Sopwell house wedding - A personal and intimate, two part, St Albans wedding combining family celebrations with a glamourous black tie party for Rachel and Rory.

Rachel and Rory had a specific vision for their wedding. With two small children they wanted a family focussed day to tie the knot and so chose a midweek ceremony at St Albans registry office followed by a private dinner at Dylan's at the Kings Arms just off the high street. The day was relaxed and sunny and it gave the perfect opportunity to non-obtrusively capture all the candid moments and unique family interactions of the day.


The joy of a pub celebration after a wedding ceremony is the relaxed nature of it. A pub will provide plenty of fizz, a well stocked bar and excellent food as well as a big dose of cosiness for a lovely, low key party if that is what you want for your big day.

Dylan's at the Kings Arms is a gorgeous Tudor building and one of St Albans' oldest pubs that gives an exciting historical addition to your reservation alongside serving award winning food. It feels unpretentious yet high quality and offers the perfect space to celebrate with your nearest and dearest.


Fun fact: Dylan was a very naughty chocolate labrador owned by the pub landlord that lends his name to the pub!

Interior of a marriage room with wooden chairs arranged in rows facing a podium in an elegant white-walled space.
Guests mingling and socializing at an elegant indoor event.
Elegant restaurant table setting with candlelight, wine glasses, and place settings on a long wooden table.
Place settings and menus arranged on dark wooden table at formal event.
Couple walking together down a charming cobblestone village street.
A dimly lit rustic restaurant interior with stone floors and wooden furniture illuminated by warm ambient lighting.
Candid moments captured during a wedding reception showing natural reactions and laughter.
A tender interaction between generations sitting together on a bench.
Silhouettes of wedding attendees in formal attire against dramatic lighting.
Romantic wedding couple in white and navy sharing intimate moments against a light background.
Wedding guests and family members gathered in an elegant indoor venue.
Wedding guests gather in a reception hall with wooden chairs and white walls.
Exterior view of traditional Tudor-style buildings with black timber framing.
A black and white photo collage showing multiple candid moments and interactions in what appears to be an office setting.
Wedding ceremony audience seated in an elegant room with white walls and sconce lighting.
Guests enjoying drinks and conversation at an evening celebration.
Historic row of white Georgian storefronts with black trim line a charming cobblestone street in London.
Artistic black and white portrait series showing close-up expressions through architectural frames.
A heartwarming moment shared between family members during a special occasion.
Guests enjoying drinks and conversation in a rustic pub setting with warm lighting.

The weekend was all about the party, the dancing and the celebration for the adults!

At the weekend Rachel and Rory planned a black tie party at the beautiful Sopwell House, a family run hotel and spa. The venue is full of quirky and characterful interiors with sprawling gardens, ponds and pagodas all the perfect backdrop for beautiful wedding photos, particularly on the sunny Spring day that we got! The large event space is perfect for a big dancefloor and was the perfect space to maximise the party that the couple wanted.


We started the party day with an intimate first look with Rachel's dad by the pond before bringing Rory out to see her in her exceptional bridal two piece. It was a beautiful candid moment where Rachel even debuted a secret new haircut for the occasion.

After some time for some rather glam family portraits of everyone all dressed in their fashionable black tie attire the guests began to arrive for an evening of drinking, some heartfelt speeches, some live saxophone music, an epic buffet spread and the dancing. Rachel and Rory wanted to celebrate their wedding, their way, with their favourite people and it was a truly wonderful wedding weekend that I am honoured to have got to capture.

Wedding reception guests dancing and celebrating in a warmly lit ballroom with red accents.
Black and white wedding portrait of a couple in a rustic outdoor setting with trees.
A wedding photoshoot in a garden setting featuring a white bridal bouquet of roses.
Guests enjoying themselves on a dance floor at an indoor event with elegant lighting.
Black and white candid moments of celebration and embraces at an elegant wedding reception.
Wedding party posing together in a beautiful garden setting with golden sunlight.
Party scene with decorative lighting and silver backdrop showing people in colorful outfits enjoying themselves.
Close-up of hands with wedding rings during an intimate moment on the dance floor.
Guests enjoying themselves at an elegant indoor wedding reception with dramatic lighting.
Wide view of an elegant wedding reception hall with guests gathered under crystal chandeliers.
A series of black and white photos showing someone in a white dress playfully posing in a hotel hallway.
Dark silhouettes of people mingling at an evening indoor reception.
Romantic silhouettes of couples dancing together at a dimly lit wedding reception.
Artistic black and white photos showing romantic moments under blooming cherry blossom trees.
Scenic outdoor garden view with trees and water feature in natural daylight.
Couples dancing together during a romantic moment at an elegant evening wedding reception.
People dancing and laughing at a lively party with dim lighting and festive atmosphere.
Dark and moody reception hall setup with elegant table settings and crystal chandeliers casting dramatic shadows.
Bride and groom embrace in a romantic outdoor setting with a lake and fall foliage in the background.
Wedding couple walking along a scenic pathway surrounded by spring trees and greenery.

For Rachel and Rory I created a bespoke two day hybrid shooting package to coverage of both their legal ceremony, pub celebrations and their black tie party at the weekend. I created a full photo gallery for them and a highlight film for them to remember their day forever.


Interested in chatting about your wedding celebrations? I can create bespoke multi day packages or you can find my prices here.

Elegant brick building with glass conservatory and manicured garden terrace featuring outdoor seating and landscaped grounds.