A Charming Countryside Wedding At Parham Sussex With DIY Village Hall Reception
Back at the beginning of September I had the absolute privilege of shooting my friends Bevan and Jade’s wedding in Parham, West Sussex. It was all kinds of wonderful. Charming, unpretentious and very beautiful indeed.
The couple were able to get married at St Peters Church at Parham Park, pretty exclusive and only possible because Jade’s grandparents were also married in the church. The church is intimate and unspoilt and very beautiful and still retains its box pews.
I have to say, when I saw the bride, she absolutely took my breath away, and I wasn’t even marrying her! 🙂 I have photographed Jade several times in the past professionally and also for the couple’s engagement, but I have never seen her look more radiant and happy.
September is a lovely month to get married. We, (I say we because I am obviously obsessed with weather and light), had pretty dense cloud coverage before the ceremony commenced, but afterwards and as the couple emerged to views on the Sussex countryside, the light was beautiful diffuse and golden. Just perfect.
Bevan and Jade, I loved every minute of it! J x
I loved so much about this wedding, it really was a dream of a day. Firstly Bevan and Jade looked so good! Jade was able to call on what we affectionately call the ‘A Team’ to create her dreamy elegant country look. Firstly Carolanne Armstrong for her soft dewy makeup, Sharon Roberts for her wondrous ‘updo’, and Gayle Evans at Bloomingayles for her amazing flowers, (and me of course to capture it all 😉 ). We’ve all worked together in the past and like to think of beautiful Jade as a kind of a muse. Well actually she is far more than a muse, she is also a clever clogs (the couple met at Royal Holloway University), and a talented cellist and music scholar.
I can’t go any further without mentioning the groom, smart as in his Reiss tailoring, perfectly groomed and looking most dapper (and lovely).
The couple dispensed with confetti and instead went for fab DIY flags featuring gold glitter hearts.
The DIY theme was continued at the couple’s local village hall in the nearby hamlet of Rackham. DIY touches included ‘Speech’ flags and vintage floral bunting.
This was a genuinely charming sweet and unpretentious wedding. The couple clearly put so much work into creating the perfect setting and atmosphere for their friends and family. I could imagine it being a wedding from the earlier parts of the last century, before big hotel chains, nondescript function rooms and sparrow sized dinner helpings. Not here. A hearty buffet, complete with pork pies, and all the Speckled Hen you could drink. For me, it was perfect.
‘Still Moving’ DJ’s were a perfect find. Jade says that they “Matched the mood and style of the day wonderfully. They really played something for all ages which was perfect for us.”
As the sun began to set, the country lane and a nearby gate provided the ideal setting for just a few more shots. Perfect.
Church – St Peters, Parham
Village Hall – Rackham Old School Hall.
Makeup – Carolanne Armstrong
Hair – Sharon Roberts
Jade’s frock – Hope Harlequin Vintage Originals
Jade’s shoes – Rainbow Club
Bevan’s suit – Reiss
Bridesmaids frocks – The Velvet Birdcage
Wedding Cars – borrowed from a pair of locals!
Catering – Sussex Produce Company
DJ’s – Still Moving
Wedding Cake – Made by Jade.
See Bevan and Jade’s engagement shoot.
More Jade…..
