Fazackarley | Sussex Wedding Photographer

Katie & Alex’s Sussex Marquee Wedding

Fazackarley — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:10:26 +0000

Wedding days mean something, of course they do, but this was one that meant even more – Alex and Katie aren’t ones to be the centre of attention and so made the focus of the day on their family, their friends and places that matter the most to them. Days like this are why I do what I do, blending in, getting to know the crowds and documenting the days from the inside. It wouldnt work to have been the photographer with ‘main character energy’ (as a recent bride I worked with called it!) – so I quietly observed and allowed the day to unfold naturally.

It was easy to do as everyone was so welcoming and so truly focused on Katie, Alex and the connections they all shared.

Katie and Alex – and their guests, picked up a serious amount of air miles in the build up to their wedding. They come from families who are originally UK based, but have drifted to all corners of the globe & this was a day (or rather, several days) that brought everyone ‘home’ and home is a very literal term, given the marquee they celebrated in, was set up in Alex’s parents garden.

I love these kind of Marquee wedding days, the location is always so central to the flow of the day, but in thios case also to the feeling. That relaxed, comfortable space where you know where everything is and it already means so much to everyone and houses significance – details like that make all the difference.

A wedding in a Sussex garden, a day spent with the best company and all the right moments.

Lilly & John’s Autumn wedding at Pelham House

Fazackarley — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:00:58 +0000

As autumn edged toward winter, Pelham House felt a little quieter – the gardens had softened a bit, the colours were a little more muted, and the light shifted between the very British grey skies and brief flashes of sun. It suited Lilly and John – their day was all about understated sophistication. Chic, composed, but never fussy.

Lilly began the morning in the Bridal Suite before moving through to the Pelham Suite to dress. I adore that room – The Pelham Suite has such beautiful height and so much light, and it gave space for the final bits of the morning. When her dress was fastened and her train arranged, she made her way down the grand staircase with her mum carefully holding the fabric behind her. It is one of those small advantages of a wedding at Pelham House in Lewes, beacuse everything is contained within the house, it allows moments like that to unfold naturally. No theatrics, just quiet anticipation.

The ceremony took place indoors in the Goring Room. With the weather changeable outside, it felt right to be inside gathered together. Lilly and John were never interested in being the centre of attention for its own sake. What mattered to them was time with their families, space to talk, to notice people, to be present. The drinks reception flowed gently before everyone moved into the Blencowe Room for dinner and speeches, the house doing that effortless elegance it does so well.

What stayed with me most was not a single grand gesture but the way Lilly’s bridesmaids watched her as she got ready. There was pride there – shared history. They stood back at times, just taking her in, as if marking the moment quietly for themselves. Lilly and John are both easy people to be around, openly affectionate and welcoming to those around them. That openness shaped their entire day.

A sophisticated autumn wedding at Pelham House in Lewes, defined less by spectacle and more by the people who filled the rooms.

Emilia & Joe’s Summer Balcombe Place Wedding

Fazackarley — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:31:49 +0000

August weddings at Balcombe Place have a slightly different feel to the autumn and winter celebrations I’m more used to there. The house sits differently in summer. The gardens are greener, the light lingers longer through the tall windows, and the interiors feel brighter throughout the afternoon. Emilia and Joe’s day fell right into that rhythm, with soft cloud cover and occasional breaks of sun giving the house a gentle, even light. It’s a venue I return to often as a Balcombe Place wedding photographer, and it’s always interesting to see how differently it feels depending on the season.

Preparations took place at Balcombe Place itself before everyone made their way to Worth Abbey for the ceremony. It’s a striking place to get married and it suited the tone of the day well. Refined, thoughtful, a little more formal than many Sussex ceremonies but still deeply personal.

Walking into the day I already recognised a number of faces. Emilia and Joe are part of the same circle of friends as a few couples I’ve worked with before – Anna and Rich were there, whose wedding I photographed a few years ago. (The circle also contains Cait and Sam (- Anna’s Sister) and Laura and Freddie although they weren’t in attendance.) This meant plenty of familiar energy in the room.

It’s always a pleasure stepping back into that group. They celebrate properly and look after one another in equal measure.

After the ceremony everyone returned to Balcombe Place for drinks in the long gallery and gardens before moving into the Grand Hall for dinner and speeches. The day carried real emotional weight. Joe’s mum had passed away, and when the speeches came around the room felt it. There were moments that were genuinely difficult, followed by moments of warmth and support from the people around them. Weddings often hold both sides of that spectrum, and this one did so openly.

As the evening moved on, the atmosphere lifted again. Emilia changed into a second dress, lighter and made for dancing, with feather details that caught the light beautifully once the music started. From that point the energy in the room never really dipped. This group knows how to fill a dance floor.

From Worth Abbey to Balcombe Place, it was a day that balanced elegance with real emotion. A West Sussex wedding that carried both depth and celebration in equal measure.