What a day! Christina and Andrew were married on the most gorgeous summer’s day at the iconic Highley Manor. It was a day filled with so much love and joy, whilst also subtly honouring their Chinese culture throughout every moment. From the use of red woven throughout the décor, to the red and gold Chinese gift boxes given as favours to their guests, and their beautifully intimate Chinese tea ceremony before the party kicked off, their heritage was ever present and woven perfectly into an otherwise typically Western wedding day.
Christina's Wedding Morning
Christina chose to have a wonderfully intimate wedding morning with just her mother. Being quite a reserved person, it was very important to her to have that calm, quiet space before a very socially busy day. This meant she was able to relax and have her hair and make up done before my arrival (at her request), so that when I did arrive we could really enjoy the time together. We used those peaceful moments to create some beautiful morning portraits, as well as allowing space for her and her mum to get her dressed and ready whilst I quietly captured everything as it naturally unfolded.
A Romantic Garden Ceremony at Highley Manor
One of the most unique and striking things about Highley Manor is its stunning outdoor ceremony structure. It creates the perfect focal point, with the vast rolling Sussex hills stretching out behind it, making it an incredible setting for an outdoor wedding ceremony. Many outdoor ceremony structures can block natural light or obstruct the view, but Highley Manor has clearly designed theirs with care. It offers shelter if needed while remaining beautifully open and blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Christina and Andrew’s use of red throughout the day was, of course, woven into the ceremony décor as well. From the flowers to the draped fabric on the chairs, no detail was missed. They managed to strike the perfect balance. The colour never overwhelmed the natural beauty of the grounds at Highley Manor, but instead added a meaningful layer that reflected their personalities and heritage.
Couples Photos with a View at Highley Manor
It was important to Christina and Andrew that they had some portraits worthy of printing large and hanging in their home. At the same time, they didn’t want to spend too long away from their guests (and who would want to miss cocktail hour!). So we allocated just ten minutes for some portraits around the stunning gardens at Highley Manor. Many couples who book with me feel exactly the same, so I’m very used to working quickly and efficiently to capture a beautiful variety of portraits without pulling you away from your guests for longer than necessary.
A Sunny Cocktail Hour
After a few minutes away, Christina and Andrew rejoined their guests for cocktail hour and mingling in the sunshine. It was important to them to get one large group photo with everyone together, but they decided to skip formal family photos. For them, it felt much more important to give their guests time to relax, chat, and enjoy the beautiful weather for as long as possible.
Red, Bold, and a Celebration of Culture
If you thought there was a lot of red in the ceremony décor, think again. Christina and Andrew’s reception room was a vibrant explosion of true red set against a crisp white backdrop, which made the colour pop even more dramatically. Each table featured a Chinese favour box thoughtfully chosen for every guest, another subtle but beautiful nod to their Chinese heritage.
An Evening to Remember at Highley Manor
As I mentioned previously, Christina and Andrew are quite reserved by nature, so the rest of their wedding day was all about letting go of traditional expectations and doing what would help them relax and truly enjoy themselves. They chose to enter the reception room when they were ready rather than having a formal announcement, and they happily skipped speeches. This meant they had a full hour or so without any cameras or expectations, simply sitting and enjoying time with their closest friends and family.
Shortly after the meal wrapped up, we were due to head into the Baronial Hall for a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. The Chinese tea ceremony, often referred to as Cha Dao (the way of tea), is a ritualised and meditative practice dating back to the Tang Dynasty. It symbolises respect, gratitude, and harmony. During weddings, it is an important tradition where the couple serves tea to their parents and elders to honour them, receive blessings, and unite their families.In keeping with many of the choices they made throughout the day, Christina and Andrew chose to keep this moment incredibly intimate, inviting just 20 of their closest friends and family into the Baronial Hall to witness it.
After the tea ceremony, which was filled with emotion and beautiful gifts, it was finally time to party the night away. At one point in the evening we snuck off for a few fun flash photos outside, and even took some playful shots up in the honeymoon suite bathtub… because why not!
Christina and Andrew, thank you so much for trusting me to capture your beautiful memories and for allowing me to be part of such an intimate and meaningful time in your lives.
I also want to say a huge thank you to the wonderful team at Highley Manor for being so fantastic throughout the day. Nothing was ever too much trouble and they made sure I was very well fed with a delicious meal and dessert after. I can’t wait to capture more couples at this truly stunning Sussex wedding venue.
If you’re planning your own wedding at Highley Manor, I’d love to hear more about your plans, click here to contact me.
