Wedding Photography in Dauntsey near Chippenham - Elizabeth and Mark

The days leading up to Elizabeth and Mark's wedding had been sweltering - a proper little heatwave that had everyone a little worried about melting! So when their wedding morning arrived just a touch cooler, I made my way to the church feeling genuinely relieved. A few degrees can make all the difference when you're carrying camera kit!

From the moment I arrived it was apparent that I lot of creativity had gone into the planning of this wedding. Elizabeth had made her own dress - a beautiful piece complete with an embroidered train, a cape and pearl details. What made it even more special was that the lining included fabric from her grandmother's collection, along with a hand-embroidered inscription tucked inside. Mark had also crafted his own outfit - a kilt and jacket. The whole thing felt deeply personal in the best possible way. The pew ends were a particular highlight. Little thimble-shaped flower pots filled with beautiful blooms and then decorated with buttons and knitting needles.

The church itself is a beautiful but tricky space to photograph - a magnificent Doom board and wooden pillars at the front make shooting from there a challenge, and with close family seated in the Choir, I didn't want to be clambering around and distracting from the moment. So I settled at the back, shooting wide to capture that incredible Doom board. Elizabeth and Mark had already told me how much they loved it, so I was happy to let it be part of their story.

I'll be honest - I spent much of the Vicar's address trying to keep my smile at bay. He'd clearly done his homework and had quietly threaded (pun very much intended) the most wonderful sewing metaphors throughout. Weaving their stories together. Threading through life. Sewing themselves into each other's worlds. Some of it was beautifully subtle, some of it less so, but all of it was warm and funny and perfectly judged. He also shared a lovely detail about how they got together - Mark often needlessly popping into the shop where Elizabeth worked on the flimsy pretence of needing sewing supplies.

Here I must make special mention of another personalised part of their day. Elizabeth and Mark had created the stole that the Vicar wore and that was used to bind their hands during the ceremony. This binding symbolises the old tradition of hand fasting which is something I didn’t know before.

After the ceremony Elizabeth and Mark stepped out into Dauntsey Park to the sound of church bells and the confetti throw shortly followed. After a few group shots we made a small detour up to Bradenstoke Priory, tucked away within a private estate where Elizabeth gives tours. It felt only natural for the two of them to steal away for a few quiet moments together.

Then it was on to the reception, held in a marquee in Elizabeth's parents' garden. The couple arrived to cheers and whoops from guests who'd been cooling off in the shade. One of my favourite little touches was the "Hello, my name is…" stickers that had been provided for everyone so guests could immediately start getting to know one another. Elizabeth and Mark, appropriately marked theirs out as "Mr Mark" and "Mrs Betsy".

The cake was a semi-naked creation topped with dressmaker's mannequins (naturally), presented on what I can only describe as a giant sewing machine bobbin cake stand. Another inspired personal touch. The buffet was tasty, the speeches short but genuinely moving, and then the pair cut their cake… with a sword!

The afternoon continued with the appearance of a ukulele duo which was the perfect, unhurried note to end on. Once I'd grabbed a few photos of them playing, I slipped away leaving them all to continue their celebrations into the evening.

Elizabeth and Mark - congratulations and thank you! You and every single one of your guests made me feel so completely welcome. Less like a photographer doing a job, more like a friend lucky enough to be there.

Below you will find a small selection of my favourite photos from the day. To view the full gallery, please speak to Elizabeth and Mark.