Alicia & Ali’s Wedding Weekend at Wilderness Reserve, Suffolk

Alicia and Ali celebrated a wonderfully British wedding at the stunning Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk – so British, in fact, that the rain barely stopped all weekend.

The festivities began with a bright and summery welcome party at Chapel Barn Estate, one of the most sought-after venues on the Wilderness Reserve. Despite the showers, we created a joyful setting that embraced the outdoor lifestyle the estate is famous for. I adore rainy wedding photography – it captures so much fun and spontaneity – and this celebration was the perfect example.

The wedding day itself was filled with thoughtful, personal touches. In honour of the groom’s mother, we designed a beautiful cornflower platform (her favourite flower), where the bride sang Songbird in her memory. The bride’s mother, a trained florist, played an important role in the floral design, while the bride’s father brought in special cases of his favourite red wine to be served with dinner. Adding to the atmosphere, England happened to be playing in the semi-final of the Euros during dinner – and sometimes you just have to let guests watch the penalties!

True to their party-loving spirits, Alicia and Ali ended the night with an incredible private nightclub experience – hands down one of my favourite wedding parties ever.

The weekend celebrations concluded with a lively recovery-day pool party, keeping the energy high right to the very end. Guests partied hard, the atmosphere was electric, and even though I spent much of the weekend drenched in a poncho, my heart was warm from all the laughter, dancing and unforgettable memories.

Photographer – Andrew Bayda