Jollity, Hilarity and Star Wars Socks
February 18, 2016
Olly & Abby's Wintery Upwaltham Wedding
Olly and Abby chose Upwaltham Barns in West Sussex for their magical wintery wedding on 4th December last year. They were blessed with the perfect winter day; cold, crisp and clear, and though the weather was chilly, the day itself was filled with heartfelt emotion and warmth. Right from the outset I knew this couple were going to be great fun to photograph. We always had a good giggle together, and from initial meetings to the engagement shoot they would always arrive with their hilarious dog in tow, a dog they fully acknowledged looked a lot more closely related to a fox!
I started out at Flintstone Cottages in Aldingbourne with Olly and his two Best Men. I managed to lure the gents out into the gardens for this atmospheric shot showing off the sweeping winter light. I love how the long shadows emphasise the rather 'catalogue model' or even 'James-Bond-esque' poses the guys are strutting!
Flintstone Cottages are ideal for large parties, the individual apartments providing some independence for groups while remaining cosily centred around a beautiful outside courtyard area. They were perfect for Olly as they could house not only his Best Men but his entire family, so right from the onset there was a wonderful close-knit, jovial atmosphere to the preparations. The Mother-of-the-Groom had been getting up to mischief, and had dug out some old family photographs to embarrass Olly with. I thought I'd join in the fun and managed to surprise them with this cheeky shot of the guys dressing, completely oblivious to the gem of a family snap I had sneaked into the foreground!
The lads had left their ties at Upwaltham Barns to don with the rest of the Groomsmen, and we wanted to capture this casual, relaxed look as they were getting ready. I used the crisp light streaming through the windows to add texture to this funky, fun shot, showcasing their colour scheme with the greys, silvers, navy blues and creams picked up in their attire.
The Bridal party were equally as jolly as I arrived at Upwaltham Barns to check up on the proceedings. The couple had wanted to steer away from anything too Christmassy, instead going for a magical 'frosty' feel, all silvers and blues, and this was picked up beautifully in the stunning Bouquet by Rose Cottage Flowers. I absolutely love this combination of berries, velvetty silver leaves and those beautiful white anemones with their delicate navy blue and yellow innards.
The girls were full of merriment inside Jasmine Cottage; I happened upon Olly's sister perched on the sink, make-up brush in hand, and Abby herself grinning with joy as the last of her make-up was applied. The gorgeous floral arrangements were mirrored in the girls hair, and the mischievous bridesmaids were caught in the act of peeking out the window, trying to spy on the boys arriving below.
We had some fun trying to find some alternative locations to photograph the 'details' Abby had chosen. I particularly like this shot of her perfume which we rested on top of the large ornate mirror in the bedroom. I had to precariously perch on my stepladder to capture the texture of the wall behind!
This next image positively oozes warmth and happiness; all the ladies together showing off the stunning V at the back of Abby's beautiful lacy dress. The soft lighting really compliments the room and adds to the almost 'old-fashioned' feel in this shot as her bridesmaids gaze up at her, beaming radiantly in the centre.
The ceremony was held in the East Barn, its simple rustic elegance tying in beautifully with the added touches of charming lanterns lining the aisle and wintery posies of flowers adorning the chairs. The gorgeous Christmas tree in the background with its twinkling white lights provide the only subtle hint that Christmas is around the corner, as well each guest being instructed to bring a Christmas tree decoration as a gift; what a nice touch!
I captured this vulnerable close up of Abby and her father's hands; his clasped in front and hers gripping his arm as they took that once in a lifetime walk down the aisle, and the following shot shows the gorgeous view and the light streaming through that huge window as the ceremony begins to unfold.
The atmosphere in the ceremony was magical, continuing the lovely, warm vibe I had found with Olly and Abby in each element of the preparations. There was such a lot of genuine laughter (and tears!) at this wedding I found it hard to chose from all the wonderful candid moments I captured. Here you can see hilarity ensuing when the ring got presented, and that wonderful moment after the 'I do's' when the congregation get to give a whoop and a cheer in celebration!
The joyous party then braved the winter chills, spilling out into the courtyard area for champagne and canapés accompanied by some tasteful violin playing in the background. Again, the laughter flowed and here are just four images out of so many I could choose from to show smiles, laughter and tears as old friends catch up and celebrate the sentiment of the day.
Even the more 'formal' group shots were filled with fun - we dodged a rain shower and grabbed these two shots outside. The first shows the very relaxed Bridal Party as they stroll together towards the camera. I really like how the natural elements of this image tie in perfectly with the colour scheme of the day; the bare tree in the background reminding us of the twigs and berries in the bouquet; the silver of the roof and even the grey of the sky seems to have been 'made to order' for Olly and Abby, blending perfectly with the silver suits and navy dresses and giving us all that chilly wintery flavour. The second image shows all the guests really rising to the occasion of the art of face-pulling! Great fun, and a great crowd.
An important reason for Abby and Olly in booking both myself and Upwaltham Barns was the shots they had seen of couples on the hill behind the venue. It really is a magical view, and we can see here how Olly and Abby personalised their 'countryside moment.' Both in their wellies and Abby taking the chill off with a soft woolly throw, it is a relaxed, carefree yet joyously romantic shot. You can just imagine the fun these two can bring to any occasion as they get truly into the spirit of their winter wedding.
Inside the South Barn I captured the newlyweds enjoying a bit of peace before the evening began to get under way. Still echoing the relaxed feel of the day I had them lean on one of the gorgeous beams while the candles twinkled behind.
You can also make out the subtle travel theme the couple chose - each table being named after a place they had experienced together and on the backs of the chairs were luggage tag name labels to direct each guest to the appropriate seat. The wintery vibe was acknowledged again with favours being little hot chocolate cones to enjoy on a snugly evening in, and the cake was a majestic display of cheeses on a chunky log, festooned with pine cones and grapes. Yum!
Speaking of yum, it is time to pay homage to the delicious cuisine we were treated to by Nibbles 2 Nosh. Run by sisters of the Kearsey family who look after Upwaltham they are fully invested in the life of the barns. Claire and Simon, an amazing mother and son team don their chef's hats and the end result is just fabulous. Being on my feet all day I must admit I was ready to sample the gorgeous fare, and I was not disappointed. Farmhouse pate served with homemade chutney followed by a comforting chicken and leek pie with perfectly crisp puff pastry and for pud - not one but TWO warm gooey chocolate brownies with a delicious scoop of locally made 'Judes' ice-cream. Wow!
The fun continued well into the evening when Abby and Olly wanted to include their close friends in some photographic frivolity! The girls swooped Abby off her feet for this lovely atmospheric shot framed by the wooden walls of the barn. The next image shows off the fashion statement of choice for the men - star wars socks! One of my favourite things about sharing an entire wedding day with people is the rapport you build up with the guests as they begin to relax and put their trust in you. This can create an amazing atmosphere, and of course some magical, natural photography. The 'sock shot' is a perfect example of this - every single one of the gentlemen fully embraced the 'spirit of silliness' I asked them for; can you spot the two that really went the extra mile; rolling their trousers not just to ankle height, but right up to their knees!! Hilarious and wonderful when a group of people share and trust my (sometimes a little crazy) visions!!
The final image is a calming contrast to all the fun and frolics we were treated to throughout the day. The warm glow of the courtyard picks up the couple's gentle, relaxed embrace and their travel theme is echoed by that lovely signpost - the world is their oyster now as they walk together in whatever direction life takes them in.
Olly and Abby you were an absolute joy to work with. May your life together be filled with as much warmth and as many giggles as your wedding day was.
Love Kelly x
Kelly Hearn A.B.I.P.P - A.M.P.A