Skylark Golf & Country Club Wedding Photographer | Amber & Phil’s Summer Wedding

Some weddings just glow. Amber and Phil’s was one of them. 🌞

We got one of those rare, gloriously hot 21st of May afternoons (the kind Hampshire really doesn’t hand out very often!), and the whole day basically sparkled because of it. Bare shoulders, ice-cold drinks, squinty happy smiles, and gorgeous golden light pouring across the greens at Skylark Golf & Country Club right through to the evening. Honestly? I couldn’t have ordered better if I’d tried.

I’m Emma, a fun and candid wedding photographer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Skylark is one of my favourite local venues to shoot at. So grab a cuppa (or something colder, given the theme) and let me show you their gorgeous day.

The Ceremony at Skylark Golf & Country Club

There’s always that lovely little hush just before the vows, where everyone leans in and holds their breath. Amber and Phil said theirs surrounded by the people who love them most, and you could feel the warmth in the room (and not just from the heatwave! 😂). A few happy tears, a lot of laughter, and then, just like that, they were Mr & Mrs Ellis. Cue the cheers and the very best sort of happy chaos.

Confetti, Group Shots & Family Formals in the Sunshine

Straight out of the ceremony we dived into confetti and one big group shot of absolutely everyone. Always chaos, always brilliant.

Then it was family formals just outside the ceremony space. Now, the sun was pretty much dead overhead and blaring by this point, so here’s a little trick: I popped everyone with their backs to the sun and used off-camera flash to light them from the front. That keeps that gorgeous deep blue sky behind you, stops the highlights blowing out, and gives everyone lovely even skin tones instead of harsh midday squints.

Couples Portraits (and a LOT of Belly Laughing)

After the formals, Amber and Phil got whisked off on a golf buggy out onto the course for their couples portraits, down by the pond and in amongst the trees. I brought a light stand along to keep their skin tones soft and even through the dappled light, so they look as relaxed and glowy as they felt.

And honestly? This was the highlight of my whole day. These two were an absolute hoot, belly laughing the entire time, and you can feel that fun in every single frame. Meanwhile everyone else had wisely escaped to the bar to keep cool, which gave us a lovely quiet pocket of time just for the three of us.

Golden Hour Portraits

When you get an evening this beautiful, you make the most of it. We stole Amber and Phil away for a few minutes in that gorgeous low golden light over the Skylark greens, just the two of them, the warmth of the day softening into evening. No stiff posing, no faff, just the two of them together, which is always when the best portraits happen.

The First Dance at Skylark

Amber and Phil shared their first dance, and there was a gorgeous dad and daughter dance too that had a fair few people reaching for the tissues. 🥹 From there the music kept rolling and everyone had the best time seeing the night out together. Such a warm, happy way to round off the day.

Why Skylark Golf & Country Club is Such a Special Place to Marry

Skylark Golf & Country Club in Whiteley is one of Hampshire’s loveliest relaxed wedding venues. You get sweeping, manicured green views as your backdrop, big bright windows that flood the rooms with natural light, and gorgeous open lawns and a golf course to spill out onto the moment the sun’s shining (which, on the 21st of May, it absolutely was!).

It’s a venue that gives you the best of both worlds: laid-back and unstuffy, but with views that make every photo look effortless. The grounds are brilliant for couples portraits, there’s loads of room for guests to mingle, and it has such a warm, welcoming feel throughout.

It’s also wonderfully easy to reach, sitting just off the M27 between Southampton, Fareham and Portsmouth, and only a short hop from Winchester, so it’s a doddle for guests travelling from across Hampshire and beyond.

Fancy seeing the same venue dressed for a completely different season? Have a peek at Laura & Andy’s fun-filled autumn wedding at Skylark too.

My Approach as Your Skylark Golf & Country Club Wedding Photographer

My style is natural, unposed and full of life, with a creative eye for the bold and dramatic too. I’m there for all of it: the morning nerves and laughter, the emotional ceremony, the speeches that make everyone cry-laugh, and the dance floor once the party really gets going. I blend into the day so you can soak up every second with the people you love.

By the end of the night, my couples and their guests usually feel like I’m an old family friend, and that’s exactly the point. When you forget the camera’s there, that’s when the honest, unguarded photos happen.

Here’s what you can expect from me:

• Real moments over posed ones, the joyful, emotional, true story of your day.
• A creative eye, bold, dramatic images alongside the documentary coverage (I’ve a fine-art degree and love to use it).
• Genuinely good fun to have around, I’ll bring the energy, look after you all day, and happily make a fool of myself to get you laughing.
• Multi-award-winning and internationally recognised for my flash and lighting work, so even on a blazing midday or a dark dance floor, your photos are in very safe hands.

And here’s the lovely message Amber and Phil sent me, which honestly made my whole week:

“Omg Emma, what can I say. You were absolutely amazing, funny, crazy and energetic. We loved how easy and fun you made the whole experience, everyone at the wedding said they loved you and your energy. We’re so glad you were there to experience and witness our day, thank you again so much. Lots of love.” Mr & Mrs Ellis

Let’s Chat About Your Skylark Wedding

If you’re getting married at Skylark Golf & Country Club, or anywhere across Hampshire, West Sussex, Surrey and beyond, and you want someone who’ll capture the real, fun, emotional story of your day, I would absolutely love to hear from you. No pressure, no hard sell, just a friendly chat. 😊

Get in touch here, or take a look at my prices and packages and my portfolio.

Planning your own celebration here? Here’s everything you need to know about getting married at Skylark Golf & Country Club.