The complete story

Claudia and Cal planned a classically elegant but relaxed wedding day, with a ceremony at Wing church followed by a garden party reception at Claudia’s parents’ home in Rutland. 

There were traditions and iconic moments – always a crowd pleaser. But also lots of personal twists and unexpected surprises – also always a crowd pleaser. And no one enjoyed it more than Claudia and Cal themselves.

Thanks to their impeccable planning – and the genius decision to bring in an on-the-day planner, Amy – they could let go of the logistics, relax, and be fully present with their guests while everything unfolded seamlessly around them.

It was a joy to see and capture them being truly themselves, holding nothing back, and enjoying their day with abandon. 

“Sarah was amazing! The photographs are very natural which was key to us. She captured all the key moments so perfectly and we barely knew she was there. 

She made a huge effort to get to know us and the relationships with our nearest and dearest. We have had so many compliments from our family on how good our photographer was. And most importantly she did so well capturing the real love of our lives, Buzz the dog!

She is very calming and patient to have around, and we are beyond thrilled with our photos. Thank you Sarah for leaving us with long-lasting memories of our perfect day!” 

… In Claudia and Cal’s words

Want to dive deeper into Claudia & Cal’s day?

Scroll on to discover more about their plans and how it all unfolded, see larger photos, and walk away with some handy tips for your own wedding.

The preparations

Ah, the kitchen – the heart of family life and the setting for so many family stories over the years. Today, it was alive with one of the most special stories yet: Claudia’s wedding morning. There were endless mugs of tea, the dining table was transformed into a hair and makeup station, and Buzz (Claudia and Cal’s Jack Russell) stealing hearts like the true star of the show. And can we take a moment to appreciate the mismatched PJs? A quirky and personal take on the matching getting-ready-outfits trend.

Pro tip: Keep your wedding morning free of orchestrated photos. Claudia created a relaxed atmosphere which set the tone for the rest of the day. With no planned posed photos, everything felt calm and unhurried; just a special time shared with her closest family and friends. But we went with the flow too – and in the moment, it felt right to add a fun pic of Claudia with her leading ladies and a quick timeless portrait on the staircase. This intuitive and organic approach is my favorite way to work. After all, it can be hard to predict how you’ll feel on the day, so why lock yourself into a plan with no room to breathe? Genuine, natural photos don’t demand anything from you and fit seamlessly into what can sometimes be a whirlwind of a morning. The result? Starting your day right – and photos that feel uniquely you.

The church ceremony

St Peter and St Paul church in Wing is cameras-down one of the prettiest church settings I’ve seen. Set atop a mound, with a beautiful stone wall boundary and borders filled with wild grasses and early summer flowers, it’s the epitome of English village charm. Its unusual location means there’s only one space for a wedding car outside. So it was a treat to be able to capture a wide-angle photo of the church without the usual car clutter!

Claudia and Cal’s ceremony was intimate (read: 200 people packed into a small church!) and filled with personality, from the vicar’s questionable – but hilarious – storytelling to Claudia’s adorable mix-up with the rings.

Pro tip: Enlist the help of your Ushers to guide your guests away from potential bottlenecks. With the steps at Wing church leading almost to the door, space for guests to hang around outside was limited. Claudia and Cal’s Ushers did a fantastic job of keeping things moving by encouraging guests inside where there was more room to chat.

The drinks reception

While the guests made their way over from the church, Claudia and Cal sneaked away for a few quick couple portraits while their guests traveled over from the church. This pocket of time was ideal to capture some romantic moments without pulling them away from the fun.

Then, it was time to celebrate! Claudia’s parents’ garden was a super setting for an alfresco summer party, where countryside views stretched on forever.

Some standout highlights:

• A DJ spinning tracks from a Land Rover parked on the lawn – talk about unique!
• An surprise flypast from a Tiger Moth, complete with gasp-worthy acrobatics
• Claudia’s dad’s heartfelt welcome speech delivered outdoors, which was a great way to split up the speeches and take the formal out of the formalities

Pro Tip: If your wedding day turns out to be hot, don’t be afraid to move things around. Bring your family group photos forward so they can be done while hair, makeup, outfits, and flowers are at their freshest – and then people can remove their jackets and ties. And let your photographer pick a comfortably cool shady spot – it’ll make for happier photos.

The wedding breakfast and speeches

Under a stunning sailcloth marquee filled with real trees, colorful lanterns, and bright florals, Claudia and Cal created a relaxed dining experience. Guests tucked into BBQ dishes and sharing bowls of salads – a deliciously casual alternative to a formal sit-down meal.

Pro tip: Don’t want to turn your cake cutting into a staged moment? Try Claudia and Cal’s take on this tradition. Rather than a big announcement, they casually stopped off to cut their cake as they entered the marquee. It was low-key, sweet, but so much fun.

Golden hour

If you’ve never heard me rave about golden hour, let me do so now: it’s a must. Assuming the sun’s shining, of course! It’s an ideal time for relaxed portraits because the light is soft and dreamy and there’s often less time pressure.

Claudia and Cal’s timeline lent itself to a golden hour portrait session between their meal and evening party. And with such a beautiful location on-hand, how could we not? This was less photoshoot and more about quality time immersed in nature.

Pro Tip: If golden hour photos are on your vision board, be ready to go when your photographer says “Go!”. The window for that magical light can be short, especially if there are clouds. So, when it’s time to go, it’s time to go!

The evening party

As the sun set, Claudia and Cal’s party hit full throttle. The band kept the dancefloor buzzing with classic tunes. And when the crowd needed a breather, pizza was on hand to refuel them between sets. Honestly, I could’ve stayed all night to capture the moves, laughter, and joy radiating from that tent!

Pro tip: Add a box of dressing-up props for an extra layer of fun.