A Beautiful Summer Wedding at St Osyth Priory

Charlotte & Andy's elegant Essex wedding in the sunshine There are some wedding venues that make you want to photograph absolutely everything — and St Osyth Priory is definitely one of them. Charlotte and Andy's summer wedding was my first time photographing a wedding at St Osyth Priory, and it really is such a beautiful place. Set within 350 acres of historic Essex parkland, there are incredible backdrops everywhere you turn — from the Gatehouse and beautifully restored interiors to the ruins and grounds outside. It also happened to be another very hot wedding day — apparently becoming something of a theme for me. But with blue skies, everyone outside enjoying themselves and the most beautiful evening light later in the day, I certainly wasn't complaining. The morning began in one of the loveliest preparation spaces I've photographed. The beautiful rooms at St Osyth Priory were filled with natural light, with four-poster beds, gold furniture and so many gorgeous little details to work with. Charlotte got ready with her two bridesmaids, with her mum and Andy's mum popping in and out throughout the morning. I loved how relaxed it all felt. There were quieter moments alongside the excitement, plenty happening without the room ever feeling chaotic, and lots of opportunities for me to simply observe and photograph the morning as it unfolded. Hair was created by Sarah Wade Hair, with make-up by Jaimie Attfield, and then it was time for that dress. Charlotte wore the most incredible gown by Suzanne Neville from Bespoke Wardrobe, and it couldn't have suited her more perfectly. Elegant, beautifully structured and completely timeless. Alongside the softer, naturally lit photographs from the morning, I also brought in a little direct flash for some of Charlotte's bridal portraits. I loved how these turned out. They added a slightly more editorial feel to the preparations and gave us something a little different within the gallery, while still feeling completely true to Charlotte and the rest of the day. An outdoor ceremony at the Gatehouse Then it was time to get married. Charlotte and Andy held their ceremony outside, with the incredible Gatehouse providing the backdrop — one of the many historic spaces within the estate. And that aisle. It genuinely has to be one of the longest wedding aisles I've ever photographed. Charlotte made her way towards Andy with their guests gathered outside in the sunshine, accompanied by music from Stretto Quartet. It was such a beautiful setting for a ceremony. There is something wonderfully relaxed about an outdoor wedding. Everyone is together, you're surrounded by all that open space and, at St Osyth Priory, you've also got the history and architecture of the estate framing everything around you. After the ceremony, it was time to properly relax. Drinks were enjoyed outside in the sunshine, with guests making the most of the gorgeous weather and grounds. This is always one of my favourite parts of a wedding to photograph because nobody really needs anything from me. I can simply move through what's happening — conversations, hugs, glasses being raised, people laughing and all those little interactions Charlotte and Andy couldn't possibly see themselves. The gorgeous florals by Miss Fleur Floral Design and beautiful surroundings absolutely deserved to be photographed, but it's the people bringing everything to life that ultimately make those photographs mean something. Later, everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast. The room looked beautiful, with elegant styling that felt completely at home within the historic surroundings of the Priory. I always try to photograph the wedding breakfast room before everyone enters. So much thought goes into these spaces — flowers, tables, stationery and all those carefully chosen details — and within minutes of guests sitting down, it completely transforms. Those photographs become another little part of the story of the day. And after dinner, everyone headed back outside for something slightly less elegant... An early-evening sing-off between the girls and the guys, fuelled by hand picked cocktails. Everyone was outside in the evening sunshine, completely involved and having the best time. Nobody was thinking about photographs. Nobody needed positioning or prompting. It was just one of those brilliant moments that happened — and exactly the kind of thing I love being there to capture. These are often some of my favourite photographs in a finished wedding gallery. They're not necessarily the moments you put on a photography list beforehand, but they're the ones that instantly transport you back to the atmosphere of the day. And then the light did its thing. As the sun dropped lower, we slipped away for a little time together around the ruins at St Osyth Priory. The estate has an incredible collection of historic buildings and ruins, which gave us such a beautiful setting for portraits as the evening light softened. Charlotte's Suzanne Neville gown looked particularly gorgeous in that light, and the combination of the warm evening sun, old stone and beautiful surroundings was an absolute dream to photograph. But I didn't want Charlotte and Andy disappearing from their wedding for ages. A little wander, some gentle direction when they needed it, time to actually enjoy being together — and then straight back to everyone they loved. Charlotte and Andy's wedding was such a beautiful introduction to St Osyth Priory. From the light-filled preparations and Charlotte's incredible dress to their outdoor Gatehouse ceremony, sunny drinks reception, spontaneous sing-off and golden-hour portraits amongst the ruins, the whole day gave me so much to photograph. But, as always, it's everything happening between those moments that completes the story. Charlotte's parents popping into the room that morning. Andy getting ready for the day. The anticipation before Charlotte walked down that enormous aisle. Guests laughing together over drinks. Everyone completely committing to the sing-off. Those are the things that make a wedding feel like your wedding. Charlotte and Andy, thank you for having me. I absolutely loved photographing your day — and St Osyth Priory, I very much hope I'll be back.

Planning a St Osyth Priory wedding? If you're planning your own wedding at St Osyth Priory and are looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography with a little editorial creativity woven in, I'd absolutely love to hear about your plans. I'll gently guide you when you need me, make the most of that incredible Essex setting and, most importantly, give you the space to enjoy your wedding while I capture everything happening around you. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WEDDING →