Imogen and Ben’s summer wedding at Guyers House was a beautiful, warm and intimate celebration with their closest family and friends. Their wedding was a little different from a traditional full-day wedding, with photography beginning shortly before the outdoor ceremony rather than covering bridal or groom preparations.

They had also chosen to have a pre-wedding photography shoot at Lydiard Park in Swindon. This was a great opportunity for us to get to know each other before the wedding day, and it helped Imogen and Ben become more comfortable in front of the camera.

A Summer Ceremony at Guyers House

The ceremony took place outside in the beautiful gardens at Guyers House on a warm summer day. A long lavender-lined pathway led towards the ceremony area, creating a particularly lovely setting as the guests gathered and waited for Imogen and Ben to say their vows.

With the warm weather, everyone was able to enjoy the gardens throughout the afternoon. Following the ceremony, I took Imogen and Ben for a relaxed walk around the grounds, capturing natural portraits and quieter moments together while they enjoyed some time away from their guests.

Later, I photographed the bridal party, concentrating on the friendship and fun between them rather than creating overly formal photographs. There was plenty of laughter, and we had a great deal of fun creating photographs that really captured the spirit of their friendship.

The reception was equally relaxed and intimate. With a smaller number of guests and no formal first dance, there was plenty of opportunity to concentrate on the people, conversations and spontaneous moments that made the afternoon special.

What Imogen & Ben Said

“He captures not just the day, but the entire story. Perhaps more importantly, he captures the ‘soul’ of the wedding and the feeling of the day. Our wedding was very intimate, with a small number of guests, yet Peter managed to capture magnificent, jaw-dropping shots alongside all the candid interactions, laughs and fun throughout the day.”

★★★★★ Google Review

About Guyers House

Guyers House is a beautiful English country house near Corsham, surrounded by extensive gardens that provide plenty of opportunities for wedding photography.

The gardens have a wonderful variety of settings, from mature trees and secluded corners to the pond and weeping willows. The ancient walled garden is another particularly beautiful area and provides a more intimate setting for portraits.

The long lavender pathway leading towards the outdoor ceremony area is also a lovely feature, particularly during the summer months when the lavender is in bloom. It creates a natural sense of arrival as guests make their way towards the ceremony.

The combination of the historic house and beautiful gardens makes Guyers House a particularly versatile setting for relaxed and natural wedding photography.

Planning Your Wedding at Guyers House

Golden Hour Portraits

If your wedding takes place during the summer, the gardens at Guyers House provide some lovely opportunities for photographs during golden hour.

You don’t need a long photography session. Even ten or fifteen minutes together can give you the chance to step away from your guests, enjoy a quiet moment together and create some beautiful portraits.

For a shorter or half-day wedding, these small windows of time can be particularly useful, allowing you to have some photographs together without taking you away from your celebrations for too long.

Family Group Photographs

Family photographs are particularly important at an intimate wedding, where the smaller guest list often means everyone has a close connection to the couple.

I recommend keeping the formal photographs relatively short and concentrating on the combinations that matter most to you. Once these are finished, we can return to capturing the more natural interactions between family and friends.

Confetti Photographs

Confetti photographs are always great fun and can create some wonderfully spontaneous images.

The gardens at Guyers House provide some lovely possibilities for finding a suitable location. A confetti walk also gives everyone an opportunity to get involved while creating plenty of movement, laughter and interaction.

Wet Weather

Although Imogen and Ben were fortunate to have beautiful warm summer weather, British weather can never be guaranteed.

It’s always worth having a wet-weather plan, and the character of Guyers House means there are still opportunities for beautiful photographs if the weather changes. We can also make the most of any breaks in the rain and adapt the photography around the conditions.

Timings for a Shorter Wedding

A half-day wedding can be wonderfully relaxed, particularly when the photography is planned around the key parts of the celebration.

Rather than trying to fit in every traditional wedding photograph, it’s often better to concentrate on the moments that are important to you. For Imogen and Ben, this meant beginning shortly before their ceremony, capturing the ceremony itself, spending some time together for portraits and then documenting the relaxed celebrations afterwards.

A little flexibility in the schedule also gives us the opportunity to take advantage of beautiful light or unexpected moments when they happen.

Enjoy Your Day

Most importantly, enjoy yourselves.

An intimate wedding gives you a wonderful opportunity to spend genuine time with the people closest to you. Talk, laugh, enjoy the food and take in the atmosphere rather than worrying about whether everything is happening exactly according to plan.

My approach is designed to allow you to enjoy your wedding while I quietly capture the moments happening around you.

Trust the Schedule, But Be Flexible

Wedding days rarely run exactly according to plan, and that’s perfectly normal.

This can be particularly true with smaller weddings, where the day often flows more naturally without the rigid structure of a large traditional wedding.

Rather than worrying about small changes to the schedule, I prefer to work with the day as it unfolds. If something takes a little longer or an unexpected moment happens, we can adapt.

Quite often, those unplanned moments become some of the most memorable photographs of the day.

Natural and Unobtrusive Wedding Photography

My approach to wedding photography is documentary and unobtrusive. I want to capture genuine moments, emotions and relationships while allowing you to enjoy your wedding without feeling constantly photographed.

Alongside the candid photographs, I also create natural portraits and family photographs when appropriate. Whether you’re planning a full-day wedding or a smaller, more intimate celebration, my aim is to create a collection of photographs that tells the story of your day while allowing you to experience and enjoy it.

If you’re planning a wedding at Guyers House and are looking for natural, relaxed wedding photography, get in touch by clicking here.