From the moment I arrived at Rushton Hall for Katie and Adair’s wedding, I knew it was going to be something special. These two are the kind of people who radiate kindness, warmth, and joy, and that energy filled every corner of their day. They made me feel like more than just their photographer; I felt like a friend, an honorary guest, and part of their chosen family.
Rushton Hall was the perfect backdrop for their celebration! A place full of elegance, history, and natural beauty, but also with just the right amount of whimsy for a couple who knows how to laugh, play, and fully be themselves. From the heartfelt vows to the geeky Dungeons & Dragons banter (yes, I did create a character sheet for the Father of the Bride, Sir Ambrose, forever a legend!), the whole day was an absolute joy to capture.
We also bonded over ADHD life, those shared quirks and conversations that instantly make you feel understood. That connection made the experience even more meaningful for me, and I hope that intimacy comes through in every image.
Keep reading for Katie and Adair’s own reflections on their wedding; how they chose Rushton Hall, what inspired their details, and what made it all so “them.”
The Beginning
“After texting for a few months, we finally decided it was time to meet up, as it was long overdue! We agreed to meet at one of the many pubs in my town. Adair arrived early and keen, and ordered himself a drink. I messaged to let him know I had arrived and would be walking through the door shortly.
After an embarrassingly long time of looking at the door for me to arrive, Adair eventually realised he had gone to the White Horse instead of the White Lion! Around 10 minutes later, it was me with the drink who found an embarrassed Adair walking through the door. It was a brilliant icebreaker, and the rest is history! To this day, Adair is still getting the two pubs confused!”
– Katie
“I knew I wanted to propose to Katie long before I eventually did, but I wanted to make it as special as she is to me. I just had no idea on the when and where, or how! All I knew was that I wanted Katie to be in the first dress I had ever bought her in our first year as a couple, that she had never worn as it was too ‘posh’ to wear on a night out.
I then discovered tickets for Hans Zimmer (who we both absolutely love!) in London had just been released, and I instantly found my excuse to get us all dressed up! I bought the tickets as a birthday present, so the surprise was all set for June 2023!
We travelled in, went shopping, then got dressed up and hit the streets of London! After a lovely drink by the Thames, I surprised Katie with a ‘late birthday present’, which was a private water taxi to the O2 for the concert. A few minutes into the ride, as we passed under Tower Bridge, a disguised member of the crew suddenly brought out her violin and began to play “All I ask of you” from Katie’s favourite musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Katie was shocked and realised what was going on.
Unfortunately, I also suddenly realised what was going on, and completely forgot everything I had planned to say, instead opting for “Katie, you know I love you right?” As I got down on one knee to propose, a large tourist barge went speeding past us, causing our little taxi to be caught in the waves. The video is enough to make anyone feel seasick, but luckily Katie took the wise decision to sit down as she said “Yes!” Up until two weeks ago, that was the best moment of my life. The Hans Zimmer concert wasn’t too bad afterwards either!”
– Adair
We had their engagement photoshoot at Rushton Hall exactly one year before the wedding, and when we saw each other again it was like we were old friends and no time had passed!
Top tip from the newlyweds
“Make the day your own!
The most important thing is that this day is to celebrate your marriage! It should be a representation of everything that you are as a couple, and not what you think everyone else wants to see! Your friends and family will love the personal touches, and your wedding will be truly unique. If you can, try and plan the wedding as much as you can as a couple, with both personalities shining through your day.”
The Wedding
Meet Adair
While the bridal suite buzzed with hairspray and excitement, Adair spent his morning tucked away in Rushton Hall’s richly atmospheric Snooker Room. It was dark, had green baize, and all the Bond-villain charm you’d want from a space where grooms get ready.
He was surrounded by calm (and a fair bit of whisky) as he and his groomsmen prepped, shared laughs, and toasted with Loch Lomond. Adair even gifted them all gorgeous matching watches as a thank you for being by his side!
But the real chaos? It came in classic ADHD style… Two hours before the ceremony, Adair decided now was the moment to completely rewrite his speech. Perched on a windowsill with a cool glass of ‘something’, and the weight of love and intention on his mind, he let the words flow from the heart.
After that, a few rounds of snooker, and a slow exhale in the mirror after straightening up his jacket, it was everything a groom’s morning should be! Steady, sentimental, and just a little bit delightfully chaotic.
If you’ve seen any of my previous Real Wedding Stories; you’ll know I always start with the guys first because they get ready a lot quicker (sorry girls, it’s true!) and it’s much easier for them to take their jacket off again and relax if they want to!
Suit boutique: “Cavani – Franchise store in Cambridge. Fantastic staff!”
Meet Katie
Katie got ready in the elegant Adam Bedchamber at Rushton Hall – a room as grand as its name, all sweeping light and stately charm. From the moment I stepped in, she was absolutely beaming. There was this lovely, infectious giddiness about her. Even as she sat in the hair chair, she was offering me fruit and pastries like the world’s most gracious host. It was instantly clear she’s one of life’s natural carers.
I began, as I always do, with the quiet details; shoes, rings, flowers, lace, giving everyone time to ease into the rhythm of me being there. From there, everything unfolded naturally.
Bridal prep was full of laughter and love: three bridesmaids, two mums, and the kind of gentle excitement that makes for magic in the margins. When her mum helped her into the dress, there was a moment that had us all holding our breath – her lipstick accidentally brushed the bodice! Cue one bridesmaid diving into emergency mode with white chalk, dabbing and blending like an absolute pro. It worked beautifully (minimal Photoshop required!) and ended up being one of those little stories that becomes part of the fabric of the day.
The bridal portraits we captured felt soft, strong, and luminous. Katie absolutely glowing! The light in that room wrapped around her like silk.
Hair & Make-up: Bridal Groom Hair and Makeup
Dress boutique: Ann Bridal – the same shop the mother of the bride got her wedding dress from!
Flowers: Julie Anna Flowers
The Ceremony
The ceremony took place in the breathtaking Orangery, with golden chandeliers overhead and soft afternoon light flooding through those towering windows. As the guests took their seats, the air felt almost fizzy with anticipation.
Nero String played ‘All I Ask of You’ as Katie walked down the aisle. Adair stood at the front, composed but glowing, and the moment he saw Katie appear in the doorway with her dad, something in him just lit up. Katie was still grinning from ear to ear as she made her way down the aisle, bouquet in hand, beaming at him like he was the only person in the room.
One of their guests gave a beautiful reading on love, which was heartfelt, honest, and full of warmth.
Then came the kiss, sweet and sure, and immediately after, they threw their arms in the air and cheered, laughter bubbling over as the room erupted with joy.
Their ceremony exit? Electric! One of the most energetic I’ve ever seen. Katie and Adair practically danced back down the aisle, cheering and whooping, hands held high, as friends and family clapped and cried and laughed. It was pure joy made visible.
Cocktail hour
Outside, the energy only ramped up. Their confetti walk felt more like a festival finale than a quiet tradition! Veils and confetti flying, cheers echoing off the walls, and two people grinning so hard it looked like their cheeks might never recover! Honestly? The most fun confetti walk I’ve ever shot… and that’s saying something!
From the emotional hugs and spontaneous kisses to guests snapping candids, sipping bubbly, and soaking up the sun, this was a cocktail hour brimming with connection. The laughter was loud, the greetings heartfelt, and the kind of love that only decades-old friendships and tight-knit families can offer was everywhere you turned.
Love what you see?
Get in touch for a brochure, check my availability or arrange a casual consultation.
Family Photos
We made our way to the bottom of the grounds for a little pocket of shade because Kettering was bathed in hot, bright, beautiful sunshine all afternoon! Nestled by the trees, with rabbits hopping through the grass and laughter rippling through the breeze, we captured all the classic family combinations (and then some) and threw some fun ones into the mix!
Wedding breakfast
The Orangery was transformed for the wedding breakfast, dressed in soft candlelight and elegant floral touches. Each table was named after a destination Katie and Adair had explored together; personal memories woven into every setting. Their top table featured a photo from their engagement shoot (taken by yours truly!), bringing their love story full circle. The towering silver candelabras entwined with ivy and blush blooms added a timeless romance to the room, while handwritten notes and thoughtful favours gave it all a personal, heartfelt charm.
“We wanted to make our wedding completely “us”, so we organised pretty much all of it between the two of us! We went with our favourite colours as the theme. Adair naturally went for a forest green suit to go with neutral beige groomsmen suits. We then paired this with a rose gold pink for the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen ties. We then had our flowers match all of these colours, along with the ivory of my dress. We added our own personal touches to the decor, including our favourite cocktails, a memory mantelpiece, sweet stall (run by none other than our cat, Mr Jingles!), cheese cake, and personalised signage.”
Speeches
The speeches began with a heartfelt and hilarious turn from Katie’s dad, full of proud smiles, gentle teasing, and a few happy tears. He struck the perfect balance between emotion and comedy, setting the tone for what would be an afternoon of laughter and love.
Next up was Adair’s best man, who kept things short and sweet, but not without a sentimental twist. He surprised Adair with a framed childhood photo of the two of them, prompting a wave of nostalgic grins (and possibly a few good-natured groans!).
Adair rounded things off, visibly on cloud nine as he addressed the room. His words were full of warmth and gratitude, thanking family, friends, and even me (which meant more than he knows, such a kind gesture). Katie watched him throughout with the kind of quiet, radiant admiration that speaks volumes without saying a word.
Top Trumps
As Adair wrapped up his speech, he invited everyone to open the mysterious envelopes at their place settings… and the room erupted. Inside each one was a personalised Top Trumps card!
“We spent a good 6 months designing and creating our very own ‘Top Trumps – Guest List Edition!’ It was something Adair had done as a kid with his family, and we absolutely loved the idea of giving our guests their very own card. In line with the theme of Adair’s childhood cards, our creations included the not so flattering photos of our guests!
“The attributes were all predictions of how each guest would get on throughout the day (for example, likelihood of crying, or slices of cake eaten!) We had a brilliant moment watching everyone open their cards, full of laughter and horror at their own awful pictures! It really broke the ice on every table ahead of the meal.
Surprisingly, no punches were thrown at the bride and groom!”
Well played, Wheelers!
Newlywed Photoshoot
That golden pocket of time where everything slows, and the couple finally gets to breathe. This is always one of my favourite parts of the day, the moment I whisk the newlyweds away for a bit of calm, a bit of romance, a bit of “just us.”
Katie and Adair were giddy and glowing, still riding high from the whirlwind of confetti, speeches, and hugs. We wandered the grounds of Rushton Hall, letting the grand old building stand sentinel behind them as they fell into each other’s arms again and again.
We had fun with Katie’s veil, as the wind picked up and began whipping it dramatically across the lawn. Katie laughed, rolled her eyes, and then handed it to me to wear so it would stop sticking to her lip gloss!
There were kisses that melted time, giggles tucked beneath lace, hands that couldn’t stop reaching for one another. It was tender and silly, elegant and carefree, all at once. Just the two of them, wrapped in love, in calm evening light, and a veil neither of them actually wanted anymore!
And for a few precious minutes, the world shrank to just that: one dress, one suit, one great big bouquet of blush and white roses; and the kind of laughter that tells you this marriage is going to be built on joy.
Cake cut & first dance
Cake maker: @katie.bakes.stuff – a personal of the friend of the bride who made a nut free wedding cake!
“Our first dance song was “Hold my Hand” by Lady Gaga. It was a song we fell in love with the moment we heard it. One day, while listening to it on a drive up to Rushton Hall, we looked at each other in tears, as we knew it would be our first dance song. The song represents the strong bond we have, and unwavering support for one another through the best and worst times. It also has some production from Hans Zimmer in, which just made it feel even more right!”
The smiles said it all. As Katie and Adair swayed into their first dance, the room melted around them and every beat of the song felt like it belonged to them.
Reception
As the sun dipped low, the celebration lit up. The dancefloor exploded into life! Barefoot bridesmaids, tie-swinging uncles, and several very committed twerkers! Guests grazed on pizza and hacked into the glorious cheese-wheel “cake” with the same enthusiasm they brought to the photobooth, courtesy of Lunarshot. I couldn’t stop smiling, and genuinely didn’t want to leave. These were the kind of party vibes that live on in your bones!
Why choose Rushton Hall for your big day?
“We fell in love with Rushton the moment we arrived. Just the drive in through the beautiful grounds and appearance of the regal building left us speechless. The interior also did not disappoint, with incredible features in every room. We then were shown the Orangery, which sealed the ticket, as the elegance and brightness that shone through into the room made us realise we had found the wedding venue we were dreaming of. What made us even more convinced was the incredibly kind staff, who made us feel at home whenever we visited. We still think it’s ours now!”
As a wedding photographer I have the privilege of spending my days exploring some of the most gorgeous venues with the most amazing teams of wedding staff – and Rushton Hall is a true gem in every sense. Set amidst rolling Northamptonshire countryside, this grand historic estate offers a perfect blend of elegance and warmth. Its honeyed stone façade, sweeping lawns and opulent interiors provide a rich canvas for storytelling, whether you’re capturing romantic portraits against the grandeur of the Orangery or quiet moments tucked away in the intimate corners of the gardens.
The team at Rushton are an absolute dream! Professional, attentive, and genuinely invested in making each couple’s day unfold seamlessly. There’s a sense of calm luxury here, the kind that allows couples to be fully present, and photographers like me to capture the magic as it naturally happens. I really hope I can come back in the future!
Congratulations, Katie & Adair! Thanks for being legends!
Congratulations, Katie & Adair! Thanks for being legends!
