Southdowns Manor Wedding Photographer

Helen & Mike’s Wedding was our first time shooting a wedding at Southdowns Manor. It’s a nice venue, tucked away down a country lane, in West Sussex, not far from us. We hope to become regular Southdowns Manor wedding photographers, we’re back shooting there again in April.

Their whole day was at the venue, so Helen got ready in one of the rooms upstairs. Mike arrived later during the morning. Both Carol and I were shooting, which enabled one of us to get some shots of Mike greeting guests and family before the ceremony, while the other covered the bridal prep upstairs.

We loved shooting Helen & Mike’s wedding for them, they totally let us into their day and treated us like their guests. That’s brilliant, as it makes the other guests around us forget that we’re the photographers, that’s always the best way to get people to feel comfortable for pictures. As we’re not posing anyone during the day, we can quietly circulate groups of people chatting, taking natural pictures without fuss or getting in the way.

Helen and Mike had a small family ceremony, with an afternoon high tea. Then later, further guests arrived for an evening meal. They didn’t have a first dance or any of the usual wedding stuff, they had a pub quiz instead – hosted by them! It was brilliant! Carol and I normally leave weddings a little into the dancing, but we left this wedding at midnight! The couple had kindly sat us with their guests and it turned out we were on the winning table – so we just had fun and relaxed but were able to jump up to take pics when we spotted moments across the room. It was a great alternative to the traditional first dance and disco and we’re sure everyone had a great and memorable time.

Carol & Paul