Kirsty and Ryan had previously told me that they wanted a rustic and relaxed feel for their wedding day, which is why they chose this gorgeous venue at Old Luxters Barn. Located in Oxfordshire, in the heart of the English countryside, this venue is part of the Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery. I had been on a visit back in January when I was charmed by this stunning location covered in a light dusting of snow and the aroma of hops fermenting. So I couldn’t wait to be back for Kirsty and Ryan’s big day.
It seems that Kirsty and Ryan are the masters of clever wedding planning! I arrived early to find the marquee set up with some lovely touches for the day ahead. This Included an Instagram Frame Photo Booth, a scrumptious naked cake, personalised ‘message in a bottle’, sweeties galore, to name but a few. The clever wedding planning extended beyond the marquee. The barn looked lovely. Everyone was busy putting table settings and room decorations together.
Taking advantage of the lovely surroundings at Old Luxters Barn I took Ryan and his Best Man, Jamie, for a few photos in the woods before the bridal party arrived. Kirsty looked amazing in her lace gown. The colourful bridal party wore flowers in their hair and carried handmade bouquets. When asked about her dress and the flowers Kirsty let me in on her secret. Just goes to show girls what you can put together to make your day special without spending a fortune.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Kirsty and Ryan beamed from ear to ear throughout. Following the “I do’s”, I whisked the new Mr and Mrs Kent away from their guests for some photos in the vineyard and then in the woods. This is always my favourite part of the day. A chance to get those perfect shots with the newlyweds. Working with these two was a dream… not only did they look terrific they knew exactly what they wanted from their photos.
Finally, there was just enough time for a few family pics, some documentary style shots of the drinks reception in the marquee and a group photo before leaving this couple to their guests and an evening of celebration.
As I was only staying a few hours I knew the time would fly. I wanted to make sure I had plenty or photographs that captured the flavour of Kirsty and Ryan’s wedding day at Old Luxters Barn.
Here are a few of my favourites ….
If you are planning a wedding at Old Luxters Barn wedding, please get in touch as we would love to photograph your day.
Amy and Brad fell in love with Manor by the Lake as their wedding venue the moment they first saw it.
Since moving to Gloucestershire a couple of years ago there have been many incredible new venues to visit in the area. When Amy and Brad first contacted me to photograph their wedding day at Manor by the Lake I was delighted to have the opportunity to explore this charming venue.
This little gem of a venue is set back out of view in the heart of Cheltenham. The grandiose manor is available for private hire. Manor by the Lake offers an incredibly helpful and friendly wedding team, beautifully maintained gardens, stunning oak panelling and a bridal suite to die for. A perfect backdrop for any wedding day. My Bristol couple fell in love with this venue the moment they saw it.
It was a lovely cold and bright December morning when I arrived at the venue. I had plenty of time for some venue shots before meeting up with the Bridal party. The gardens were looking splendid in the winter sunshine and the events team were busy putting final touches to the tables in the Ballroom. With the first few shots under my belt I wandered up to the beautiful bridal suite to meet up with Amy and the girls.
Upstairs there was plenty of chatter and laughter as the bridal party crimped and preened. I love all the fun and chaos that goes with this part of the day. A chance for photos of ‘The Dress’ and all the little details that make this day so special. And what a dress it was! The most incredible bridal gown by Ian Stuart … WOW! When I first met Amy she had taken great delight in describing her ‘vintage’ vision for her wedding day. Every little detail was perfect. A net veil and stunning bouquet for the Bride. Beautiful 1920’s hair ornaments and fur wraps for the bridesmaids. Not forgetting plenty of sparkles for Vaila, the most adorable flower girl.
The boys were not quite so organised downstairs when I met up with them in the Rock Bar. There was very little time for photos before Bradley was whisked away to meet the registrar. By this time the venue was filling up with Amy and Brad’s family and friends as they arrived for the ceremony.
As always, the day flew by. Amy and Brad said their “I do’s” in front of all their guests. The couple were showered in confetti by a cheering crowd following the ceremony. Amy and Brad posed for some fabulous bride and groom shots in the gardens. A chilly Bride and Groom then had a few more photos with family and friends before heading in to the warm Ballroom to continue their celebrations. Later Amy and Brad kicked off the evening party with some serious moves on the dance floor.
Here is the story of Amy and Brad’s wedding day….
A huge congratulations to the happy couple! Thank you both for inviting me to share your day….
Are you planning a wedding at Manor by the Lake, Cheltenham? if so, please get in touch as we would love to hear about your day and offer you a photography plan.
Coral and Scott chose the fabulous Berystede Hotel in Ascot to tie the knot.
There is something magical about a wedding close to Christmas. I had been looking forward to Coral and Scott’s big day for many months. I was excited about the prospect of fur wraps and twinkling trees.
It had been a little while since I photographed a wedding at the Berystede, this beautiful venue never disappoints.
That day ran perfectly from Bridal preparations through to the couples first dance. There was plenty of time for photographs with the bridal party putting their finishing touches together and some shots of the boys before Coral stepped in to her stunning lace gown. A very proud Grandfather was on hand to walk this Bride down the aisle to her Groom.
The weather was ideal for photographs outside following the ceremony. All the guest joined in for a confetti shot with the Bride and Groom. Then a few more photos in the garden with the Coral and Scott before the light disappeared.
Guests chatted and champagne flowed throughout the day and a great time was had by all.
Congratulations Coral and Scott!
Thank you for a lovely day and for letting me share it with you xx
A Vintage Wedding in Yorkshire for Clare and Simon
Last weekend I had the very great pleasure of travelling to Yorkshire with good friends for a very special wedding. Clare and I go back many years and have had some crazy and memorable adventures. I was not going to miss this Northern Lass getting hitched!
Clare and Simon had tied the knot in Antigua, lucky devils, a few weeks before. In order to celebrate with family and friends they put up a marquee in a field on the family farm. But this was no ordinary wedding! This was creativity at its best. Newspaper bunting, straw bales for seats, a horse box for a bar, a rather strange Master of Ceremonies, a cast of actors and the most enormous hog. The invitation had said vintage dress, anything from the 1900’s to the 1950’s. What a treat! I have never seen so many flat caps, it was like stepping into the Hovis ad.
The Bride and Groom arrived suitably attired. Absolutely loved the finishing touch of the goggles! They were joined by gorgeous Tess who made a wonderful ‘flapper’ bridesmaid. Pretty soon the ‘spoof’ ceremony was underway. Clare and Simon made promises and exchanged rings. Clare’s sister said a few words. Actually she probably said a few too many words as Clare’s Mum now knows what happened to her missing pair of shoes… then it was time to party.
We celebrated into the wee small hours.
What a lovely wedding celebration!
Many, many congratulations Mr and Mrs S, I wish you both a lifetime of love, laughter and happiness.
In keeping with the vintage theme here are a few ‘nostalgic’ memories from your Yorkshire wedding day.
We are available for weddings and events all over the UK.
Contact sarah@sarahcookphotography for more information.
Two wedding photographers or one? This is always a dilemma for couples booking an all day wedding photography package.
In all my years as a wedding photographer I have seen the wedding industry and imaging technology change beyond belief. However, I still find it impossible to be in two places at one time!
I spend considerable time planning each wedding with my bride and groom and yet it is often still tricky to capture every moment of their special day. On occasions where everything is in one venue it is possible to document most of the details of the day. However, as soon as there is more than one venue in the mix logistics become difficult.
One of the major problems is traffic. Only last week I was photographing Zoe and Simon’s wedding at the recently refurbished Frensham Pond Hotel. Thank goodness for my second photographer! Myself and the bridal party were stuck in holiday gridlock somewhere in Hampshire. We arrived at the venue forty five minutes late for the ceremony. Luckily my second photographer was able to keep shooting and reassure the registrars that we were on our way.
Another advantage of two wedding photographers rather than one at the start of the day is being able to capture the bride and the groom’s morning preparations. This is a great time for some fun photos with all the Groomsmen and a chance to see both sides of the wedding day story. After all the Groom is just as important as the Bride.
What I especially love about weddings with two photographers is the range of shots captured. It allows for all the detail shots, candid guest shots, a selection of shots from quirky angles and a different perspective of the day. Earlier this month I especially enjoyed working as a second shooter at Sophie and Chris’s wedding at Hilles House. A different perspective on the day for me. Allowing me to capture the Groom and his party meeting up in the pub for a pint. As well as photos from the back of the church, guests chatting amongst themselves and some quirky group photos.
At the end of the day the decision for one or two wedding photographers lies firmly with the client and what their budget will allow.
