A Harewood Forest Wedding in June

Kiera and Dave’s Harewood Forest Wedding was one of those days that feels so memorable. The kind where everything feels a little more alive than usual. The trees were at their fullest, the summer air was warm and the daisy field was doing exactly what it was meant to do, at exactly the right moment. The kind of day where everything aligns, which makes it even more special.

It was a forest wedding in every sense of the word. Rooted in emotion, feeling, people and energy.

There are some wedding days that feel like they hold their breath for you.

Kiera and Dave’s Harewood Forest wedding was one of those days. The kind where everything feels a little more alive than usual. The trees were at their fullest, the air was warm in that early summer way, and for a brief moment in June, the daisy field was doing exactly what it was meant to do. Soft, wild, and completely unbothered by anything else happening in the world.

It didn’t stay that way for long. Which made it even more special. It was the kind of timing you simply cannot plan, even though everyone wants to.

This was a forest wedding in every sense of the word. Not styled into perfection, but rooted in feeling, people, and presence.

A Harewood Forest Wedding in June

Walking into the ceremony space at Harewood Forest isn’t something you can really explain to someone, you just have to hope they get to experience it one day. I can hand on heart say it is one of the most beautiful ceremony spaces I have ever worked in (in 13 years!). It looks so incredible in every season and all weather conditions, I haven’t found a fault with it yet, every single angle is a photographers dream.

A forest wedding at Harewood doesn’t rely on structure, things tend to feel very relaxed. You are carried through the day rather than fitting to a time schedule. With guests wandering through the trees or dancing under the canopy until the early hours.

A Wedding with A Lot of Heart

Kiera and Dave were completely, obviously and unapologetically obsessed with each other. Not in a performative way, but in small moments, a quite grounding touch or hand squeeze. The way they kept finding each other in a busy room.

During the speeches Dave stood up and said some words that hit differently, and despite having photographed over 250 weddings, I can remember them clear as day.

‘I just want you to live, and for me to be a part of it’

It wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. There are some phrases that don’t really feel like they belong to the moment they are spoken in. They feel bigger than that, almost poetic. This was one of those times, and it perfectly encapsulated the love and respect that this couple have for each other.

Just when we thought things couldn’t get more emotional. One of the bridal party prepared a performance for the newly weds. It was tasteful, skilled and felt so appropriate for the setting. It was one of those moments as a photographer where you cannot capture the energy as one single image, but instead fragments. Faces, reactions, hands reaching for tissues. The kind of memories and moments that stick, because it surprised us all. Even I was weeping.

Golden Hour That Didn’t Hold Back

And then came Golden Hour. A wedding at Harewood Forest is always pretty likely to have some epic evening portraits. The dappled glow through the trees, the views over the farm land. But on this day the sun was full, warm and came spilling through the trees like it had something to prove.

Kiera and Dave stepped out for their couple portraits and everything softened again. The pace of the day dropped. The noise fell away and we were able to capture everything from afar, giving them the space they needed to enjoy the moment.

If there is ever a reason to choose a forest wedding venue, this is it.
Not always for the trees themselves, but for what the light does when it finds them.

Why A Harewood Forest Wedding Feels Different

Harewood Forest isn’t trying to compete with traditional wedding venues in Hampshire. It doesn’t need to. It works because it feels like stepping out of a structure into something more open. More alive. More flexible. A proper woodland wedding venue where the surroundings are part of the experience, and very little decor is needed.
For couples looking at woodland wedding venues, or wedding venues in the woods, it’s not about perfection here. It is about atmosphere. and how much you are willing to sit back and let the day unfold around you.

Thinking About Your Own Outdoor Harewood Forest Wedding?

If you are considering a forest wedding or looking at unique wedding venues in Hampshire, the biggest thing I would say is this:

Choose somewhere that lets the day breathe.

Because when you do, you will get moments like Kiera and Dave. Emotion. Unexpected moments. The Golden Hour of Dreams, and one hell of a party.

If you are currently planning your Harewood Forest Wedding I would love to hear from you.
You can take a look through the first wedding I ever photographed at Harewood Forest here.
You can find some more gorgeous outdoor wedding venues right here on the blog. Or head to my weddings page to see all pricing and packaging information. Or you can send an enquiry to check my availability here

“Katie is incredible! If you are looking for a photographer for a special event look no further. Katie was our wedding photographer this past weekend and she was honestly outstanding. Not only did she take magnificent pictures, she also helped to calm and ground me when the caterers messed up, changing timings of photographs to give me a chance to breathe and be and just genuinely brought warmth, compassion and joy to the day. She completely enhanced the event and I would recommend her to anyone!”

Supplier Dream Team
Venue: Harewood Forest Weddings
Photography: Clearly Wild Photography

Band: The Troubadors
Tarot: Charlie Thomas
Florist: The Garden Inn
Sound & Lighting: All the Kit