A clear July sun sat over Pelham House and the gardens were in full colour. In the centre of Lewes, East Sussex, Pelham House manages to feel both elegant and completely at ease. That balance suited Helen and Alan perfectly.
The morning began in the bridal suite. Windows open, light flowing into the room, bridesmaids in matching gowns drifting between laughter and quiet moments. There was no sense of rush. What stayed with me was how comfortable everyone seemed with one another. It felt like a gathering of people who genuinely enjoy each other’s company, not a production focused on two individuals.
Their ceremony in the Goring Room carried that relaxed, grown-up atmosphere. Joyful, but not showy. Emotional, without becoming overly formal. Afterwards, guests moved out onto the terrace overlooking the garden, drinks in hand, sunlight still strong. At Pelham House in Lewes, the flow between spaces works effortlessly. From the terrace back inside to the Blencowe Room, the day unfolded without interruption.
We stepped into the gardens for a few portraits while the colour was at its brightest. Just a short pause. No staging, no extended absence from their guests. Most of what I photograph happens in those in-between moments anyway, and with these two there was plenty to notice. The comfort they have with one another is the kind that only comes from knowing you can be entirely yourself.
As the evening settled in the Blencowe Room, Helen surprised Alan by joining the band and singing directly to him. It was personal and unguarded, and the room felt it.
