family home weddings have a feeling that's hard to replicate 

Family home marquee weddings are some of my absolute favourite celebrations to photograph. Weddings at home brings a warmth and intimacy that’s truly unique. They’re personal, relaxed and entirely your own, shaped by family history, familiar surroundings and a sense of freedom that simply doesn’t exist at most traditional venues.

While no two family home marquee weddings are ever quite the same, many follow a similar, relaxed rhythm. The sections below reflect the most common flow of the day - always flexible, always personal and shaped around what feels right for you. Having photographed many beautiful celebrations like this, I’ve included a few gentle tips and considerations that may be helpful as you plan your own family home wedding.

Morning preparations at home are often a wonderful blend of calm and gentle chaos. There may be family members popping in and out, florists arriving, childhood pets roaming around and not forgetting parents putting final touches into place - often excited to see months of planning, gardening and preparation finally come to fruition! This is all part of the atmosphere that makes these mornings so enjoyable to photograph.

When thinking about morning photos, it’s worth choosing one room that can be kept relatively clutter free for photographs - ideally with good natural light and a little space to move around. Rooms with large windows work beautifully for bridal portraits and stepping outside into the garden can also allow for some lovely photographs with your family and bridal party. One piece of advice I always like to share is to try and give yourself a little extra time once you’re ready. Of course, you’ll likely want a few photographs, but it can also be wonderful to share a quiet moment or celebratory drink with your closest family and friends before heading off to begin the day. Being at home often means more loved ones around you in the morning and allowing time to pause and soak it all in together can become an incredibly special part of your celebrations.

Preparations in the Family Home

Many family home marquee weddings include a church ceremony, often in the local village or surrounding countryside. It adds a beautiful sense of tradition and occasion to the day, and creates a natural contrast between the formality of the ceremony and the relaxed celebration that follows. I’m always respectful and discreet during church services, although it’s worth checking with your officiant in advance to see if there are any specific guidelines or restrictions in place for photographers.

a nearby church ceremony

Many family home marquee weddings include a church ceremony, often in the local village or surrounding countryside. It adds a beautiful sense of tradition and occasion to the day, and creates a natural contrast between the formality of the ceremony and the relaxed celebration that follows. I’m always respectful and discreet during church services, although it’s worth checking with your officiant in advance to see if there are any specific guidelines or restrictions in place for photographers.

Following the service, there’s nothing quite like traditional church confetti - newly married, guests lining the path, and church bells in the background. My top tip is to make sure you have plenty of confetti, so guests can gather generous handfuls and create a real impact in photos. If you’ve chosen to have a wedding car, gathering your guests again before you leave can also be a really special moment. A big cheer as you climb inside, a wave from the church gates or a slow drive away with everyone lining the lane creates a natural full stop to the ceremony and often one of the most joyous moments of the day.

Following the service, there’s nothing quite like traditional church confetti - newly married, guests lining the path, and church bells in the background. My top tip is to make sure you have plenty of confetti, so guests can gather generous handfuls and create a real impact in photos. If you’ve chosen to have a wedding car, gathering your guests again before you leave can also be a really special moment. A big cheer as you climb inside, a wave from the church gates or a slow drive away with everyone lining the lane creates a natural full stop to the ceremony and often one of the most joyous moments of the day.

The drinks reception is often the point in the day where everything begins to settle. Guests arrive back at the house, the garden fills, and the pace softens as conversations start to flow and everyone eases into the celebrations.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I always like to share (perhaps the most important of all!) is to allow yourselves a little breathing space here, with a drinks reception of atleast two hours. This part of the day passes remarkably quickly and a longer drinks reception allows time for everything to unfold naturally. It creates space for group photographs, some photos of the two of you and, most importantly, time for you to enjoy a drink, chat to your guests and truly be present in your day. From a photographic point of view, this is where the most genuine, candid moments tend to happen. If you’d love plenty of natural images, being free to spend real, unhurried time with your guests makes all the difference.

Another lovely thing to consider is making the most of the outdoor setting while everyone is gathered together. Some couples choose to include one or two speeches at this point, or even a cake cutting, helping the day feel informal and sociable while guests are already mingling in the garden.

an english garden drinks reception

just the two of you

To ensure some beautiful portraits of the two of you, be sure to set aside a little time with your photographer. While this is one of my favourite parts of the day, I keep sessions short and sweet to ensure you have plenty of time with family and friends. My style encourages genuine interactions through gentle movement and subtle direction, rather than staging formal posed photos. My focus is on capturing relaxed, natural images that reflect genuine emotion and connection.

Often, the perfect time for this is towards the end of the drinks reception, as guests begin to make their way into the marquee. It allows us to make the most of the quieter gardens, while ensuring you don’t miss out on any part of the celebrations. Once we’re finished, your guests are excitedly waiting for you to make your entrance into the marquee - a lovely transition into the next part of the day.

If you’re blessed with beautiful golden light later in the day, I always recommend stepping out again to make the most of it. It doesn’t need to be for long, but golden hour photographs can often be some of the most beautiful of the day. We can use the gardens once more, or if you have open fields nearby, these can work beautifully too.

the MARQUEE WEDDING BREAKFAST

The marquee itself is a blank canvas - a space entirely your own to design and decorate in whatever feels right to you. Whether elegant and understated or full of colour and personality, it’s often one of the most creative parts of planning a family home wedding. I always love seeing how couples choose to bring the space to life.

One of my favourite moments of the wedding breakfast is the couple's entrance to the marquee - music playing, napkins in the air and that wonderful burst of energy as everyone cheers and welcomes you in. Enjoy this moment, pass through all your tables and really embrace it! Once everyone is seated, the pace naturally slows. It’s time for good food, heartfelt speeches and more time spent with your guests before the celebrations continue into the evening.

the party

The first dance often marks the moment the day begins to shift, kicking off the party and drawing everyone together onto the dancefloor. Whether you choose a simple sway before inviting your friends to join you, or a full choreographed routine, it’s always a moment your guests love to watch. If you’d like to add an extra sense of celebration, confetti cannons at just the right moment can be a brilliant and fun surprise.

There’s something about a marquee dancefloor that always delivers. Perhaps it’s the relaxed feel of being at home, but these weddings so often lead to packed dancefloors, great energy and a party that shows no sign of slowing down. I love to stay and capture all the fun and chaos as it unfolds.