Enjoy looking through my latest Kent Wedding photography blog
Chiddingstone castle wedding photographer
Chiddingstone castle in Kent
Chiddingstone castle wedding photography
Catherine and Nathaniel’s wedding at chiddingstone castle in Kent took place in September 2021 and was spectacular. We had the most gorgeous light come through towards the end of the day and the circle in the orangery was probably one of the most epic photos I have ever taken. Big Kudos to the couple who lived and breathed their vegan philosophy throughout and I loved how integrated their dogs were in the day, from couple photos/group photos and even their own doggy wedding cake
The preparation
Nathaniel chose to get ready at his house - prime responsibility was to get the dogs ready as well! Whilst catherine was able to use the preparation room upstairs in the castle.
That first reveal
I always ask my brides if they want a first reveal to Mum/Dad/Sister - someone close to them - It often creates a wonderful moment and as a dad to two small young girls I totally get the importance of just making sure your loved ones get prioritised for this moment - it is once in a lifetime.
St marys church, Westerham: ceremony
The ceremony took place in westerham (this is not the church that yo can walk to from Chiddingstone - just contact me if you would like to see photos from there). It is a gorgeous church, lots of light and very spacious
The afternoon photowalk
We still had the beautiful flowers at chiddingstone in September so I definitely wanted to bring them into the story. The orangery there is also a fantastic building so we decided to take a walk there to get some snaps. It was awesome to have our furry friends join us as well for these photos.
Documentary photography
Documentary photography is a big part of what I like to do - and there are so many different rooms for guests to explore, there is always something going on, plus with the stunning grounds here it really makes for a gorgeous wedding day
Golden Hour portraits
Wow did the sun get the memo or what during their wedding - the light was absolutely stunning - we were only outside for ten minutes and it was simply perfect.
The evening
Flowers:
https://www.thefloweralchemist.co.uk
Hair -
https://www.herohairstylist.com/
Dress -
https://www.bromley-brides.co.uk/
More on chiddingstone castle -
Exclusively yours, for the most personal of Castle Weddings in Kent. With 35 acres of informal grounds; sweeping lawns, wild woodlands and breath-taking views of the Kent countryside; Chiddingstone Castle is a perfect place to celebrate your day. Set within the idyllic village of Chiddingstone, you can hold your ceremony in the castle grounds, our rooms, or in the 13th century church of St Mary’s.
Nestled in rolling countryside, yet within easy reach of London and the M25, Chiddingstone Castle is one of Kent’s finest historic houses and a much sought-after wedding venue.
Botleys Mansion wedding photographer
Botleys mansion in Surrey
Botleys Mansion Wedding photography
Matt and Beccas wedding at Botleys mansion was amazing, we had everything, gorgeous weather, all the smiles, laughter, dancing - it was a real post restrictions celebration that did not disappoint. Botleys Mansion is an incredible place to get married, the ceremony room is regal, the prep rooms are spacious and light and the orangery at the back with the most epic staircase entrance is simply incredible.
The preparation
Botleys has some very large rooms available for the wedding prep, for both partners - there was plenty of space for Becca’s prep, meaning multiple bridesmaids, mum, MUA and hairdressers could easily fit in the room and still have space. The bathrooms are large as well - important for when you are in your wedding dress and need that little extra space to move.
That first reveal
I always ask my brides if they want a first reveal to Mum/Dad/Sister - someone close to them - It often creates a wonderful moment and as a dad to two small young girls I totally get the importance of just making sure your loved ones get prioritised for this moment - it is once in a lifetime.
Botleys Mansion: ceremony
The Ceremony room at Botleys is beautiful and regal, with beautifully matching chairs, chandeliers you really get that special feeling of walking into somewhere special, it is a larger room than the photo reveals and with the windows open on a hot day, there is a lovely cross wind - it feels nice and cool in there.
The confetti walk
Botleys has a fantastic way of organising the confetti shot. They take the bride and groom through the back entrance (ooerr) and position them under the amazing staircase there in the archway ready for them to come through . This is special because you can position your guests up and over the stairs as well as I can arrange a tunnel walk of guests - this gives you the best of both worlds - that initial confetti explosiion as well as walking through all your guests
couple portraits aka Matt’s Photowalk
This is the chance just to get a few minutes alone time - my couples always comment on ow nice it is just to be the two of them for a few minutes. Matt and Becca and me just went on a simple stroll around the grounds, utilising the epic building and the contrasting trees and surrounding park as beautiful and very different backdrops.
Documentary photography
Documentary photography is a big part of what I like to do - and there are so many different rooms for guests to explore, there is always something going on
Golden Hour portraits
There are lots of options if the sun behaves at Botleys, anywhere in the front courtyard is lit up by sun and you also have the huge park in front of that which can be bathed in golden sunlight - Ten minutes is all I need to create some gorgeous photos for you
Flowers - https://seventh-heaven-events.co.uk/
Dress - https://www.sophiegracebridal.co.uk/
More on Botleys mansion - https://bijouweddingvenues.co.uk/venue/botleys-mansion/
Botleys Mansion is an exclusive use wedding venue located in Surrey. It is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies both inside and outside and offers a choice of stylish celebration and entertaining spaces in which to host your ultra-glamorous wedding. With capacities ranging from 50 to 250 across various rooms in the house, Botleys Mansion also offers flexibility along with an impeccable service when it comes to hosting your celebration at this wow-factor wedding venue.
Located just 30 minutes from London and set amid 56 acres of rolling Surrey parkland, this magnificent country house wedding venue marries history with the absolute best in modern style
Secret Garden wedding photographer
Secret Garden wedding photographer - Learn more about the best places for photography at the Secret Garden in Ashford, Kent
Secret Garden Wedding photography
Bhakti and Mehtan’s wedding was a series of firsts for me. It was the first wedding post numbers increasing to 30 post covid times, the first time a couple had their couple photos ahead of the ceremony and the first time a couple came back to their wedding once the guests had left to get some amazing night time photos with me. All together it created a unique experience that I certainly enjoyed and I hoped they did to.
The most relaxed day ever
This was my first wedding shoot at Secret garden and it was awesome, so relaxed and so much to explore here. There are lots and lots of places around the venue to give you vastly different photos - the manicured laws at the front, the treelined walkways, the indoor ceremony room, the courtyard - That arch!
The venue is really well run first and foremost and when you combine that with a couple that are relaxed about their day and their photography then you get a perfect recipe for a truly awesome wedding
The Details:
Both Bhakti and Mehtan got ready away from the secret garden at a beautiful rented house called the cowshed. Which was perfect for wedding prep with multiple rooms and a large living area to get ready in
The secret garden wedding venue
There are lots of options for different photos at the venue - Below are some of my favourite spots to photograph there
First look:
Bhakti and Mehtan opted for a first look - this is where we have couple photos ahead of the ceremony and couples arriving. It is incredibly popular in the states and is slowly increasing in popularity here. It was the perfect opportunity for us to take a relaxed walk around the gardens and into the unspoilt rooms ahead of guests for some intimate portraits. As you will see later on as well it will also mean this lead to plenty of opportunities for candid photos with guests and of course more time with your guests
Ceremony
The ceremony room looked gorgeous and so did the couple - those grand chairs really work as well - beautiful room to consider if your outdoor ceremony cannot happen as planned
The confetti walk
Loved the fist bump during their confetti walk - that was awesome. I like to line people up either side, it means you get more photos, everyone gets a chance to throw confetti - it works really well.
Family photos
Lots of options for where to take family photos here, obviously outside in the gardens would be a perfect spot if weather allowed, otherwise the main dining room served us well, the light is fantastic in here and all i need to do is avoid me trying to have my reflection in the vast array of mirrors!
Guests
This blog was written in 2021 and the thing we will all remember the most is that time when we couldn’t mingle and meet friends and family. This was my first wedding with the guest limit raised and they were able to sit down together for a meal - and it was wonderful to see again. I loved taking these documentary photos on the day.
First dance
Bhakti and Mehtan’s first dance was a dream, we elected to go for indoors because of the weather and used the ceremony room. I normally set-up a few lights so i can create an atmosphere and then just document this moment in front of your friends and family
Secret garden: Amazing night time photos
Bhakti and Mehtan came back after all their guests had left to get some nightime photos here. We spent 30 minutes at all the best parts of the venue to get some gorgeous photos and allowing me to create unique images with all my various different lights
Flowers - Anemone blue florist
Make-up - Ambreen Makeup
Dress - Helena Fortley
Cake - The cake witch
Venue - The secret garden
Bradbourne House wedding photographer
Bradbourne House
Bradbourne House Wedding photography
Kelly and Liam’s wedding at Bradbourne house was a fantastic victory - a victory against the odds, with Covid -19 rearing it’s head they had already moved their wedding day twice but at last were fortunate to just beat the 30 to 15 guess limit - I know it may not seem like much but it really is at the moment - and their wedding was all the more intimate, romantic and quaint as a result of it.
Kelly and Liam 1 - Covid 0
This was my first wedding shoot at Bradbourne House and it did not disappoint. It is a collection of wonderfully colourful rooms with gorgeous light and has a beautiful large set of grounds with small river and waterfall to offer some lovely photo opportunities.
I have shot many weddings in Kent and at many venues but this venue certainly has a fantastic vibe with each room offering something different.
The Details:
Kelly and Liam chose to dress Bradbourne House in a gorgeous set of colours that really complimented the colourful interior of each room - The flowers looked beautiful in the Ceremony room, delicately and gently hanging from the chairs and again dressing the wedding breakfast tables they really blended fantastically well. All the flowers were provided by coco and bloom.
Kelly’s dress was provided by Amore and fitted beautifully - It was elegant and had some fantastic detail - all accompanied by a gorgeous long veil - I love long veils as it offers a huge amount of creative options - Just see some of the couple photos down below.
The wedding preparation
Bradbourne House has two very large rooms which are just perfect for wedding preparations - Kelly had organised hair and make-up in different rooms, which worked so well. Lots of mirrors - for some awesome reflection options:
That first reveal
I always ask my brides if they want a first reveal to Mum/Dad/Sister - someone close to them - It often creates a wonderful moment of emotion and on this occasion it did not disappoint, mum/dad and baby boy created some beautiful emotional and funny moments.
Bradbourne House: ceremony
There was some absolutely beautiful moments during the ceremony - made all the more touching due to Connor who was amazing throughout. The bradbourne house indoor ceremony room was perfect on a cold windy day - the light is stunning and with the gorgeous ceiling and chandelier its a beautiful ceremony to get married in.
Bradbourne House: The confetti walk
This was a gooood confetti walk - considering the guests were limited for this wedding, it’s amazing how many awesome confetti photos you can get when you arrange a confetti tunnel. This side of bradbourne house is more protected from the wind as well.
Photowalk
This is my favourite part of the day - it’s often a chance to get away from the wedding day business for a short while and just relax a little, have fun and celebrate the fact that you are now married - and that’s what Kelly and Liam did - even though it was a cold and windy day, just look at those smiles.
Flowers - https://www.cocoandbloom.co.uk/
Make-up (Instagram) - MUA_emmajane
Dress - www.amorebrides.co.uk
Video - https://www.katietulip.com/
More on bradbourne house:
Bradbourne House is a kent luxury exclusive use venue located in the village of East Malling, you are taking instantly by the huge grounds and the drive up to the manor house
Bradbourne house offers so beautifully unique painted rooms - unlike many other wedding venues - teal and gold walls in the Great Hall to the spectacular ornate ceiling in the ceremony room.
Surrounded by 20 acres of beautiful parkland and an abundance of history. This Tudor Grade 1 listed building holds its original character with elegant interiors, a tranquil lake, waterfall and thriving grounds. A blend of tranquillity and classic elegance.