As a wedding photographer based in Cheshire and Stockport, I’m lucky enough to shoot at some of the area’s finest wedding venues. I’ve worked at weddings at some of Cheshire’s most beautiful wedding venues, from stately homes to country wedding barns.

However, I am sometimes also invited to shoot weddings taking place at the couple’s home, and these weddings are really special to be involved in from a wedding photographer’s point of view. There is something so personal about weddings at home: they can be such relaxed, happy occasions and are always a joy to capture.

Here is a sneak peek of two weddings that I was recently invited to shoot, both which took place at the couple’s homes. I have also included a few little hints and tips along the way in case you’re thinking of having your own wedding at home. Hopefully you’ll find this useful, but if you have any other questions about wedding photography that I haven’t covered here I would be more than happy to chat.

Jenny and Nigel’s Lakeside Wedding

I was invited along to Jenny and Nigel’s house in Cheshire on the morning before their wedding ceremony, which took place at the local church, just walking distance from their home. As you can see from the photos, the house was a hive of activity on the morning of the wedding- not only was everyone getting ready there, but there were also people dressing the garden and grounds for the reception later that day.

Wedding Photographer Tip #1 – Get some help setting up
If you’re having your wedding at home, a top tip is to get some help setting up. This might be a professional venue dresser who visits your house and garden and helps to plan, and then create, your decorations. Or, you could get a willing team of friends and family on board: just make sure everyone knows what they’re doing and are ready to go on the big day!

Bridal prep is always a great thing to be a part of because the excitement is palpable! But it was even more so the case at Jenny’s house which was also the hub of the whole day. A lot of Jenny’s family and friends were there on the morning of the wedding, giving it a real fun family atmosphere.

Wedding Photographer Tip #2 – Give everyone their own space
It’s wonderful to have family and friends around on the morning of your wedding, but remember this time is mainly about you getting ready, and you’ll need a little time and space in a quiet zone where possible! Arrange different spaces in your home for different people, and maybe think about asking little bridesmaids to get ready in a different room to avoid any accidents happening to your wedding dress!

Both before and after the wedding I captured some stunning shots of Jenny and Nigel around their house and garden. I love the image of Jenny coming down the stairs before she set out for the ceremony, and also the shots I took of Jenny and Nigel together in their garden. Jenny and Nigel have a beautiful home which they were also in the middle of extending! It has a lakeside setting and picturesque stone archway: basically a wedding photographer’s dream garden! The reception took place in a marquee in the garden, and it was a delight to capture the happy couple in the place they love most: their fabulous home.

Wedding Photographer Tip #3 – Familiarise your wedding photographer with your home
As a wedding photographer, shooting in someone’s home is obviously a little different to shooting at a wedding venue that you know well and have worked in before. I always like to familiarise myself with the couple’s home when I arrive for the shoot as then I can plan where to take the best photos. With Jenny and Nigel we decided to have their pre wedding shoot there, which was a great way to visualise how things would be on their wedding day.  

Rachel and Mike’s Tipi Wedding

I went to high school with Rachel so was delighted when she and Mike asked me to photograph their wedding at their home in Cheshire. Rachel and Mike were married at St Peter’s Church in Delamere before heading back to their house for a reception in a tipi in their back garden with family and friends.

Wedding Photographer Tip #4 – Choose a theme
Most weddings tend to have a theme running through them, and if you’re getting married at home this doesn’t have to be any different. Rachel and Mike’s wedding was a great example of how a theme can really enhance your wedding photographs. The tipi played a central role in the wedding and inspired the rustic theme, from a rattan carpet leading guests through the garden, to a hand-painted gate welcoming guests to the wedding, to the relaxed and laid back feel of the whole day.

It was lovely to capture shots of Rachel’s family and friends getting ready together at home. Both the bride and groom got ready at their home, just making sure that they didn’t see each other in their wedding finery! I also really enjoyed photographing all the guests in the garden surrounding the tipi; the tipi was a fabulous feature in itself and made for some great wedding photography.

Wedding Photographer Tip #5 – Don’t worry about the weather
Luckily, the weather behaved itself for Rachel and Mike’s wedding, but as we know in Britain, good weather is never guaranteed. While this might be off-putting to some couples thinking of getting married at home, I’m here to tell you not to worry too much about the weather. Whether rain or shine, your wedding photographer can capture some beautiful images, and can also offer advice on how to achieve the perfect outdoor wedding photographs. Just ask me 🙂

I was able to set aside some time with the bride and groom to get some romantic shots in the woodland surrounding their home. And then it was time for the evening reception, where it’s safe to say that everyone let their hair down and had a great time!

If you’re thinking of having your wedding at home and would like some advice on wedding photography, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.