Jenna and Mario at Shortmead Manor

Jenna and Mario’s wedding at Shortmead Manor in Biggleswade had been almost three years in the making, and from the moment I first met them at the venue it was obvious Jenna knew exactly what she wanted. On the day itself she got ready in one of Shortmead’s cottages with her bridal party, and although the weather had other ideas just before the ceremony, she was prepared for that too. Umbrellas came out, the outdoor ceremony went ahead, and once the rain cleared we made the most of the grounds and the manor itself for family photos and a short couple session.

The rest of the day was exactly as relaxed and lively as they had planned it, with lawn games, an ice cream van, desserts, plenty of candid photographs and guests making use of the props Jenna had organised for some more playful portraits. Jenna and Mario were easy to photograph together and, just as importantly, didn’t want to spend half the day away from everyone else, so we kept the formal photography brief and let the wedding carry on around us. By the evening the extra guests had arrived, the atmosphere had lifted again and the whole day moved naturally into a proper party.