A Countryside DIY Wedding in Kent

Cat and Jack - DIY Wedding in a Friend’s Farm

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing quite a few DIY weddings across Kent, whether they're held on private farms, family land or in beautiful countryside fields. They always have such a relaxed atmosphere, giving couples the freedom to create a wedding day that's completely personal to them. Cat and Jack's DIY wedding in the Kent countryside was no exception.

Having already legally married during a private ceremony a few weeks earlier, Cat and Jack chose to celebrate with a heartfelt celebrant-led wedding in the middle of a beautiful meadow, surrounded by family and friends. A celebrant ceremony allowed them to tell their story in a much more personal way, making it one of the most emotional parts of the day.

Following an incredible confetti throw (and I really do mean a lot of confetti!), everyone made the most of the glorious sunshine as Kent enjoyed one of the hottest weekends of the summer. Guests relaxed outdoors before heading into the beautifully decorated marquee, where they enjoyed an amazing BBQ wedding breakfast and a series of incredibly emotional speeches.

As the evening arrived, we wandered back into the meadow for some relaxed couple portraits, making the most of the stunning countryside setting. After returning for the first dance and getting the party well underway, we couldn't resist heading back outside one final time. With the sun beginning to set across the fields, we captured some beautiful golden hour portraits to round off an unforgettable outdoor wedding.

If you're planning a DIY wedding in Kent, a wedding in a field or another blank canvas venue, I hope Cat and Jack's day provides plenty of inspiration.

Here are some of my favourite moments from their incredible day.

Westerham Golf Club Wedding Photography

Georgia and Tom’s Wedding at Westerham Golf Club

Georgia and Tom celebrated their beautiful wedding at Westerham Golf Club, a stunning wedding venue near Sevenoaks, Kent.

Having photographed a number of weddings here over the years, Westerham Golf Club remains one of my favourite venues. Its rustic interior, combined with the picturesque grounds, provides the perfect setting for both the celebrations and some relaxed couple portraits.

Before their wedding day, Georgia and Tom held a private legal ceremony, allowing one of their close friends to act as their celebrant on the big day. It made for an incredibly personal and emotional ceremony, filled with stories and moments that reflected their journey together.

Following the ceremony and confetti, we headed out onto the golf course, making our way to one of my favourite wooded spots for some relaxed portraits. Afterwards, the newlyweds returned to enjoy plenty of time celebrating with their family and friends.

After the wedding breakfast and speeches, we ventured back outside to make the most of the softer evening light and the quieter golf course, capturing a few more natural portraits before heading back inside. With that, the dancefloor quickly filled and the evening celebrations were well underway.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their incredible day!

Wedding Photography at Old Kent Barn

Chloe and Alfie’s Wedding at Old Kent Barn

Chloe and Alfie celebrated their beautiful wedding at Old Kent Barn, one of my favourite wedding venues near Folkestone, Kent.

The weather couldn't have been better and, following a fun-filled morning of bridal preparations, these two exchanged vows during a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the sunshine.

After confetti and a handful of relaxed group photographs, everyone made the most of the glorious weather before heading inside for some fantastic speeches and the wedding breakfast. The addition of table captains kept the energy high throughout, creating plenty of laughs and unforgettable moments.

As the afternoon turned into evening, I took Chloe and Alfie for a relaxed walk around the stunning gardens to capture some natural portraits before returning them in time for their first dance and the start of the evening celebrations.

We were then treated to an incredible golden hour, so before I headed home, I stole the couple away for just a few minutes to make the most of the beautiful light. It was the perfect way to finish their coverage before they returned to the dancefloor and the party really got underway.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their amazing day!

The Crown Lodge Wedding Photography

Jess and Tom’s Wedding at the Crown Lodge

Jess and Tom celebrated their beautiful wedding at the stunning Crown Lodge, nestled above the Wye Downs near Ashford, Kent.

While much of the UK was sweltering in an incredible summer heatwave, the couple and their guests were able to enjoy the glorious sunshine alongside a welcome breeze, thanks to the venue’s elevated location overlooking the Kent countryside.

Jess made a memorable arrival in a 90s VW Golf GTI, which Tom had built himself in the lead-up to the wedding. They exchanged vows during an intimate outdoor ceremony in the woodland, with both their children and dogs playing an important role in the celebrations.

After confetti and a handful of relaxed group photographs, guests made the most of the beautiful weather before heading inside for some fantastic speeches and the wedding breakfast.

The celebrations continued outside with lawn games, including a fiercely contested men vs women tug-of-war! I then stole Jess and Tom away for a few relaxed portraits along the tree-lined driveway before returning them to enjoy the evening festivities and their first dance.

As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, we ventured into the neighbouring meadows—carefully avoiding the resident cows—to capture some beautiful golden hour portraits. With the light fading, the newlyweds headed back to the dancefloor, where the party carried on well into the evening.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their incredible day!

“We couldn’t have asked for a better photographer for our wedding day, Matt is such a lovely person and was wonderful to have around on the day. He took such amazing staged and candid photos and got some really lovely natural ones of our kids.

He sent over some sneak peaks immediately after the wedding so we had some lovely pictures to make thank you cards etc with and then had our complete set back within the month!”

— Jess Ashby

Great Bower Barn Wedding Photography

Great Bower Barn - Cieran and Djamila

Ciaran and Djamila celebrated their fun-filled and emotional wedding at Great Bower Barn, a unique countryside wedding venue near Canterbury, Kent.

The day began at St Nicholas Church in Rodmersham, near Sittingbourne. The ceremony was especially meaningful for Djamila, who is a bellringer at the church alongside her mum. After an emotional service surrounded by family and friends, the newlyweds made the journey through the Kent countryside before arriving in style at Great Bower Barn.

Guests made the most of the glorious summer weather, enjoying lawn games, ice cream and plenty of time to relax before heading inside for some brilliant speeches.

After an incredible BBQ wedding breakfast, I stole Ciaran and Djamila away for some relaxed portraits around the grounds. Before their first dance, they added a brilliantly personal touch to the day by having a Scalextric 'first race' together, which definitely brought out their competitive sides!

As the evening drew on, I spotted the sun dropping behind the surrounding buildings and quickly whisked them away from the dance floor for a few golden hour portraits.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from the day!

Reach Court Farm Wedding - Ethan and Ellie

Ellie and Ethan celebrated their wedding at the beautiful Reach Court Farm, nestled in the village of St Margaret's at Cliffe near Dover, Kent. As a recommended supplier at Reach Court Farm, it's always a pleasure to photograph weddings here, and this one was no exception.

The day began with some rather wet and windy weather as Ellie got ready with her bridal party at a nearby Airbnb. Thankfully, just before the ceremony was due to begin, the rain cleared and revealed blue skies, allowing everyone to enjoy the outdoor ceremony exactly as planned.

Although further heavy showers were forecast throughout the day, the weather held off just long enough for guests to celebrate with an outdoor confetti throw before everyone made a quick dash for cover! It certainly didn't dampen the atmosphere, with heartfelt speeches, plenty of laughter and a fantastic wedding breakfast creating an unforgettable afternoon.

When it came to their couple portraits, Ellie and Ethan embraced the unpredictable Kent weather. Armed with an umbrella and a great sense of humour, we headed outside to capture some relaxed, natural photographs around the beautiful grounds of Reach Court Farm. The soft post-rain light created some gorgeous conditions and proved that you don't need perfect sunshine to create beautiful wedding photographs.

As evening arrived, everyone gathered for the first dance before the dance floor quickly filled and the celebrations continued late into the night.

If you're planning your own Reach Court Farm wedding, it's a fantastic venue offering beautiful gardens, charming countryside views and plenty of opportunities for relaxed, natural wedding photography whatever the weather.

Canterbury Wedding - Megan and Ashley

Megan and Ashley held their wedding over two amazing days in Canterbury, Kent.

Initially, surrounding by just their immediate families, this awesome duo married at Canterbury Registry Office, with Megan wearing her Nan’s original wedding dress. Following this intimate ceremony, I took them off to the nearby Westgate Gardens to capture some relaxed portraits next to the River Stour.

Two days later, Megan and Ashley held a huge celebration at Megan’s parent’s house. With a giant marquee in the garden, decorated with stunning wild flowers. This was an incredibly relaxed day with guests enjoying the weather and a hog roast served as the Wedding Breakfast. As the sun started to set, I took them off to a nearby meadow for some relaxed portraits, returning for the Champions League Final (Ashley is an Arsenal fan) and the start of the party.

Here are a few of my favourite moments:

The Barnyard - Pip and Rachel's wedding

Pip and Rachel held their special day at the Barnyard, situated near Sittingbourne, Kent.

They married on the hottest May bank holiday since records began, and with the sun beaming, they held an intimate outdoor ceremony. Following some confetti in the nearby orchard and a handful of group shots, this awesome pair enjoyed the sunshine with their loved ones.

Following the wedding breakfast and some emotional speeches, I sneaked the pair away for some relaxed couple portraits in the orchard, with the first dance starting shortly after.

Thanks to the stunning weather, we had the best golden hour, so we climbed up the hill (which felt like a mountain at the time), to get some shots overlooking the valley. Once back, coverage finished with a sparkler exit.

Here are a few of my favourite moments:

The Orchard Suite - Victoria and Ryan

On the hottest day of the year (so far), Victoria and Ryan held their fun yet emotional wedding at the Orchard Suite in Maidstone, Kent.

With the sun beaming, these guys held their service outdoor, with a suprise ring bearer appearing half way through! Following the service and some group shots, this awesome pair enjoyed the sunshine with Ellie Rae Sings providing the background music.

With their ‘table captains’ ready, these guys made one big entrance for their wedding breakfast, which was followed by some emotional speeches. Although, Ryan’s bestman didn’t hold back with his stories of their younger days.

With a beautiful golden hour at hand, I took these guys out for some couple photos, returning for the first dance and one amazing sparkler exit.

Here are a few of my favourite moments.

Knowle Country House Wedding - Annie and Brendon

Annie and Brendon held their fun and relaxed wedding at Knowle Country House near Rochester, Kent.

This was the start of the May bank holiday weekend, which proved to be the hottest on record! The service itself was held in a church about 15 minutes away and thanks to an awesome priest, I managed to capture service without any restrictions.

Following the service, the couple travelled in style via a classic car to Knowle Country House, where everyone enjoyed the stunning weather and some relaxed group shots were captured.

Following a BBQ for the wedding breakfast, everyone was treated to some epic speeches, which led into the couple disappearing off for some relaxed portraits in the soft golden light.

Once back, the party got going!

Here are a few of my favourite moments:

The Night Yard Wedding - Christie and Michael

Christy and Michael held their wedding at The Night Yard, a stunning venue on the outskirts of Canterbury, Kent.

With the sun shining, these guys had an intimate outdoor ceremony and after a handful of group shots, they had plenty of time to relax, catch up with their guests and enjoy the sunshine before heading in for their wedding breakfast.

Their entrance was epic, starting with the surprise arrival of a waiter armed with a saxophone. But the surprises didn’t stop there — another waiter took a dramatic ‘nasty’ fall, much to the concern of the groom and guests, before jumping up and bursting into song. Safe to say it got the party started and the atmosphere going instantly.

I then snuck the couple away for some relaxed sunset portraits before heading back in to capture their first dance and some proper dancefloor action.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their day:

Old Kent Barn Wedding Photography - Megan and Shaun

Megan and Shaun held their spring wedding at the always stunning Old Kent Barn, situated near Dover - a venue I’m really proud to say I’m a recommended supplier.

The whole day was a fun a vibe, personified with Shaun and his groomsmen’s amazing entrance for the ceremony! Following an emotional service and lots of colourful confetti, guests enjoyed the outdoor space before the wedding breakfast.

The fun continued as a waitor crashed to the floor mid service, to return to his feet with microphone in hand…

Once the wedding breakfast was finished, I took these guys out for some relaxed and natural portraits, and following Meg’s dress change, the party got started!

Here are a few of my favourite frames

The Orchard Suit - Dannielle and Jordan

Dannielle and Jordan celebrated their beautiful wedding at the Orchard Suite near Maidstone.

Despite the threat of rain, they were able to enjoy an intimate outdoor ceremony beneath cover, followed by confetti and some relaxed group photographs.

As the weather turned, guests moved inside the venue to enjoy the warm atmosphere before sitting down for an amazing wedding breakfast. After a series of hilarious speeches, I took the couple for a wonder around the grounds to capture some natural, relaxed portraits together.

Back inside, the evening celebrations were in full swing as guests filled the dance floor and danced the night away to the live band.

Westerham Golf Club Wedding - Ellie and Ethan

Ellie and Ethan tied the knot in early spring 2026 at the ever-beautiful Westerham Golf Club—one of my favourite venues.

Their day was centred around an intimate ceremony, shared with close family and friends, which gave everything a relaxed and personal feel. After lots of confetti and a handful of group photos, everyone settled in for a series of heartfelt (and entertaining) speeches.

Once the wedding breakfast wrapped up, we made the most of the grounds—jumping on golf buggies to visit a few of my favourite photo spots. Although the skies stayed overcast for much of the day, we were lucky enough to catch a stunning golden hour, giving us the perfect light for some natural and relaxed portraits.

By the time we returned, the band was set and ready to go, and the evening celebrations kicked off in style.

Here’s a selection of some favourite moments from their day.

Knowle Country House Wedding - Rachel and Ben

Rachel and Ben celebrated their beautiful spring wedding at the stunning Knowle Country House, near Rochester in Kent.

Although it was only early April, the sun made an appearance for most of the day, creating the perfect setting for an emotional outdoor ceremony surrounded by their closest family and friends.

After confetti and group photographs, the newlyweds had plenty of time to relax and enjoy being with their guests before heading into the wedding breakfast.

Following three incredible speeches, myself and Jack from Jack to Jack Media an took Rachel and Ben around the grounds for some relaxed, natural portraits. Soon after, they returned to kick off the evening celebrations with their first dance.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their day:

Old Kent Barn Wedding Photography - Isabelle and Alex

Isabelle and Alex celebrated their beautiful wedding day at the stunning Old Kent Barn, nestled between Folkestone and Canterbury.

It was an incredible day to capture, with more than 100 close family and friends joining them to celebrate. As their wedding took place early in the year, they chose to hold the ceremony indoors, whilst the skies stayed beautifully clear, giving the perfect opportunity for confetti photographs and portraits outside.

After the ceremony, the Wedding Breakfast began with an entertaining performance from magician Matty Evans, before leading into a series of heartfelt and wonderfully funny speeches.

As evening fell, Isabelle and Alex kicked off the celebrations with a magical sparkler walk, followed by toasting marshmallows around the fire pit. Not long after, everyone made their way to the dancefloor and partied the night away. Here are a few of my favourite moments from the day.

The Secret Gardens - Nicola and Connor

Nicola and Connor chose the beautiful Secret Gardens near Ashford, Kent, for their intimate winter wedding—a venue I’m always delighted to return to as a recommended supplier.

The gardens provided the perfect backdrop for a relaxed and heartfelt day. For mid-February, the weather couldn’t have been kinder; the rain held off, giving us the chance to capture outdoor group shots and a joyful confetti moment after their ceremony in the Chapel.

Just before the wedding breakfast, I took Nicola and Connor for a quiet wander through the gardens, creating some natural, relaxed portraits away from the buzz of the day. Following the wedding breakfast, and some truly memorable speeches, we stepped back out in the evening for a few atmospheric nighttime portraits, before they celebrated with a sparkler walk surrounded by their closest family and friends.

Here are a few of my favourite moments from their day.

The Crown Lodge Wedding Photography

Megan and James celebrated their relaxed and intimate wedding at the beautiful Crown Lodge, overlooking the stunning Wye Downs near Ashford, Kent.

The day began with a special surprise for Megan – her dad had arranged a vintage Land Rover to drive her and her bridesmaids to the venue. On arrival, the weather held out perfectly (despite a forecast of rain), allowing them to enjoy a relaxed outdoor ceremony surrounded by incredible views.

After the vows, guests gathered outside for drinks while taking in the sweeping scenery across the Downs. Soon after, everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast and some brilliant, laughter-filled speeches.

As the evening sun began to dip, I took Megan and James across the road for some relaxed couple portraits in the golden light – a perfect quiet moment before the celebrations picked up again.

Back at the lodge, the dancefloor came alive and the party truly began!

Port Lympne Safari Park Wedding Photography

Alex and Luke celebrated their September wedding at the incredible Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent – a truly unforgettable setting.

The day couldn’t have started better, with perfect weather complementing the stunning surroundings. Groom prep took place at Bear Lodge, while bridal prep unfolded in the elegant Spencer Roberts Room inside the main mansion.

These two chose a celebrant-led ceremony, making their vows beautifully personal and intimate. After confetti and a handful of group photos, we explored the Moroccan Courtyard and the grounds of the mansion for some relaxed portraits.

Following the wedding breakfast and heartfelt speeches at the Orangery, guests enjoyed a safari tour through the park – spotting wildlife from across the globe as the sun began to set.

As the evening drew in, everyone returned to the Orangery where the celebrations kicked off in style. Alex and Luke surprised their guests with a quick outfit change before making a spectacular re-entrance to start an unforgettable party.

Hayne House Wedding Photography

What an incredible wedding this was! Bethany and Garin’s big day at Hayne House in Hythe was nothing short of spectacular.

The morning was buzzing with excitement during bridal prep, which flowed perfectly into an emotional and heartfelt outdoor ceremony. Despite a rather uncertain forecast, the rain held off, giving everyone the chance to enjoy the gardens while we captured some relaxed group shots.

The energy stepped up again during the wedding breakfast, with Garin’s best men—his brothers—delivering a hilarious, laughter-filled speech. Just when guests thought they’d seen it all, one of the waiters took a dramatic tumble, causing a moment of shock before springing back up with a microphone in hand. From then on, the room was electric. There was sing-offs, dance-offs, congas, and so much more.

Shortly after, we snuck the couple away for some relaxed portraits and even caught a fleeting glimpse of golden light before heading back for the evening party.

The night wrapped up with a packed dancefloor and Garin’s friends competing in the legendary ‘geeko’—a tradition that has to be seen to be believed!