A pair of real head-Turners
December 04, 2019
Gemma & Mark’s Summer Upwaltham Wedding
In the late summer sunshine, Gemma and Mark tied the knot in the gorgeous surroundings of Upwaltham Barns, West Sussex. It is natural for any bride or groom to feel a little anxious about the photography aspect of their day, but with careful planning, silly jokes, and the support of friends and family, any initial wariness can ease and the camera nerves drop away to reveal true personalities. I was delighted to work with Gemma and Mark who overcame a little apprehension with a lot of fun and who eased into their day with effortless style, creativity and a sprinkling of humour!
The candy colour pastel theme was woven throughout all aspects of Gemma and Mark’s day ensuring the ceremony room, in particular, was looking absolutely incredibly beautiful from all perspectives. The space looked truly magical with delicate organza sashes dressing each chair-back and pew-ends adorned with pretty ribbon-tied posies. Scanning the room, I found that my eye was naturally drawn down the petal-lined aisle to a stunning signature floral arrangement which bedecked the altar table, setting the scene as to where the magical moments of the day were about to take place.
Arriving to photograph the guys, pre-ceremony, I have come to anticipate how the experience differs to the kind of morning the girls might be having! Humour, fun and silliness are usually a given, and this was definitely the case as Mark and his three best friends smartened themselves up for the big day in the cosy quarters of their wedding morning accommodation! The slightly distressed-looking travel cot featuring on top of the wardrobe remained purposefully in the capture as an amusing reminder to the hilarity of the scene. Whilst four guys in various states of undress wrestled with ironing boards and the putting on of shirts and socks in a room previously used by a toddler, it was clear that this space, was indeed, only big enough for that one small child. The group laughed at the cramped and crazy situation and from now on the travel cot will always serve as a reminder of such moments and to ‘Enjoy The Little Things’.
Dressed to the nines in suave grey suits by Hugo Morris of Brighton, the groomsmen’s look was finished with the baby blue ties and a hint of pastel pink in their buttonholes. Upwaltham offers such a wonderful variety of locations that throughout the day we could use different spaces depending on the natural light at that time. For this moment we chose a strong yet quirky pose against the industrial metallic silver tones of the barn’s corrugated wall, using contrasting angles against the horizontal lines in the backdrop. The slightly off-piste composition ensured an element of humour could represent this fun group of friends in a contemporary way which was unique to their personalities.
Yet another exquisite Upwaltham Barns location is Jasmine Cottage, the beautiful onsite bridal suite where we found the girls getting ready. The air was packed with excitement but Gemma had a real sense of calm about her as her hair and makeup choices were beautifully created by the incredibly talented Charlotte, from Polka Dot Hair & Makeup.
Meanwhile, Gemma’s glamorous team of bridesmaids along with her lovely mum were busily beautifying themselves ready to lead Gemma down the aisle. It was Mum that had the special task of helping Gemma into her stunning gown with its delicate lace back, stylish drop waist and classic boat neckline that worked seamlessly with her soft updo and natural makeup. In capturing moments as they happen I tend to look for the little bits of gold which can turn a very natural moment into the truly magical one. Having an awareness of the little details and subtly directing some moments as they develop enables me to showcase the bride to her absolute best. Neatening the skirt of the dress, noticing the intensity of the natural light and perhaps spotting a reflection in a mirror are all examples of where little gems can be used to highlight natural moments and make them shine.
Gemma and Mark’s chosen colour theme for the day was delicately featured throughout the bridal accessories - as seen reflected in the pastel wildflowers of Gemma’s hand-tied bouquet and the subtle rainbow sparkle of her gorgeous Jimmy Choo shoes. The soft yet vibrant pastel palette made for a relaxed feel but with a fun bubblegum flavoured twist, working beautifully in tone and texture with this late summer wedding.
Taking a short walk through the country courtyard with its rustic stone, natural wood textures and pops of floral colour, the glowing bride and her proud father headed towards the ceremony barn. At special times like this, I like to stay in the background as I capture these precious minutes, allowing for the wedding couple and bridal party to stay really present and fully enjoy each step of the day.
The couple’s ceremony was infused with both humour and affection, encouraged by the laughter and emotional reactions of friends and family. Supported by two witnesses, rings were exchanged for smiles, as the couple declared their heartfelt promises.
Having already got to know the couple at their engagement shoot, helpfully Gemma and Mark had already experienced me in action. So when we spent some time together before the wedding to chat through their photography wish-list, I felt we had already formed a mutual trust, one which is so crucial to enabling anyone being photographed to relax and trust in the outcomes. Due to this preparatory process, the couple were relaxed, making them the perfect models for their wedding day which ensured they were looking their best, whilst actually enjoying being photographed. Win-win!
Utilising a variety of locations around the venue, we chose for some images to be more stylised than others, yet I like to ensure that even structured shots can occur very seamlessly during the ‘in-between moments’ throughout the day. The wedding couple must enjoy the flow of the wedding and not feel overwhelmed or constantly interrupted by a photographic agenda, and it’s in this effort to go with the flow, that often we capture the naturally best moments.
Gemma’s mum really had pulled out all the stops for her daughter’s special day, and her stunning handmade bunting tied in perfectly with the couple’s consistent pastel theme. The beamed barn was a vision, beautifully dressed with the delicate pastels complimenting the stone and wood textures, and gorgeous green foliage even draped from the wrought-iron chandeliers.
When you’ve got a prop, use it! This cute and classic picture really shows Gemma and Mark’s fun personalities and shows off the beautifully dressed barn around them. Perfection!
The wedding favours offered a lovely personal touch, as Gemma’s mum had been busy creating handmade soap and sloe gin for all the guests; she must have had a very busy year! Exquisitely augmented with pastel ribbons, cute tags, and sprigs of fresh herbs and wildflowers, they dressed the tables beautifully. I also love how the greens in the stationary tied in with the draping foliage in the barn; Gemma and Mark didn’t miss a moment to tie their day together!
The happy couple shared a lovely relaxed moment as they headed back to the party after a hike up the legendary hill behind the barns. The warm, golden light cut across the scene, with the background punctuated by fluffy sheep as the couple ran back to join their guests, their energetic personalities radiating as they enjoyed this special time together.
Always up for a bit of silliness and with another perfect prop to hand, Gemma and Mark relaxed into posing in their oversized deckchair as the sun dipped below the barn’s rooftops. The summer season reflected their bright and dazzling individuality, cleverly marked out by the cheeky pop of pastel from Mark’s pink socks and Gemma’s glittering heels!
The lush green foliage heart over the entrance to the barn was peppered with small flowers and aptly represented the loving bond of friendship between these ladies. Further enhanced by the vintage candy-coloured bunting, the bridesmaids completed the theme in their pretty array of tea-length dresses.
With Gemma rocking an endearing flamingo pose, the new Mr and Mrs shared a charming embrace in the cool glow of the romantic fairy-lit archway. It certainly seemed to me that this moment was the perfect end to a perfect day.
Gemma and Mark, it was a real pleasure to have guided you through your wedding day photography and to have captured your awesome personalities on camera! Your chosen themes reflected the vast array of emotions that came with your amazing day and the result was absolutely stunning. You trusted the natural progression of things brilliantly enabling us to seize the special moments as they arose. And on that note, I would love to wish you both a lifetime of happiness as you look back and remember those gems.
Love Kelly xx
Kelly Hearn - A.B.I.P.P-A.M.P.A