Abi and Sam’s wedding at Falcolnhurst, Edenbridge, September 2025
There are couples who wear their emotions on the surface, and couples who carry them deeper - and then there are days when both are present in the same room. Abi and Sam's wedding was exactly that. Abi - openly, sincerely emotional throughout in the most moving way - and Sam, a man of real presence and quiet gravitas, the kind of groom who makes the whole room feel steadier just by being in it. Together they made for a genuinely compelling combination, and a day that had real depth to it from start to finish.
The morning began at the Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells for preparations, before the ceremony at Holy Trinity, the beautiful little church in Markbeech that sits within easy walking distance of Falconhurst itself. It's rather romantic, that short walk back along the Church Walk from the service into the gardens and in September, with the light beginning to soften and the grounds at their most abundant, it set the tone perfectly for everything that followed.
Falconhurst is a countryside wedding venue set on the edge of an organic dairy farm in the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, located three miles south of Edenbridge on the Kent and Sussex border, with expansive views towards Ashdown Forest. The house and gardens have been constantly evolving since they were first designed in the 1840s, carefully tended by generations of the Talbot family, and that sense of accumulated history and genuine care is felt everywhere you look. Billowing borders, pergolas awash with roses, generous wide gravel paths - and beyond the gardens, those long views across towards Ashdown Forest that make the setting feel quietly extraordinary. Crucially, Falconhurst never hosts more than four weddings a year, which gives every couple something increasingly rare - a venue that is genuinely focused on them, without any sense of the conveyor belt. For a documentary photographer, the combination of intimate walled garden, open marquee lawn and soft September light made this one of those days where the venue itself does half the work.
Abi and Sam were more than generous in their feedback once they’d received their imagery.
“The whole process of working with Simon has been brilliant. From the very first FaceTime we had total confidence that he understood the intention for our day and his emotional intelligence was apparent immediately. That has translated beautifully into his incredible photos. A wonderful mix of documenting each stage of the day while also capturing the emotions from every angle. The joy and vibrancy of the day literally leaps out from the photos. Simon has preserved the day perfectly through his photography and being able to relive the day so completely - and see some of those in-between moments between guests for the first time - is something we will treasure. Simon was fantastic at trying different ideas for taking some unique shots - from setting up the sparkler group photos to later coming to us in the middle of the evening with an idea for creating an impromptu photo run with all of our guests-the most chaotic fun and it’s resulted in some brilliant photos. Then there are the portraits. Simon’s warmth made us feel so comfortable and he had the perfect balance of giving a few prompts and letting us enjoy those moments together. We are so lucky to have had Simon be a part of our day and truly cannot recommend him enough.”
September light at Falconhurst is something special - warm, directional, generous - and I hope what follows gives you a genuine feel for both the place and the people at the heart of this particular day. If you're exploring Falconhurst as your venue, or considering a church and marquee wedding anywhere across Kent, Sussex or beyond, do get in touch. I'd love to hear about your plans.
