure and softness, and locally grown English country garden flowers on the tables. And the patterned napkins … Emily and Isaac all over! Such style and all DIY.
Emily and Isaac danced into dinner to Major Lazer which was a VIBE. And the long banqueting tables and sharing platters of seasonal food encouraged real conversation. An incredible way to bring everyone together!
After dinner, the fire pits and hay bales were a huge hit. It felt like the ideal spot to just be and relax before the party started. Groups naturally gathered around the warmth, relaxing in the evening sun with views of the countryside and meadow grasses stretching out around them. There was something so grounding about those gentler fireside moments and capturing everyone so relaxed was such a joy.
Their first dance was brilliant – part choreographed, part just them being themselves and having fun without worrying about getting every step right. You could see their personalities shining in every moment. And then their DJ kept the dancefloor rocking into the early hours.
For couples who get it
To me, Emily and Isaac’s wedding shows exactly how beautiful and meaningful an at-home wedding can be.
When you stay true to yourselves and choose a natural approach to your wedding photography that allows space for your day to unfold naturally, you don’t just have a wedding… you create a celebration that feels genuine, meaningful, and completely yours. The kind of day where love and joy flow through every moment and everyone leaves feeling like they’ve been part of something truly special (including me!).
If you’re dreaming of a joyful wedding at home like Emily and Isaac’s, I’ve shared more at-home wedding celebrations here.
Planning a creative and authentic wedding like this?
If you’re planning a celebration that feels heartfelt, creative, and full of meaning, and you’d like it captured with honesty and care, I’d love to hear from you.
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.
