The Hythe Imperial Hotel Summer Wedding with Tyler & Liana

It's always nice to work at a local venue, and yet despite living in both Hythe and neighbouring Folkestone all my life, this was my first time photographing a wedding at the iconic Hythe Imperial Hotel, situated a few steps from the beach overlooking the English Channel. As Tyler & Liana lived in Hythe, it seemed an obvious choice for them. I was working alongside Danny Jack, a fellow photographer who was doing some videography for a change.

Tyler & Liana had opted for my Kilimanjaro package, with a second photographer on hand to get some candid photos of Tyler and his best man getting ready, while I was with Liana and the bridal party back at the hotel. The ceremony was beautifully poignant and sweet, with a few tears from Liana's mum and sister before organising some group photos outside in the cool summer air.

Back inside the grand ballroom, the decor was a beautiful mix of pastel tones and gold, with some lovely details and decorations around the room. After the wedding breakfast, a table had been set up in the corner for the speeches, to maintain suitable distance from the other guests during these Covid times. Far from idea, but given the circumstances, weddings are all about compromise. With so much confusion over what was and wasn't allowed at the time, there was even some confusion over whether a first dance could even take place, though this was eventually resolved and the happy couple had their moment as their guests sat and watched from their tables.

With any further dancing and activities mostly banned, now was a good time to take Tyler & Liana outside for some lovely photos of just the two of them as the sun was getting a little low now. This is the ideal time to have couples photos, when the light is soft and golden, and we made the most of the grounds during this time.

To round off the evening, everyone headed out to the beach for a sparkler send off to the happy couple, as well as the traditional bouquet toss and, perhaps untraditionally, some gymnastics and cheerleading antics from the bride and her girls - certainly something you don't see every day! This was a lovely day spent with two truly lovely souls who made the most of their wedding day given the limitations.

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.