Devon & Ben’s Wedding Reception at The Maude Institute, Leek

After their ceremony, Devon and Ben celebrated with family and friends at The Maude Institute in Leek, Staffordshire. If you’re considering The Maude Institute for your wedding, or you’re looking for a wedding photographer in Leek who has worked there, here’s how their day looked.

The Maude Institute is an old red-brick building in Leek with white-framed windows and plenty of charm. It’s the kind of place where the outside photographs as well as the inside. The brickwork makes a warm backdrop, and the little details, like the venue sign and the ivy against the walls, give every photograph a sense of place.

One of the best things about The Maude is where it sits. Right nearby, there’s a lovely old-town corner of Leek, with cobbled roads, brick cottages, stone walls and a pretty wooden gate. It feels authentic and a little bit timeless, which is exactly what I look for when I photograph couples. We slipped away for a short while with Devon and Ben to make the most of it.

The cobbles and the rows of old brick houses make a beautiful, textured backdrop for a flowing dress.

There are so many little corners to choose from, from stone walls with flowers spilling over them to an old wooden gate and a weathered stone wall. We didn’t need to travel far for a variety of looks, and the result is a set of photographs that feel quite different from the venue itself.

These quiet, close moments are what I love most: unhurried and completely natural.

Back at The Maude, Devon and Ben made their entrance into the room together as husband and wife. It’s one of those moments I never tire of photographing, because everyone’s reactions are so genuine.

The main room at The Maude Institute is bright and relaxed, with soft light from tall windows and strings of fairy lights overhead. There’s even a grand piano, and during the celebration it was played, which gave the whole room a lovely atmosphere.

Devon and Ben’s styling was beautifully natural, with olive green fabric, pampas grass and candles. I always make time for the details, because they’re the things that couples forget about until they see them in the photographs. A naked sponge cake on a wooden slice, topped with their initials, and a table of scones with strawberries made it feel warm and homely.

Some of my favourite photographs from the day came when we stepped outside and had a bit of fun against the warm brick walls.

I’d love to hear about your day. I photograph weddings across Staffordshire, including Leek and the Staffordshire Moorlands, and across the Midlands. You can read more about wedding photography in Staffordshire or see more of my real weddings.