Butley Priory wedding

You really captured the day perfectly for us.

Wedding photography at Butley Priory

Butley Priory wedding. Jack is organised; super-organised. It’s what he does for a job and has a reputation for being very good at it. But for all the organisation, one thing we couldn’t plan for was a global pandemic. The months leading up to the wedding day at Butley Priory, we were side-swiped by Covid-19. Everything was up in the air and just when you thought you had an idea of what was going on, it all changed. This didn’t deter Jack and Rebecca, the wedding day was going ahead, it just meant that it wouldn’t happen as originally planned. And the plans changed almost weekly, even up to the day itself.

Butley Priory is a wonderfully relaxed, intimate and elegant venue. It’s charm is not only in the setting and the history but also in the way most couples approach the day. It might be a 13th century former Priory but it also feels like your home. Not unusual to turn up in the morning to find some of the wedding party sitting around the kitchen table having a cup of tea and a good old catch up. Wedding preparations quietly ticking away in the background whilst there’s lots of laughter from downstairs.

Intimate wedding photography in Suffolk

This pandemic has unsettled everything, not least wedding planning, but we kept optimistic. Lockdown kept being postponed with the promise that things would be back to normal by the wedding day. Boris announced that things might open up and be back to normal the day before the wedding. But as we got closer, it was announced that there would be restrictions in place. Only 15 people, 2 metres apart, groups only in household bubbles – things which have now become all too familiar. As frustrating as it was, it didn’t phase Jack. He had measured out the seating in the room; followed strict instructions from the Suffolk Registrars and made sure those who couldn’t make it had a front seat via Zoom.

Jack and the boys got ready at The Priory whilst the girls got ready at a cottage down the road. With a bit of careful management and social distancing until the last minute, they met under the vaulted ceiling of The Great Hall with the doors open wide to the garden. For a day that felt so relaxed, the ceremony was incredibly emotional, lovely to see these two make their vows.

Beach wedding photos

After the ceremony, it was quick chat to all the guests via Zoom before heading out into the garden to make the most of the sunshine. All socially distanced. A few photos before heading over to the beach for some photos of just Jack and Rebecca. If you are self conscious, it’s a bit of a test of your mettle to tun up to a beach in your wedding dress. After the initial surprise, it’s quite liberating (not that I would know what wearing a wedding dress is like, on or off the beach!) You can’t beat the huge Suffolk skies on a summer’s day. Stunning. Butley Priory mini-wedding.