The Compasses at Pattiswick Autumn Wedding with Carl & Hayley

Nestled in the middle of the Essex countryside between Braintree and Colchester, The Compasses at Pattiswick is a beautifully rural wedding venue with oodles of charm. While it used to be a pub and restaurant, the owners decided to concentrate on weddings and events, and you can instantly see the love and effort that had gone into the transformation. After introducing myself and going for a brief scout around the area for some photo inspiration for later, I headed into the bridal suite to say hello to Hayley.

As Carl & Hayley had booked me for 8 hours and without a second photographer, coverage in the morning would normally be limited to the bride getting ready, but as Carl was arriving fairly early at the venue, well before the rest of the guests, I took the opportunity to go back and forth between both of them. Neither Carl nor Hayley wanted much morning preparation coverage, so I kept this quite brief while making sure to cover the essential parts like Hayley's details and some final touch ups of her makeup before the guests began to arrive and seat for the ceremony.

Walking Hayley down the aisle, alongside her dad, was the couple's gorgeous border collie - who made an appearance throughout the day and was even sporting a button on collar and bowtie! Emotions were running high, and there were some nervous tears before the smiles returned as the ceremony concluded. Afterwards, everyone was able to enjoy the autumn sunshine and some drinks before a confetti 'bomb' at the front of the venue, and some group photos in the small side garden.

Wanting to make use of the bit of time before the wedding breakfast, I took Carl & Hayley for some quick couples photos in the immediate area, before everyone headed back inside for the speeches and meal. The clouds were looming in the evening, so I took this opportunity to grab lots of candids as the evening guests began to arrive. And then, just as golden hour was beginning, the sun made an appearance again. Thankfully, Carl & Hayley were keen to head back outside for a while to make the most of the stunning light, and honestly these photos could not have come out better!

With the sun now setting below the horizon, it was time for the cake cut and first dance, cheered on by their friends and family. Their adorable young daughter also joined them for a dance or two, before everyone else descended onto the dancefloor to boogie the night away. This was a great way to end the evening and my coverage before the long drive home.

Whether you're planning a big lavish wedding, or something much smaller, head over to my wedding photography page for prices and lots of information on how I can help make your day as memorable and as awesome as possible! You can also get in touch to enquire about your wedding date to see if I'm available.