Lucy & Andy’s Manor House Hotel wedding took place in the summer of 2021 – after all Covid restrictions had been lifted. I arrived in Moreton-in-Marsh when the girls were having their hair & makeup done next door in the hair salon Alchemy.
The girls all moved next door to finish getting ready so their Manor House Hotel wedding could get started!
The boys were busy greeting guests to the lovely outdoor ceremony area in the garden.
Chiqas played beautifully during the ceremony, while Lucy’s bridesmaids, and then Lucy & her dad walked in to the garden towards Andy.
And so the ceremony began
The sky looked pretty ominous for a while, but the weather behaved itself while Lucy, Andy and their guests had a drinks reception outside.
I love the secret garden round the corned at The Manor House Hotel, it’s the perfect place for some photos of the Bride & Groom on their own.
It was then time for their wedding breakfast, followed by speeches. Lucy’s Dad started them off, followed by the groom Andy and his Best Man.
Lucy & Andy had an amazing tower of doughnuts to ‘cut’ instead of a traditional wedding cake!
Their first dance in front of all their guests rounded of the perfect day!
With 2020 in full swing, and Covid19 also in full swing, most of the weddings I’d had booked for this year had been postponed or cancelled. Depending on the state of the pandemic, wedding guest numbers were constantly being changed from none at all (in full lockdown) to 15, to 30 and back again! In September we were on the verge of wedding guest numbers being changed back down from 30 to 15. Lucinda & Andrew therefore made a very quick decision to bring their Hyde House Wedding forward by a few days so that they could go ahead with 30 guests!
Hyde House is one of my most local and most loved venues in Stow-on-the-Wold here in the Cotswolds. I know it well and was very much looking forward to photographing their small but joyful wedding there on a beautifully sunny day.
There girls got ready upstairs in the barn as usual, with the help of Lucinda & Andrew’s gorgeous dog Rupert! (such a lovely colour)
Lucinda & Andrew used a lot of their friends & relatives as suppliers, with hair by Jessie Scarth, and makeup by David Llobera.
The boys were getting ready over in the Fosse Manor where the new library is a great place for photos.
Amanda & Reuben who have a business called Heavenly Scent created all the wonderful flowers for the day.
Lucinda was by now in the final stages of getting ready and looked stunning. I absolutely LOVE the collar on that dress, and those cowboy boots! The dress was from Pritchard & Moore.
The ceremony was held in The Grange, where Andrew and his Groomsmen (including Rupert of course) were waiting along with their socially distanced guests wearing masks.
Lucinda, the bridesmaids, her Dad and step-Dad walked in the sunshine from the barn to the Grange. The ceremony was then underway.
There was a slight hiccup when Lucinda & Andrew were asked to read their personal vows which they seem to have forgotten about! It made everyone laugh though and lightened the atmosphere!
Rings were squeezed on to each other’s fingers, and the lovely ceremony ended with a kiss. They also had a cuddle from Rupert, and the all-important register was signed.
The newly married couple and their guests then made their way back over to the barn for confetti. We did the family group photos in the sunshine by the pretty arbor. I then took Lucinda & Andrew for a lovely walk round the grounds for some photos of them on their own.
At this point in the year receptions were allowed…at other points they weren’t, so Lucinda, Andrew and their guests were lucky to be able to have a sit-down dinner and enjoy the delicious Hyde House food!
When the weather is nice enough for a sunset, the views at Hyde House are stunning overlooking the Cotswold Hills. Lucinda & Andrew were lucky enough to have one of those special days!
Speeches were after the meal, followed by the cake cutting, with the amazing cake made by Lucinda’s Aunt Marcia (spot the hilarious cake-topper!)
Due to Covid restrictions, no dancing was allowed at weddings all year. At this stage the first dance only was allowed to go ahead, with the music being organised by Groomsman James. It was strange not to have all the guests join them on the dancefloor after the first dance…fingers crossed we will all be able to dance again in 2021!
I finished off the photos with a shot under the arbor. This Hyde House Wedding was such a lovely one to photograph and I wish Lucinda and Andrew all the very best for the future.
We had a crisp cold and sunny day for James & Amanda’s winter wedding at The Slaughters Manor in Lower Slaughter. This was a welcome respite from previous endless rainy days, and the pretty stream that runs through Lower Slaughter was looking very full!
James & Amanda had exclusive use of the gorgeous manor house for their wedding day. It’s such a beautiful wedding venue here in the Cotswolds with friendly staff who make everyone feel very welcome.
Amanda was getting ready in one of the very spacious suites upstairs, and this is where I joined her to start photographing the day.
Amanda’s beautiful bouquet, and all the other flowers were done by The Broadway Florist.
Amanda’s makeup was done by Jodie Croft, who kept everyone entertained all morning while Christmas carols were playing on the radio. She was also very clever in helping me get some beautiful photos – a pleasure to work with!
And Amanda looked stunning, as did her lovely bridesmaids!
Meanwhile. the boys had arrived downstairs, looking very dapper in their blue tweed suits and pink ties.
Ad the final touches were being done with the girls.
WHAT A DRESS! I MEAN WOW!
The ceremony was held downstairs in the elegant restaurant which looked very pretty with all the colourful flowers.
As this was just before Christmas it was going to get dark very quickly, so we got straight on with photos outside before the beautiful winter light faded.
The steps at the front of the manor were MADE for that dress!
The snooker room makes for a cool photo
And it was downstairs again for the wedding breakfast in the restaurant – the food here at Slaughters Manor is outstanding – they had an amazing five course meal.
The decided not to have formal speeches, so just enjoyed a lovely relaxed evening with stunning food in the company of their favourite people.
After all that food they still had room for a doughnut wall, and an AMAZINGLY scrumptious and Christmassy looking wedding cake created by Cakes by Mrs F.
We haven’t had great weather this year, 2019, to be honest, so Lauren and Matt were so lucky to have beautiful autumn weather for their Ellenborough Park Wedding. The Ellenborough Park Hotel is one of my favourite wedding venues here in the Cotswolds – there are so many beautiful places for photos inside and out.
Lauren had her hair & makeup done at the hotel, and we had a very calm and relaxing morning while the girls were getting ready.
The boys were also at the hotel looking very smart in their blue suits.
And the last finishing touches were done before the ceremony which took place in the chapel. Lauren’s stunning dress was from Taffeta & Lace, and the flowers by Abbey Meadow Flowers.
The ceremony was then under way!
The Bristol String Quartet played beautifully before the ceremony and during the signing of the register.
Lauren & Matt smiled and laughed ALL day – they were so happy together!
They were so easy to photograph as they were smiling all the time!!
Their wedding breakfast was in the De La Bere Court, which looked amazing.
The look of amazement on everyone’s faces was brilliant!
The evening went on with cake cutting and their first dance back over in the De La Bere Court – finishing with Pizza! The scrumptious looking cake was by Storyteller Cakes. Fabulous day with lovely smiley people!
Hannah & Matt were very lucky to have a pretty perfect summer’s day for their Hyde House Wedding in the Cotswolds.
I really do love photographing weddings at this Cotswolds venue, everything is all in one location, the day flows really well, and there are so many beautiful spots for photos at different times of the day, with stunning views over the Cotswold Hills.
The girls got ready upstairs in the wonderfully light getting ready room
Where there is plenty of room to hang the dresses up
After being very calm and collected all morning, Hannah did finally crack when her Dad saw her for the first time – this was one of the most emotional Father seeing the Bride moments I’ve ever seen, and I was sobbing too!
Then it was time for the short, but nervous, walk over to The Grange for the ceremony
The amazing Ardeton String Quartet played during during the ceremony, and afterwards at the reception. They even took requests during the wedding breakfast so guests could choose songs!
A very much less nervous walk back to the barn for the reception drinks, canapes and confetti!
Jennifer & Lee’s wedding at The Manor House Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh at the beginning of July sometimes felt like we were in a tropical country somewhere, not in England! The weather was so amazing, and the thatched roof Breeze House for outdoor ceremonies at the Manor House Hotel gives the hotel gardens a real tropical feel!
Jennifer and the girls were getting ready in Apple Cottage, part of the hotel, but away from the main building
Makeup was done by the lovely Natasha-Louise, who was almost due to have a baby (which has now safely arrived into this world!), so amazing she was still working on a very hot July day!
The groom, Lee, and the boys arrived at The Manor House Hotel looking very smart in their blue suits from Slaters. Flowers were by Lisa Drinkwater & Erica Chapman – one of their guests – love the sunflowers!
I had the pleasure of working alongside Zara from Zara’s Films who was doing the videography for the day.
After a bit more touching up, and an emotional first look from Dad, Jennifer was ready to go outside in to the sunshine to marry Lee!
The Manor House Hotel has a lovely secret garden around the corner which is perfect for shots of the bride & groom
And so we could have a proper look at Jennifer’s stunning dress from The Cotswold Frock Shop
The sunflower theme was very effective in the wedding breakfast room. The chair sashes were from All About Fun UK.
Jennifer styled the room sourcing all the beautiful details herself, like the seeds from Wedding in a Teacup, and the stationary from Poppy Forest
There were some very emotional speeches
And then everyone could relax outside in the beautiful evening sunshine
We had a chance later on to do some more photos as the sun was going down in the secret garden. You’ve got to get a shot in the deckchairs at The Manor House Hotel!
It was then time for the cake cutting and first dance. The amazing cake with so many interesting flavours was from Cacao Bean in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Nicola & Jared had an absolutely beautiful sunny day for their wedding at Hyde House here in the Cotswolds – about time too after a very rainy June so far! The sky was BLUE, amazing!
As usual with weddings at Hyde House – it’s so easy for me with the beautiful getting ready room upstairs in the barn.
Nicola’s mum Joanne did all of the beautiful flowers
It really is a fabulous rooms for getting ready, and nice and light for photos!
Jared & the boys arrived in a snazzy car, already ready…apart from buttonholes to put on. The boys blue suits were from Moss Bros.
Back with the girls, who were ready to put their dresses on
Nicola did look stunning in her dress which was from Tilly Trotters Bridal in Leamington Spa.
Nicola’s Dad & Step-Dad were going to walk her down the aisle – so they both came up to the room for a first look
The Grange, where the ceremony was going to be held, looked so pretty in the blue skies
And the girls all walked over in the sunshine from the barn
where Jared was nervously waiting
They led their guests back over to Hyde Barn for confetti and the drinks reception
The brilliant musician Thom Conroy played the cello during the ceremony, and the saxophone during the reception
I took Nicola & Jared for a little walk round the grounds for photos before their wedding breakfast. I always like to get the group photos done before then as well, while everyone’s still looking smart!
The tables & table settings were based around different herbs
Nicola’s brother was MC for the day, and he had a few surprise games for in between courses. Speeches were also staggered between courses.
Hay bales were perfect for a summers day, and they were from The Cotswold Hay Bale Company. There was time to blow bubbles before the cake cutting and first dance!
The cake was from Waitrose and beautifully decorated by Jared’s mum Christina.
They had a brilliant band Smith & Sons who got everyone jigging.
The Grange, where the ceremony was held, is also a great spot for photos later on, and it’s lovely garden area where you can look over the Cotswolds landscape
Sparklers are always a lovely way to end the photos
Another fantastic day with lovely people and amazing weather!
This blog is in memory of one of Nicola’s bridesmaids, Gail, who has incredibly sadly passed away since the wedding. I met her for the first time at the wedding and she was a beautiful, happy human being, and will be sadly missed.
Josie and Callum’s Harry Potter themed wedding started with Josie & her bridesmaids getting ready at home, so I joined them there for some getting ready photos.
The beautiful flowers were by Georgina at Nicholson Nurseries.
Josie really did look stunning
Josie’s dress & veil was from Banbury Bridal Boutique and Bridesmaid dresses from Marks & Spencer.
The ceremony was at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Bicester on a very hot day in early June (they were lucky – it rained for 2 weeks non-stop after this!!)
The Marilla String Quartet played before the ceremony and during the signing of the register.
Josie, her mum & cousin Melanie made the confetti themselves by getting friends & family to collect rose petals.
And the Rolls took them to Middle Aston House in the Oxfordshire countryside for their reception
A stunning location, with beautiful grounds and a lake for guests to enjoy
They really went to town with the Harry Potter theme – Josie & Callum did all the venue styling themselves, and it looked amazing with such attention to detail. The chair covers were from Dean’s Chair Covers & Events.
There was a slight incident with a football being kicked in to the lake – luckily there was a rowing boat on hand, and despite it’s slightly squiffy rowers, they managed to rescue the ball!
Josie & Callum’s wedding was on the same day as the Champion’s League final, so as Callum is a big Spurs fan – they had that on a big screen. Unfortunately it didn’t work out for Callum and his Spurs fans…
Kelly & Tom’s Easter wedding at the beautiful Ellenborough Park Hotel started off with Kelly & the girls getting ready in the hotel.
Ellenborough Park has it’s own chapel, perfect for ceremonies, and that’s where Tom & Kelly were married surrounded by all their friends & family.
It was extremely hot for Easter weekend, absolutely gorgeous weather for a wedding, and so everyone had drinks & canapes outside the chapel on the lawn. I love Ellenborough Park because there are so many beautiful spots for photos – the horse, the swing, the gazebo, and the hotel itself makes a stunning backdrop.
Their wedding breakfast was in the De La Bere Court was decorated beautifully with flowers and the ‘Mr & Mrs’ letters. This was where they danced the evening away as well.
There was a lovely sunset so we did some more photos later as well – a fantastic wedding with a lovely couple at one of my favourite wedding venues in the Cotswolds.
My first wedding of 2019 was a very blustery day in Spring in one of the Cotswolds’ most beautiful villages, for Nathan & Emily’s Swan Hotel Bibury wedding. We were keeping our fingers crossed all morning that it didn’t rain as Emily had her heart set on photos in the pretty Arlington Row…it didn’t!
Emily’s face was such a picture when she came downstairs to her Dad and the page boy (ring bearer), and they had a lovely ceremony in the hotel.
This was followed by drinks, canapes and confetti in the yard outside. Emily then braved the wind for photos in the village. All credit to Emily, not many bride’s would have done that, it was pretty blustery! Because of the wind, we had some great veil action, but also nearly lost it in the river! The fairly short walk from the hotel up to Arlington row is actually quite long when you’re wearing high heels and a wedding dress, and being blown to bits! That’s British weather for you…but as I said…it didn’t rain!
It was a really lovely day and a pleasure to photograph for such lovely people.
