Summer Wedding in Gloucestershire | Hollie and Chris
I first met Hollie at a wedding open evening. She had driven down from Essex with her lovely mum that day to find and meet Gloucestershire wedding suppliers. Holly and I got along right away. I understood her wedding photography vision. They were looking for a relaxed wedding photographer. They wanted the pictures to feel natural. They didn’t want to spend all day being away from their guests to have pictures taken. With that Hollie booked me to be her wedding photographer. I am lucky to be a recommended wedding photographer Drakestone House. So Hollie knew she was in good hands for her wedding photographs.
During the planning process, Holly was very clear that she was expecting no rain on her wedding day. She wanted only clear blue skies and the sun beating down on her and her guests as they celebrate this perfect day. Unfortunately, the weather did not agree with Holly’s plan.
I can guarantee you the one thing as a Gloucestershire wedding photographer; you cannot control the weather. You can buy the most beautiful wedding cakes. Pick the wedding dress shop for your perfect dress. Choose the best wedding band for your evening entertainment. And create the lushest wedding invitations. But you cannot tell the weather what it is going to do on your wedding day.
The morning I arrived at Drakestone house, the rain was pouring down. Rob Taylor, a Gloucestershire wedding videographer was in the car park unpacking his gear. As we both stood under the boots of our cars, we couldn’t help but laugh and feel sorry for poor Hollie and Chris. We knew that the weather was doing exactly the opposite of what they wanted.
Part of the reason for the issue with the weather was that Hollie and Chris were having an outdoor wedding ceremony. Most Gloucestershire wedding venues will have indoor space for a wedding ceremony. But Drakestone House can only offer small intimate wedding ceremonies indoors. So all large outdoor wedding ceremonies must take place in the garden. With time allowed, Hollie arranged to have a small marquee set up on the top terrace for her guests in case it rained. The weather had been looking ominous all week leading up to the wedding day. Better to be dry than soggy!
Wedding Preparation
I arrived upstairs in the bridal suite and the spirits were high. Hollie’s beautiful Paul Zeni wedding gown was hanging ready and waiting. Drake was blasting through the speakers as Hollie’s bridesmaids danced around her. Bringing the spirits high on this great day.
Lips and Locks were working her magic on Hollie and her bridesmaids.
As the time came closer for the final preparations I went over to see Chris. Because Hollie and Chris have a little boy, they decided to get ready in the same house together. Chris was down at the other end of the house. As I went into the bedroom, Chris’s friend was passing him a card from his soon-to-be wife. I always feel that these are important moments to document and photograph. But I don’t like getting in the way of the moment. So positioned out of the way, I photographed Chris opening his card and reading Hollie’s words. It ended with a small kiss to the card and a chuckle as he said “ Love you” to the handwriting of his beloved.
To say that a bride doesn’t have to be nervous on her wedding day is wrong. I understand that nerves start to kick in as you begin to put on your wedding dress. It doesn’t matter which wedding I photograph, from small intimate ceremonies to large weddings that happen over several days; a bride always shows a few nerves before she walks down the aisle.
Hollie’s bridesmaids went into action. They began to reassure her that it was all ok and that soon she would be meeting Chris. Deep breaths, a few flutters of the hands to relax and a large glass of champagne soon saw Hollie putting on her wedding dress and heading downstairs breathing and smiling.
Hollie finished her interview with the registrar and had a cheeky peek around the corner of the door to see her guests waiting for her to appear. The guests were sitting under the marquee with the rain pounding down above them. Chris waited under the beautiful wisteria for his bride. It was time.
Her bridesmaids began their walk down the aisle. Hollie took hold of her dad’s arm. With an umbrella overhead, she came out looking glorious to meet her new future husband.
You wouldn’t believe it, but no more did they finish saying their vows and introduced as Mr and Mrs, when the clouds moved over and let the sunshine through.
The Sun came shining through. The guests made their way onto the second terrace. The fantastic catering company, Hey Pesto, known in the Cotswolds for their brilliant food and service were ready for the guests with canapés and drinks. Champagne poured and ready to go. The free bar from Hollie and Chris‘s to their important guests was ready and waiting.
The Marquee Design
Drakestone House offers a marquee on their beautiful gardens for couples to design to their own wedding vision around. Hollie and Chris worked with the incredible florist Jules from Wild and Co to create a large hanging hoop, laden with wispy greens and blush roses draping and hanging from this large floral displays. Centrepieces were down all the tables carrying on the floral theme.
Originally, Hollie was going to have roundtables. But decided to change for long rustic trestle tables for her wedding breakfast. With the help of Sam, owner of The Country Marquee Company, Sam had sourced the rustic tables and it created a stunning finish to the marquee.
Hollie decided to move away from the traditional wedding cake. She commissioned Katherine of Cherish Cakes to design a tall tower of decadent chocolate brownies laid on a rustic wooden log.
Guests found their way to their seat based on the names of famous horses that were important to Hollie and Chris’ families who are an integral part of the horse racing industry. Spending a lot of time in Cheltenham because of the horses, getting married close to Cheltenham was an important part of their wedding day.
As guests came into the wedding breakfast and found their places, Chris was given a good beating by his best man. For all the good, bad and ugly days of growing up, to becoming a wonderful father and now a new husband to his new beautiful wife.
A three-course meal was laid by Hey Pesto. It included succulent chicken breast and Mediterranean vegetable parcels. A variety of mini desserts including cheesecakes were indulging for the wedding guests. The sun was in full swing and the guest’s found themselves outside before the evening dancing was to begin or start.
Evening Entertainment
Hollie and Chris had various entertainment for their guests during the afternoon and evening. A hanging a selfie booth frame from the trees. Decorated in flowers that matched the rest of their day.
A fire pit was lit and the marshmallows out for guests to roast with a good beer as the music began to play.
What can I say? It doesn’t matter if I photograph a wedding at the same venue every weekend. I am guaranteed that the wedding venue will have a different vision, a different group of people, and a different story to tell. There are no two weddings that I will ever photograph that are the same. That is part of the joy of being a Gloucestershire wedding photographer. Same job, but a different story to tell every time.
Hollie and Chris, I wish you a wonderful life ahead. May it be full of joy and happiness and many more children to come.
Are you planning your own wedding in Gloucestershire, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Bath, or further afield in the UK? Please get in touch for more information on how I can work with you to be your wedding photographer. I offer a variety of wedding packages and prices that can cater to all types of weddings. To view some of the wedding venues in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire that I work at regularly please click here.
Contact me to be your wedding photographer. I look forward to hearing from you and I wish you all the best in planning your wedding.
Wedding suppliers:
Venue – Drakestone House
Wedding planners – Rebecca Price and Holly Evans
Florist – Wild and co
Videographer – Rob Taylor
Caterer – Hey Pesto
Cake designer – Cherish Cakes
Wedding dress – Paul Zeni
DJ – Cotswold Disco
Why not be inspired by a video from this beautiful day!
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