A beautiful summer wedding with amazing images by Kent wedding photographer Benjamin Toms. Joe and Dilini are utterly gorgeous, elegant and relaxed and wonderful together. I adore natural wedding photography like this: Ben’s photography style has always been timeless, authentic and with a focus on the moments that matter more than anything in the world. I’ve saved some favourites of my own to share on instagram – watch out for a collection of hugs on @englishweddingblog which brought a tear to my eye!
The venue: The Old Kent Barn
The photographer: Benjamin Toms Photography (Kent based, but Ben travels worldwide)
Dilini’s ceremony dress: Allegra by Justin Alexander, from London Bride UK
Evening dress: Unona on Etsy
Joe’s suit: Frencheye
“Ben was absolutely incredible; he captured all of our special moments so beautifully. He was a joy to work with—funny, personable, and incredibly patient. Both Joe and I are not typically comfortable in front of the camera, but with Ben’s guidance, everything felt natural. He made us feel at ease and ensured we never felt awkward during the photos.” ~ Dilini and Joe
“Trends come and go, but your wedding photos should stand the test of time. My images are designed to be classic and elegant, ensuring they’ll remain as meaningful on your 50th anniversary as they were the day you first saw them. No gimmicks, just genuine artistry that celebrates your love.” ~ Benjamin Toms, Dilini & Joe’s Old Kent Barn wedding photographer
Ben Toms is a Hitched Wedding Awards 2025 winner, recognised as one of the very best wedding photographers in Kent
Dilini’s first dress is a breathtaking and fabulously detailed strapless sweetheart slim ball gown. It suits her perfectly, with contemporary leafy beaded appliqués that cascade down the tulle skirt, modern exposed boning to the bodice, and a Chantilly underlay. This dress is Allegra, by Justin Alexander.
I absolutely adore the dress Dilini changed into for the evening: a romantic A-line corset dress with a heart-shaped neckline, beautifully draped sleeves and a full, asymmetrical skirt. It’s by Unona, based in Kyiv, who ship worldwide from their Etsy shop and have fabulous reviews from customers!
Grab a tissue, because this elopement is the loveliest thing ever. Abi and Jack tied the knot in Hampshire and their intimate ceremony is full of happy tears and the biggest, most joyful smiles you’ll ever see. Beautifully captured by Dorset wedding photographers and videographers Smiling Tiger Studios, the gorgeous couple had their perfect day, their way, and the romance is off the scale!
Wedding photographer’s website
Will Bazlinton + https://smilingtigerstudios.co.uk
Wedding photographer review
Will, our Chewton Glen wedding photographer, was an absolute joy to work with. His fun and upbeat personality made the entire photo session an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. He had a wonderful knack for making us laugh and feel comfortable, which really came through in the photos. The shots Will took were nothing short of fantastic. His ability to capture natural, candid moments made our photos look genuine and full of life. We were thrilled with how effortlessly he managed to document the spirit and emotion of our special day.
J&A @ CHEWTON GLENN EXTENDED from linus moran on Vimeo.
Videographer name + review
Linus Moran. Linus, our Hampshire wedding videographer, was absolutely fantastic. From the moment he arrived, he made us feel completely at ease, which was no small feat given the excitement and nerves of the day. His calm and friendly demeanor helped us relax and genuinely enjoy the filming process. He had an incredible eye for detail and made excellent use of the beautiful grounds, ensuring every shot was picturesque. Linus captured all the special moments we wanted and even found creative ways to include unexpected ones that turned out beautifully. His professionalism and talent were evident throughout, and we’re thrilled with how perfectly he captured the essence of our day.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
We knew that we wanted to do something different and decided to elope, we did not tell our families that we were doing so. We chose the treehouses at Chewton Glen for a small and intimate ceremony. We took photos and items from our families to have with us on the day. After our ceremony, we had afternoon tea, followed by a massage. Our photographer and videographer made us a ‘reveal video’ with a few photos so that we could surprise our families and show them this when we returned.
Venue name + review
Chewton Glen
Our wedding day at Chewton Glen Hotel was truly magical, and we couldn’t be happier with our experience. The venue is absolutely stunning, with beautiful grounds that provided the perfect backdrop for our special day. From the moment we arrived, we felt a warm and welcoming atmosphere that made it feel like home. Chewton Glen Hotel exceeded our expectations in every way, and we are so grateful for the unforgettable memories they helped create on our wedding day.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
Jack wore a traditional morning suit, featuring his Grandad’s tie and handkerchief and his Dad’s tie clip.
Abi wore a Justin Alexander fit and flare gown, Abi has this altered to feature off-the-shoulder sleeves and sweetheart neckline detail.
Florist name + review
The team were amazing and were able to provide beautiful flowers which were the finishing touch to the day.
Cake maker name + review
We chose to have afternoon tea instead of a wedding cake!
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
Abi walked in to ‘Tom Walker, Better half of me’ and we walked out to ‘The Tams, Be young, be foolish, be happy’.
Wedding planner name + review
Georgia Blacknell (Chewton Glen). Georgia, was an incredible help throughout the entire process. Her attention to detail and dedication ensured that everything ran smoothly (even helping Abi to do the buttons up on the back of her dress)! Her warm and friendly presence made the hours leading up to the ceremony a delight and stress-free. Georgia and her team were exceptional, providing impeccable service and making sure all our needs were met with a smile.
Hair + makeup name + review
Tara, our makeup artist for our wedding day, was wonderful to work with. Tara’s professionalism and skill were evident as she listened carefully to my preferences and provided expert suggestions to enhance my look. I was thrilled with the final result; the makeup was exactly what I had envisioned. It lasted beautifully throughout the day, making me feel confident and radiant. Tara truly contributed to making the preparation time enjoyable and stress-free.
Abby, my hairstylist for the wedding day, did an outstanding job. She worked with remarkable precision and speed, ensuring my hair looked perfect in no time. Abby’s expertise and attention to detail were evident in the final result, which was exactly what I had envisioned. Not only did my hair look stunning, but it also held up beautifully throughout the entire day and night. Abby’s efficient and skillful styling made the preparation process smooth and enjoyable, allowing me to feel confident and relaxed as I walked down the aisle.
Today’s gorgeous couple celebrated with a stunning wedding at a sought after venue. We’re calling the happy pair C & R for privacy reasons. They’re absolutely lovely and they’ve written some fabulous reviews for favourite wedding suppliers, along with a wonderful write up of their incredible wedding day. As always, we will be sharing more on @englishweddingblog over on insta, so make sure you’re following us, as well as the amazing Wiltshire wedding photographer @gregshinglerphotography who captured their day!
Wedding photographer’s website
Greg Shingler https://www.gregshingler.co.uk/
Wedding photographer review
Greg is an exceptional photographer! Choosing him to capture the memories of our special day was truly the best decision. Right from the beginning, we were captivated by his unique photography style, which beautifully portrays intimacy and personal moments. Greg’s impeccable organisational skills made the entire process seamless, and our instant connection with him added an extra layer of comfort. On the day of the event, Greg exhibited the utmost professionalism, leaving our guests thoroughly impressed. The photos we received were not just images; they were emotional snapshots of precious moments that we will cherish for a lifetime. Greg’s ability to capture the essence of our day exceeded our expectations, making the entire experience unforgettable!
Your best moment or memory
While it might sound a bit cliche, the absolute highlight of the day had to be when C made her way down the aisle, and I caught sight of R for the first time! It was an indescribable feeling – that perfect culmination when your envisioned dream becomes a tangible reality.
The venue and decorations were nothing short of breathtaking, each detail adding to the enchantment. As you stroll down the aisle, the magic unfolds: familiar faces of cherished friends and family fill the room, leading up to that heart-fluttering moment when you lock eyes with the person you’re about to marry. Truly, it was a moment of pure magic.
Tell us anything you did differently – we love hearing about NEW traditions (or none at all!)
Culture held immense significance for us. With C coming from a Chinese background and R from an African background, it was crucial for us to infuse elements of our heritage into the wedding. One notable aspect was C’s outfit change, featuring her Chinese traditional wear—an heirloom passed down through generations. The family was elated to capture moments of C adorned in this meaningful attire. Additionally, we incorporated readings in various languages, including English, Cantonese, and Lutooro, creating a beautiful fusion that truly united our cultures. Lastly, breaking away from tradition during the bouquet toss, typically reserved for unmarried women, we opted for inclusivity by inviting participants of all genders to join in on the excitement.
We wanted to do something sentimental on the day. C gifted some cufflinks for R which says “Today, Tomorrow, Always”. She also gifted a pair of cufflinks to her dad that says ” Today a Bride, Tomorrow a Wife, Always your little Girl”
R used to be a DJ. So during the evening reception he raised the roof with some bangers!
Venue name + review
De Vere Tortworth Court – At the Orangery. The venue was truly breathtaking it was like something from a fairytale. However, the pre planning side with the wedding team was very challenging as there was lack organisation. However, they outperformed themselves on the day.
Tell us a little about your outfits – both of you!
C – 1st dress- A beautiful A line white dress made by Justin Alexander. It had a beautiful embellished bodice and then different layers at the bottom created a beautiful “princess” style dress. 2nd Dress- A traditional 2 piece Chinese dress called a cheongsam. A wedding cheongsam is red as this represents luck and happiness, this is then handsewn with gold thread. 3rd dress- A simple a line dress with a big bow at the back designed by Mori Lee. This was shortened at the front making it easier to dance in The best piece was C’s shoes. Silver heels by Roger Vivier. They were truly to die for! R wore a 3 piece suit made by Ted baker As our wedding was in spring, We wanted spring colours. His blazer and trouser were both a beautiful pale blue colour and we decided to go for contrasted waist coat in a dirty rose colour.
Dress or suit shop name + review
London Bride UK – Absolutely amazing service. Although this boutique is in London, the prices of the wedding dresses were truly affordable. They also do sales. I got my night dress for just £200!
Suit Direct
Florist name + review
The Sodbury Florist – This florist came highly recommended by the hotel. I specifically requested flowers that were in season and affordable, and they were incredibly flexible with my preferences. I indicated the colors I desired, and they skillfully selected the types of flowers that were in season at that time
Cake maker name + review
The Sugar Sweet Cakery – Andrea was a perfect 10/10! I visited her house beforehand for some cake tasting. Together, we discussed the style of cake I desired and the flavors. Andrea created a stunning 3-tiered cake for me with flowers that matched my bouquet. We opted for different flavors for each tier: red velvet, salted caramel, and raspberry & white chocolate.
Wedding readings?
We had a bible reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 in 3 different languages, English, Cantonese and Lutooro. We also had a poem- The Giraffe and the Monkey by Daniel Thompson
First dance song? Playlist recommendations?
We did a mash up of songs and did a dance routine to wow our guests!
Hair + makeup name + review
Grace Kingsley- She was recommended by my sister who also had her for her wedding! Grace is super friendly and amazingly talented
