Charlotte Hawkins & Mark Herbert’s Wedding | Chichester Cathedral & Farbridge
A very special Sussex wedding
Yesterday I had the absolute privilege of photographing the wedding of Charlotte Hawkins and her fiancé Mark Herbert at the stunning Chichester Cathedral — a day that felt both grand in setting and deeply personal in tone. With the ceremony led by Charlotte’s uncle, a reception at the beautiful Farbridge wedding venue, and a guest list that included some very familiar faces, it was a real joy from start to finish.
A very personal ceremony at Chichester Cathedral
There can be few more breathtaking places in the South of England to exchange vows than Chichester Cathedral. Over 900 years of history, soaring stone arches, stained glass, and the kind of atmosphere that instantly makes a wedding feel significant.
What made Charlotte and Mark’s ceremony so special, though, wasn’t just the setting — it was the fact that the Minister was Charlotte’s uncle. There’s something uniquely moving about a family member officiating a wedding; every word feels a little more heartfelt, every blessing a little more personal. You can see the difference in the couple’s faces and in the expressions of their family in the congregation.
It was an elegant, emotional, genuinely beautiful ceremony.
Portraits in the cloisters
After the service, we took Charlotte and Mark through to the cloisters at Chichester Cathedral for family photographs and a set of couple portraits. The cloisters are an absolute gift for wedding photography — dappled natural light, historic stone, arched walkways and wonderful background texture. It’s impossible to take a bad photograph there.
It also gave the newlyweds a quiet, calm ten minutes together between the ceremony and the reception — one of my favourite parts of any wedding day to capture.
Famous faces in the congregation
Amongst the guests were Charlotte’s fellow broadcasters Eamonn Holmes and his wife Ruth Langsford, who were, as ever, warm, friendly and great fun on the day. One of my favourite photos from the wedding is of Charlotte and Mark together with Eamonn and Ruth — a lovely, candid moment between four people who clearly have a huge amount of affection for one another.
How Charlotte and I came to work together
People often ask how I ended up as Charlotte Hawkins’ wedding photographer. The answer is a rather lovely, organic one.
I first met Charlotte at a friend’s wedding, where she was a bridesmaid. Then, not long after, I photographed another of her friend’s weddings — where she was once again a bridesmaid. She was so pleased with the photos from both days that she said when the time came for her own wedding, she’d like me to photograph it.
I’ve also photographed Charlotte for promotional shoots for television over the years, so by the time her big day arrived, we knew each other well — and shooting a wedding for someone you’ve already worked with is always a real pleasure. There’s a trust and a shorthand that makes everything flow.
The reception at Farbridge, West Sussex
After the portraits at the Cathedral, the whole party made the short journey out to Farbridge, one of my absolute favourite wedding venues in West Sussex. Farbridge is a traditional Sussex barn that’s been beautifully converted into an exclusive-use wedding venue, and it genuinely has it all:
- A secret garden — perfect for intimate wander-and-shoot portraits
- A sun-lit courtyard — a real showpiece for drinks receptions
- A smaller barn used for ceremonies and dancing
- A larger barn ideal for drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts
- Beautiful grounds with countryside views in every direction
The combination of Chichester Cathedral’s grandeur followed by Farbridge’s relaxed, rustic elegance is a brilliantly Sussex way to do a wedding — the formal and the informal, the historic and the homely, the sacred and the celebratory.
A few of Charlotte and Mark’s wedding photographs
Below are just a few of my favourite photographs from Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Herbert’s wedding day — ceremony at Chichester Cathedral, portraits in the cloisters, and the celebrations at Farbridge.
Congratulations to Charlotte & Mark
Huge congratulations to Charlotte and Mark — it was an absolute honour to be trusted with your wedding day, and thank you for being such a warm, generous and genuinely lovely couple to photograph. Wishing you both every happiness for your future together as husband and wife.
Featured suppliers
- Ceremony venue: Chichester Cathedral, West Sussex
- Reception venue: Farbridge, West Sussex
- Minister: The bride’s uncle (a very personal touch)
- Photography: Barrie Downie
Planning a wedding at Chichester Cathedral or Farbridge?
If you’re planning your own wedding at Chichester Cathedral, Farbridge, or anywhere in Chichester, West Sussex, Hampshire or along the South Coast, I’d love to hear from you. I’ve photographed weddings at both these iconic venues many times, and I know exactly how to make the most of every corner of them — from the Cathedral nave and cloisters to Farbridge’s secret garden, courtyard and beautifully lit barns.
I also photograph weddings at other leading venues across the area including Goodwood House, Upwaltham Barns, Southend Barns, Gate Street Barn and Cowdray Park, as well as London weddings and weddings across the South of England.
Whether you’re planning a large celebration with hundreds of guests or an intimate family wedding — and whether or not you have a famous face or two on the guest list — my aim is always the same: elegant, natural, story-driven wedding photography you’ll treasure for the rest of your life.
Get in touch to check my availability for your date and I’ll send over my wedding photography price list and full information pack.
Photography: Barrie Downie | Wedding photography at Chichester Cathedral, Farbridge and across West Sussex, London and the South Coast.
Charlotte Hawkins and Mark Herbert Sussex wedding at Chichester Cathedral
Barrie Downie Photography Chichester, West Sussex
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Charlotte Hawkins wedding photos
