In spring, Pelham House feels different to the height of summer. The light is softer. The colours in the garden are fresh. Claire and Alex chose it precisely for that quieter atmosphere. Their day was calm, intimate and welcoming from the outset, shaped around the people they love, good food and a room that feels full without ever feeling crowded.
Preparations were split between the Pelham Suite and the Bridal Suite, keeping everything within the house but allowing space for anticipation to build. I spent much of the morning with Alex and the boys in the Pelham Suite, a beautifully lit room with high ceilings and tall windows that lend it a quiet sophistication. It suited him. He was composed, attentive, already focused on Claire long before the ceremony began. Across the courtyard, Claire moved gently through the morning – understated and refined, entirely in keeping with her nature. She is not someone drawn to attention, yet the day held her effortlessly.
The ceremony in the Goring Room carried that same sense of relaxtion and ease. Afterwards, guests headed onto the terrace overlooking the gardens, the overcast sky occasionally breaking to offer brief flashes of sun and, at one point, Claire and Alex were immersed in what I feel is the largest quantity of confetti I have seen at Pelham House. The reception in the Blencowe Room unfolded with laughter & generous applause to some truly heartfelt speeches. It was joyful without tipping into spectacle.
Portraits mattered to them, so we made time thoughtfully. The gardens were used generously, including the quieter stretch at the bottom where it feels momentarily removed from everything. Later, we slipped up to Lewes Castle for a few minutes. The light at the castle gates was soft and even, worth the short walk, but we kept it brief. My approach is always to ensure couples remain part of their own celebration rather than stepping away from it for too long.
What stayed with me most were the moments during the speeches. The way Alex looked at Claire when he thought no one else was paying attention. The way she leaned towards him instinctively. He did not take his eyes off her for long. It was not dramatic. It was steady, obvious, and full of love. And that felt entirely fitting for a spring wedding at Pelham House in Lewes.
