Ellie & James were getting married at Saint John the Baptist Parish Church in the village of Smallwood in the Cheshire countryside.

The wedding reception was to be an afternoon tea in the Smallwood village hall, so they booked my new package that features 3 hours of photography.

Ellie & James wanted lots of natural photos that captured the atmosphere of their day, they also wanted some group photos, and some gorgeous portraits too. They were both really laid back & were happy for me to just do my thing, so I was hoping the weather would be perfect to show off the best of the surrounding scenic countryside in their wedding photos.

A lot can be achieved in 3 hours, and here’s how Ellie & James wedding photography itinerary looked:

13:30 – I arrive at Smallwood village hall
14:00 – Ceremony
14:40 – Documentary coverage of couple chatting with guests
15:20 – Couple portraits inside church
15:25 – Group photos and confetti
15:45 – Couple head to Smallwood village hall
16:00 – Head to cornfield (10 min portrait session)
16:30 – Afternoon tea starts

I started shooting at 13:30, so I was there to get documentary style photography of guests arriving & James & the guys. I had 45 minutes between the end of the group photos & shooting guests at the village hall, so I figured we could make the most of the gorgeous cheshire countryside and get some wedding couple portraits in a field.

The crops had just been cut that week. I’d driven round two weeks before and it looked quite different, so on the morning of the wedding I arrived early to check out what fields may be available and get permission from some farmers.

I met the couple at the church rehearsal a couple of days before the wedding and talked to them about my field related portrait ideas, they both loved the idea, and Ellie asked about getting a group photo inside the church, as it’s really beautiful. I think Ellie was a bit worried about how long it would take me to organise their guests, but on the day I shot 12 different group photo combinations including the main group and confetti shot in 22 minutes flat, so that was pretty much what we had allowed for timewise.

Anyway, the vicar overheard Ellie talking about a group photo in the church & suggested I come up to the front mid ceremony & get a photo then. I was really surprised, usually in churches I’m asked to stay at the back, so I decided to do this shot as a group shot selfie. Check it out!

When I arrived early at Smallwood village hall, I got chatting to the catering manager who knew a local farmer, so phone calls were made, access was agreed and we were good to go!

From the 3 hours wedding photography coverage, the couple received 360 wedding photos which included lots of natural shots & two different portrait sets, one in the church & one in the corn field.