Weddings in Warwickshire
Rebecca & Simon's Ardencote Wedding
The British spring is known for its unpredictable weather, and Rebecca and Simon’s wedding day at Ardencote was no exception. On this particular day, the skies were filled with a mixture of grey clouds, bursts of sunlight. And the occasional spring shower, a true mix of classic British springtime. Despite the uncertainty in weather, Rebecca & Simon didn’t let the weather dampen their wedding day with plenty of smiles, and lots of laughter. Making the celebration a memorable and emotional wedding celebration with family and friends.
The Ardencote, located in Warwickshire, is a stunning wedding venue, known for its serene lake, and beautifully landscaped gardens. And not forgetting the spa luxury and golf facilities! It offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor spaces perfect for photography, regardless of the weather. From the moment I arrived, I was reminded why Rebecca and Simon had chosen this wedding venue’s location .its charm, warmth of staff, and beauty, it provides a picturesque backdrop that we would take full advantage of throughout the day between the wind and mini rain showers.
The Bridal Suite
The beginning of my day began in the bridal suite, where Rebecca was getting ready with her bridesmaids, her 3 beautiful daughters and close family members. There’s always an energy that fills a room during bridal preparations – a mixture of anticipation, joy, and not to mention the completely normal wedding day nerves. Rebecca was full of energy and happiness from the moment I walked in and greeted her, the excitement was contagious and set a lovely tone for the rest of the day with me smiling all day.
From the outset, she made it clear that she wanted the photography to be as natural and unobtrusive as possible. The couple’s vision was to have the day documented authentically – capturing those real, unscripted moments that tell the true story of a wedding day and moments they might miss. This is my preferred style, a full natural documentary styling. I find it allows emotions, personalities, and relationships to shine through in a genuine and heartfelt way.
As I moved around the room, I captured the candid interactions between Rebecca and her daughters. Photographing the final touches of makeup and hair, emotional moments shared with family. These are the quiet yet powerful images that can often be overlooked, but they form the emotional story of the wedding narrative I am capturing for the wedding day.
Once I had finished capturing the important bridal preparation, I took the opportunity to photograph the intricate details of the ceremony space, sadly now indoors not on the lovely island on the lake. Every wedding is made up of personal touches and ideas – from the floral arrangements to the table settings, the seating plan, and the personalised touches that reflect the couple’s own style, Rebecca & Simon opted to have the Bridesmaids in a lovely dark green but the room was set in baby pink and white.
Meanwhile, I found Simon, the groom, who was with family and friends that had arrived sharing some hugs, and laughter with greetings . Simon appeared calm and composed ready to get to the ceremony underway. Just like Rebecca, he was clearly excited, his nerves evident in the way he looked at the guests arriving, and most importantly, when he later saw his bride walking down the aisle.
The Ceremony
Originally, the ceremony was intended to be held outside on Ardencote’s beautiful island on the lake. However, as the weather refused to make up its mind, the decision was made to move the ceremony indoors – a good choice considering the earlier rainfall and winds.
Despite the change in plans, the indoor ceremony turned out to be just as heartfelt and emotional. Rebecca walked down the aisle looking absolutely stunning, and there was so much emotion in her face, and she was physically shaking from nerves and excitement to see Simon and get married!
These are the moments that I capture from your wedding day that you dont always realise or remember happened. Exchanging of vows, Rebeccas trembling voice, and the glances between two people making a lifelong commitment.
Once the ceremony concluded, we moved out to the patio for group photos. Much to everyone’s surprise and delight, the rain had stopped just in time. The clouds began to lift slightly, allowing for enough natural light to create beautifully group photos of the couple with family and friends. These group shots are an important part of the day, they capture relationships, and generations coming together, and the people who will look back on these moments with fondness except for some of the windy moments!
Working quickly and efficiently, I coordinated the key family and group photographs, keeping the flow light and fun to ensure natural smiles and relaxed expressions. The couple’s warmth and the genuine affection between their families made this part of the day feel more like a celebration than a formal duty.
With the group shots all complete, I took Rebecca and Simon away for their couples photos around the venue. With the rain finally leaving us and the sun coming out it gave us the perfect opportunity to venture round the Ardencote grounds and capture romantic, timeless images of just the two of them. These sessions are some of the most intimate parts of the wedding day. It is a brief pause from the whirlwind, where the couple can truly take in the significance of the moment and each other.
We walked through the small tree lined area, paused by the lake, and made use of the venue’s charming walkways and lake bridges. Rebecca and Simon were naturals in front of the camera, I cannot say completely at ease, but with me making them laugh, getting them to embrace my idea, they soon really enjoyed the moment. Because they wanted natural photography, I gave minimal direction, allowing them to interact authentically while I focused on composition, lighting, and emotion. These moments were filled with small moments, quiet conversations, and big smiles. I like to think of these photos as a representation of their love story, and I’m honoured to witness this between them.
The celebrations moved into the reception for the wedding breakfast. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with speeches, toasts, and some laughter. I continued to capture candid images – the joyful reactions during speeches.
A Reflection on a Beautiful Day
Despite the moody spring weather to start with, Rebecca and Simon’s wedding was nothing short of full of joy and excitement. It’s a perfect example of how love and joy can outshine even the gloomiest of skies. The decision to move the ceremony indoors was made with no stress, and it allowed the day to unfold smoothly and beautifully. The weather, in the end, became a mere backdrop to a story filled with emotion, connection, and celebration.
Rebecca and Simon were truly a delight to work with – warm, welcoming, and fully present in each moment of their day. Their love for each other was palpable, and it made documenting their wedding feel less like a job and more like an honour.
This case study is a reminder that no matter the challenges, a wedding is about two people coming together to begin a new chapter. It’s not the location, the weather, or the timeline that matters most, simply it’s the love shared and the memories created. As a photographer, being entrusted to capture those memories is something I never take lightly.
Rebecca and Simon’s wedding at Ardencote will always stand out to me not just because of its stunning venue and unpredictable weather, but because of the beautiful people and the story I was lucky enough to tell through my lens.
