A Beautiful Farbridge Wedding with Stunning Golden Hour

This is Sophie & Daisy’s Story

I always love receiving an enquiry from a couple who I’ve been personally recommended to. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with a Google search, there are many wedding photographers out there and it’s hard for couples to know where to start. Venue recommendation is great of course, but nothing beats word of mouth from a family member, friend or colleague. Of course, they might not want the same style of photography or have the same budget, but it’s certainly a good place to start.

As a wedding photographer based in Sussex for the past 10 years (I started my wedding photography career a few years prior to that whilst living in Miami, Florida) I am very fortunate to now get many of my wedding bookings through personal recommendation. Sophie and Daisy’s enquiry popped into my inbox thanks to being recommended from a couple whose wedding I had literally just captured at Buxted Park in East Sussex.

I was especially pleased to see from their message that their wedding was to be held at stunning Farbridge in West Sussex. Why? Because I photograph at many barns in East and West Sussex but had never before had the opportunity to work at Farbridge. That’s the downside of venue supplier lists for photographers, it can be difficult to get your first wedding at any new location, and I always love working at barns and beach venues I haven’t been to before!

Farbridge has some beautiful accommodation onsite, including a large suite and seven double bedrooms off the main courtyard. The brides-to-be both opted to get ready at the venue: Daisy chose one of the seven courtyard rooms and Sophie was in the Suite, a beautifully furnished open-plan bedroom and sitting room which backs onto the Secret Garden. The Secret Garden is a lush, green space screened off from the main courtyard and a completely private area for both getting ready and also for the couple to enjoy downtime at any point during their day. There’s a handy secluded walkway though the garden to the aisle in the Ceremony Room too.

The two brides each got ready with their best men and best women, plus separate make up artists – Alicia Sandeman who I’d worked with several times previously, and Elligance (you can find links to them at the bottom of this page). They each looked stunning in white – Sophie wearing a traditional lace bridal gown and Daisy a modern jumpsuit – with beautiful flowers from Manor Nursery Garden Centre.

As the guests started to file into the ceremony room from the courtyard, the heavens opened and the rain came as if out of nowhere! Bags and coats were held over heads as the scamble to get indoors ensued. I always love capturing those fun moments, but was equally pleased for the brides that the rain quickly stopped to be replaced by sunny skies for the rest of their special day.

Sophie and Daisy weren’t huge fans of having their photo taken and certainly wanted to avoid being lined up for endless posed photos (music to my ears!) Not for them the the traditional cake cutting or first dance, although they did decide to throw their bouquets, making for a lovely sequence of happy photos, as you can see below.

And although the brides weren’t fans of posed photos, we all agreed that a ‘four generation of women’ photo would be a lovely memory to create, with Sophie, her Mum, Gran and Great Nan.

Later, the many additional evening guests joined the day crowd for some full-on partying on the dancefloor. As it had been such a beautiful day, I did keep my eye on the skies and was rewarded with a stunning Golden Hour with the most magical light. Luckily, It didn’t take much persuasion to coax the new Mrs and Mrs away from the dancefloor – i knew we’d literally have 5 mintues before the sun disappeared behind the trees and was gone for good! If your photographer tells you the light is amazing and now would be a good time, I’d definitely trust them and just go with it!

I’m really hoping that another bride (or groom )-to-be who’s planning a Farbridge wedding will find this Story and love my style! I really hope to return to Farbridge again soon! If that sounds like you, please do get in touch, I’d love to capture your story!  

Jenny x