Ellen & Mark

A Summer Wedding at The Old Rectory

A few years ago, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing Ellie & Gavin’s wedding (check out their amazing wedding at the Assembly House here), and now it’s Gavin’s brother’s turn! What an incredible day it was.

Ellen and Mark picked The Old Rectory in Spixworth for their big day It’s such a charming spot with a ceremony room that’s bathed in gorgeous natural light—If you like your photos bright and breezy a venue like this is ideal.

Arriving nice and early, I found Ellen, her mum, and her two daughters already in full wedding mode!

The big moment!

By the time I arrived in the ceremony room, Gavin was a man on a mission, greeting guests left, right, and centre, which made for some fantastic candid moments.

Before we knew it, it was go-time! The guests were seated, the music began, and Ellen made her grand entrance with her dad. They’d chosen a celebrant, which always adds a lovely, personal touch to the ceremony. It’s fun to see couples break away from tradition and make their wedding their own.

With vows exchanged and “I dos” sealed, it was time to step outside into the summer sunshine. Its going to be a hot day!

Stop....Confetti Time!

The Old Rectory’s gardens are stunning, especially in the summer sun. First up—confetti! I love this part because I get to play director for a bit, arranging everyone into two neat lines before the big confetti throw. It’s such a joyful moment.

After that, we wrangled everyone together for a big group shot, and then I whisked Ellen and Mark away for a couple photos around the grounds. The lighting was just perfect—one of those dreamy golden afternoons.

Speeches and some amazing light!

Back inside, it was speech time! Ellen’s dad gave a wonderful speech—equal parts touching and hilarious. The speeches were short and sweet, which left more time for everyone to enjoy the food, drinks, and laughter.

As the evening light softened, I kept an eye on the sunset (it’s all about timing!). I grabbed Ellen and Mark for a quick session outside, taking full advantage of that low sun! Its a window that lasts for about 15 minutes, so get your running shoes on!

Cake Cutting, Dancing & Sparklers

As the evening guests arrived, it was time for the cake-cutting! After a quick countdown, Ellen and Mark made the first slice, and then we headed straight to the dance floor for the first dance.

The Old Rectory’s ceremony room doubles as the perfect dance floor. Guests gathered around, almost in a full circle

Before wrapping up for the night, we had one last magical moment: sparklers! With everyone gathered outside, the fairy lights on the big oak tree in the background created the dreamiest scene for the final photo. Easily one of my favourite shots of the day.

And just like that, Ellen and Mark’s beautiful wedding was a wrap. What a day!