An elegant wedding venue in Lewes
In the beautiful town of Lewes in East Sussex lies Pelham House, a timeless and elegant wedding venue. This grand setting at the top of the hill features beautiful flowerbeds, ivy-covered walls and impressive architecture, making for fantastic imagery. Pelham House infuses centuries of charm with modern elegance to create a mesmerising location. Working as a wedding photographer in this beautiful setting always gets my creative juices flowing, and there are many areas to utilise for extraordinary images. The venue’s scenic surroundings provide endless backdrops for romantic portraits of the bride and groom and all their wedding guests as they relax and enjoy the day.
Opulent interiors at Pelham House make for great pictures.
Upon entering Pelham House, the entrance hall welcomes you with a sweeping staircase and a grand chandelier. Discover the historic Drawing Room that oozes sophistication with cosy armchairs around the crackling fireplace. The Library Lounge, on the other hand, offers more modern comfort with plush sofas and a selection of striking artwork. On a sunny day, the warm sunshine streams through the windows, creating an inviting space to relax overlooking the gardens.
The Dining Room exudes grandeur, and I love taking pictures in this location. With crystal chandeliers and polished oak flooring, this is an elegant setting for the wedding breakfast. Each area at Pelham House is full of character and is one of my favourite wedding venues to photograph in Sussex.
Spring wedding photography filled with sunshine
Jessica and Ryan’s Spring wedding at Pelham House was a day filled with beautiful moments that allowed my artistic flair to flourish. I was fortunate to be recommended to them as their wedding photographer to capture the occasion with my relaxed and natural style. Seeing so many familiar faces from previous weddings was fantastic, and I’m proud to receive so many referrals from the couples I work with. The day started in one of the smaller dressing rooms, with Jessica surrounded by her bridesmaids as she had her hair and makeup done. I captured the excitement and anticipation with my cameras as the girls danced away and drank Champagne.
Wedding ceremony in the Goring Room
Once the finishing touches were complete, the ceremony was held in the beautiful Goring Room, an elegant space with soft natural light streaming through the windows. This light is perfect for flattering images, and Jessica looked fantastic as she walked down the aisle to meet Ryan.
It was an emotional exchange of vowed as I documented the tears and laughter as the couple shared a kiss to become husband and wife! This made for some beautiful, moving images and the newlyweds headed into the Garden Room to greet their guests and celebrate! Ryan is a talented musician and like-minded friend attending the wedding; there were plenty of harmonic melodies to set the relaxed tone of the afternoon. I moved around the room during the drinks reception, capturing the smiles and hugs as everyone enjoyed the celebrations.
Capturing scenic views at Pelham House with the bride and groom
With the Southdowns in the distance, I led the couple around the grounds for some romantic portraits, utilising the pathways, lawns and gazebo as the picturesque backdrops. Jessica and Ryan looked very comfortable in front of the lens as they shared some intimate moments before I captured the group shots with the bridal party and their families.
Wedding reception in the Blencowe Room
The Blencowe Room is a wonderful space with wood panelling and marble pilasters, and it was the opulent setting for the wedding breakfast and evening entertainment. With some hilarious speeches and a dance-off between the couple, there were some iconic moments that resulted in some great pictures depicting the love and excitement in the room.
Twilight images with Pelham House as the backdrop
As the evening progressed, I made the most of the blue hour with some romantic portraits of the newlyweds under a magical twilight sky. I used my flashguns to illuminate the couple and my wide-angle lens to frame them against the backdrop of Pelham House. This allowed me to create some iconic images for a fairytale ending to their picture gallery.
Jessica and Ryan are a lovely couple who were a joy to capture with my cameras. They love reportage photography, and I’m very excited to share some fantastic storytelling images from their wedding day. I wish them the very best on their new journey together as husband and wife, and I’m very grateful to them for choosing me as their wedding photographer.
History of Pelham House
Pelham House is a historical landmark. George Goring built it in the 16th century as a townhouse. The picturesque estate changed ownership over the years, with notable owners like Sir Thomas Pelham of Laughton and Peter Courthope. Thomas Pelham of Catsfield renovated the property in 1725, altering the façade to create a classical design. This love and attention to detail is why the manor looks so elegant in wedding photographs and why I adore shooting there.
The Pelham family lived there until the 19th century when East Sussex County Council took over the house in 1928. For 75 years, it served as the headquarters until finally being sold in 2004 as a hotel.
Today, Pelham House is an exclusive wedding venue that blends tradition with contemporary flair. Situated close to Brighton and the capital, it’s a setting that is full of charm and heritage and a beautiful backdrop for couples to tie the knot.
My candid approach to photography at Pelham House
I strive to document authentic moments at this manor house venue. My natural approach is honed by years of experience as a photojournalist in Sussex. I avoid stiff poses and record the genuine emotions at a wedding. Capturing your love story in this idyllic setting with timeless imagery allows me to create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. As I capture the moments behind the camera, I’ll be hidden and out of the way, allowing the action to unfold naturally.
I aim to blend in, allowing me to capture weddings at Pelham House without anyone noticing I’m there. Creating a meaningful set of images is essential, and you’ll want to look back on this time with fond memories of the day. I pack a set of lenses in my photography rucksack, from wide-angle to zoomed-in telephotos. These tools enable me to establish the grand shots and intimate close-ups of the newlyweds. As the night is upon us, I’ll use my prime lenses to record my subjects with wide aperture. I’m ready for anything to happen, and this is an essential part of being a wedding photographer: adapting my equipment choices as the environment changes.
Check my availability for your wedding
Pelham House provides a sophisticated and stylish setting for a wedding, attracting couples far and wide to East Sussex to tie the knot. I love working at this beautiful venue, so if you are looking for a photographer in Lewes to tell the meaningful story of your special day, please feel free to get in touch. I’ll confirm my availability and send you my brochure and photography packages.
