Personal journey
Sussex photographer, Philip Bedford, takes us behind the scenes of four unforgettable local weddings
AMY & SAM
In the heart of West Sussex, lies an enchanting venue perfect for celebrating love: the Grittenham Barn. As a West Sussex wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed many love stories unfold, but this particular wedding was nothing short of a fairy tale.
The bride’s journey to the ceremony was opulent, with a classic Bentley paving her way as a surprise. The timeless elegance of this vehicle under the sun painted a vintage canvas reminiscent of old Hollywood.
Grittenham Barn was adorned with twinkling fairy lights, complementing the rustic charm of the barn and its surrounding West Sussex countryside. As the bride and groom exchanged their vows during their civil wedding, the beauty of English wildflowers – in hues of blues, yellows, pinks, and whites – added a burst of colour and texture to the barn’s ambiance. The arrangements in milk churns and the hanging flower ‘bombs’ in both the ceremony and reception rooms were a testament to the couple’s exquisite taste.
The jubilant mood spilled outside post-ceremony with confetti, more snaps with the Bentley, and, of course, their adorable golden retriever adding a playful touch to the photographs. We wandered around the lake and the expansive grounds of the barn, capturing intimate moments against the backdrop of the mesmerising West Sussex countryside & South Downs National Park.
DALE & DANIEL
The journey of this Arundel Town Hall wedding began in a quaint cottage in West Sussex. The day kicked off with groom prep photography, capturing intimate moments and details that set the tone for what was to be a memorable day at the Arundel Town Hall.
Nestled in the historic heart of West Sussex, Arundel Town Hall is the perfect venue for those looking for an idyllic setting with timeless charm. This iconic venue was the backdrop for the civil ceremony that resonated with love and joy.
Taking inspiration from the natural beauty of West Sussex, the wedding’s colour palette featured navy blue, dusty blue, and pristine whites. These colours are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also symbolise depth, trust, and new beginnings – the perfect representation of a budding marital bond.
Attention to detail was evident in the wedding décor at Arundel Town Hall. Upstairs, the dinner scene was set with trestle tables adorned with white linen and dusty blue table runners. Centrepieces showcased jars filled with local flowers like delphinium, gypsophila, eucalyptus, and white roses. Rainbow badges were used as wedding favours and a soda drink, Kinnie, was served in bottles on the tables. Kinnie is a Maltese bittersweet carbonated soft drink brewed from bitter oranges and extracts of wormwood, and is part of Dale’s childhood from growing up in Malta.
Meanwhile, the downstairs space was transformed into a lively celebration area, boasting a rainbow balloon arch, black draping illuminated by fairy lights, and neon rainbow signs – all perfectly complemented by the DJs pulsating lights for the first dance.
EMMA & MICHAEL
Emma & Michael’s Fitzleroi Barn autumn wedding wasn’t hampered by the wet weather at all. We got some amazing wet weather wedding photographs as they braved the October weather in West Sussex.
We arrived for the civil ceremony at Fitzleroi Barn (where I’ve shot many, many times!) and the barn was beautifully decorated with fairy lights in the rafters and sprigs of flowers on the aisle chairs. We actually ended up clearing the ceremony room afterwards in order to shoot the group photos indoors due to the wet weather, but after this, we went out under a couple of umbrellas for some epic shots in the rain!
After the wedding breakfast we went back out in the rain with the help of the best men to get a couple more shots. The dark and moody atmosphere worked really well with the flash light behind the bride and groom. We then dried off for the cake cutting and first dance afterwards and they danced the night away under the shelter of the cosy lights in the rafters of the barn.
CHARLOTTE & DUNCAN
This was a civil ceremony at Pangdean Barn. This wedding photo shoot started at the bride’s parents house near Horsham in West Sussex, for some bridal prep photos of the wedding dress hanging up – I found a lovely spot for this on the stairway. Bridesmaids were wearing navy, and the bride was wearing traditional ivory, whereas the groomsmen are dressed in tweed grey with a golden/orange tie.
Charlotte and Duncan had an outdoor ceremony with two readings by friends from university before Duncan’s nephew played the role of ringbearer in this lovely countryside setting. Rose petal confetti was thrown as the bride and groom walked up the aisle and then we got a couple of photographs by the countryside gate at the top of the garden before throwing more confetti.
Pangdean had some lawn games laid out for the wedding drinks reception, which is always good fun for wedding guests to enjoy, the pedal go-kart being a firm favourite! I’m also a huge fan of Pangdean Barn weddings as they have a great step ladder for capturing this group shot in the garden.
The barn was dressed beautifully, with fairy lights in the rafters and a stunning cheese wedding cake, along with flower decorations and small jute bags containing seed bombs – these were also labelled as place settings for wedding guests.
I always try and get up on the South Downs for a couple of shots overlooking the Sussex countryside, and we got this shot using some off-camera flash at sunset.
