Village green wedding in Ditchling

A wedding at their local church, for Karen and Michael, with the wedding reception on the village green. The village of Ditchling, East Sussex - just below the South Downs, just north of Brighton. The village is in the South Downs national park.  A picturesque Sussex village (and traffic bottleneck...). Old buildings and lots of flint walls. Old, St Margaret's church sits above the road - opposite the old Manor house, Wings Place, also known as Anne of Cleves house (she didn't live there though...), described by Pevsner as "eminently picturesque in a watercolorist’s way" - that could describe the village too.

Coverage starts at their home, as Karen got ready. The traffic would be held up briefly, so she could make the short walk to the church - where Michael was waiting. The girls with Karen, the boys with Michael. A ceremony with bell ringing, at St Margaret's. Confetti run on the path leading to the village green. On the green, the wedding reception. (No thirty-minute drive to a hotel) A large marquee and the largest mobile bar (for the evening) that I've seen - impressive stuff. Attention to detail, that I'm guessing was Karen's? 😉  Early September, the weather didn't quite play along - no Indian summer - but it didn't rain and it wasn't cold.

Drinks on the grass, some quick couple portraits behind the 'posh' portaloo - then into the marquee. Some speeches to start. Traditionally, Karen's father to start and also Karen (brief word from Michael too) but then some short speeches from Karen's friends. After the meal, it would be Michael's main speech and then words from four of his friends too. There were some intro descriptions too. "..loyal friend...honorary girlfriend...flamboyant mentor...pink fizz drinking partner...fellow Gooner...compulsive liar and fantasist...constant support...".

As night fell, the cake was cut, the bar was declared open and the dancing started.

Here are a few images from the wedding day at Ditchling...