A relaxed garden wedding, beautiful summer light, pasta straight from the food truck and 65 of their favourite people. Marika and Tom’s Cambridge wedding was all about creating a day that felt easy, personal and genuinely fun.

Set on a private property in Cambridge, the day flowed between the gardens, outdoor dining and a small clear marquee for dancing.

A relaxed garden ceremony

Marika and Tom were married outdoors beneath a beautiful old willow tree, surrounded by their closest friends and family.

Marika wore a simple, elegant Made With Love gown with a long embroidered veil, while her two sisters stood beside her as bridesmaids in different shades of green. Her bouquet of white tulips and the surrounding gardens kept the styling fresh and understated.

I loved the personal touches throughout their day, from the details that quietly honoured family to the choices that made the wedding feel completely their own.

Romantic, candid wedding photography

When Marika and Tom booked me, they wanted their photographs to feel romantic and candid, with lots of photos of their friends and family alongside some more stylistic portraits of the two of them.

They didn’t want to spend hours away from their guests, so we stayed at the property and made the most of the gardens and beautiful afternoon light for their portraits.

I loved this approach because it meant their gallery could capture both sides of the day: the more editorial photographs of the two of them, alongside all the hugs, conversations, laughter and little moments happening around them.

An alfresco wedding reception

After the ceremony, guests gathered outside for drinks and dinner, with long serpentine tables arranged across the lawn. The relaxed outdoor setting continued into the evening, with simple white tablecloths, floral arrangements and the surrounding gardens creating a beautiful backdrop.

The food was just as relaxed, with Pasta Paradiso serving pasta straight from their food truck for dinner. Later in the evening, Marika and Tom served tiramisu themselves, right in the middle of the dance floor.

Everyone moved into the small clear marquee for dancing, where disco balls, warm festoon lights and a checkered dance floor transformed it into a little party space of its own.

I loved the mix of the whole gallery, from the quieter moments and considered portraits earlier in the day to the fun, slightly chaotic dance floor photos later that night.

A beautiful garden, good food, thoughtful details and a very good party. Pretty hard to beat.

Wedding Vendors

Photography: Lydia Rachel Photography
Coordination: The Event Girl
Celebrant: LJ Wedding Celebrant
Dress: Made With Love
Bridesmaids: Third Form
Groom’s Suit: Oscar Hunt Tailors
Hair: Jadey Drury Hair
Makeup: Makeup by Prei
Food: Pasta Paradiso
Bar: Willow Lane Events
Marquee: Twelve Tables

If you’re planning a Cambridge wedding, a garden wedding in the Waikato, or a celebration that prioritises good people, good food and having an actually enjoyable day, I’d love to photograph it.