Marianne Taylor Photography | Portrait & Family Photographer in Cornwall
On-location portrait and family photography in North Cornwall. Siren of the Sea sessions, couples, families. Soft, romantic, coastal.
It was such a pleasure to get to return to Aynhoe Park for another beautiful and unique wedding day. The summer weather was showing its best, and the grounds of this beautiful venue transformed into a wonderland with cocktails on the lawn and deer coming up to see what was happening. There were out-of-this-world-beautiful floral arrangements, flamingoes, unicorns and plenty of laughter. Thank you once again Aynhoe for providing such a perfect backdrop for celebrating love!
Charley & Freddie’s wedding was special for many reasons. Not least because I had earlier photographed Charley sister Jess’s wedding to Luke, and prior to that Jess’s friend Lucy’s wedding to Matt, and even further back Lucy’s brother David’s wedding to Eleni. So being there for Charley & Freddie’s wedding made me feel connected to a long line of people, and also gave this strong sense of time passing and me getting to be a witness to its flow. Which is pretty special.
The day started at Park House Hotel in Midhurst, where Charley was getting ready with her girls. Lillie Lindh was in charge of make-up and hair, and florist Hannah Berry Flowers had created one of my favourite bouquets ever. Charley’s beautiful wedding gown was by Suzanne Neville, and she added some glitter to the proceedings with her L K Bennett wedges.
The ceremony at Church of St Mary and St Gabriel in South Harting was a joyous occasion, after which we headed back to the house where Freddie grew up. The garden had been transformed into a pretty magical wedding reception space, and even though rain had threatened earlier, once the guest arrived the sun came out and bathed everyone in lovely warm early evening autumn light.
Blue Fig were in charge of the food and the cake, which was set up in a gorgeous marquee by DP Marquees. There was just so much pretty and joy around, and it was a real pleasure to get celebrate Charley & Freddie with everyone. I also have to big up bride’s father Adam, who really is the wedding planner extraordinaire (I’m not sure whether he’s available for hire, but if he is, he’ll make sure an event runs smoothly!).
Thank you Charley & Freddie for letting us play a part in your day, I hope you’ll enjoy a lifetime of adventures together! x
It’s always such a pleasure to get to shoot at the magical Aynhoe Park and Rebecca & Craig’s wedding, which I’d been impatiently waiting for ever since their engagement session, sure didn’t disappoint! The day started with Gustav and Lisa from Michael Van Clarke weaving their magic with hair and make-up, before Rebecca stepped into her Stephanie Allin gown and Jimmy Choo heels. We then took a trip to the Little Gaddesden Church, Craig travelling in style in his Ferrari, in which he also drove his new wife back to the reception!
Back at Aynhoe, Wildabout Flowers had weaved some serious flowery magic, just check out that spectacular seating plan for example! Chloe Hannan from Absolute Taste was in charge of catering, while the beautiful cake was by Jamie Bakes Cakes. Rebecca & Craig met in a ski resort in Switzerland 9 years ago, and since then, thanks to Craig’s passion for property, they have lived in a ridiculous amount of homes and so they named the tables after each of the roads. The understated and classy stationary was designed by Emily & Jo.
There are a gazillion pictures below as I found it hard to let go of any of the lovely moments (or deer, or crocodiles or giraffes…). But at least you know what you’ll be doing this weekend!
Thank you Rebecca & Craig for having us along for the ride, your day was simply gorgeous and I wish you all the best in your life together! x
Ever since Katie & James’ London engagement session I had been impatiently waiting for their wedding day at the ever-incredible Aynhoe Park. Well last month, that day finally arrived! And it certainly lived up to the expectations, and then some.
After having her make-up done by Sarah Brock and hair by Gustav Fouche from Van Clarke Salon, Katie slipped into her Grove wedding gown by Lela Rose (from Browns Bride) and slipped on her Lisa shoes by Freya Rose – and promptly transformed into a fairytale princess. She looked simply incredible! Walking down the isle, past the giraffe suspended by balloons, to live music played by a Jazz Trio (supplied by Stylish Entertainment), she simply took everyone’s breath away, most of all James’s!
Even though Aynhoe Park in itself is already a feast for the eyes, there were lots of pretty touches that elevated the space into a bit of a fairytale wedding scene. I adored the delicate pastel coloured flowers by Scarlet and Violet, which the prettiest of stationery by BerinMade complimented beautifully. And the Fiona Cairns cake (made by James’s Aunt Rachel Eardley) must have been the most adorable cake I’ve ever laid eyes on.
Wedding Planner Celeste Rose was an absolute gem in making sure everything ran on time, while Indulgence was in charge of the incredible looking food. Photo Emporium had provided hands down the coolest Airstream photo booth, which kept guests happy late into the night.
So, it suffices to say, I love every second of this day, and most of all it was such a privilege to get to witness Katie and James so happy and in love, and all their family and friends glowing with happiness for them. Thank you for having us! xo
How do I even begin describing Penny & Alex’s Cornish wedding day? One of my favourite places on earth, Trevose Head in Cornwall, check. A couple who designed a day to look exactly like them, which I always adore, check. A day so relaxed and full of genuine moments, there wasn’t even one formal group to capture, check. Torrential rain, che… err never mind that one! And yet, the insane downpour right at the beginning of the cliff top ceremony didn’t even matter, somehow it just added to the atmosphere of the day.
Penny and the girls got ready at Stein’s at Trevone Farm, which had the same chilled and yet stylish look as the rest of the day, as did the pretty stationery by Project pretty. Penny had her hair done by Holly Luisa, and she teamed her Jenny Packham Eden gown with glittery flip flops from Aldo for a glamorous and yet comfortable look.
Trevose Head is such a wild and beautiful place on it’s own, but it looked even more magical on Penny & Alex’s wedding day, with beautiful outside ceremony setting with a wedding back board by Rosie Harbottle, and flowers by  Garden gate flower company and BJ Richards. Virginias vintage and Very vintage hire provided the props and Sarah Talbot from Miss Tea was in charge of catering on the day. The delicious looking ‘naked’ cake was by Natural cake company.
It was an absolutely pleasure to once again work with humanist celebrant Zena Birch, who not only always finds the most beautiful words to illustrate her points, but also looks pretty darn cute in wellies and a yellow rain coat.
And I can’t very well forget Goose, Penny & Alex’s adorable dog, who was pretty much the star of the whole show. He was so excited about being part of everything that he could hardly contain himself (or his cuteness) all day, apart from when it came to posing perfectly for the couple portraits.
It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of this amazing day full of so much beauty and happiness, and I want to wish Penny & Alex lots of luck on their next adventure, as they relocate to Australia in a couple of weeks! x
Ali & Duncan’s wedding took place in one of the most charming locations I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting, Harold’s House in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. Perched on a top of a cliff, with beautiful views across the beach and the Pacific Ocean, it’s no surprise the house has been used for filming and photo shoots, such as Rihanna’s cover shoot for Vogue and for an episode of Californication among many other things.
Since Ali & Duncan were having a Jewish wedding on a Saturday, the ceremony had to take place after sunset. This meant for a slightly unusual order of events, including a first look portrait session, and cocktail hour before the ceremony.
If the house was stunning, so was Ali. She looked absolutely breathtaking in her Lazaro gown and Jimmy Choos! Chris Albanese from Argyle Events was in charge of everything running perfectly, and he was a joy to work with. Caterers Roomforty created some out of this world dishes, while  Twig & Twine was in charge of the flowers, and  The Butter End for the beautiful cake.
Another thing that made this wedding special was that we shot it together with the talented Nick Ray, who is a part of my new associate team.
Thank you so much Ali & Duncan for having us! It was such a pleasure and privilege, and please do send us some more of that Californian sunshine, I miss it so! x
I love an opportunity to travel to the West Country, so I was looking forward to Rita & Craig’s wedding day at Tunnels Beaches in Devon for ages, and this gloriously sunny October day was certainly worth the wait!
The day started with bumping into familiar faces, as the ladies from Changing Faces were in charge of makeup and hair. Rita then got dressed in her beautiful Charlie Brear gown and cool Chie Mihara shoes from Lula Bilbao. The pretty bouquets and flower arrangements were from The Somerset Flower Farm and Rita & Craig had designed their cute invites themselves.
Arriving to the beach via a tunnel opening to a most gorgeous view in front of you, was really something special. I have to say this is one of  the prettiest, and most unusual, places I’ve seen to get married in, especially when the weather is nice! The staff taking care of the catering were also brilliant and helpful, making sure everything ran on time but in a relaxed atmosphere.
The tables with their mismatching linens and little animals echoing the cute invites Rita & Craig had designed were absolutely adorable. The wedding sign and placecards by First Snow Fall, and personalised BerinMade stamps added to the prettiness, as did the beautiful cake by Rosanne Hollowell.
Rita & Craig’s day was a coming together of two families, and two countries (UK & Spain) and cultures, and this made for such a joyful celebration. Despite the at times nippy October air, the day was full of warmth and laughter. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of it all Rita & Craig! x
Julie & Ryan’s wedding day was full of treats of all kinds. Not only did it take place at one of the yummiest venues, Preston Court, our eyes were spoiled with the prettiest decorations from little hearts dotting the grass to cute origami birds hanging above, not to mention the gorgeous Euphoric Flowers blooms. A veritable prettiness heaven.
We began the day at Goss Hall where Julie got ready with the help of Kit Hall and her bridesmaids. I just loved Julie’s beautiful Naomi Neoh gown (from The Bespoke Wardrobe) and the bridesmaids deliciously coloured dresses.
The treats didn’t end with the visual touches. Julie & Ryan are big foodies, so their guests got treated to a tasting menu by Ben Spalding, definitely one of the most imaginative (and longest!) wedding breakfasts I’ve ever witnessed. The amazing Rosalind Miller cake finished the meal with flair. When the night fell, Soulshine got up on stage to get the party started.
Thank you so much Julie & Ryan for having us be a part of your gorgeous day! It truly was a pleasure. xo
Tracey & Hardip’s wedding at Northbrook Park was a real coming together of two families and cultures. There were both Chinese and Indian traditions, such as a tea ceremony and a sagan, integrated into the day, plus a beautiful outside ceremony in the garden.
The day began with Tracey getting ready in one of the cabins, where the fabulous Mariam Jensen was in charge of make-up and Tracey’s cousin Jenny Liu of hair. Tracey had more than one knockout outfits for the day (plus of course two pairs of gorgeous Jimmy Choos!), her main gown being a breathtaking Elie Saab creation.
Wedding Planner: Carmen Yuen-Stevenson was an absolute star, making sure that everything ran perfectly and taking brilliant care of us all. Sanctuary Catering was responsible for the food and the amazing Euphoric Flowers for the gorgeous flower arrangements and bouquet. And the cake, oh the cake! It was pretty much love at first sight for me when I saw the stunning ombre cake by Rachelle’s. It was also much fun working with videographer Simon Clarke (and his lovely wife Anna).
When the evening fell, one of the biggest surprises of the day came when Hardip announced his favourite band, The Brand New Heavies, was there to perform for everyone. What a spectacular ending to a perfect day!
Thank you so much Tracey & Hardip, we loved every minute of your gorgeous day! x
The amazing Mr. Ed Peers joined me as a second shooter for Beidi & Tanzib’s super cute wedding at Winchester House in Putney. The whole day was such a labour of love, with all the handmade details, stationery designed by Beidi, and family and friends helping to pull everything together. It was a small and perfectly formed affair.
After a ceremony in the garden, conducted by a friend, and drinks on the grass, the reception took place inside where Beidi had created the perfect setting with long tables filled with gorgeous flowers and the cutest details. When the evening fell The Street Swing Band created an intimate atmosphere under the adorable lanterns.
Thank you so much Beidi & Tanzib for having us share in your special day! x
And thank you Ed for being incredible as always. P.S. Ed is guest speaking again at this year’s mnoo school workshop on October 14-15, come join us!
Oh, August! How hectic you have been. Let’s try to get this blogging business back on track.
For Claire & Geoffroy’s wedding we headed to luscious East Sussex, where Claire and the girls got ready at her family home in the gorgeous village of Ditchling. The talented and ever so lovely Sadaf Ahmad was in charge of make-up and Kaz Kelly-Marques of hair. Claire’s amazing gown was by Mia Sposa, and she wore the prettiest Christian Louboutin heels as a nod to Geoffroy’s nationality and the fact that the couple lives in Paris. Shimizu Flowers was responsible for the beautiful flowers.
After a ceremony at St Margaret’s Church in Ditchling, we headed to Pangdean Barn in Pyecombe for the reception, where the garden was bursting with colours, and inside the barn was aglow with fairy lights and happy faces.
Thank you Claire & Geoffroy for having us along, what a gorgeous day it was! x
One of the many reasons Jess & Luke’s wedding felt so special was all the familiar faces present on the day. I’d previously shot Jess’s best friend’s Lucy’s wedding (and prior to that Lucy’s brother David’s wedding), so despite our journey all the way to beautiful Dorset, it all felt very homey indeed.
After getting her makeup & hair (with stunning hair pieces by Gillian Million) done by Lillie Lindh, and slipping into her Jenny Packham gown & Rachel Simpson shoes, Jess and the girls headed to the beautiful ceremony at St Nicholas Church in Studland. Once Jess & Luke had exchanged their I do’s all the guests followed the wedding party on foot to the reception at the gorgeous  Harry Warren House, situated on top of a gorgeous cliff overlooking the ocean. It really was a stunning setting for a wedding, chosen because it’s where Luke used to spend the summers of his childhood. Nomad was in charge of the catering, the flowers and the cake, while the stationery was created by Honeytree Publishing. The glittery photo booth by Boothnation was one of the coolest ones I’ve ever seen.
The sun shone, the sea glittered, and the smiles were wide. This was a day of such joy that we felt very sad to head back to rainy London afterwards. Thank you Jess & Luke, and your lovely families. Here’s to the rest of your lives! x
Florence & Alvaro’s absolutely beautiful wedding in France was all kinds of hot, and not just because of the temperature. The whole trip, which began with Florence’s friend, the lovely Cécile, showing us around Toulouse (and then pretty much working as a second assistant throughout the wedding!) before heading out to the countryside for the main event, was just amazing.
The morning of the wedding day started at Florence’s family home in her hometown of Aubiac, where Christine Brunel attended to her hair and Soin de Soie did her make-up. She then stepped into her beautiful gown from Sadoni (bought in Metal Flaque in Paris) and Charles IX Solveig shoes (from Repetto in Paris). Her stunning bouquet was made by Gali M. She looked adorable, so very gorgeous.
After the (hot, very hot) ceremony in Aubiac, the most gorgeous reception followed at Jardins de Coursiana in La Romieu. These gardens were just magical, blooming with all sorts of gorgeousness, with lemon and peach trees to boot. Roseraie de Provent was in charge of the flower arrangements and Alain Tarbe for catering, while Florence herself had made all the paper decorations (using Adeline Klam origami paper), something that evidently kept her busy for many many months prior to the wedding. The whole day was a buzz of different languages, as there were guests from all over due to Florence (French-Spanish) and Alvaro’s (Italian-Peruvian) heritage.
I don’t think I could imagine a more perfect setting for a wedding, nor could I imagine a sweeter or kinder couple than Florence and Alvaro. It was such a pleasure and privilege to be a part of this wedding, and also to meet such a wonderful soul as Cécile. Thank you so much for everything lovelies! x
A beautiful summer’s day, a blooming English garden, some ice cream & Pimm’s and a beaming bride and groom – this is what good days are made of. Caroline & Andrew’s wedding was an absolute joy from start to finish.
Getting ready at her parents house, Caroline and her bridesmaids were made to look (even more) gorgeous by the talented Gemma Sutton who was in charge of makeup and hair. When Caroline finally got into her beautiful wedding gown by The Vintage Wedding Dress Company, slipped on her shoes and veil, and held her amazingly pretty bouquet by Kate Avery Flowers, she looked absolutely breathtaking.
After a ceremony at St Bartholomew’s Church in Haslemere, we headed back to the house where the garden had been transformed into the perfect venue for a cocktail party and where Daisy the Vintage Ice Cream Van was waiting for us, before moving into the prettiest marquee for the wedding breakfast. It was such a joy to see the adorable stationery designed by my former bride Flo of Charlie Scribble, and more gorgeous flowers by Kate Avery filling the space. Tandem Catering was in charge of the food, and took brilliant care of us, too. The gorgeous cake was by Rosalind Miller. One of the special touches of the day was a surprise where one person from each table had been chosen to be the designated carver for the dinner, complete with getting kitted out in chef’s outfits (which were such a hit some didn’t take them off all night!).
After the first dance, we went for a last hunt for the setting sun with the couple and Aaron from Reel Weddings (who was such a pleasure to work with, can’t wait to see the film he’ll produce!), trying to capture every last inch of the magic of the day. As the night fell, Supatight got people on the dance floor, and that’s where we left Caroline & Andrew, heading home feeling warm and fuzzy after a perfect day.
Thank you so much Caroline & Andy for having us, it was a huge huge pleasure to bear witness to your happiness! x
Like any good adventure, Sarah & Sam’s wedding day started bright and early, when we met up at the train station with Mark Brown and started our trip down to Somerset, armed with sandwiches, percy pigs and lots of catching up to do on the way there. There is no such thing as a boring train trip with Mr. Brown.
The setting for the day was Orchardleigh House in Frome, and you really couldn’t have wished for anything more gorgeous, what a stunning venue! There was a short ride to and from the enchanting  St Mary’s Church for the ceremony, before kicking off the cocktail party in the sunny garden, followed by reception inside among the most beautiful flower arrangements.  Alongside a cheese theme for the tables (inspired by the magnificent cheese cake), an English-Australian theme ran through the wedding day due to Sarah’s and Sam’s (and the guests’) nationalities. There was even an English-Australian dictionary at each table which was a fun touch!
Thank you so much Sarah & Sam for having us be a part of your beautiful day! And thank you Mark & Susanna for the adventure and the giggles, always the best. x
Oh Northbrook Park how I’ve missed you! Maija & David’s wedding day at one of my favourite Surrey venues was full of sunshine and laughter from start to finish. I don’t think I stopped smiling all day, starting from when Maija got into her Romantica of Devon gown and Jimmy Choo‘s, all the way through to one of the most epic first dances ever, and the Hold Tight Band making the dancefloor go crazy at the end of the evening.
It was the first time we worked with videographer Adam Nicholas and I have to say it was an absolute pleasure. I love working with service providers who realise we all have the same goal, to create a beautiful day and memories for the couple, and that the best way to do that is to work as a big, caring team. Unfortunately that’s not always the case. While on the subject of other vendors, I have to give big ups to Moodies Catering for doing a brilliant job, Fancy that wedding cakes for the stunning tower of a cake, and  To Have & To Hold for the classy stationery.
Northbrook Park really showed us it’s best, and even the peacocks were in a festive mood. Thank you so much Maija & David for having us along for the ride! x
I am not shy about my love for Cornwall, and every time I get to photograph a wedding down on the magical coastline I pretty much jump for joy. Jo & Tom’s amazing Cornish wedding day was no exception. Tying the knot at the edge of the rugged cliffs of  Trevose Head was pretty much my idea of wedding paradise.
Getting ready, while  Sally Orchard was attending to their make-up, Jo and the girls looked so cute in their Pretty Plum Sugar dressing gowns. The bridesmaids then got on their pretty Phase 8 dresses, before Jo slipped into her bridal gown… and I mean just wow. The (aptly named!) Marianne gown by Naomi Neoh was seriously breathtaking, with its hint of blushing rose shade that came out in a certain light.
After a beautiful humanist ceremony conducted by the lovely Zena Birch in a marquee in the garden (of which my favourite moment by far was everyone belting out ‘I’m a believer’ by the Monkees!), a vintage bus took us the short trip to the reception marquee on the edge of the cliff. Wedding Planner  Sarah Vaux was on hand to make sure everything ran smoothly,  The Park at Mawgan Porth was in charge of catering, while George Mackay Flowers created the beautiful blooms. The cutest stationary was designed by Flo (who’s wedding I also shot a few years back) from Charlie Scribble and I should also mention that the amazing cake was created by the bride’s mum.
I know no words can really do justice to this gorgeous day, so I shall let the pictures do the rest of the talking.
Thank you so much for having us Jo & Tom, and for giving me yet another reason to love Cornwall so! x
It’s always a huge honour when another wedding photographer chooses you to photograph their wedding, so getting to be a part of the very talented Binky Nixon‘s day was something I looked forward to for a loong time. And the wait was certainly worth it! Binky & Daz’s wedding was like a leaf out of the ‘my ideal wedding’ folder in my head. The colours were to die for and the relaxed atmosphere of the whole day was what all weddings should be made of. There was so much laughter and happy tears on the day, and most of all this overwhelming feeling of love as everyone had gathered together to celebrate Binky & Daz.
After getting ready at her home where, after hair & makeup, Binky slipped into her Matthew Williamson gown and Prada heels, we headed to St Marys Church for the ceremony. Binky & Dazz’s adorable pooch Vinnie looked the part in his bowtie, and I just loved all the individual gowns the bridesmaids wore, all in beautiful shades of peach. It was also a pleasure to meet and work with Ben from Kissing Gate Video, who was there to film the events.
The most adorable stationary by Something Kinda Cute already hinted at things to come and when, after some portrait action in a nearby field, we got to Edworth Manor Farm my mind pretty much exploded from the beauty of it all. The Flower Fairies had their hand in making all things flowers uber pretty (including Binky’s amazing crown), and Zest made sure the food matched the vibe of the day. The cake table by A little bit of cupcake was also just cute overload.
What can I say – a gorgeous couple in love, pretty colours and flowers, rustic details and laughter, sunshine and happiness – to me this wedding was as epic as they get. Every magnificent day should really end with the Wedding Smashers bringing everyone to the dance floor, and Binky & Dazz’s day was no exception. There most certainly ain’t no party like a Wedding Smashers party!
Thank you so much Binky & Dazz for having us. What a gorgeous day it was, in every way! xx
{This blog post is dedicated to Binky’s grandfather James, aka Jim Nixon, who sadly passed away shortly after the happy day.}
Kelly & Steve’s wedding day was such a joy to be a part of. In the run up to the day, it seemed like it had been such a long time since their London engagement session in the spring, but all the sunshine and happiness was certainly worth the wait!
Kelly and the girls got ready at Steventon House Hotel, where Seema Patel was in charge of make-up, and Jess Carter hair. Kelly’s out-of-this-world-gorgeous Eden gown by Jenny Packham blew me away, and what would have been a better accessory than those Jimmy Choo heels. With Kelly looking stunning, we headed to St Augustine of Canterbury for the ceremony.
The reception of Kelly & Steve’s wedding took place at Lains Barn, which really was the perfect setting, with cocktails on the lawn while the sunshine warmed people up. Florist Hilary at Flower Ardington was responsible for all the flowers, while wedding planner Carrie from Wishbox Events made sure everything ran smoothly. What a lovely day it was! It was also so nice to see some familiar faces in the form of my past couples among the guests! Best thing ever.
Thank you so much Kelly & Steve for having us! I hope your honeymoon was absolutely fantastic! xx
Oh, West Country, how I love thee. Nikki & Graeme’s Somerset wedding really was the perfect west country affair, with glorious weather to boot. Nikki and the girls got ready at Clanville Manor, where Claire Hanson took care of hair and make-up. Nikki then slipped into her amazing Jenny Packham gown and Badgley Mischka shoes, and we headed off to the stunning Yarlington House for the ceremony and reception. It had rained cats and dogs the night before, but for Nikki & Graeme’s outside ceremony, as on cue, the sun came out!
Wedding planner Mary Herrington of Forever & Ever Events ran the show on the day, and she had also been invaluable in the months leading up to the wedding, as Nikki & Graeme did all the planning from overseas. Rebecca Green Catering was in charge of catering and Wild About put together some of the prettiest flowers I’ve seen this summer. Graeme’s mother created the adorable cake and the (nicest ever!) boys running the bar were from Sparks & Ashton. One of the highlights of the day for me were The Dixie Ticklers (managed by Sternberg Clarke) who entertained the guests with their music from ceremony to reception, and were just absolutely brilliant.
As the night fell outside, inside the marquee (from Raj Tent Club) DJ Nigel Pierce of Stylish Entertainment got people on the dance floor. And that’s where we left Nikki & Greame, dancing the night away under the full moon.
What a magical day it was! Thank you so much Nikki & Graeme for letting us be a part of it all! x
