October 2020 | A Covid-Era Ceremony at Rye Town Hall

October 2020.
Peak “is this really happening?” era.

Laura and Ian’s Rye wedding took place during that strange pocket of time when guest lists were tiny, chairs were spaced apart, and face masks were part of the dress code. And yet — somehow — it was still full of warmth, laughter and that quiet, determined joy that defined so many Covid-era weddings.

This wasn’t a big wedding. It was a we’re doing this anyway wedding.

And honestly? Those hit differently.

A Small Ceremony at Rye Town Hall

Their ceremony took place at Rye Town Hall, one of my favourite spots in East Sussex to photograph.

This time, though, it looked a little different.

A handful of guests.
Chairs spaced apart.
Face masks on.

There was something incredibly moving about it. No big crowd. No distractions. Just Laura, Ian, their closest people, and their two boys watching it all unfold.

It felt focused. Intentional. Stripped back in the best possible way.

Finally Outside (And Finally Mask-Free)

When the ceremony ended and we stepped outside onto the cobbled streets of Rye, you could almost feel the collective exhale.

We were greeted by the brilliant Rye Town Crier, red coat gleaming against the autumn light. And for the first time that day, face masks came off. Smiles fully visible. Relief everywhere.

He led us through the streets of Rye, bell ringing proudly, announcing the newly married couple as we walked. It felt surreal and celebratory all at once — historic tradition meeting pandemic reality.

And Rye, in October light, really does show off.

Family Photos at The Mermaid Inn

We wandered down to The Mermaid Inn, one of Rye’s most iconic buildings, where I took a handful of family photographs of Laura, Ian and their two boys.

No elaborate setup. No big production. Just the four of them, together.

And that’s what made it special.

After that, I left them to enjoy a quiet meal — something simple, meaningful, and entirely fitting for the day they’d created.

A Rye Wedding, Just Different

Covid-era weddings weren’t what anyone originally planned. But they had a kind of intimacy that’s hard to replicate.

Laura and Ian’s October Rye Town Hall wedding wasn’t about spectacle. It was about commitment. About getting married despite everything.

Small guest list.
Big meaning.

And the story doesn’t quite end there…

(Coming Soon) The Party They Deserved

A year later, when restrictions lifted and dancing was finally allowed again, I met up with Laura and Ian at The Gallivant Camber Sands to photograph the wedding party they never got to have in 2020.

Same couple.
Very different energy.
Zero social distancing.

That deserves its own blog post, which you can read here! Obviously, after you’ve finished reading this post first!