frickley lake wedding photographer sussex - couple portrait in front of lake

Frickley Lake Wedding Photographer Sussex | Vicki & Sam

I’m Dale, a documentary wedding photographer based in East Sussex. Frickley Lake is one of those festival-style venues that gives a wedding a completely different energy — lakeside, open air, guests camping on site, and a day that doesn’t need to end when the venue closes. Vicki and Sam’s day here was exactly that.

No stiff poses, no awkward lineups. Frickley Lake attracts couples who want their wedding to feel like a proper celebration rather than a formal event — which is exactly when documentary photography works at its best. I stay close to what’s happening and let the day tell its own story.

Frickley Lake Wedding Photography

Frickley Lake is one of Sussex’s most unique wedding venues. A hidden gem surrounded by countryside, with a lake at its heart and plenty of space for festival-style celebrations. It’s the kind of place where you can pitch a tipi, fill it with music, and party until the stars come out.

That’s exactly what Vicki and Sam did for their Frickley Lake wedding. They wanted a day that felt like them: colourful, laid-back, and filled with the energy of a music festival. Friends and family gathered lakeside, drinks in hand, ready for a celebration that was more party than performance.

A group of people in colorful formal attire gather outdoors on grass, with tables, bunting, and trees in the background, capturing the essence of a Relaxed Festival wedding and offering inspiration for garden festival wedding ideas.

Festival-Style Vibes

The reception was set up under giant tipi tents, with long tables decorated in a festival theme. Think bunting, wildflowers, and splashes of colour everywhere. Food and drink flowed, the music started early, and guests embraced the spirit with glitter, dancing, and all.

A large group of people sits outdoors on wooden chairs, dressed in summer clothing, attentively watching a relaxed festival wedding. Green grass, trees, and white tents add inspiration for garden festival wedding ideas in the background at Frickley Lake near Battle

Lakeside Portraits

One of the highlights of a Frickley Lake wedding is the setting itself. With the water as a backdrop, we took some time to wander down to the lakeside for portraits. The light across the water was incredible, and it gave the couple a chance to pause together before diving back into the chaos of the party.

Vicki + Sam

“He captures the vibes perfectly.“

“Having Dale at our wedding was like having an old mate there. He’s friendly, relaxed and made us both feel calm — and we are not usually the most comfortable with having our pictures taken! He captures the small moments that can sometimes get missed, and delivers quickly too. We could not be more pleased.”