LOVE...COLOUR...ACTION!
December 13, 2016
Clare & Matt's Summer Southend Barns Wedding
I was delighted to photograph 'colourful' Clare and 'Marvel'lous Matt on possibly the most vibrant of wedding days I have experienced this year! Just like the pair themselves, this wedding was bright, fun and full of life and cheer and I doubt there was a single guest who didn't have a big beaming smile on their face throughout the day reflecting the joy they had for this vivacious couple.
I soon learnt that Clare's love of bright colour had always been something that she had wanted to boldly stamp over her wedding day, and that she did - very successfully. When I went to photograph her groom Matt and his ushers getting ready at his Best Man's home on the wedding morning, I discovered that each groomsman was to wear a tie (and socks!) individually selected to match with the dress colour of a bridesmaid. I was loving the colour coordination efforts that had been gone to making sure these boys fitted in perfectly with the theme of Clare's dreams!
Meanwhile, Matt's passion that was to feature on his big day involved his love of Marvel comic superheroes which became apparent when the groomsmen opened their gifts of superhero action figure dolls! A lot of laughter ensued as everyone realised that each figure had the actual groomsmen's own heads! Assuming each hero was chosen to accurately match the personality and strengths of each groomsman, I'm sure Matt was probably feeling pretty lucky to have Hulk, Spiderman, Thor and Captain America in his party!
Linking the gifts further, the boys had even been given matching hero cufflinks to wear representing their character!
With Matt and Clare both into their films, it was clear that each of them enjoyed having input into the day and this was a really great introduction of the movie theme that they had tastefully selected to work alongside the bright colour palettes that were to feature throughout through the wedding outfits and decor.
Over at the couple's home in Chichester, Clare was getting ready with her bridesmaids with make-up and hair being perfected by family members. We talked of Clare's love for bright colour and she explained that she really loved Gerberas and had always wanted them as her wedding flowers. These blooms were ideal in enabling Clare to tastefully incorporate her favourite colour yellow into her bouquet, alongside the bright pinks, oranges and reds she had selected as her other accent colours throughout the day. Designed by Manor Nursery Flowers, her bouquet was carefully handcrafted to exactly match the shades of the groomsmen's ties and socks, as well as the bridesmaid's dresses. How the colours coordinated together so accurately was astonishing! Going all out, she'd even asked guests to come dressed in really bright colours, (I love a dress code so of course enjoyed showing up in the brightest dress I owned)!
Dressed in a beautiful lace-covered gown with capped sleeves and subtle sweetheart neckline, Clare looked radiant. As a keepsake detail, Clare had had the wedding date embroidered into the inside of the dress in all of her key colours, a lovely idea especially if kept to treasure, or even if to be passed onto someone special.
At the couple's choice of historic yet contemporary wedding venue of Southend Barns in Chichester, the ushers and bridesmaids gathered for some pictures in front of the bridal car supplied by Kevin from 'Hitch A Lift'. As if straight out of a movie the authentic bright yellow New York cab was an ideal choice of car, and better still because being Clare's favourite colour, it tied in perfectly with the wedding party outfits!
After a few photos, away went the cab to collect the bride who arrived back shortly with her very proud Dad in tow, ready to give her away. During the ceremony Clare's Dad even gave Matt a little personal speech asking him to look after her well, it was very touching (as well as being the kind of talk I imagine many fathers of brides would like to have with their future son-in-laws)!
As a little gift to the newly weds, Clare's Father had also arranged a little surprise for after the service and as the guests ventured out onto the lawns, a pile of white wicker baskets sat waiting for them. Upon opening the lid of the top basket suddenly out flew some beautiful white doves! These poignant and graceful birds are obviously symbolic of love but I learnt that they also choose their mate for life which is why they are so fitting to a wedding. Their release in flying away together represents how the couple are starting their new journey of married life together, a lovely gesture I thought from Clare's Dad.
The rest of the guests agreed that these two were worth celebrating as they all took the lawn for one big group toast!
With the lush green trees framing and shading them from the bright warm sun that had suddenly burst out in a very timely manner for the group photographs, the bridesmaids and Clare looked elegant as they worked their bright summery colours together in contrast with Clare's white gown.
Having paired the groomsmen and bridesmaids by colour, and now set in front of a pair of trees, the new Mr and Mrs Wilson were certainly the perfect pair that day. With Matt's blue suit next to the contrast of Clare's ivory dress, her striking bouquet of colour visibly popped out creating a rainbow-like feast for the eyes, which, I'm sure was Clare's hope for the colour scheme that day!
Contrary to tradition, the speeches took place outside and also before the reception meal which worked really well, getting any nerves out of the way before sitting down to a relaxing meal. Guests had their bubbly in hand and fitting in with the wedding's movie concept, there was also a popcorn cart for the peckish. It was a lovely informal way to approach doing the speeches and the weather leant itself perfectly to being outdoors and making the most of the last sunny day in August.
Inside the barn were touches of colour in the tall table arrangements and clever hints at the movie theme dotted around the room which were really fun elements all tying together the couple's individual passions.
The table plan set out on a theatre styled board detailed each table by movie and the tables were identified using over-head hanging clapper boards - traditional chalk boards with the film (table name) chalked on. These looked really effective hanging from the barn's rustic wooden beams above.
On each table individual name places were all on colour-themed film strip cards according to Clare's bright colours, sat in sweet mini clapperboard holders. These clearly mapped out the movie themed seating for guests to navigate with ease!
Completing the theme perfectly was one of the most unusual wedding cakes I've seen this year creatively handcrafted by Marilyn of 'Marilyn's Cakes' based in Chichester. It was a cake that captured Clare's love of colour (obviously matching her specific colour choices seen throughout the wedding) and even featured gerberas as well as the addition of love hearts dancing out of the top. In front of the cake stood two golden oscars (I assume representing the new Mr and Mrs Wilson!), and these were fantastic finishes touches!
What a bright and happy day of celebration and fun and so lovely to be part of such a cheerful atmosphere! Clare and Matt, thank you for allowing me to be Director of Photography on your debut! You certainly deserve an Academy Award for the most colourful fun themed wedding! Wishing you every success in your future story together and hoping you will be the bright colour in each other's lives whilst continuing to be each other's heroes. Congratulations!
Love Kelly x
Kelly Hearn A.B.I.P.P - A.M.P.A