Dorset Wedding Photographers Courtenay Photographic Ltd
The Wedding Photographers in Dorset Blog
Congratulations today to Victoria and Jonathan Nicholson who celebrate their first year as a married couple. Victoria and Joanthan held the majority of their celebrations at the lovely Highcliffe Castle in Dorset. To see Victoria and Jonathan’s Dorset Wedding story on our blog please click the following link – Highcliffe Castle Wedding
Have a lovely day
Best wishes
Courtenay
Todays Bride top tips and favourite picture(s) come from Tori and Jonathan Nicholson. Tori and Jonathan were married at Highfield Church in Southampton on the 9th October 2010 and then after a lovely stop in the New Forest for some romantic pictures went on to Highcliffe Castle in Hampshire for their fun packed reception.
To see Tori and Jonathans Hampshire wedding story on our Blog click the following link – Highcliffe Castle wedding.
Here is Tori and Jonathan…
Hi Courtenay,
A hard choice but I think our favourites are these (we couldn’t choose just one!) …
Our Top tips -
Stick to your guns. Just because somebody tells you its difficult, or not normal – is even more reason to do it! You want people to remember your wedding day, not have it merge in with others!
Experiment, I spent ages in Marks and spencers mocking up table designs. I used bathroom towels to get the colour of the table cloth and then all their different glasses and candles etc to try to get an idea of style. We got quite a few strange looks, but we did get our table design out of it!
Don’t assume something is out of your price range, ask! I found a fab group of singers after they performed on Radio 2 and they were amazing (close knit harmony singers called The Marjory Belles).
Think about your guests. We didn’t want to have that “loose end” bit between the end of the wedding breakfast and evening entertainment, so we got rid of that part altogether! We had an evening meal instead of afternoon, and gave our guests afternoon tea instead of a buffet later on. It meant that by the time everybody sat down to eat, they had mingled a bit and conversation flowed a lot more easily.
Ditch the sugared almonds! Who really likes them? We wanted favours that people would appreciate and so hired a silhouette artist to give everybody a real keepsake from the day. The majority of our guests have put theirs in a frame and talk about it all the time.
There are so many things to think about, but just remember there are only 2 people who the day should revolve around, and they are not the in-laws! Be true to yourselves and you will have an amazing day!
Laura said people wanted to know about my dress. Its a Jenny Packham Dress, called Carmen. It comes in Oyster and Ivory, but mine was in Oyster – just love the vintage style of it. (from Shay Harris Bridal in Southampton).
Best wishes
Tori & Jonathan
Saturday was a busy busy day! Off to Southampton first to Victoria’s house for the usual bridal preps and then to Highfield Church just round the corner to meet up with Jonathan and his merry men. A lovely black tie do today, I always think it looks so smart to see everyone dressed up.
Soon Victoria arrives looking stunning in her Jenny Packham 1930′s style gown and processes down the aisle to Jonathan. A lovely ceremony and then out into the warm Autumn sunshine, a confetti shower and then into the car for a drive to the New Forest where we stopped for some quiet time and some lovely romantic photographs. Back to the cars and off to Highcliffe Castle for the wedding reception. Drinks and canapes on the lawns of the Winter Gardens and entertainment by the fabulous 1940′s style group the Marjorie Belles, Mum made her speech on the steps of the Castle and then it was time to head indoors for a special kind of show! Showstoppers an impromptu musical company had us in stitches, as they told the story of Jonathan and Victoria’s life from past to future through the medium of song in various show tune styles from lloyd Webber to Lion King, very ‘Who’s line is it anyway’! Now it’s Victoria’s turn to make her speech.
A bit of a breather and then into the great Hall for Victoria and Jonathan’s first dance, not just any old dance mind you, full on Ball Room! Then it was the turn of the guests and family and the Tuca dance Company put them through their paces for half an hour or so of lessons, phew!
Time now to enter the dining room for the wedding breakfast, but first father of the Groom to make his speech. After the meal it was the turn of the Groom and Best man to address the crowd and then the official cutting of the wedding cake. We left the dining room and headed just over the hall to find the waiting band The Lionels, who then rocked the night away.
What a packed but fun day!
Here are just a few images from Victoria and Jonathan’s day…
Credit where credit is due
Wedding Cake – Lucy Ryder Caterer – Merlins Catering Florist – Jules Florists Decorations – GU Puddings
Videographer – New Vision Media Dress by Jenny Packham Mens Attire – Mos Bros PA Equipment – One Two Sounds Linen & Glass Hire – Well Dressed Tables
Entertainment – The Marjorie Belles – Showstoppers – Tuca Dance Company – The Lionels
Dorset Wedding Photographer – Courtenay Photographic ltd
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