Rhian and Michael – South Farm Wedding Photography

 

From deepest darkest December I want to give you a little burst of sunshine – so it’s back to a September wedding today, at South Farm in Royston, Cambridgeshire.

Rhian and Michael first booked me for their wedding what feels like decades ago! In reality it was a good few years ago, as they were being super prepared by booking me well in advance, and then along came Covid and messed up all their wedding plans. 

They’d sought me out especially because my relaxed, documentary style photography was going to be the perfect fit for the kind of wedding day that they wanted – a chilled-out, informal day, set in the (fingers crossed) warm outdoors with a beautiful rural backdrop. All of this was music to my ears! That’s just the kind of wedding I love to be a part of.

Rhian and Michael were married at the lovely South Farm in Royston, Cambridgeshire. It’s just under two hours from Warwickshire, and well located for guests from London to travel to. What’s more, it’s a really beautiful venue, with cracking eco credentials – including their own smallholding, complete with adorable farmyard animals (yum). It was the perfect place for them to have their relaxed and beautiful day.

The guests and I really got to make the most of the gorgeous surroundings – on the morning of their wedding, Rhian didn’t want too many photos of the bridal prep, so after taking a few snaps I wandered off around the grounds to take it all in. Loads of the wedding guests had stayed at the Farm the night before, so they were out and about soaking up the sun and exploring the nooks and crannies of the farm. It was a lovely way to start the day.

In fact, it was Michael, more than Rhian, who requested particular images that he needed capturing…not of him adjusting his tie, or fastening his cufflinks, though. Michael wanted to make sure I got some shots of him with the second greatest love of his life, his beloved car!

The gorgeous front of the main house at South Farm looks like something out of Mamma Mia – more in keeping with the Med than the wilds of Cambridgeshire – and it made the perfect backdrop for some shots of Michael with his trusty ride. Soon, his friends were arriving, and I could see that a love of the automotive was something that binds them together – and what photographer doesn’t love a shiny alloy! After a few group shots of the boys with their toys, it was time for the wedding to begin.

Rhian's walk to the ceremony was beautiful, taking her through the late-summer grounds and down the aisle to meet Michael, who then accompanied her around a lake to where the registrars were waiting. It’s a real fairy-tale setting, and the wedding guests were treated to a lovely sight of the happy couple reflected in the water while they said their vows.

With the official part of the day done, the garden games began, and Rhian and Michael’s guests were whipped into a competitive frenzy! After some entertaining and completely inelegant space hopper racing, a lot of argument discussion about the winners, and some incredibly blatant chalkboard-based cheating, the bride’s team were declared the victors and the guests were invited to begin the wedding breakfast. In keeping with the relaxed atmosphere, Rhian and Michael had arranged a delicious barbecue to feed their guests, as well as some cookies for dessert that had become their favourites throughout lockdown.

The weather had been beautiful all day, and as the sun began to set it sent gorgeous colours all over the Cambridgeshire sky. I whizzed Rhiannon and Michael away for a few moments to capture those special golden hour minutes, before we returned to face the speeches! Rhiannon’s brother did a fantastic job emceeing, and even managed to incorporate everyone’s favourite pandemic past time – a quiz! – into the proceedings.

For those that hadn’t got their fill of competition earlier, Michael had arranged for some games consoles to be set up at the venue, so later, while some guests headed outside to enjoy the last of the evening sun, others headed inside to claim a glorious Mario kart victory!

It was everything that Rhian and Michael had wanted – a laid-back day filled with love and laughter.

 

IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A SOUTH FARM  WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER , THEN CONTACT ME TODAY TO DISCUSS.