Lilly and Jordan’s Relaxed Summer Wedding at The Betsey Wynne
Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of capturing Lilly and Jordan’s wedding at The Betsey Wynne in Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire.
They booked me to document everything from the morning preparations through to the slightly drunken antics on the dance floor.
Lilly and Jordan were both incredibly laid back and wanted to spend as much of the day as possible with their friends and family. They were happy to capture a few group photographs, some creative portraits and anything else that needed a little guidance, but around 95 percent of the day was completely natural.
That suited my documentary style perfectly.
The result was a wedding packed with emotion, laughter, questionable dancing and a group of lads who gave me a few images that will never see the light of day.
More on that later.
Exploring a New Buckinghamshire Wedding Venue
The Betsey Wynne was a new venue for me, so I left home early and visited before heading over to photograph the preparations.
Whenever I am working somewhere new, I give myself plenty of time to explore properly.
I look at where the light is falling, where larger family groups could work and which areas might be useful for portraits later in the day. It means I am not wandering around looking for locations while the couple are standing there waiting for me.
The gardens were lovely, but what immediately caught my attention was the woodland and open fields behind the venue.
I knew these areas would give Lilly and Jordan plenty of variety, especially later in the evening when the temperature had dropped and the light was softer.
Once I had familiarised myself with the surroundings, I made my way over to their home to begin capturing the morning.
A Fun and Emotional Wedding Morning
Lilly was getting ready at home with her mum and sister.
Jordan was also preparing at the same property, although he had wisely positioned himself inside his homemade bar at the bottom of the garden.
I cannot blame him, really. It looked like a pretty good place to begin a wedding day.
Having them both getting ready in the same location meant I could move between them and capture each side of the morning without anyone feeling rushed.
The sun was shining, it was already becoming incredibly warm and Lilly had the biggest smile on her face throughout the preparations. She looked completely ready for the day ahead.
Their dog also made an appearance and was an absolute pleasure to photograph. Pets are part of the family, so it is always lovely when couples can include them in some part of their celebration.
Before everyone left for Swanbourne, Lilly had a first look with her dad.
The moment he saw her in her dress, he could not have looked prouder.
It was a genuinely lovely reaction and one of those moments that does not need any interference from me. I simply found the right position, allowed it to happen and captured the emotion naturally.
A Light Filled Ceremony at The Betsey Wynne
I arrived back at the venue around thirty minutes before the ceremony began.
This gave me plenty of time to document guests arriving, Jordan greeting everyone and Lilly making her entrance.
These quieter moments are an important part of the story.
Friends and relatives are catching up, people are finding their seats and the excitement gradually builds as everyone waits for the bride to arrive.
The ceremony room is a lovely space, with large windows allowing plenty of natural light inside.
The air conditioning was also very welcome.
It was an incredibly hot summer day, so being able to keep everyone comfortable made a real difference. Nobody wants to exchange their vows while slowly melting into their chair.
The ceremony itself had a bit of everything.
There were plenty of smiles, a few tears and lots of laughter from the guests. Before they knew it, Lilly and Jordan were officially married.
Congratulations, Mr and Mrs.
Confetti, Canapés and a Missing Photograph
After the ceremony, everyone headed outside for the confetti throw.
We then moved straight into the large group photograph before guests relaxed with drinks and canapés in the gardens.
A couple of the younger lads had brought a football along, which kept them entertained throughout the reception.
It was still extremely warm, so plenty of guests found a comfortable place in the shade where they could cool down, catch up and enjoy themselves.
During this part of the day, I captured the family groups, but Lilly and Jordan decided to leave their portraits until later.
I thought this was a great decision.
The summer evenings stay light for much longer, so there was no need to pull them away from everyone immediately after the ceremony. Waiting meant it would be cooler, the light would be better and they could enjoy their drinks reception without watching the clock.
There was one photograph I missed, however, and I am still slightly gutted about it.
While I was capturing the groups, a huge bird apparently swooped down and stole several canapés from one of the tables.
A guest told me about it later.
Obviously, the family photographs were more important, but I cannot pretend an image of a giant bird flying away with the wedding food would not have been brilliant.
Maybe next time.
Speeches Packed With Emotion
Once the drinks reception had finished, everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches.
The speeches had every emotion going.
One moment, the room was full of laughter, and the next, a few tears were being wiped away.
That is exactly how wedding speeches should be.
They gave me plenty of genuine reactions to capture, not just from Lilly and Jordan, but from their parents, friends and everyone else around the room.
The person holding the microphone is only half the story.
Some of my favourite moments come from watching the reactions elsewhere in the room, whether that is someone laughing uncontrollably, becoming emotional or quietly realising they are probably about to be mentioned next.
Evening Portraits in the Fields and Woodland
After the meal, we made our way towards the fields and woodland behind the venue.
By this point, the temperature had started to drop and the light was much softer than it had been earlier in the afternoon.
Lilly and Jordan were completely relaxed in front of the camera.
They laughed, chatted and enjoyed spending a little time together away from the busier parts of the day. That natural connection always creates better portraits than trying to force couples into stiff or uncomfortable poses.
I gave them small amounts of guidance when it was needed, but nothing felt overly staged.
We used the open fields for some light and natural images before moving into the woodland for a different look.
They were also happy for me to become a little more creative with my flash photography.
This allowed me to give them a handful of dramatic portraits alongside all the candid moments from the rest of the wedding.
The whole session was kept quick and easy.
We created plenty of variety without disappearing for an hour, and they were soon back with their guests enjoying the evening.
That is exactly how I believe wedding portraits should work.
They should add something special to the gallery without making the couple feel as though they have missed their own celebration.
Why The Betsey Wynne Works Well for a Relaxed Wedding
The venue is a brilliant choice for couples who want an intimate and easy going wedding in Buckinghamshire.
The ceremony room benefits from plenty of natural light, while the gardens provide a comfortable space for guests to mingle during the afternoon.
The fields and woodland behind the building also give couples several portrait options without needing to travel elsewhere.
This worked particularly well for Lilly and Jordan because they wanted to spend the afternoon with their guests and capture their portraits later in the evening.
We could simply step away when the temperature had dropped, use several different locations and return to the celebrations without interrupting the flow of the day.
Although this was my first wedding here, arriving early and exploring meant I already knew where I wanted to take them and how I could use each area.
That preparation allowed everything to feel relaxed and efficient rather than turning the portrait session into a location scouting mission.
A Wild Dance Floor and Some Very Cheeky Photographs
Once the evening guests had arrived, the party quickly moved into full swing.
The dance floor became increasingly lively, and by this stage, everyone was certainly ready to let loose.
There was brilliant energy throughout the evening, with plenty of singing, dancing and people completely forgetting the camera was there.
That is when documentary wedding photography works at its best.
I can move around the dance floor, watch what is happening and capture the fun without repeatedly stopping people or asking them to pose.
I also have to mention a few of the lads.
They asked me to photograph something completely new during the evening.
Those particular images will never be shared publicly because, let us just say, they showed me considerably more than I was expecting.
You know who you are.
Just as I was beginning to pack away, the lads gathered outside to smoke a few celebratory cigars.
They were boisterous, full of energy and clearly having the time of their lives.
It was a fun and slightly chaotic way to finish the evening.
A Brilliant Wedding From Start to Finish
Lilly and Jordan’s day was an absolute joy to capture.
It felt relaxed, personal and full of genuine moments. They spent plenty of time with their guests, embraced the portraits and completely threw themselves into the evening celebrations.
By keeping most of the photography documentary, they were free to enjoy themselves without constantly being told where to stand or what to do.
I would like to thank Lilly, Jordan and all their guests for making me feel so welcome throughout the entire day.
I also want to give a big shout out to the team at The Betsey Wynne. They did an incredible job of keeping everything running smoothly and ensuring everyone was well looked after, even in the intense summer heat.
Congratulations once again to Lilly and Jordan.
Planning Your Own Wedding at The Betsey Wynne?
Planning a wedding at The Betsey Wynne and looking for a relaxed, documentary wedding photographer?
My approach is colourful, natural and around 95 percent documentary.
I will help with family groups and portraits when guidance is needed, but I will not take over your wedding or keep you away from your guests for hours.
For most of the day, I will allow you to enjoy yourselves while I capture the laughter, emotion and slightly chaotic moments happening around you.
After photographing Lilly and Jordan’s day here, I know how to make the most of the ceremony room, gardens, fields and woodland while keeping everything easy, relaxed and enjoyable.
