Lauren & Toby’s Summer Wedding at The Welcome Break
Lauren and Toby got married at The Welcome Break, a venue I hadn’t shot at for quite some time , but I was genuinely excited to go back. The grounds are absolutely stunning, and I knew it would get some great drone images.
As usual, we had a pre-wedding Zoom call — but this one was a bit different. It turned out Lauren is a fellow Liverpool supporter (like me!), and her soon-to-be husband Toby had also been roped into supporting the Reds. So, instead of talking about wedding timings and logistics, we spent half the call chatting about football and the new season ahead. Their wedding day actually fell on Community Shield day, so we even made plans on how to keep track of the score during the day!
When the big day arrived, the weather was an absolute scorcher — blue skies, blazing sunshine, and plenty of smiles. As I headed up for bridal prep, the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. I’m not sure I saw any bubbles poured (yet), but there was plenty of laid back people getting ready for the day. Lauren had one important morning task though: keeping her dad calm! She popped down to the garden for a quick chat to help settle his nerves before the ceremony.
The ceremony itself was held outdoors under a leafy pagoda, providing the perfect bit of shade from the sun. With the backdrop as beautiful as this, we got the drone up to capture some incredible aerial shots of the bridal party arriving, and honestly, what a view!
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed drinks and sunshine, though on a day this hot, many were happy to retreat to the hotel bar and air con for a breather. We got the group shots done during the drinks reception (always a good call on a hot day), giving the lads a chance to lose their jackets and relax a little.
Once the formalities were done, everyone headed inside for the wedding breakfast and some well earned cool air before the speeches kicked off. The speeches were brilliant, full of emotion, laughter, and a few happy tears. The best man had everyone in stitches, and even the flower girl grabbed the mic for a few words!
As the evening cooled down, everyone spilled back outside to enjoy what felt like a proper English summer evening. The golden light was beautiful, and it made for some perfect sunset portraits before the final formalities — the cake cut and first dance. Lauren also shared a heartfelt father–daughter dance, holding her dad tight in one of those lovely moments that really sums up what weddings are all about.
With the formalities done, it was time to party! The couple had hired my photo booth, and with a cracking DJ and plenty of energy in the room, the night was set up perfectly for a proper celebration.
