Firle Place , East Sussex

Reflecting on Lydia and Jason’s summer wedding at Firle Place, a day that felt effortlessly elegant from beginning to end, with soft Parisian-inspired details woven throughout.

The morning began by the sea at the Artist Residence Brighton where Lydia got ready surrounded by her closest friends. The atmosphere was calm and unhurried, with the gentle excitement that builds as the morning goes on. Final touches of makeup, music playing softly in the background, and carefully chosen details laid out ready for the day ahead all contributed to a morning that felt relaxed but quietly intentional.

There was a definite Parisian influence woven throughout Lydia’s styling. Soft textures, timeless accessories, and subtle nods to one of her favourite cities gave the space an elegant feel. Earlier that morning, Jason had arranged for a delivery of Lydia’s favourite macarons to arrive at the suite. A small but incredibly thoughtful surprise that became such a lovely part of the story of their day.

Once ready, Lydia made the journey into the Sussex countryside, arriving at Firle Place alongside her dad in a classic car. Before reaching the courtyard, the two shared a short walk together through the blossom trees. A quiet, in between moment before everything began.

They made their way towards Firle’s iconic blue doors which lead into the courtyard, where guests had gathered for the ceremony.

The Ceremony

Set against the historic backdrop of Firle Place, Lydia and Jason’s outdoor ceremony took place in the courtyard framed by beautiful florals from Go Botanica.

Following the ceremony, the newlyweds walked back down the aisle through a joyful confetti exit before joining their guests on the lawn for drinks and canapés.

This part of the day naturally lent itself to a handful of relaxed group portraits alongside candid moments as guests began to settle into the celebrations.

Portraits Around the Grounds

Later, we explored the grounds together for portraits, including some time by Firle’s much loved blue doors. A timeless corner of the estate that always works beautifully for natural, documentary style portraits.

I always encourage couples to take this time slowly, using it as a short pause together away from the celebrations. A gentle walk, a quiet chat, and subtle guidance is often all that’s needed to create something that feels both relaxed and true to the two of you.

Wedding Breakfast and Speeches in The Riding School

The celebrations continued in The Riding School where guests gathered for the wedding breakfast and speeches beneath the characterful beams of the space. The room was beautifully decorated with personal touches such as hand designed table names by Alice and letters and Limoncello favors created by the bride and groom themselves.

A beautifully simple pink wedding cake by Violet Bakery provided an elegant centrepiece that felt perfectly in keeping with the romantic styling of the day. Lydia’s love of macarons made a reappearance here too.

Golden Hour

As the evening approached, we were lucky enough to be treated to golden hour across the Firle grounds. Something that is always worth making time for here if the light allows.

Lydia and Jason slipped away for a short walk together as the sun began to dip, taking in those just married moments away from the celebration before returning back to their guests.

Let’s Party

From there, the dancefloor quickly filled and Lydia and Jason danced the night away surrounded by all of their favourite people, bringing the day to a joyful close in true style.

Firle Place offers a beautiful balance of historic architecture and open countryside which lends itself perfectly to a natural, story led approach to photographing weddings.