For this latest blog post I want to head back to June, a much warmer time than the current cold and grey November, and share the story of Gabriella and Matt’s stunning Hampton Manor wedding.
The day started with bridal preparations at Gabriella’s sister’s house where Ruth from Makeup by Ruth was busy with hair and makeup duties. It was a lively morning with lots of great music on the stereo, the odd bottle of champagne (or two) and a surprise appearance from Peter Crouch! As the ceremony time drew closer Gabs donned her stunning Sophia Tolli wedding dress which was from LaurAmour Bridal of Oldswinford whilst the bridesmaids put on their dresses which were from Oasis and Next.
Meanwhile Matt was waiting eagerly for the arrival of his beautiful bride at Saint Mary and Saint Bartholomew’s Church in Hampton-in-Arden. Matt and his groomsmen all looked incredibly dapper in their sharp three piece suits which were from The Bespoke Tailor. The ceremony, which was conducted by the Reverend Stuart Dimes, was a lovely affair with plenty of singing, stories, allegories and advice. We even had a Beatles singalong as the choir belted out All You Need is Love whilst the register was signed. With the legal formalities completed everyone then headed outside to shower the newly married couple with confetti. Matt also managed to get the back of his jacket showered with bird poo as a flying feathered friend deposited a good luck message of its own! With the confetti thrown and the offending avian article bravely removed by Matt’s mum, everyone then made the short walk through the churchyard to Hampton Manor.
Upon arrival the guests were treated to a drinks reception and an array of canapés before heading into the beautiful Elizabeth’s Court for a stunning wedding breakfast from the Michelin stared kitchen. It was then on to the speeches where Matt’s three best men delivered a stunning character assassination upon the groom which included tales of car misfortune, deportation and secret tattoos.
For the evening reception Elizabeth’s Court was transformed from a glorious dining room into a jumping nightclub. Gabriella and Matt started the proceedings by cutting their amazing wedding cake, courtesy of The Couture Cake Company, before launching into the first dance. Then DJ Wayne Tweedie opened the dancefloor up and kept everyone on their feet for the rest of the night. Here’s a few photos from Gabriella and Matt’s beautiful wedding day . . .
Before I sign off I want to say a massive thank you to Gabriella and Matt for having me along to photograph their wonderful wedding. It was as real pleasure to have been involved in such an amazing day which was filled with so much love, happiness and laughter. I also must write a few words about Gabriella’s dad, Bill, who sadly passed away only a few short weeks after the wedding. Being a wedding photographer puts you in a very privileged position as you’re let into people’s lives on, what for many, is one of the most important days of their lives. You get to know not only the bride and groom, but also their friends and families. I was terribly saddened to hear of Bill’s passing and although I only met him on the day of the wedding, he treated me like and old friend and was great fun to be around. I know that he was immensely proud of Gabriella and couldn’t have been happier for her on her wedding day to Matt.
If you’re looking for someone for your Hampton Manor wedding photography then please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the details on my contact page -> CONTACT