Marni & Ant’s Relaxed Wedding at The Vines, Rochester

A perfectly beautifully relaxed wedding

Some wedding days just feel easy in the very best way — and Marni and Ant’s day at The Vines in Rochester was exactly that. From the moment we arrived at the ceremony, it was clear this was going to be a relaxed, heartfelt celebration, focused far more on enjoying the day than worrying about the camera.

A Natural, Candid Approach

From the very beginning, Marni and Ant were open about how they felt about being photographed. Like many couples, they were both a little nervous and keen to avoid anything that felt staged or awkward. What they really wanted was natural, candid wedding photography that reflected how their day actually felt — calm, genuine, and full of quiet moments.

We met a couple of times before the wedding, which made a huge difference. By the time their day arrived, they knew they were in safe hands and that my job was to look after them, guide them gently when needed, and otherwise let their day unfold naturally.

Marni made the very clear (and very confident!) decision to skip bride prep photos altogether. Instead, we began coverage at the ceremony — a choice that suited the flow of their day perfectly and kept things feeling relaxed from the outset.

The ceremony itself was full of emotion without ever feeling overwhelming. Small glances, nervous smiles, and that unmistakable sense of this is really happening — exactly the kind of moments that are best captured quietly, without interruption.

A Stroll Around Rochester

After the ceremony and confetti, we took a short 15 minute wander around Rochester for some couples portraits. Nothing long, nothing forced — just a gentle walk, a bit of fresh air, and some time for Marni and Ant to be together away from the noise of the day.

These are often my favourite moments. When couples realise they don’t need to “perform” for the camera, everything softens. Marni and Ant relaxed into it beautifully, and the result was a set of portraits that felt completely true to them — natural, warm, and effortlessly romantic.

A Day Enjoyed, Not Managed

Back at The Vines, the rest of the day flowed easily through drinks, laughter, and plenty of moments shared with family and friends. I had great fun not only with Marni and Ant, but also with their guests — capturing interactions as they happened rather than directing them.

We finished coverage with their first dance, a perfect way to round off a day that stayed true to itself from start to finish.

Kind Words from Marni & Ant

“What a lovely photographer John is. I met John at a wedding fair and instantly fell in love with his work. Wedding fairs can be overwhelming, with so many people presenting everything under your nose, but what I respected and loved about John was that he let me look, asked questions, and just let me be — and I knew instantly he was the photographer for me. Let alone looking at his work — beautiful, professional, and he really has an eye for capturing those special moments.

It wasn’t until two years after the wedding fair that I started planning the wedding, and I must have prayed daily that John would be available — and he was. My partner and I are a bit camera shy and felt overwhelmed by the idea of going away for ‘bride and groom’ shots, but John was so understanding, supportive, and got us instantly.

What I also respected was John’s honesty. He came to the venue for a walk around, and although he hadn’t worked there before, he listened to my ideas and would either agree or advise if we might need to do things slightly differently. He even came up with ideas I hadn’t thought of, and I could see exactly where he was going with them — I loved it.

On the day, John was nothing but brilliant. From start to finish, nothing but perfection. He was fantastic with our guests (who are a loud bunch but harmless!). And Dawn — oh I love Dawn — helping us with angles and tidying my dress at every location we stopped. So kind and supportive.

If you’re looking for a professional, passionate, yet kind photographer who makes your day about you — how you feel and what you want — please look no further. John is brilliant. I also know that for any event or photography needs in the future, I wouldn’t think of anyone else (so John, you better be available for me!). Thank you for being part of our day and capturing it perfectly!!”