A Rosy Glow of a Wedding Day
December 22, 2015
Lauren & Mat's September Upwaltham Barns Wedding
Lauren and Mat were blessed with the perfect late summer day for their wedding at the gorgeous family run venue of Upwaltham Barns in September this year. The soft sunshine flooding over the rolling hills of West Sussex could almost convince you that an English summer was always this romantic! It wasn't just the light though that made this wedding such a rosy one. Subtle themes which ran throughout the day, coupled with warm personal touches showed that Mat and Lauren had a vision - and they nailed it!
There was a vintage feel right from the start which began with Lauren's gorgeous dress. Floor length, with beaded embellishments and short ruffle sleeves it conjured a feel of the early swing era, complete with vibrant red lipstick. Her hair and makeup were expertly done by her very own bridesmaids who are 'in the trade!' In return she had provided her 'team' with personalised satin dressing gowns:
The lilac and cream flowers seen in her bridesmaids hair were echoed throughout the day with an ongoing theme of the most romantic of flowers, the English rose. Lauren's bouquet, beautifully created by Pollen4Hire, combined the roses with seasonal fresh mint, evoking a wonderful feeling of an English country garden.
Lauren's attention to detail can be appreciated in the next shot, the two bridesmaids have pure lilac bouquets and the Maid of Honour cream; these colours were reversed in their hair and Lauren has a mixture of both. You can really admire the beautiful sweep and detailing on Lauren's dress here too.
But let's not forget the gentlemen! I gathered the groom's party together outside, grinning in anticipation with the subtlety of their ties blending into the lilac theme perfectly.
After the I do's, the wedding party were invited to mingle in the sun while being entertained by the Kaleidoscope Jazz Band. All decked out in their whites, stripes and boaters they continued that classy vintage feel with their wonderful Dixieland Swing.
One of the reasons I love photographing at Upwaltham Barns is the versatility it offers. Using the barn doors themselves can give a clean, funky, modern edge, providing contrast for the couple without them having to walk too far!
The barns themselves are both rustic and romantic, enhancing the abundance of roses, birdcage table decorations and the added glam of Hollywood style lettering spelling out the word LOVE and the couple's initials. The wonderful mixture of floral charm and vintage glitz casts a gorgeous glow inside the barn here.
We were treated to some hilarious speeches; I absolutely love the action in this next shot, good cheer being had by all, and check out the wonderful suspended paper roses overhead.
Each table was named after a flower, and you can see in these little details that Mat and Lauren had put such thought into tying everything together on their big day. Each name card had a sprinkling of Hollywood glitz with its sparkly edging, but also held a sprig of English lavender as a nod to that country garden charm. The table names and menus had beautiful lilac borders, tying into the shape of the birdcages and the cake was a floral extravaganza! Again that lovely lettering was found next to the cake which was topped with miniature versions of the couple and their prize sausage dogs, Freda and Alvin.
I had the pleasure of meeting the two dogs on the couple's engagement shoot, which also gave Mat (not a big fan of being photographed!) a chance to relax in front of the camera. I knew of a lovely location favoured by local dog walkers and we managed to capture the beautiful woodland light while trying to stop the dogs from exploring too far!
The countryside around Upwaltham Barns never ceases to astound me, and on this occasion the sun had almost disappeared by the time we ventured up the hill behind. The dusky pink tones seemed meant for us as a wonderful outdoor alternative to the pastel hues of the day. Being September obviously means you have less daylight hours than the midsummer weddings, so the second shot here was actually done with recreated lighting. It is one of my favourites from this wedding, I think they both look stunning.
As we headed back inside to enjoy the evening's frivolities, those nostalgic Hollywood letters really came into their own behind the rat-pack style band as the couple took to the floor for their first dance.
The barns seem to transform again at night; I love the charming courtyard area, and Mat and Lauren had really made the most of it with heart paper lanterns and bunting, not to mention the elegant sweeping roses draped around the door of the East Barn where the ceremony was held.
As a final shot, I encouraged Lauren and Mat to walk through the candlelit archway beside the courtyard. Here the building stands peaceful and still against the blur of the newlyweds and creates that feeling of movement as they move forward into their future together.
Lauren and Mat, your wedding oozed charm, delicately blending vintage glamour with wistful floral beauty. You have been great fun to get to know, and I wish you all the happiness in the world in your new life as Mr and Mrs!
Love Kelly x
Kelly Hearn A.B.I.P.P - A.M.P.A