View of newly married couple walking along the lane in Thaxted. The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in the background, after their wedding.

David & Lydia: A Marquee Wedding in Little Sampford

Before the wedding, Lydia told me there would be lots of dancing, and she delivered on her promise and then some!

This was a gloriously colourful and vibrant wedding day, starting off at the bride’s warm and welcoming family home for the preparations. The atmosphere was filled with cake and laughter from the onset, with Lydia in the capable hands of hairdresser Kelly Ward and makeup artist Sarah Drummond.

As the bridal party got ready, Lydia’s vivid dahlias were arranged and delivered by Amanda Waples, and they were greeted by the dog!

A short walk in the sunshine took us to the impressive Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted, where David was waiting with the rest of the family and friends.

The reception took place in a marquee in Little Sampford, providing picturesque views of the field and sky as it changed throughout the day. This included a stunning September full moon that illuminated the celebrations into the night. Anna Shutes Catering was in charge of the food, and from experience, I knew we were all in for a treat.

I left with a camera full of beautiful pictures, having captured all the emotions and fun of the day—a fantastic start to David and Lydia’s marriage



  • Small dog in a bed next to wooden duck.
  • Woman in navy peacock feather pyjamas from Their Nibs. Having her hair done by Kelly Ward.
  • Bridal party eating cake in navy peacock feather pyjamas from Their Nibs. In the kitchen.
  • A makeup artist with a bridesmaid at the kitchen table.
  • Bride in silky pyjamas laughs while sat at the dining table.
  • Mother of the bride smiling and sat in a chair ready for makeup artist Sarah Drummond.
  • Bridesmaids in a kitchen wearing navy peacock feather pyjamas from Their Nibs.
  • Amanda Waples delivering flowers for wedding. A dog stands nearby.
  • Wedding flowers, colourful dahlias. Amanda Waples's flowers in Great Sampford.
  • Father of the bride, taking pictures of bridal prep with his phone.
  • In the kitchen dining room the bridal party get ready, and the dad takes a photo.
  • Sarah Drummond MUA showing the bridesmaid her makeup in the mirror.
  • Wedding flowers, colourful dahlias and roses. Amanda Waples's flowers in Great Sampford.
  • The groom stood with a pint in the Swan Hotel in Thaxted.
  • Groomsmen drinking in the Swan in Thaxted before the wedding.
  • St John the Baptist with Our Lady and St Laurence in Thaxted. English Perpendicular style church in Essex.. The sky is blue.
  • Wedding flowers, colourful dahlias and roses. Amanda Waples's flowers in Great Sampford.
  • Dog sat outside the back doors.
  • Woman in blue pyjamas with peacock feathers on from Their Nibs. At a dining table full of make up.
  • Mother of the bride dressed in the Scarlett & Jo Isabelle Abstract Print Maxi Dress, and matching hat. Smiling as she walks in the room.
  • Pregnant bridesmaid in a blue dress, smiling next to a dining table.
  • A person sat in a chair wearing Their Nibs Peacock Feather Print Satin Pyjamas whilst Sarah Drummond applies bridal make up.
  • Hairdresser helping the mother of the bride with her hat.
  • Flowers for the wedding waiting in the living room.
  • Bridesmaid at the bottom of the stairs with no shoes on.
  • A woman wearing Scarlett & Jo Isabelle Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress and matching hat is helping her husband dress for a wedding. She is holding Union Jack braces. They are in their kitchen dining room in Thaxted.
  • Bride walks in to the room in her dress.
  • Bridesmaids wiping away happy tears as they see the bride in her dress for the first time. Wearing blue.
  • Father of the bride in his suit smiling.
  • Parents of the bride on the right. Mum is wearing a dress from Scarlett & Jo. Kelly Ward hairdresser is putting the veil on the bride.
  • Kelly Ward the hairdresser adjusting the bride's veil.
  • Groomsmen with the mother of the bride, making their way to church. A blue house behind them.
  • A woman in a pale green dress is crouching to see to a toddler in a church.
  • Wedding guests outside The Swan in Thaxted.
  • Guests arriving at the church in Thaxted.
  • The groom and his parents before the church wedding ceremony.
  • Woman walking the dog past the almshouses as the bridal party arrive at the church.
  • Bridal party by the Thaxted almshouses, about to walk to the parish church. A sunny day.
  • Bridal party walk towards the camera between the Thaxted almshouses, the windmill in the background.
  • Vicar welcomes the bridal party outside the Thaxted almshouses. Sun glare.
  • The vicars leads the bride, bridesmaids and father past the almshouses to the Thaxted parish church.
  • Bride looks up, surrounded by the bridal party, her dad and the vicars. Sun flare. Outside the St. John the Baptist with Our Lady and St. Laurence church in Thaxted.
  • Father of the bride, his daughters in the background on the left.
  • Scenes outside the church before the wedding.
  • Groomsmen waiting at the front of the church for the bride. An English Perpendicular church in Essex. St. John the Baptist with Our Lady and St. Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Groom playing with shirt cuffs as he waits.
  • Bride and father looking emotional as they walk down the aisle of the church.
  • Bride smiles at her fiancé as they stand in front of the vicar.
  • Scene from a wedding at Thaxted parish church,St. John the Baptist with Our Lady and St. Laurence. The inside of the church is white and bright.
  • Small boy with blonde hair sitting on the floor of the parish church in Thaxted during a wedding.
  • During the wedding hymns the couple smile at each other.
  • Side view of church wedding ceremony in Thaxted.
  • Man giving a reading during a church wedding ceremony in Essex.
  • Pregnant bridesmaid in a blue dress giving a wedding reading in a Thaxted Church.
  • Vicar delivering his sermon during a wedding ceremony at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Guests in church listening to sermon.
  • Scene from Essex church wedding ceremony.
  • View of the Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted. During a wedding. Guests are watching.
  • Father watches on as his daughter gets married in an Essex church.
  • The kiss in a wedding ceremony.
  • Groom's mum wearing a dark tulip print dress with upturned collar. She's smiles at the camera in the Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence.
  • The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted. An English Perpendicular style church in Essex. The view as the newly married couple start to walk down the aisle.
  • Parents of the bride walk down the aisle of Thaxted Parish church. The man is in a morning suit, and mum is wearing Scarlett & Jo Isabelle Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress.
  • Parents laughing outside the Thaxted Parish church.
  • Bride looks at the camera outside the church with her husband.
  • Bride and groom, just married, stand in the doorway of The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted near Saffron Walden.
  • Men with their babies outside at a wedding.
  • Woman holding onto her hat as she smiles.
  • Wedding guests outside the church in Thaxted. The women at the front are smiling and wearing hats in the wind. The woman on the right is wearing Ted Baker Sydnei Horse-Print Split Midi Dress.
  • Women in patterned dresses talking to the bride in the churchyard.
  • Wedding guests in navy hats at a church in Essex.
  • Woman wearing Phase Eight Kazumi Heritage Print Maxi Dress to a wedding in Essex.
  • WOmen smiling with the bride outside after the ceremony.
  • Groomsmen carrying the flowers from the church.
  • People stood on the grass of the churchyard in Thaxted.
  • Wedding guest in white and black polka dot dress and a hat from Get Ahead Hats Chelmsford.
  • Woman in Zebra print dress and pink hat kissing a guest.
  • Bride and her mum smiling at each other in the church yard. Mum is wearing a Scarlett & Jo Isabelle Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress.
  • Bride and groom exit the church in Thaxted holding hands in the air.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Couple walk through a confetti tunnel after wedding at The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Ushers carrying flowers. Amanda Waples.
  • The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted. The couple drive off.
  • Bridesmaids in long blue dresses walk down a lane in Thaxted.
  • Bridesmaids in long blue dresses walk down a lane in Thaxted. Thatched cottage on the left.
  • Newly married couple in the lane to the Thaxted windmill.
  • Bride and groom stood by John Webb's windmill in Thaxted.
  • View from behind of a couple walking down the lane, the spire of The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted. Bride is wearing white dress and veil.
  • View from behind of a couple walking down the lane, the spire of The Church of Saint John the Baptist with Our Lady and Saint Laurence in Thaxted.
  • Man at a gate of a garden in a blue shirt raises a can of beer he's watching the wedding party walk by. The almshouses in Thaxted next to the church.
  • Newly married couple together outside the groom's family home in Little Sampford.
  • Newly married couple in the car.
  • Table dressed for wedding in a marquee.
  • A wedding marquee with clear sides and round tables.
  • Dahlias decorating a wedding breakfast table.
  • Bride and her sister laughing together in a field with trees behind them. Flowers by Amanda Waples of Saffron Walden.
  • Bride and her sister laughing together in a field with trees behind them. Flowers by Amanda Waples of Great Sampford.
  • Bride and groom together in a light dappled field.
  • Father of the bride holding the bouquet near a gate.
  • In a field with dappled sunshine, trees behind. A bride and groom together.
  • Bridget from Anna Shutes catering talking to the bride and laughing out loud. Marquee wedding in Little Sampford.
  • Anna Shutes catering, seafood canapes.
  • Round tables dressed for a wedding breakfast in a marquee. The marquee has clear sides.
  • A round table set for a wedding breakfast, the chairs are wooden and brown.
  • Woman wearing a Multicoloured Leopard Print dress from D.Anna with an orange hat. Outside at a wedding reception in a field. Bride and bridesmaids in the background.
  • Waiting staff look at a camera as guests sit at outside table.
  • A field, trees in the distance, blue sky, clouds and flare from the sun. Little Sampford.
  • Man sticking out tongue at his partner the bridesmaid who is laughing.
  • A marquee for a wedding in the middle of a field, with trees. Little Sampford wedding.
  • Woman at a table wearing a pink scarf and laughing at the camera.
  • Woman and daughter taking selfie.
  • Bridesmaid in blue leans on a chair at the table and smiles.
  • Bride holding a bouquet at her husband's hand.
  • Couple being announced as they enter marquee. Bride holds bouquet in the air.
  • Father of the bride about to start his speech to a marquee of guests.
  • People at tables watching a speech.
  • Father of the bride giving his speech in a marquee.
  • Man with white hair in a morning suit is reading a speech in a marquee.
  • Person filming a wedding speech on a phone.
  • Woman in a brightly coloured dress from Scarlett & Jo wearing a matching hat is laughing at a table in a marquee at a wedding.
  • Woman in a blue dress with white spots holding a baby.
  • Bridesmaid sat at a table during the speeches, smiling.
  • Woman in white wedding dress is sitting at the table during wedding speeches. She's laughing and has hand up to her mouth.
  • Bride covering her mouth as she laughs at a wedding speech. Her dad looks on.
  • View of people sat at tables in a marquee.
  • Caterer holding a small baby.
  • Best men giving a speech as people look on.
  • Best men speech in an Essex marquee.
  • Man smiling and clapping whilst sat in a chair.
  • Bride and groom laughing during best man speech.
  • Father of the groom smiling.
  • The top table toasting the speeches.
  • Man with blonde hair looks at the camera while he claps.
  • The wedding breakfast meal by Anna Shutes Catering. At a wedding in a marquee near Saffron Walden.
  • Hats hanging up in a marquee.
  • White wedding cake and dahlias.
  • A bright pink hat at a wedding. People in the background eating.
  • A basket of cards, guestbook, and hats hanging up.
  • A trio of puddings from Anna Shutes Catering.
  • The sun sets on a wedding over a field in Little Sampford.
  • A blonde bridesmaid in a blue dress smiles at the camera, the bride and marquee behind her, lit up with fairy lights.
  • A couple stand close together, the marquee on the left. A candid wedding photograph of guests.
  • A marquee for an Essex wedding in a field as the sun sets.
  • Two bridesmaids at night.
  • Sun sets over a wedding marquee in Essex. Cars parked up in the field.
  • Three women stood around a round table. Glasses, wine bottles, candles and flowers on the table.
  • People at night in a wedding marquee, talking and smiling.
  • Bride and groom cutting the cake. The band setting up behind them.
  • Wedding guests cheering as the couple cut the cake.
  • First dance under confetti in a marquee.
  • First dance under confetti in a marquee.
  • Bride's sister holds the empty confetti cannon in her hand as she dances.
  • First dance as the couple spin around.
  • Couple kiss on a busy dance floor.
  • Friends and family surround the newly weds on the dance floor and sing along.
  • Newly married couple singing at reception.
  • Just married husband and wife on a busy dance floor in a marquee. Everyone has their hands in the air.
  • Groom looks at the camera as he dances with his wife. A guests is wearing the Ted Baker Horse-print dress as she dances.
  • People dancing as the band perform.
  • Two couples dance and laugh.
  • A woman with blonde hair in a burgundy jumpsuit and a man in a suit jacket are singing.
  • Bride's mum is laughing.
  • Groom and friend laughing on the dance floor. Holding a beer.
  • People dancing at wedding.
  • Dancing and pointing at a wedding reception.
  • Blonde woman in pale blue halter neck dress dancing with friends in a marquee. A wedding reception in a marquee near Thaxted.
  • Woman in red and white spotted dress dancing with someone in a floral dress.
  • Woman in red and white spotted dress dancing with someone in a floral dress.
  • Man with eyes wide open as he dances on a very busy dance floor at a wedding reception.
  • Man raised a glass of Tequila Rose pretending it's wine.
  • Woman working behind the bar of Bull Bridge Bars, points at the large head on a pint.
  • Someone writing in the wedding guestbook.
  • Ban dancing with the marquee pole.
  • Singer sticks tongue out and smiles.
  • Holding a pint, the groomsmen dance at night.
  • Person in Ted Baker horse-print dress drags man in to the marquee for a dance.
  • Bride and friend hug.
  • Bride in satin dress dancing.
  • A marquee at night in a field near Thaxted.
  • Young man in pink tie drinking a pint.
  • A woman in a white wedding dress with plunging neckline is with friends at her reception.
  • Women with wide open arms at reception.
  • Man picks up another man while he drinks beer.
  • Anna Shutes Catering staff are laughing at the wedding reception.
  • Woman at the bar holds up drinks. Bulls Bridge Bars.
  • The moon shines down on candlelit wedding guests, the marquee is lit up. A wedding reception in a field near Thaxted in Essex. Farm wedding photography.
  • Bride laughs as she changes into flat shoes for the reception. Sat at a table.
  • Woman writing in guestbook by candlelight.
  • A couple are sitting outside on a table made from a cable wire spool. They are embracing, it's night time at a wedding in a field.
  • Man in Union Jack braces dances with his daughters at a wedding.
  • People at wedding spot the camera.
  • Groom is sat on a friend's shoulders, he holds a pint.
  • Bride looks shocked as she gets up on to a friend's shoulders.
  • Woman in wedding dress on the shoulders of a man. Bridesmaids laugh. At wedding reception party in Essex.
  • Woman in wedding dress on the shoulders of a man. THe groom is on the shoulders of his friend. Bridesmaids laugh. At wedding reception party in Essex.
  • Woman in wedding dress on the shoulders of a man. THe groom is on the shoulders of his friend. Bridesmaids laugh. At wedding reception party in Essex.
  • Bride on the shoulders of a man, laughing. A packed dance floor in a marquee.
  • The groom is on the shoulders of his friend and is feeding beer to a man upon whose shoulders is the bride. A marquee wedding reception near Thaxted.
  • Man in waistcoat with a pint, a bridesmaid in blue is cheering.
  • Bride and groom laugh together surrounded by friends and family.
  • Dance scenes from a wedding.
  • A bright September moon shines down on the fields in Little Sampford.
The view out of a bedroom window of a Sail & Peg marquee, at a garden wedding in Stow Maries near South Woodham Ferrers in Essex. In the foreground is a bed and frame. Trees behind the marquee.

Planning a Marquee Wedding at Home?

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