Becky and Kurtis married at The Holt Fleet, beside the River Severn at Holt Heath in Worcestershire, on a sunny July day. I'm Paul Hickey, their Holt Fleet wedding photographer, and I followed their day from Becky's family home to smoke and flash-lit portraits by the river after dark.
Getting ready in Kidderminster
The day began at Becky's family home in Kidderminster, with her closest family around her. Mornings at home have their own feel: familiar rooms, people coming and going, and plenty of laughter. I photographed it as it happened, which is what documentary wedding photography is for.
A ceremony under the riverside canopy
Becky and Kurtis married under the venue's covered canopy, with the River Severn behind them. In bright July sun, the canopy keeps faces in shade while the river behind is far brighter, so I exposed for their faces and let the water glow.
I stayed out of the way through the vows and the signing, then photographed them walking back down the aisle, Becky carrying a blue bouquet.
Family photographs in the garden
After the ceremony, we moved into the garden for group photographs. It's a quieter, enclosed space, which helps larger family groups relax. With the river close by, we could vary the backgrounds without walking far from the drinks.
Down at the jetty, Kurtis and a groomsman took the chance to try a spot of fishing, while Becky watched with her arms folded. It's one of my favourite candid photographs from the day.
Golden-hour portraits by Holt Fleet Bridge
Holt Fleet Bridge, built by Thomas Telford in 1828, makes a strong backdrop for couple portraits. In the evening sun, we walked along the riverside with the bridge behind Becky and Kurtis, keeping the session short and relaxed.
Becky and Kurtis were easy in front of the camera, and the bridge let me make both close portraits and wider frames that show the setting. You can see more of the venue on my Holt Fleet wedding photographer page.
Speeches, first dances and the evening
The speeches included a toast from Becky's father, with the family reactions as much a part of the story as the words. Later, Becky shared a dance with her dad, one of the quieter moments of a busy evening.
Smoke, bubbles and flash-lit portraits
As the sun went down, we stepped outside for creative night portraits. I set up flash-lit family portraits by the riverside, then used coloured smoke and bubbles for the couple's evening portraits. Each set takes a few minutes and gives the gallery a finish that looks nothing like the daytime coverage.
Why The Holt Fleet works for photography
The Holt Fleet packs a lot into a short walk: a covered canopy for ceremonies and drinks, a garden for groups, a jetty on the Severn and Telford's bridge alongside. That variety lets me keep portrait time short without the photographs looking the same.
The venue team knows how a wedding day runs, which keeps the timings easy to plan around.
Looking back on Becky and Kurtis's day
Bright sun, a canopy ceremony, a spot of fishing and a lively evening: Becky and Kurtis's day had plenty of character. The mix of documentary coverage and a few creative portraits after dark suited them well.
More real weddings at this venue: Carianne & Thomas, Sarah & Mark and Katie & Fenner. Planning your own? Full-day coverage starts at £1,395; see my wedding photography packages, or check my availability.
Paul Hickey of Once in a Lifetime Photography is a Worcestershire wedding photographer, a multiple Wedisson Award winner and a Flashmasters Gold Award recipient. He is a recommended supplier at The Holt Fleet and has photographed more than 150 weddings since 2014, across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire and the West Midlands.