If there’s one ‘trend’ coming through weddings over the last year, it’s authenticity. You’ll find it in your styling and decor, in your outfits and most of all in your wedding photography. Having an authentic, natural wedding means being yourselves. Having every moment reflect who you really are as a couple: from choosing what you wear to creating a ‘look’ for your tables – if just one guest says, “I love it: it’s so YOU” – then you’ve nailed it. Authentic wedding photography means you get to keep that feeling forever. It’s why Sophie and Chris chose documentary wedding photographers York Place Studios to capture their wedding at High Billinghurst Farm.

The images tell a true story. They capture the hearts and souls of the happy couple and their guests. There’s no posing, no awkwardness, no fake smiles. The pictures I love best are of Sophie and Chris surrounded by their favourite people, all grinning or laughing or bursting with happiness. But let’s be real here: a wedding day is full of conversation and connection and people being people – so there are moments where a baby has an opinion, where guests sip cups of tea, and times when everyone is wrapped up in a hundred different conversations. These are the ‘quiet’ parts of a wedding where personalities shine.

This wasn’t a quiet wedding though! As the day goes by the party gets livelier and the atmosphere more joyful, ending with a packed out dance floor which just looks amazing. It’s proof to me that perfect styling and those little details aren’t what make a wedding. It’s the people you invite, the place you choose to celebrate and the food, drink and music you offer. And it’s the photographers you choose to capture it all that will preserve those memories forever.

“…when photographing this amazing pair and their wonderful gathering of true characters in the stunning setting of High Billinghurst Farm, it’s just impossible to capture anything but consistent joy in every frame.” ~ York Place Studios

York Place Studios are award-winning wedding photographers and videographers who travel worldwide to capture weddings and speak on stage about their unique and brilliant brand of reportage wedding photography. Their own blog about Sophie and Chris’s day explains how we all see a set of wedding photos differently: from the happy couple, to the photographers themselves. They give a fascinating insight into the importance of authentic wedding photography: when you’re aware that every family member or friend who looks at your photos will see a different story emerge, doesn’t that make the images even more special?