Wedding breakfast at Tiffany's
November 21, 2019
Matt & Cara's Upwaltham Barns Summer Wedding
Cara and Matt chose the stunning Upwaltham Barns as the venue for their elegant and tasteful country wedding. Yielding some truly exquisite moments tied in with strong themes, this day was blessed with consistently beautiful light throughout which complemented these gorgeous surroundings. This pair’s sense of fun was always present as they took the day in their stride!
One thing I really love when photographing this venue is the variety of locations and textures it offers in one setting; from the stone, timber and flint barns and beautiful rolling grasses, to the industrial greens of the surrounding outbuildings.
While the girls were getting ready I popped out to meet the guys who were already suited and booted and ready for their close ups! Just one look and I caught a snippet of what might be to come. With a pop of Tiffany Blue from their ties and pocket squares I could tell this was going to be a very classy affair. We had planned to capture the guys utilising the dark green of the metal barn with its vertical lines and dark shadows to create an industrial and traditionally masculine feel. Seeing their choice of tailoring I knew Matt’s light grey waistcoat would complement this colour palette and stand out from these dark shades.
As I got a sneak preview of the couple’s wedding rings, the reason behind their colour scheme became clear as that pop of blue appeared again - you guessed it, someone likes Tiffany & Co.!
I spotted the second theme of the day coming through as the girls were getting ready in the gorgeous onsite bridal suite, Jasmine Cottage, when they swapped their champagne glasses (briefly) for biscuits! Having met Cara and Matt before, I knew all about their shared love of biscuits and to see this detail laced throughout their day was a real treat. And these were not just biscuits…they were M&S biscuits! 'Mummy C' (Cara’s mum), was also integral to the preparations for their day and to see her proudly peeping out from behind her daughter who was enjoying a well-deserved biscuit was such a fun and heartwarming sight.
Once the lid had been put on the biscuits and the girls had all had their sugar fix they were primed and ready to don their incredible gowns. Showcasing the trademark colour of the day, the attire perfectly suited their gorgeously classy hair and makeup created by the lovely, and very talented, Gemma Souter. It was great to see a familiar face in bridesmaid Hannah, whose wedding I photographed a few years ago. It's always lovely to be recommended within a friendship circle, giving a comforting feeling of familiarity and ease when capturing their special days.
Photographing the bride's dress is always a really beautiful moment for me. The symmetry of Cara's little nieces as flower girls placed on either side of the gown brings in a second element and a personal touch for Cara and Matt. The varied textures of the wooden door, beamed ceiling and the different softly backlit fabrics creates an emotive feeling, making for a truly magical moment.
Woven beautifully throughout the wedding, Matt and Cara’s trademark colour appeared in hints during the course of the day; from font colours on signage, place settings, favours and the table plan, to the mix of colours in the vintage bunting that bedecked the gorgeous barn. The attention to detail and continuity carried throughout the whole day and gave a real feeling of cohesion and class, creating a stunning setting for the couple’s guests to mingle after a beautiful, heartfelt ceremony.
It’s often the little personal touches that really make a wedding so special. This pair’s love of biscuits was celebrated on each table (named after particular favourites of Matt and Cara). So passionate about their biscuit theme, the couple even had artwork of each biscuit specially commissioned which looked fantastic next to the jars of those delicious favourites!
It was a real joy to see the sparkling personalities of these two shine through in their cheeky love of biscuits; I absolutely loved the table plan, with the couple bagging their favourite treat - the M&S chocolate ring, as the name for the top table. A fantastic surprise as well for any peckish guests, who could nibble on a biscuit as the day progressed! These delightful centrepieces sat delightfully next to vases of rustic flowers of dusky pinks and purples reflected in the bunting which helped tie together the delicate, summery feel of the whole day.
A perfect opportunity for guests to delve into their biscuit jar favours was the speeches, with guests enjoying the sweet snacks during the fun and emotion of this couple’s addresses, always a real highlight of the day.
In the joy of a summer wedding people tend to embrace the outdoors and here Cara and Matt took the opportunity to cut their elegant three-tiered cake in the courtyard, just outside the room where earlier they tied the knot. The flowing arches of delicate flowers by Spriggs Florist of Petworth charmingly framed this gorgeous couple. Cara and Matt, with the help of Mummy C(!), had made sure every area of the barns tied in with their classy and tasteful theme. We loved the cake topper, a nod to their post-skydiving proposal which added personality into the day in their own inimitable way.
No summer wedding at Upwaltham Barns would be complete without a hike up “the hill” to capture the magnificent surrounding views of the South Downs, and to reflect upon the day. We took the bridal party with us for a little fun, so we could really capture their personalities and the joy of this wedding against the striking background, before leaving Cara and Matt alone to enjoy this incredible view.
An opportunity to showcase Cara’s floor-length veil added a beautiful element, catching the light evening breeze as the sun descended behind the hill. Sun rays bursting across the beautiful Sussex countryside gave a dash of magic to this romantic moment and as the day was drawing to a close and the party beginning to take shape, we headed back down the hill to enjoy the rest of this incredible day.
Mr and Mrs Gregory, your wedding was a real joy and I was so pleased to be a part of it. Your strong themes tastefully woven throughout the day suited both your personalities to a (Rich) tea, and the relaxed vintage feel gave your guests a chance to Hobnob in a really stunning setting. Your smiling faces throughout the day showed you really were the cats that got the (Custard) cream. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness as you treasure the memories and reflect on your day, cup of tea in hand, and always with a customary biscuit…!
Love Kelly x
Kelly Hearn A.M.P.A.- A.B.I.P.P.