You can now view Sam & Darren’s Rhinefield House Wedding Album over on the main Wedding Photography site if you click here!

A beautiful sunny spring day and I’m off to Rhinefield House in the New Forest for the wedding of Sam and Darren. I have been looking forward to this wedding for some time, Sam and Darren are so much fun and I know that their day is going to be a reflection of their personalities – a big plus is that Sam also loves the camera!

On arrival I head straight up to the honeymoon suite to find Sam, her Bridesmaid Hayley, and Sam’s Mum already getting into the early preparations. The mood is light and all is very calm indeed, so I cover the usual details and the all important getting ready shots, and I have plenty of time to head downstairs to photograph the beautiful setting for the ceremony and to pop into Darren’s room to get a few cheeky shots of the boys getting ready too. Its back upstairs and time for Sam to slip into her most beautiful gown; last minute hair and lippy checks and time to away downstairs to make her grand entrance – what a stunning picture she makes too.

I head into the Great Hall to find a very smart but nervous looking Darren waiting for his lovely Bride, and soon the wait is over as the music begins to play and Sam enters the room, gliding gracefully down the aisle on the arm of her stepfather Earle towards her waiting man. The ceremony is fairly short but a very romantic affair, official registers signed and soon Sam and Darren exit the Grand Hall triumphantly, Mr and Mrs Morgan at last.

Out into the beautiful gardens and the warm sunshine – drinks and canapes on the terrace, and a very relaxed atmosphere indeed. After some mingling it’s time for the few traditional family formal pictures to be taken, and then Sam, Darren and I slip away for a short while to capture those more intimate photographs for their album.

All too soon it’s time for everyone to retreat back inside to take their places for the wedding breakfast. Speeches first, which I always think is a great idea – especially if you are not a keen public speaker, as it means once you have said your piece you can really relax and enjoy yourself. The speeches themselves ranged from the very touching to the hilarious, especially the wonderful pictorial history of Darren’s formative years – I’m sure he will be thanking his best men for a long time to come! After the speeches came the wonderful meal and then time for another wedding tradition, the cutting of the wedding cake.

Evening guests were now arriving, and everyone moved into the next room where the DJ had already set up, ready to start the evening festivities. Soon everyone was invited to form a large square round the dance floor, the large doors at the end of the room were flung open wide and Mr and Mrs Morgan make their last dramatic entrance of the day onto the dance floor for their first official dance as husband and wife. The evening continued with merriment, a video booth for those fun and quirky messages for the happy couple and the evening buffet was an excellent serving of chips in cones and fab bacon butties (Mmmm…). Sadly, at last it’s my time to bid farewell.

Did the day live up to my expectations? No – it surpassed them.

Congratulations Sam and Darren, I wish you all the happiness for the future. X

Here are a few of my favourite images from the day:

Credit Where Credit Is Due

Wedding cake – Cakes At 15 – www.cakesat15.co.uk

Florist – Fleur De Lys – 01202 716909

DJ – Jay Ratchet – 07966 461238

Dress – Mojgan – www.mojgan.co.uk (also for Brides Necklace & Earrings)

Jewellery – Tiara – My Tiara Shop – www.mytiarashop.co.uk

Grooms Suit – Gresham Blake – www.greshamblake.com

Courtenay Photographic – Wedding Photographers in Dorset