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Intimate Back Garden Wedding | Shoreham-by-Sea

I started the day at the family home where the bride was getting ready with two of her children and bridal party. It was a three minute walk from my home so they definitely win the most local wedding award haha. In the morning the bride was helping to set up the garden for the wedding reception whilst also getting herself and her children ready. Her dress wasn't a traditional wedding dress, it was gold and had lots of detail on it, it was stunning! I wish more brides would go the less traditional route and show their personality more. The garden had two marquee tents; one for the band and drinks reception and one for the sit down meal. The marquees were made from beautiful, vintage, floral patterned materials which went well with the rustic decor. They had a few seating areas made from wooden palettes and pillows for guests to sit on, the table centrepieces were log slices with flowers, a photo of the couple and a pebble with the table name written on it. I love all of the DIY pieces they made for the wedding, I always feel like they make it more personal.


vintage patterned marquee at shoreham by sea wedding, wedding photography sussex
marquee wedding decor, intimate garden wedding, wedding photographer West Sussex
rustic wedding centrepiece decor, log slice centrepiece, pebble table names and flowers, wedding photographer sussex

The catering team from Taste-Buds starting setting up everything in the kitchen and dining area to prepare the three course meal for later in the day. The wedding cake by Jen the Chocolatician was brought round and assembled inside one of the marquees, it was placed onto a large log slice which had the couples names and wedding date engraved into it. The cake had lots of chocolate flowers on it, lots of them where made by the bridal party at the hen do. They done a chocolate making workshop hosted by Jen the Chocolatician at her Worthing workshop.


Semi naked three tier wedding cake decorated with colourful chocolate flowers by the chcolatician in Worthing, wedding cake maker worthing

We headed over to St. Mary's Church which was a short two minute walk from their home and got ready for the ceremony. The bride had a maid of honour and two flower girls, one being her baby girl and the groom had two best men; his best friend and his brother in law. They had a lovely ceremony with two readings by each of their mothers. After the service they were showered with dried flower confetti by their guests outside the church. We took the group shots and a few couple shots before heading back to their home for the reception.


St Mary de Haura Church Shoreham-by-sea, St. Mary's Church Shoreham West Sussex
Inside St Mary de Haura Church Shoreham-by-sea, St. Mary's Church Shoreham West Sussex

For the drinks reception back at the house the catering team Taste-Buds handed out drinks and delicious canapés. They had a band playing in one of the marquees which provided some really nice background music for the guests. After the drinks reception everyone got seated in the second marquee at the end of the garden ready for the wedding breakfast. The three course meal was served; they had a salad to start, chicken, potatoes and veggies for the main and eton mess for dessert. Then we had the speeches; the father of the bride, the groom, the best man and the brother of the bride all delivered lovely speeches, there were definitely some tears but plenty of laughs too. It was the perfect intimate wedding surrounded by their closest friends and family. It felt so special having it at their family home.


garden bar at intimate wedding in shoreham-by-sea, small wedding inspiration, sussex wedding
bridal bouquet by rooted and co shoreham, sussex wedding florist, wedding photographer shoreham by sea
hanging flower basket by rooted and co, floral wedding decor sussex
taste buds catering company sussex serving up wedding breakfast at shoreham by sea garden wedding

Then came the time to cut the cake. Their little boy couldn't wait and ran over to the cake to have a taste, he stuck his finger in the icing, it was so funny. The bride and groom cut the cake, they cut off a little slice for their boy to try, safe to say he absolutely loved it! The other kids started lining up for some cake too before the catering team took it away to be cut up properly for the guests. Later in the evening we had the first dance and then straight into the conga which I thought was a brilliant idea. Everyone got involved and the conga went through the house and all the way around the garden until. they all ended up back on the dance floor. Overall it was a really lovely day and it was a pleasure to capture it for them.


little boy sticking his finger in the wedding cake, documentary wedding photographer sussex
bride holding her little boy whilst he eats a piece of the wedding cake, garden wedding shoreham, wedding photographer sussex
bride and groom in their garden at intimate wedding in shoreham by sea, wedding photographer shoreham sussex
wedding guests doing the conga at intimate garden wedding in shoreham by sea















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