Danni & Jonny's Summer Garden Marquee Wedding

In the summer I had the absolute pleasure of shooting a stunner of a marquee wedding, held at Danni’s parent’s incredible home, complete with a garden wedding ceremony. As I arrived, I parked up just outside their farm and met a horse called max before heading in for bridal prep.

Prep was surprisingly calm, with Danni having her make-up done in the garden in THE most chill way. They’d done their legal ceremony the week before so for them, the nerves were already done. This DID however, mean that the dress was just a tiiiiiiiiny bit muddy. Turns out Danni gets adventurous after a few proseccos.

While all the girls got themselves done up, the boys busied themselves by…playing cricket in the field. Love a hands-on groom’s party.

A top down flatlay of bridal details, jewellery, perfume and make up

Bride getting her make-up done outside in the garden wearing a white dressing gown

Groomsmen and friends play cricket in a field with a wedding marquee in the background

A close up of a wedding bouquet with an engagement ring in a rose

Bridal party cuddle up with champagne, bridesmaids wearing blush robes, bride wears a white one

Bride laughs as a bridesmaid does the back of her wedding dress up

Bride smiles down at her wedding bouquet

DIY Garden Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony set up was gorgeous. A lovely backdrop with old school milk cans filled with wildflowers with wooden log benches either side of the aisle. As they’d had their legal ceremony, this ceremony was led by one of their close friends and what an incredible job he did. I really love a celebrant wedding, as they’re just SO much more personal – telling stories, knowing more about you as a couple, having a bond with you. I just LOVE them.

Iconic Wedding Party Group Shots

After the garden wedding ceremony, we headed into the group shots. When I spoke to Danni the week before after her legal ceremony, she asked to cut the group shot list in half. Because they can be SO long, especially when people get carried away with ‘oh can we just get one with this person?’. And in her own words, ‘I never want to do that again’. Vibes. So what we did instead was get some lovely shots with their immediate family, and then spent some time getting some iconic shots with the bridesmaids and groomsmen. And what a vibe they were. We had power posing, supermodel walking and prosecco spraying. Absolute icons.

A wooden wedding welcome board stood in the garden

A DIY direction sign pointing to the different areas of the wedding, Kent and Antigua

The garden wedding altar decorated with ribbons and flowers

The groom in a relaxed navy suit with a buttonhole made of white and lilac roses

Bride is walked down the aisle by her father in the family garden

A wide view of the wedding ceremony, with bridesmaids and groomsmen lined up along the altar

A black and white close up of the groom putting on his bride's wedding ring

Bride and groom kiss at the end of their garden wedding ceremony, while their friend peeks through the gap

Bride and groom smile as they walk through a confetti tunnel after their garden wedding ceremony

Wedding party giving their best poses, some stood up, some sat down. Bride is holding the groom's leg up

Bride sprays prosecco at the camera while the wedding party laugh and cheer

Bride smiles while her bridesmaids are gathered around her holding their bouquets in the air

Wedding party all cheers their drinks together

Stunning Marquee Wedding Breakfast

While the group shots happened, guests wandered over to the marquee. It was decorated BEAUTIFULLY, with hay bales to sit on, cosy sofas inside (the kind that once you sit down on, you can’t get up) and super elegant tables. As people sat down for the breakfast, DJ and MC Wayne gave the bridal squad a serious entrance. Speeches were handled by Jonny’s best man, three of the bridesmaids and Jonny himself, and they all did an EXCELLENT job – just look at the embarrassment on the Bride and Groom’s faces. Exactly as it should be.

A wide shot of a beautifully decorated white weddding marquee

A close up of a wedding cheesecake decorated with fresh fruit

Giant light up wooden letters in 'D & J'

The wedding party dancing outside the wedding marquee before they make their big entrance

The bride and groom wave at their guests before they sit down at their wedding breakfast

The bride and groom make their entrance into their wedding breakfast at their marquee wedding

Three bridesmaids doing their speech while the bride watches at their marquee wedding

The bride laughing and holding her head in embarassment during the speeches

The best man doing his speech with 'buyabestmanspeech.com' written on the front

The groom hiding his face in embarassment during the best man's speech

The groom doing his speech in the wedding marquee

The bride holding up her champagne glass during their marquee wedding

Golden Hour Couple Portraits

After dinner as the sun was setting, we headed out for some sunset couple portraits. We had a little adventure around Danni’s parent’s land, down in the tall grass – one of my favourite couple shoot settings. Bringing their wine with them (obviously), we wandered, climbed and danced – making sure Danni and Jonny got some quality time together, which can be difficult at your own wedding!

Bride and groom walk away through long grass during golden hour

Bride and groom laugh together while holding hands and walking through long grass at golden hour

A silhouette shot of the bride and groom kiss during golden hour

Bride and groom downing their glasses of wine during their golden hour portraits

Bride smiles while groom kisses her on the head during golden hour portraits

Bride and groom walking away with their arms round eachother during golden hour

Bride and groom dancing together at sunset at their marquee wedding

Bride and groom sit on hay bales and kiss

Bride and groom sit on hay bales together in front of the marquee at their marquee wedding

Surprise Oompah Band Evening Entertainment

Once we were back in the marquee, the evening began with a private cheesecake cutting and then their first dance, complete with confetti and to Aerosmith’s ‘Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing’. Classic. Afterwards, they pulled off the best possible surprise for all of their friends was to bring in the Oompah band that used to play at their university to do a set for them. Absolutely incredible scenes. I’ve never seen an oompah band live before, and it was certainly an… experience.

Bride and groom cut their wedding cheese cake in their wedding marquee

Bride pulls face at the shot of whisky being offered to her

Black and white shot of the first dance while silver confetti falls down on them

Bride and groom inviting their guests to join in on their first dance

Some of the bridesmaids joining a group hug with the couple during their first dance

Bride and groom cuddle and sing with all their guests

Bride smiles and dances during the reception of their marquee wedding

Wedding guests dance and pose during the party

Bridesmaid points to the camera while dancing

Oompah band holds the microphone to one of the bridesmaids

Wedding guests sing and cheer to the oompah band at a marquee wedding

Wedding guests enjoying the oompah band at a marquee wedding

Bride and groom kiss while their guests cheer in the background

Danni & Jonny’s wedding was 0ne of my absolute favourites last year, with stunning weather, beautiful decor and just pure absolute VIBES from everyone involved.

If you’re planning a marquee wedding and want me involved, then contact me, or take a look at my packages!