Twelve guests, two little ones and a wedding day centred around family.
Fiona and Mark chose August for their intimate wedding at The Guildhall in Faversham, bringing their closest family together to celebrate their marriage.
With just twelve guests, including six children and babies, their day was a lovely reminder that weddings don't need to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes, the simplest celebrations are the ones that feel the most personal.
As an intimate wedding photographer, I love the idea that a wedding can be whatever you want it to be. A ceremony with your favourite people, your children by your side and a chance to celebrate the life you're building together.
A Love Story That Began at University
Fiona and Mark first met at university, long before their wedding day and before the family they have today.
Over the years, their relationship grew, and they welcomed two little ones into their lives: their four-year-old son and their nine-month-old baby.
Their wedding was a chance to make their commitment official and celebrate the family they'd already built together.
For Fiona, it also meant having her family travel down from Scotland to share the occasion. With everyone gathered together for such a personal milestone, the day was about far more than the ceremony itself.
There's something lovely about small weddings where every guest has a special place in your story. When you're surrounded by the people who know you best, there's no need for an elaborate schedule or a huge celebration. You can simply enjoy being together and marking the occasion in your own way.
An Intimate Ceremony at The Guildhall, Faversham
Fiona and Mark chose The Guildhall in Faversham for their August civil ceremony.
The historic building provided a characterful setting for their wedding, with the day kept small and focused on their closest family.
Registry office and town hall weddings have a charm all of their own. They offer couples the freedom to keep things simple, without losing any of the meaning behind the occasion.
You can exchange your vows, share the moment with the people who matter most and then continue the celebrations in whatever way feels right for you.
Not every couple dreams of a large wedding with hundreds of guests. For some, a small ceremony and time with family is exactly what they want, and there's something special about having the freedom to plan a day around that.
A Wedding With Their Little Family at the Heart
With their four-year-old son and nine-month-old baby, Fiona and Mark's wedding was also a celebration of their family.
Having children at a wedding brings its own little moments. Babies need cuddles, little ones have their own ideas, and sometimes the most memorable photographs come from the moments that happen naturally rather than anything planned.
This is one of the reasons I love documentary-style wedding photography.
My approach is to capture the genuine moments as they unfold, from the emotion of the ceremony to the interactions between family members. I'll offer gentle direction when it's helpful, particularly for group photographs and couple portraits, but there's no need to spend your wedding day constantly posing.
Your wedding is a moment in your family's story, and photographs become a way to remember what life looked like at that particular time. The ages of your children, the family who travelled to be there and the people who shared such an important day with you.
These are the details that become even more precious as the years pass.
Wedding Photography for Small, Simple Ceremonies
Fiona and Mark booked my two-hour Ceremony Experience package, designed for couples who want their ceremony documented without needing full-day wedding photography.
For an intimate wedding, two hours can be a lovely way to focus on the important parts of the day.
It gives us time to document the ceremony, capture photographs with your family and friends, and create some relaxed portraits together, without turning your wedding into a full-day production.
My approach is natural and documentary-led. I'll capture the moments as they happen, with gentle guidance when needed, so you can enjoy being present with the people you've chosen to share your day with.
Whether you're getting married at a registry office, a town hall or another intimate venue, your wedding deserves to be photographed in a way that reflects your relationship and the people who matter most to you.
Is a Micro Wedding Right for You?
If the thought of planning a huge wedding feels overwhelming, a micro wedding might be exactly what you're looking for.
A smaller guest list gives you the freedom to focus on what matters to you. Perhaps that's including your children in the ceremony, spending meaningful time with your family, keeping costs manageable or simply avoiding the pressure of a traditional wedding day.
You can still have beautiful photographs and memories to treasure without booking a venue for hundreds of guests or having a photographer there from morning until night.
My Ceremony Experience package is designed for couples who want their ceremony and the moments surrounding it captured naturally and thoughtfully.
It's ideal for registry office weddings, small civil ceremonies and intimate celebrations where the focus is on the people and the promises you're making to one another.
Planning Your Own Intimate Wedding in Sussex?
If you're planning a small wedding in Sussex, I'd love to hear about it.
Whether you're getting married with just a handful of guests, including your children in the ceremony or looking for a relaxed way to celebrate your relationship, I'll help you preserve the moments that matter.
You don't need a big wedding to have a beautiful wedding gallery. You just need a day that feels right for you.
Get in touch to find out more about my Ceremony Experience package and intimate wedding photography in Sussex.
