Iona and Alex’s wedding had its own momentum from the very start. Joyful, funny, stylish, slightly zany in the best possible way, and completely personal to them.

They married at St Nicholas Church in Longparish before heading to Riverside Cottage in nearby Bransbury for a reception beside the River Test. Being so close to Iona’s family home gave the day a feeling you rarely get from a commercial venue. Familiar, relaxed, full of character and absolutely packed with life.

Although I’m best known as a Dorset wedding photographer, I also photograph weddings across Hampshire and the wider South of England, especially marquee celebrations on private land where the setting and the people do most of the storytelling.

It was clear early on that this was not going to be a standard Hampshire marquee wedding. There were riverside drinks, a roaming brass band, a duck race, speeches that had the room in tears more than once, a sailcloth marquee, Alex singing during the first dance, confetti cannons and a guest list that knew exactly how to be at a wedding.

A Ceremony at St Nicholas Church, Longparish

The ceremony took place at St Nicholas Church in Longparish, a village church that carries a real sense of occasion without any stiffness to it. Iona arrived with her father, flower girls and page boys just ahead of her, and the whole thing held a lovely balance of tradition and personality.

Then, at the end of the ceremony, as they turned to walk back down the aisle together, they danced. Not a few shy steps, but full of energy, all the way down the aisle. Then they turned around and danced back up it again, with the whole church on their feet, cheering. It felt less like a wedding ceremony finishing and more like a concert encore. The energy in that building was something else.

Afterwards, guests spilled outside for confetti, the bagpipes leading the way, everyone tumbling into the sunshine at once. That particular kind of chaos is where some of the best photographs tend to happen.

Riverside Drinks, Brass Music and a Duck Race

After the church, everyone made their way to Riverside Cottage for drinks beside the River Test. This was where the day started to feel unmistakably like Iona and Alex.

The setting felt relaxed but still full of occasion. Guests gathered by the water, drinks in hand, with the brass band moving through the crowd and lifting the whole afternoon. It had a particular quality to it, fun and slightly mischievous, that said a lot about who they are as a couple.

Then the ushers appeared in waders, carrying rubber ducks. A race on the Test is not something you see on many wedding timelines, and it worked completely. A little chaotic, very personal, and the sort of thing nobody who was there will forget in a hurry.

A Sailcloth Marquee and Speeches That Earned Every Laugh

The sailcloth marquee sat in the field looking exactly right for the day. With around 150 guests coming together for the group photograph before dinner, the occasion had real scale, but it still felt warm and connected throughout.

Alex’s speech came first, and it was a real highlight. He stood up without a single piece of paper, worked the room like someone who had done it a hundred times before, and had everyone with him from the opening line. It was funny, warm and extremely well delivered.

Then the best man took things in a completely different direction. What unfolded involved multiple costume changes, a level of commitment that suggested he had been planning this for some time, and an energy that never let up. The room was in tears repeatedly. By the end, the applause felt as much like relief as appreciation.

Both speeches said something genuinely true about the people giving them, which is exactly what makes those moments so good to photograph.

An Evening With Confetti Cannons and a Full Dance Floor

Alex sang during the first dance. It was a brilliant surprise and a perfect reflection of how the day had felt throughout: warm, funny and with a level of personal investment that most weddings do not come close to.

After that, the confetti cannons went off and the evening properly lifted. The dance floor filled quickly, the band had everyone with them, and the whole marquee seemed to loosen at once. It was loud, bright, ridiculous in places and brilliant to photograph.

Planning a Marquee Wedding in Hampshire?

At-home and private marquee weddings in Hampshire like this one have a particular quality that’s difficult to replicate at a commercial venue. The River Test, St Nicholas Church and Riverside Cottage gave the day a genuinely personal set of locations, and that came through in every part of it.

If you’re planning a marquee wedding in Hampshire, Dorset or anywhere across the South of England, documentary wedding photography works especially well for days like this, where the story is already in the people and the place. You can see more of my work at the main wedding page or get in touch to check availability.

Kind Words From Iona and Alex

“We keep going back to them, and will for a very long time – each time we find something new and more whimsical and precious. Thank you so much for capturing our day. They really tell the story and you found all the little details. The kids on the run in the flower girl/page boys shot, epic!”

Iona also left this on Google:

“Paul is such a talent. His calm, subtle presence on the day meant he got shots we hadn’t even noticed happening. The formal pictures were taken very efficiently, using up no time during our day. Candid, high energy and joyful – a true documentation of the day. 30 pics delivered within 2 days, full album less than 6 weeks after.”

Planning a marquee wedding in Hampshire or Dorset?

If you are planning a private or at-home marquee wedding and looking for natural documentary wedding photography that lets the day feel like your own, you can find out more about my approach as a Dorset wedding photographer or get in touch to check availability.

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