Back in April 2024, an email landed in my inbox from a bride called Hannah, asking about availability for her wedding the following September. I got about two sentences in – something about an Ambelonas vineyard wedding in Corfu, thirty guests, an intimate celebration among the vines – and let out an actual squeal of excitement at my desk. It sounded impossibly dreamy.
What I didn’t know yet was that this wasn’t just one wedding. It was two.
Hannah and Jon were having a small legal ceremony at home in Hampshire, followed just over a week later by their real celebration abroad – a growing trend I love, and one I got to be part of from start to finish. Over the eighteen months that followed, through an engagement shoot around Winchester, a registry office wedding, and finally that Corfu celebration, I got to know this couple really well, and it was a delight to capture a small part of their love story.
I’ve sat on this blog for a while, unsure how a Corfu wedding fits now that I’m based in East Lothian, near Edinburgh – but the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realise this story isn’t really about where it happened. It’s about what’s possible when a couple wants one photographer to carry their whole story, wherever in the world that takes them.
Part One: Winchester Registry Office, 29th August 2025
Their day began at 11am, in front of their very closest family and friends – including grandparents on both sides who could only make this part of the celebration.
Hannah was effortlessly chic in a short bridal dress, with bold orange and hot pink blooms adding a real burst of joy against the sharpness of Jon’s black-tie DJ. After their “I dos,” we wandered the grounds around the Registry Office for relaxed portraits – no crowds, no rush, just the two of them. It gave us time to get some genuinely beautiful, quiet moments before the party carried on at The Westgate over the road.
Part Two: Ambelonas Vineyard, Corfu, 6th September 2025
Just over a week later, at 3pm local time, we did it all again – except this time, everything about the day had changed.
Ambelonas vineyard sits quietly in the hills above Corfu Town, close enough to the airport for easy travel, but a world away in feel: rolling hills, warm stone, and views that do a lot of the work for you. Hannah and Jon chose it deliberately over the island’s larger villas – they wanted something more intimate and relaxed, and Ambelonas delivered exactly that, right down to the estate’s own wine served alongside local, seasonal dishes at dinner.
Where Winchester had been bold and playful, Corfu was soft and more traditional: Hannah in a long gown with a train, Jon in a beige suit, bridesmaids in green, and a palette of white, cream and green running through everything. They married beneath a floral arch – roses, hydrangeas, delphiniums, lisianthus, eucalyptus and ruscus – framed in a doorway with the vineyard behind them, and we later moved that same arch outside to use as a backdrop for group photos.
The ceremony itself was full of personal anecdotes and stories about the two of them, and it set the tone for the whole evening — warm, personal, and full of laughter. A live event painter worked throughout, capturing Hannah and Jon at the arch with the vineyard behind them; she hadn’t quite finished the piece by the end of the night, but watching it take shape was lovely, and it’s something really special for them to have on their wall now. Speeches came from the bride, the groom, and the father of the bride, and as the light faded, the evening kicked off with traditional Greek dancing – one of the most joyful moments of the whole day.
The little details made it: a wedding “newspaper” featuring photos from their engagement shoot, postcards guests could write instead of a traditional guestbook, paper fans and parasols printed with their names and date, festoon lighting strung above one long table beneath a vine-covered archway, beautiful flowers and candles arranged on the long table. Rustic, abundant, and beautifully done.
Most of the thirty guests had arrived in Corfu earlier in the week, and by the time the wedding came round it felt like one big, relaxed family gathering – everyone at ease and glowing a little from the sun. As the night went on, there was dancing under a properly star-filled sky, sharing platters of unfussy, delicious food, and the most wonderful sunset!
One Story, Told Across Two Days
What made this wedding different for me wasn’t just the two very different looks – it was how much I got to know Hannah and Jon along the way. Hannah sent me DMs every now and again sharing images of the venue, colours, florals, decor, outfits, and photos of other couples that had caught her eye. It was never about copying anyone else’s photographs – it was about the feeling behind them. “This is the venue we love,” “I can really picture us in photos like this,” “this is the level of intimacy we’re comfortable with in front of a camera.” By the time we got to Corfu, I already had a strong sense of the vibe and style she and Jon were after, because we’d been building that picture together for months.
That’s not something every couple does, and I don’t expect it – but when it happens, it makes a real difference. It meant I could carry a consistent eye across two ceremonies that looked completely different on the surface, because underneath, I was still very much telling one couple’s story.
In Their Own Words
I still have the card Hannah and Jon gave me on the day:
“It’s been lovely getting to know you over the past 18 months or so. You’ve always made us feel so at ease and have always been on hand to help with any questions or to give recommendations. We’d also like to say thank you for sending the sneak peeks of our legal wedding so quickly – it was a joy to look back at the photos. We love every single one and we’re so excited to see the rest in due course.”
Jon later wrote this as part of a nomination for The Wedding Industry Awards:
“The most amazing photographer! Kept us at ease and took many amazing photographs! We don’t have enough space on the walls to hang them all! We can’t recommend her enough!”
And Hannah’s dad wrote:
“Lorna went above and beyond for my daughter’s wedding. Lorna spent the entire day unobtrusively capturing fantastic moments.”
Neither nomination was something I asked for. Both the groom and the father of the bride submitted them independently, and together they helped me become a regional finalist (one of only nine in Scotland) at The Wedding Industry Awards 2026. I’m genuinely grateful, and it’s a lovely reminder of why I do this.
Planning a Destination Wedding? Your Questions Answered
Do I need a UK legal ceremony if I’m getting married abroad?
Not always – it depends on the country. Some couples marry legally abroad; others, like Hannah and Jon, choose a small legal ceremony at home first and treat the destination day purely as a celebration. This second route is becoming really popular, because it lets you include family who can’t travel, while keeping the big day abroad purely about the party.
Can I use my own photographer for a destination wedding, or do I have to use the venue’s in-house photographer?
This varies hugely by venue, so check the terms and conditions before you book. Some destination wedding packages require you to use an in-house photographer, which can be a dealbreaker if continuity of style matters to you, or if you already have a photographer you love.
How far in advance should I book a photographer for a destination wedding?
As early as you can – I’d say 12 months at an absolute minimum for a destination wedding, to be confident of securing a photographer’s availability. A destination wedding isn’t just one day in a photographer’s diary; realistically it takes up three: a day to travel out, the wedding day itself, and a day to travel back. If you’re booking a photographer for more than one date, like a UK legal ceremony and a celebration abroad, you’re really asking them to hold several days across their calendar, not just one – so the earlier you get in touch, the better your chances.
What should I budget for with a destination wedding photographer?
Alongside the photography fee itself, factor in flights, accommodation, and car hire for your photographer, and build these into the conversation early so there are no surprises later.
Do photographers need a visa or work permit to shoot abroad?
Some countries require a specific visa or work permit for anyone working commercially there, photographers included. It’s worth checking with your photographer that they’ve looked into this for your particular destination, rather than assuming a tourist visa covers it – and bear in mind this is often an additional cost the couple needs to factor in, on top of the photography fee itself.
How can I make sure my photos feel like “my style”?
The most important step happens before you even book: choose a photographer whose natural style you already love, whether that’s light and airy, moody and dramatic, or documentary-led, since most photographers won’t fundamentally change how they shoot or edit for an individual client. Once you’ve found that match, mood boards and reference images are brilliant for something different – sharing the vibe and feel you’re after, not the photography style itself. Photos of a venue, a colour palette, florals, or even other couples can help your photographer understand how intimate or relaxed you want your day to feel, and what “you two” looks like together.
What if something goes wrong with logistics on the day?
At a destination wedding especially, with multiple locations and a lot happening at once, it’s easy for a verbal plan to get lost in the busyness of the morning. A simple shared itinerary – including transport between locations – means nothing gets missed.
Final Thoughts
Honestly? I loved every single second of this wedding – both bits of it. From the nervous energy of that first “I do” in Winchester to dancing under the stars in a Corfu vineyard, this was one of those jobs where I kept thinking, I can’t believe this is actually my job. There’s something genuinely special about a couple who want their whole story told, not just one wedding but every chapter of it, captured with the same eye throughout. I loved every minute. (More like this please!)
I’m currently based in East Lothian, near Edinburgh, and available for destination weddings and multi-part celebrations wherever they take you – whether that’s a legal ceremony at home followed by a party abroad, or a wedding with more than one date to capture.
And if you’re picturing something similar to Hannah and Jon’s day specifically – a registry office wedding around Winchester, Romsey, Basingstoke or Southampton, followed by a celebration somewhere further afield – that’s absolutely something I can do too. I have family in Hampshire and make trips south once or twice a year, so if you’re planning well ahead, it’s entirely possible to build that into my diary. If that sounds like what you’re dreaming of, wherever in the world it takes place, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch →
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With thanks to the wonderful team who worked so hard to bring Hannah & Jon’s wedding vision to life:
Winchester Ceremony Suppliers
Ceremony: Winchester Registry Office | Makeup: Makeup by Beth M | Flowers: Artificial Hannah | Dress: Odd Muse London
Corfu Wedding Suppliers
Wedding Planner & Stylist: Just Married Corfu | Celebrant: Corfu Wedding Celebrant | Video & Drone: Studio 27 Andreas Politis | Hair: Hair Style by Vassoso | Makeup: Beautiful Brides Corfu | Flowers: | Cake: Cake Boutique Corfu | Bride’s Dress: The Bridal Mill, Botley | Bride’s Shoes: Rainbow Club | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: La Closet de Chanel | Bride’s Wedding Band: Austen and Blake | Groom’s Wedding Band: Ridge | DJ: DJ Kantas Corfu
