Emelie & Matt’s Winter Wedding in Todber & Shaftesbury — A Candid, Heartfelt Story

Emelie & Matt’s winter wedding took me from the quiet lanes of Todber to the warm lights of Fleur de Lys in Shaftesbury. Although I’m usually photographing weddings as a Leeds wedding photographer, I love travelling for days like this — full of family, laughter and those small winter details that stay with you.

With preparations at Utopia Hair, Gillingham, a heartfelt ceremony St Andrew’s Church in Todber, and evening celebrations at Fleur de Lys, Shaftesbury, this day moved beautifully from soft winter sunlight to candlelit warmth.

Here’s the story of their winter wedding, told through the moments that moved me.

Emelie at the hairdressers taking a photo of her sister while having her hair done.
A playful moment at Utopia Hair.
Emelie capturing her sister before the day begins.

Preparation: All Smiles at the Hairdressers & Fleur de Lys Hotel

Family energy filled the room the moment I walked in. Emelie was already glowing — hair done, make-up settled — while her mum and sister shared those soft, familiar smiles you only see in close families. The morning felt calm but full of anticipation.

Back at the Fleur de Lys, the story deepened: satin dress, veil moments, shoes fastened on the carpeted floor, quick checks in the mirror, and that final breath before leaving. Winter sunlight spilled through the windows — a perfect contrast to the warmth inside.

Emelie stands beside her mum smiling toward her sister.
A warm smile shared across the salon.
A gentle start to the winter morning.
Reflection of Emelie smiling in the mirror as her mum looks up with pride.
A quiet mirror moment.
A mother’s pride caught softly in the frame.
Emelie checks the time on her watch while sitting opposite her mum.
The day begins to move.
Emelie checks the minutes before everything unfolds.
A wide smile from Emelie as her wedding morning unfolds.
A smile full of excitement.
The feeling of it all becoming real.
Emelie looks up at her mum with a bright, warm smile.
Shared joy between mother and daughter.
A simple moment that says everything.
Mother of the bride photographs her other daughter getting her hair styled.

A mother capturing her own memories.
Wedding mornings always have layers of stories.
Emelie’s wedding veil being placed with careful concentration.
A veil placed with care.
A final touch before heading out.
Emelie looks over her dress while her sister talks on the phone in the background.
Back at the hotel for the dress moments.
A pause before stepping into the silence of the church.
Mum kneels helping Emelie with her wedding shoes, captured in my Leeds wedding photographer documentary style.
A timeless moment between mother and daughter.
Small gestures become the strongest memories.
Emelie closes her eyes in thought as her mum adjusts her veil.
A deep breath before the dress is complete.
A moment of stillness.
Candid moment of Emelie applying last-minute lip powder.
Quick final makeup checks.
A beautiful moment of natural calm.
Black-and-white close-up capturing the emotion of the final makeup touches.
Monochrome emotion.
Quiet moments before the ceremony.
Mother of the bride helps tie the bustle on Emelie’s dress.
Hands that know how to help.
Love shown in the smallest ways.
The groom waits at St Andrew’s Todber in monochrome.
A quiet moment at the altar.
The steady breath before everything changes.

At the Church & The Arrival of the Bride

St Andrew’s in Todber has a timeless charm, especially in December. Inside, the groom and his family quietly took their places. The choir warmed their voices — and their hands — preparing for the cold walk home later.

Outside, Emelie arrived with her grandad and sister in a polished black car. Veil adjusted, bouquet passed, and a small laugh shared with the driver. These are the moments that feel like film scenes — tiny, real, unforgettable.

The choir warms up their voices for the winter ceremony.
Voices warming in the cold.
The church filling with soft sound.
Groom stands with family beside him inside the church.

Family gathered close.
A moment of support just before the ceremony.
Groom sits in the pew looking over the order of service.
A moment alone with the details.
Reading over the words that will define the day.
Groom looks up with a slightly nervous expression.
A flicker of nerves.
A genuine moment before the aisle walk.
Winter wedding detail: holly and red berries beside candlelight.
Seasonal details in golden tones.
The beauty of a winter church.
The bride arrives as her 94-year-old grandad watches proudly.
A treasured moment on arrival.
Grandad watching every detail.
Emelie smiles holding her dress bustle as grandad closes the car door.
A moment full of warmth.
Family helping every step of the way.
Emelie takes her bouquet from the smiling driver in monochrome.
B&W storytelling.
A quiet exchange before the aisle.
Emelie’s sister adjusts her veil at the church gate as grandad holds the bouquet.
A team effort in the cold.
A beautiful pre-aisle moment.
The bride, grandad, and sister meet the vicar at the entrance of the church.
A warm welcome at St Andrew’s.
The ceremony gently approaches.
Guests wait outside the church for the bride’s arrival.
Excitement in the winter air.
Everyone watching for that first glimpse.
The groom looks back as Emelie and grandad enter the church.
That first look from the aisle.
Emotion begins to rise.

The Entrance of the Bride & Ceremony

As the church doors opened, the groom turned and everything softened. Smiles spread through the pews, and grandad — proud and steady — walked with Emelie before taking his seat.

The ceremony was intimate: vows spoken with emotion, rings exchanged with shaking hands, and a first kiss that lingered. Singing filled the small stone church, followed by the blessing and the couple glowing with relief and joy.

Emelie walks down the aisle smiling as guests look on.
The aisle walk begins.
Smiles everywhere.
Joyful faces fill the aisle as Emelie walks towards Matt.
Family joy in every row.
A walk full of warmth.
Grandad takes his seat as the couple arrives at the altar, photographed in my natural Yorkshire-inspired documentary style.
A gentle transition at the altar.
Grandad settles in with pride.
Emelie ducks as her sister removes the veil from her face.
A tender moment before the vows.
Hands and expressions full of meaning.
Quiet moment of the couple looking thoughtful during the ceremony.
Stillness during the vows.
A quiet breath shared.
Emelie’s mum reads as the groom smiles softly.

A reading filled with emotion.
The groom listens with warmth.
The couple look at each other — full of personality and connection.
A look that says everything.
Connection at the heart of the ceremony.
Grandad and granddaughter sing from the order of service in monochrome.
Singing from the pews.
A candid winter moment.
Guests smile widely during the hymns.
Joy carried through song.
Moments of community and warmth.
Guests singing with both joyful and serious faces.
Different emotions in the music.
Every person feels it their own way.
Sister and grandad look toward the couple at the altar.
Eyes on the vows.
Family watching every word.
Groom’s mum and sister seated in the church aisle.

Family rooted in support.
A moment of quiet pride.
The couple smiling as the ceremony begins, captured in the relaxed style I use for Leeds weddings.
The ceremony settles into rhythm.
Smiles shared openly.
The ring ceremony begins in the tiny church.
The ring moment starts.
Hands trembling slightly with emotion.
Groom looks lovingly toward his bride.
A look full of meaning.
A quiet pause between vows.
Emelie smiles softly as the vows continue.
Soft smiles during the vows.
A moment to remember.
Emelie speaks her vows.
Words spoken with heart.
A promise shared aloud.
Best man hands the wedding ring to the groom.
The ring is passed.
A moment of trust among friends.
Groom carefully places the ring on Emelie’s finger.

The ring goes on.
A simple act full of feeling.
Emelie places the ring on Matt’s finger.
Her turn to give the ring.
A moment of equal promise.
The first kiss — emotional and heartfelt.
Their first kiss as a married couple.
Warm and full of emotion.
The kiss continues in a warm embrace.
A kiss that lingers.
A moment worth holding onto.
Nose-to-nose the couple smile in black and white, captured in my natural Leeds wedding photographer style.
A quiet monochrome moment.
Soft smiles after the vows.
The couple laugh quietly with emotion after the kiss.
A shared laugh.
The joy spills over.
Emelie leans in to sign the register.
Signing the register.
The legal moment wrapped in calm.
Emelie and her sister share a smile at the register table.
Sisterly smiles.
Quiet moments near the register.
The couple smile proudly after signing the register.
Freshly married smiles.
A moment of sheer joy.
Groom looks toward the camera in black and white.
A calm portrait.
A still moment between celebrations.
The couple smile so happy looking at family.
The choir sings warmly on this chilly winter day.
Voices rising in the cold.
Music filling the space.
Couple stand at the altar receiving a blessing.
A blessing shared.
Quiet reverence before the exit.
The blessing continues at the front of the church.
Warm words from the vicar.
The ceremony draws to a close.
The couple kneel at the altar as the vicar speaks.
Kneeling together.
A moment of tradition.
The couple begin their exit as the groom winks at family, captured in my warm storytelling Yorkshire style.

The joyful exit begins.
A wink and a smile.
The joyful walk continues with both smiling brightly.

Walking into married life.
Smiles that say everything.
The couple kiss under the stone arch in winter sunlight.
A kiss in the cold sunlight.
Old stone framing new beginnings.

Outside St Andrew’s, Todber: Stone Walls, Winter Sun & Confetti

The cold hit instantly, but no one seemed to mind. Guests wrapped coats tight, hugged the couple, and shared those raw, wind-blown smiles only a winter wedding gives you.

Under the stone arch of St Andrew’s, the couple shared a kiss as winter sun lit the scene. Confetti drifted, colours popped, and the pale blue sky framed one of the day’s most romantic moments.

Guests greet the couple outside, wrapped against the cold.

Warm hugs in the winter chill.
Loved ones gather round.
Groom’s sister smiles proudly at her brother outside the church.
A sister’s pride.
A family moment to treasure.
Friends hug the groom outside the church.
Friends gather close.
Joy shared in the cold air.
Confetti surrounds the couple beneath the pale winter sky at St Andrew’s Todber, photographed with my candid Leeds wedding photography approach.
Confetti in the winter light.
A perfect ending to the ceremony.

Warm Wine, Group Photos & Candid Moments at Fleur de Lys

Back in Shaftesbury, the fire-lit rooms filled quickly with chatter and clinking glasses. Group photos flowed naturally — simple, warm, and full of personality. My favourite moment: the bride perched on Matt’s knee, gently tapping his nose with a smile that said everything.

Guests enjoyed cake, wine, and laughter while the couple relaxed into the second half of their day.

Gold Hill Portraits on a Winter Afternoon

Gold Hill — famous from the Hovis advert — gave us a cinematic backdrop for a short walk and a handful of portraits. Cold air, cobbled streets, warm arms around each other. A perfect pause in the day.

Back inside, we grabbed a final set of small family groups before ending with a lovely moment: Emelie showing her wedding ring to friends who beamed with her.

Emelie & Matt’s winter wedding was filled with emotion from start to finish — warm hearts, cold air, and a family who made every moment effortless to capture. Days like this remind me why I love documentary wedding photography: real expressions, honest connections, and stories that unfold without being directed.

Thank you both for inviting me down from Leeds to be part of such a special day. I’ll never forget grandad’s smile, the winter light, or the way your whole family welcomed me in.

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👉 Contact Tim Christian Jones

St Andrew’s Church, Todber, Dorset — a Grade II listed village church surrounded by fields and winter light. This wedding was documented by Leeds wedding photographer Tim Christian Jones. The day continued at the Fleur de Lys in Shaftesbury, a warm and character-filled venue perfect for intimate celebrations.

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