An Intimate Wedding in Bath: Iulia & Kaz
Why you don't need a big wedding to have photographs that feel completely extraordinary.
There are some weddings I photograph where, when I look back through the images afterwards, I'm reminded that it's rarely the size of a wedding that makes it memorable.
It's the people.
It's the way two people look at each other when nobody is watching.
It's the laughter between photographs. The nervous moments before the ceremony. A hand held a little tighter. A quiet five minutes together away from everyone else.
That was very much the feeling I had photographing Iulia and Kaz's intimate wedding in Bath.
Originally from Moldova, they chose Bath for a wedding that was personal, relaxed and centred around the people who mattered most to them.
And for me, that's exactly what an intimate wedding should be.
It's the connection that makes the photograph
When I photograph a couple, I'm not particularly interested in making them look like every other couple I've photographed. Of course, I want you to look amazing. But more importantly, I want you to look like yourselves.
With Iulia and Kaz, there was a natural warmth between them that didn't need directing.
The way they looked at one another. The way they laughed together. Those small moments of affection that happened naturally throughout the day.
They're the photographs that I find myself drawn to. Not because they're technically complicated, but because they mean something. Years from now, I want a couple to look through their wedding photographs and remember how it felt to be there, rather than simply remembering what everything looked like.
My approach to intimate wedding photography in Bath
One of the things I hear quite often from couples is: “We're not very comfortable having our photograph taken.”
That's completely fine. In fact, I'd much rather hear that than have a couple arrive thinking they need to know how to pose.
You don't. That's my job.
I don't want you spending your wedding day constantly thinking about the camera.
I'll give you a little direction when it's helpful. I'll suggest a walk, a change of position or somewhere with beautiful light.
But just as often, I'll step back and let you be together.
Sometimes the best photograph is the one that happens in between the photographs you thought we were taking.
That's particularly important when I'm photographing a small wedding.
With fewer guests, there is often more opportunity to slow things down, spend a little time together and create photographs that feel personal rather than rushed.
Every couple gets something different
I don't have a set formula that I apply to every wedding.
Every couple is different.
Every relationship is different.
Every wedding has its own atmosphere.
So before I photograph you, I take time to understand what you're planning.
I want to know what matters to you.
What you're excited about.
What you're nervous about.
Whether you love being photographed or would rather avoid the camera completely.
I'll think about the locations, the light, the timing and the way we can make the most of the surroundings.
Then I'll tailor the way I photograph your day around you.
No two couples are the same, so I don't believe their photographs should be either.
For some couples, that might mean something very natural and documentary.
For others, perhaps a little more direction and an editorial feel.
Usually it's a mixture of both.
The important thing is that it still feels like you.
Why Bath works so beautifully for an intimate wedding
Bath is one of those places where you don't need to manufacture a backdrop.
The Georgian architecture, quiet streets, stone buildings, hidden corners and beautiful natural light are already there.
You can walk around the city with the person you've just married and, within a few minutes, find something completely different.
A grand Georgian setting.
A quiet doorway.
A narrow street.
Beautiful Bath stone catching the afternoon light.
Or somewhere slightly away from the crowds where you can simply have a few minutes together.
That's one of the reasons I love photographing intimate weddings here.
You don't necessarily need a huge venue or elaborate styling to create photographs that feel special.
The city can become part of your story.
And when the wedding itself is small, the surroundings can become even more important.
A wedding doesn't have to be big to feel significant
I think there's a growing appreciation for weddings that are smaller, more personal and more intentional.
Perhaps it's just you two.
Perhaps ten of your closest people.
Maybe twenty or thirty guests who genuinely mean something to you.
There is something very special about that.
You get to spend more time with the people you've actually invited.
You can concentrate on each other.
And, importantly, your wedding day can feel like your wedding, rather than a production you have to manage.
That's what I loved about photographing Iulia and Kaz.
There was no need to manufacture moments.
I simply needed to be there, pay attention and recognise them when they happened.
“Creative, attentive and thoughtful”
After their wedding, Iulia and Kaz kindly left me a wonderful five-star review.
They spoke about the time I took during the planning calls to listen to their ideas, while also offering guidance and creative suggestions.
They also mentioned the communication throughout the editing process and how much they appreciated receiving a preview of their finished photographs while they waited for the full gallery.
And that means a lot to me.
Because photographing your wedding isn't just about what happens on the day.
It's about looking after you from the first conversation to the moment you open your finished gallery.
I want you to feel that you've made the right decision.
That you're in safe hands.
And that you can relax and enjoy your wedding knowing I'll take care of the photography.
If you're planning an intimate wedding in Bath
If you're newly engaged and you're thinking about getting married in Bath with a small group of people you love, I'd genuinely love to hear from you.
Maybe you're planning a small wedding at a Bath venue.
Maybe you're considering an elopement.
Perhaps you're coming to Bath from overseas and want something simple and incredibly personal.
Or maybe you've realised that you don't want the huge wedding you've always assumed you were supposed to have.
Whatever you've got planned, I'd rather hear your story than send you a generic price list.
Tell me what you're thinking.
Tell me about the two of you.
Tell me what you want your wedding to feel like.
We'll work out the rest together.
I'll photograph the big moments, of course.
But I'll also be looking for everything in between.
The looks.
The laughter.
The nervousness.
The hands.
The quiet moments.
The moments you didn't even realise were happening.
Because when you look back at your wedding photographs years from now, those might be the ones that mean the most.
Be yourselves. I'll do the rest.
About Steve
I'm Steve, a published wedding photographer based between Bath and Bristol, specialising in intimate weddings, elopements and proposals across Bath, Somerset and the South West.
I've been photographing weddings since 2012, with a background in portrait, editorial and fashion photography.
My approach is relaxed, natural and unobtrusive, with a little editorial influence when it feels right.
I don't want you spending your wedding day posing for me.
I want you to spend it being married.
And I'll be there to make sure you have photographs you'll want to keep forever.
Steve Lee Photoworks
Intimate weddings • Elopements • Surprise proposals
Bath • Somerset • South West England