A Wedding at Swallow’s Nest Barn, Warwickshire

FAYE + FAYAAZ

A fun and laid-back wedding with emotions running high

Faye & Fayaaz were an absolute dream to work with. Adventure lovers to the core, laid-back, and with a “young and carefree” mentality, they truly embrace everything life has to offer. But that doesn’t mean they haven’t faced challenges. Getting to know them and their story made the emotions on the day even stronger—the meaning behind the details, the words spoken, the exchanged glances… Let me tell you about their wedding at Swallow’s Nest Barn, Warwickshire.

THE INFO

A Wedding at Swallow’s Nest Barn, Warwickshire, in the form of a secular ceremony

LOCATION

Swallow’s Nest Barn, Warwickshire

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Supplier Shoutout

ROX FLORAL

If you’ve been eyeing the florals in this post and thinking “Oof, that’s a bit of me” — you’ve got RoxFloral to thank. Rox is one of my absolute faves to work with; she just gets it every single time. Her designs are always full of personality, beautifully thought out, and completely unique to the couple. She brought the perfect mix of softness and wow-factor to this day, and honestly, the whole vibe wouldn’t have been the same without her blooms. If you’re still on the hunt for a florist who’ll absolutely nail it — go give her a stalk. You won’t regret it.

From teaching a class in Indonesia to a proposal on the beach in Sydney

Faye & Fayaaz met in such an unconventional way, especially in a world where dating apps are everywhere! They were both backpacking solo in Indonesia when they happened to stay at the same hostel. The hostel was looking for volunteers to teach English to local children, and both of them signed up. And the rest? Well, history was in the making.

From that moment on, they grew together, blending their backgrounds—Faye being British and Fayaaz from India. As much as they love traveling, they eventually settled in Sydney, where they built a life filled with adventure, beach days, and a vibrant social scene, both being true extroverts.

After a few years together, Fayaaz decided it was time to propose. He had everything planned. The ring? Check. The date? Check—he even arranged a cute weekend getaway afterward. The place? Check—Faye, being obsessed with the beach, would love nothing more than a proposal by the sea at their favorite spot in Sydney. But what he hadn’t accounted for… was the weather.

It took some convincing to get Faye to go to the beach despite the rain, but in the end, it worked in their favour—they had the entire beach to themselves as he got down on one knee.

Love in the Middle of Loss

They were blissfully enjoying their newly engaged life and had started planning their wedding in Australia, knowing that, as an international couple, getting all their loved ones together would require some careful planning.

But then, Faye’s dad fell ill.

Without hesitation, they adjusted their plans—if Faye’s dad couldn’t travel to Australia, they would bring the wedding to him. They could always have another celebration in Australia later. After all, your wedding is whatever you make it, right?

So, they got to work. They booked Swallow’s Nest Barn, a beautiful venue in Warwickshire where I’m lucky enough to shoot regularly, and they booked me to capture their love story. They moved the wedding forward, knowing time might not be on their side.

My heart broke when they told me he had sadly passed away shortly before the wedding. From what I knew of them by then, I had no doubt they would still find a way to celebrate joyfully—because what father wouldn’t want that for his daughter? But still, as a human, you can’t help but feel for them. And as a photographer, you know your role is more important than ever—to not only document the day beautifully but also capture the little details that will mean the world when they look back. You can’t change the story, but you can make sure the narrative honours their love.

A wedding day full of love, joy, laughter… and a few tears

Looking through the gallery, you can tell Faye’s dad was on everyone’s mind all day. The speeches were deeply emotional, with quite a few guests shedding tears as the bride and her family spoke.

But he was there.

He was there on the medallion attached to Faye’s bouquet. And as she walked herself down the aisle, I’m convinced he was watching over her. She walked confidently, with a big smile on her face, straight toward the love of her life.

The entire day was a reflection of who they are—joyful, vibrant, and full of life. Their friend was the celebrant for the ceremony and he narrated their love story, the way they looked at each other said it all.

As they entered their reception, Fayaaz’s parents welcomed them with Indian traditions, honoring his heritage.

After dinner, Faye changed into a stunning silver dress—because as much as her wedding dress was gorgeous, she was ready to hit the dance floor properly! And oh, did they dance. They laughed, sprayed champagne, and partied the night away, surrounded by the people who love them the most.

A reminder of why I love this job

At the end of the day, I feel incredibly lucky to do what I do. I get to meet the most wonderful, fun, and resilient people. I get a glimpse into their world, into the moments that make them who they are, and I have the privilege of telling their story in a way that feels true to them.

And when I’m working with people I truly feel aligned with? That’s what feeds my soul.