A laid-back weekend celebration with vintage buses, a live band, and an inflatable assault course.


Aaron and Rosa live in London but decided to host their wedding in Suffolk at the stunning Nedging Hall - a private manor house you can hire for the weekend, tucked away in the middle of the countryside. They didn’t want anything too grand or formal, just something classy but relaxed with their favourite people - so Nedging Hall was a pretty solid choice.


They split their wedding over two days, which I absolutely love. Day one was the slightly more structured part - legal bits, outfits, confetti etc. - while day two had a bit more of a garden party vibe about it.


From a photography point of view, two-day weddings are a dream. I get to meet everyone and get comfortable on the first day, and then when I turn up the next day, it can sometimes be like walking into a room full of friends. I can't tell you how intimidating it is for an introvert to rock up and photograph a wedding where you don't know anyone there and you've never been to the venue. I've done a few in the past where I've covered for other photographers so I've not even known the couple and it's honestly terrifying.


So anyway, day one. I rocked up just as lunch was finishing and everyone was getting ready. It wasn’t a huge group - more like a big family gathering. Very relaxed, very calm, and just a really lovely vibe all around. Hair and makeup were done by the team at Lipstick and Locks, and after that, everyone bundled onto a classic red Routemaster bus (cheers to Carter’s Heritage Buses) for the trip into Ipswich. 

Large pink English country house with multiple chimneys and driveways viewed through overhanging tree branches.
Guests enjoy outdoor dining at a restaurant patio viewed through window bars on a sunny day.
A wedding scene captures guests gathering in an elegant hallway as a person prepares to throw a bouquet.
Wedding guests cheer and applaud as newlyweds share a romantic kiss during their intimate indoor celebration.
Wedding guests board a vintage red double decker bus for transportation on a sunny day.
Black and white photograph showing passengers seated on a public bus in vintage setting.
Passengers sit in seats aboard a vintage bus in black and white photograph showing 1950s era public transportation.

We parked up outside Crown House and, being a little early, made a quick detour to The Botanist for a pre-ceremony drink. Then we wandered over to Ipswich Town Hall, where Aaron and Rosa had their little "are you being forced into this?" chat with the registrars before the ceremony itself. Rosa’s dad walked her down the aisle, and Aaron’s son had the honour of being best man (and ring bearer). 

A bride in a white wedding dress holding a bouquet boards a vintage red double-decker bus.
People walking on a busy urban street in front of storefronts in black and white photography.
The bride and father of the bride walk towards The Botanist with the bride wearing a white dress with plunging v-back.
People gathered outside a grand classical-style building with ornate stone columns and architectural details in warm sunlight.
A well-dressed groom in a suit and tie engages in conversation at an elegant indoor reception drinks.
A group of well-dressed guests share laughter and drinks at an elegant reception party.
Black and white photo of a conversation between three people in business attire in an office setting.
Guests gather outside The Botanist and head towards Ipswich Town Hall
A black and white wedding photo showing a bride in a flowing tulle dress with her bouquet and two men in suits.
Black and white wedding ceremony photo showing a bride in a tiered tulle dress and groom during the service.
A romantic first kiss at a wedding ceremony as guests look on and applaud at Ipswich Town Hall

After the ceremony we hopped back on the Routemaster - this time with glasses of champagne in hand. Once back at Nedging Hall, everyone lined up beside the bus and let rip with confetti as the couple stepped off. Then it was time for canapés and drinks in the garden. 


Food on both days was catered by Mark Weeks, and honestly, it was incredible. So much care, beautifully done, and everyone was raving about it. I slipped away just before dinner, ready to return for day two. 

The bride shares a joyful embrace with a guest in a black and white candid moment after the ceremony.
A black and white candid photograph of the groom sharing a light moment after the ceremony.
Black and white photo of a bride in a tulle wedding dress walking with groom on a stone pathway in sunlight.
A vintage red double decker bus parked outside Crown House with wedding guests walking towards the bus on a sunny day.
A black and white photograph shows a bride and groom holding hands whilst walking in the street.
Wedding guest sitting on the bus with celebratory glasses of champagne in hand
A red and pink country house stands behind a spring garden with blooming daffodils and surrounding trees. A routemaster stands outside.
A vintage black and white photograph shows people gathered in a wood-floored hallway conversing and interacting.
A black and white aerial view through a window showing a group of people gathered on outdoor steps.
The bride and two friends chatting and laughing while sharing drinks on an outdoor patio near a pink painted house.
Groomsmen in navy suits with coral boutonnieres stand together against a pink wall during the wedding reception.
Black and white image of people holding drinks at an outdoor wedding reception with hands reaching across the frame.
Three people run joyfully through a garden with cherry blossoms and reeds beside a pond on a sunny spring day.
The bride and groom walk together on a sunlit pathway surrounded by lush greenery.
Aerial view of a charming Nedging Hall surrounded by lush green trees on a sunlit hilltop.

Back again around lunchtime on Saturday, and the vibes were even more laid-back. Mark Weeks was back with more ridiculously good food. 


Rosa’s mum – who, from what I gather, is a teacher - put together what might be the most impressive programme of children’s entertainment I’ve ever seen at a wedding. We’re talking piñatas, an Easter egg hunt, hidden orange ducks scattered throughout the house, and enough games and distractions to make it look like a wedding-slash-mini festival.

A group of people gather around a rustic wooden table to share a meal together in black and white.
People enjoying the wedding catering on a wooden patio with bunting decorations on a sunny spring day.
A guest playing lawn games on a sunny lawn with pink house and hula hoops scattered in the backyard garden.
A black and white photo shows people gathered on a grassy lawn with tall trees in the background during a sunny day.
A wedding guest enjoying going through the red and black bounce obstacle course.
A person jumps playfully through colorful hula hoops laid out on a lawn behind a pink house on a sunny day.
Friends enjoy an outdoor gathering around a wooden table on a sunny patio during daytime.
Group gathers for outdoor dining and drinks at sunny restaurant patio on warm afternoon.
Black and white photo of people gathered outdoors at a casual garden party with refreshments on tables.

And then came the inflatable assault course, provided by Castle Capers, which was every bit as chaotic and magnificent as it sounds. Rosa and Aaron kicked things off with a demo run, and then everyone took their turn trying to outdo each other.


I ended up crawling inside because I felt like I might be missing out. Fun fact: it’s quite hard to take decent photos while bouncing around in the dark and I came out with significantly fewer useable photos than I might have hoped.

Large gathering in a sunny garden with a pink Victorian house and red inflatable bouncy castle slide in the background.
Children play and jump on a bouncy castle in a sunny backyard with a pink house in the background.
Person doing a backflip stunt on an inflatable bounce house in a backyard setting, captured in black and white.
Person sitting in red car interior wearing lace top and jeans while looking down introspectively on sunny day.
Children play together on an inflatable bouncy platform outdoors on a sunny day captured in black and white.
Someone relaxes on red and black inflatable furniture outside on a sunny suburban street.
Black and white view of legs wearing casual shoes climbing in a bouncy obstacle course.
People gather on a lawn watching a large red inflatable bounce house during an outdoor event on a sunny day.

After that, pudding, and as the evening set in, a band (The Brightsons) set up in the lounge like some kind of music video/Hollywood house party.

A group of people laughing and joking together by a window in a casual indoor setting.
A group of people sit on a couch together in a dimly lit room, captured in black and white photography.
A black and white photograph shows people dancing together in a rustic room with sunlight streaming through a window.
Indoor party scene with colorful lighting showing people dancing and laughing together in a fun, candid moment.
Black and white image of people playing chess at a table in a dimly lit room with pendant lighting.
A group of people laughing and gesturing energetically during an animated conversation in a sunlit room.
Black and white photo of people dancing and socialising at a wedding reception in a room with hardwood floors and a window.

The whole thing, was a fantastic way to kick off the season. It was my first proper big wedding of the year - early April, just as things were starting to wake up again. It felt like the perfect re-entry: joyful, relaxed, and full of lovely, slightly chaotic energy.


More inflatable obstacle courses at weddings, please. And if you’re planning a two-dayer? I’m in.