Alexandra & Basil’s Wedding at Rookery Meadow

Bride prep at an Airbnb in Wenhaston

The morning started at an Airbnb in the village, where Alexandra was getting ready with her bridesmaids. Her hair and makeup were being done by the bridesmaids themselves, and with family gathered there too, it was a lively start to the day with plenty going on right from the beginning.

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Horse-drawn carriage to the church

One of the standout moments from the morning was Alexandra travelling up the road to the church by horse-drawn carriage. It definitely caught people’s attention in the village, with locals stopping to watch as she made her way to St Peter’s Church.

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Church ceremony at St Peter’s Church, Wenhaston

The ceremony took place at St Peter’s Church in Wenhaston, with Alexandra walking down the aisle with her dad. It is a relatively small church, which helped the ceremony feel intimate, and the vicar was great, giving me the freedom to move quietly and photograph the service from a few different angles without interrupting the flow.

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Confetti after the ceremony

After the ceremony, we went straight into confetti outside in the harsh midday sun. Confetti made for a great burst of energy before Alexandra and Basil climbed back into the carriage and made their way to Rookery Meadow, with guests following behind.

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Wedding reception at Rookery Meadow

When everyone arrived at Rookery Meadow, the setting looked brilliant. Guests were already mingling, enjoying drinks and strawberries, before Alexandra and Basil made their entrance by horse and carriage. I captured lots of hugs, laughs, and excited reactions as everyone gathered around them.

One of the strengths of Rookery Meadow is that it gives couples the freedom to build the day around whatever style suits them. Couples can choose a marquee, tipi, or festival-style setup, with a private lake and meadowland as the backdrop.

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Group portraits in the shade

Because it was such a hot day, we kept the group photos in the shade and worked through their family and bridal party list there. It was the best option for keeping everyone comfortable, and it also gave much softer, more flattering light.

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Marquee details by the lake

The couple had hired a marquee for their wedding breakfast, and it looked beautiful set beside the lake. Inside, the tables were decorated with large floral centrepieces and everything felt elegant without losing the relaxed feel of the venue.

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Dancing entrance into the marquee

One of the most fun moments of the day came when the bridal party danced their way into the marquee, led by Alexandra and Basil.

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Candids through the wedding breakfast

The wedding breakfast had a really relaxed atmosphere, with Alexandra and Basil making their way around the tables talking to guests while everyone queued up for the buffet. There was loads happening to photograph throughout this part of the day, from kids playing to small interactions between family members. One of my favourite moments was Basil’s niece playing with a fan as though it was a phone.

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Golden hour portraits by the marquee and lake

Later on, we took some portraits close to the marquee and lake as the light started to soften. After the brighter conditions earlier in the day, this part of the evening gave us a completely different feel and worked really well for more relaxed portraits.

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Speeches in the marquee

The speeches took place in the marquee and came from Basil, both mums, and the best man, with Basil’s sister helping oversee proceedings. It was a lovely mix of humour, warmth, and genuine emotion, and the marquee kept everyone close enough together that reactions were easy to capture.

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Knife dance and cutting the cake

Before the cake was cut, one of Basil’s groomsmen performed a knife dance on the dance floor and then presented the knife to the couple. It was a real standout moment and something I had not photographed before.

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First dance and party

The first dance and evening party both took place in the marquee, and the atmosphere stayed strong right through the evening. Once the dancing got going, it did not take long for the whole space to feel full of energy.

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Drone show

I ended coverage with a drone show, which brought everyone spilling out of the marquee to watch. It was such a memorable way to finish the evening and made a brilliant final moment for the gallery.

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Alexandra and Basil’s wedding was such a lovely summer day to photograph. From the church ceremony in Wenhaston to the lakeside reception at Rookery Meadow, everything felt relaxed, personal, and full of character. The combination of the carriage arrival, marquee celebration, golden hour by the lake, and the evening drone show made it a really memorable one.

If you’re planning your own wedding in Suffolk and looking for a Rookery Meadow wedding photographer, I’d love to hear more about your plans.