Real Bride Top Wedding Tips

January 31, 2011 By 2 Comments

Today’s top Wedding Tips and favourite picture comes from Husna and Oli Grimes.

Husna and Oli were married on the 23rd January 2010 at All Saints Church in Lullington and then went on to Orchardleigh House in Somerset for their reception. To see their Somerset wedding story visit our blog and to see their Somerset Wedding Album visit our Wedding Venues page.

Here is Husna and Oli….

Hi Courtenay

Our favourite photo has to be this one

We absolutely love this photo because it captures those few seconds that we were alone together for the very first time as a married couple. When we look at the photo, we can remember exactly how we felt at that time (on the verge of hypothermia in my case!) and what we were saying to each other. The shot also captures the gorgeous venue in the background which is an added bonus.

A few of our top tips for other brides/grooms planning their wedding are as follows:

1. Don’t fight over the guest list! Choosing who to invite can be a source of real stress and tension between the two of you and everyone has their own opinion (especially parents!).  Our advice would be to invite the people you actually want to spend the day with, not necessarily those you feel you should invite. There will always be disagreements here, but try not to let them ruin the wedding before its even started.

2. Have as many bridesmaids (and best men!) as possible – no, seriously!  I had seven bridesmaids (and Oli had 3 best men).  You need all the help you can get on the big day and, as no-one likes a drunk bride, someone needs to drink all that champagne in the morning!

3. And finally…Get yourself a decent band and / or DJ.  No matter how good the day has been up to that point, if the music isn’t up to scratch the dance floor will be deserted.  Also, make sure you discuss set lists to avoid any unwanted surprises!

Hope this helps.  Just remember to have fun and learn to love those “to-do” lists!

All the very best,

Husna & Oli

Courtenay Photographic – Wedding Photographers in Dorset
Filed Under: from our brides, Fun Stuff, Orchardleigh House, Other stuff, Somerset Wedding, Wedding Planning, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1st Wedding Anniversary Congratulations

January 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Big congratulations go out today to Husna and Oli Grimes who were married a year ago today at the fab Orchardleigh House in Somerset.

To see their Somerset Wedding story visit our blog and to view their wedding album visit our Somerset wedding Venues page.

Congratulations once again Husna and Oli, I hope you have a wonderful day and your wedding album brings back many happy memories.

Love and Best wishes

Courtenay x

(Husna and Oli enjoying a little quiet time at Orchardleigh House 23rd January 2010)
Dorset Wedding photographer – Courtenay Photographic
Filed Under: Country House Weddings, News from us., Orchardleigh House, wedding anniversary, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Orchardleigh House Somerset Wedding of Husna & Oliver

January 29, 2010 By 2 Comments

(You can now view Husna & Oli’s Orchardleigh House Wedding album over on the main wedding photography site if you click here.)

So, a cold but dry morning and I’m off to Orchardleigh House near Frome in Somerset for the wedding of Husna and Oliver. To be honest I’m feeling pretty awful today (got this heavy virus coldy thingy?), but well dosed up and more medicinal supplies pocketed to keep me going throughout the day, I should be ok.
I arrive nice and early to find Husna and Oliver nicely tucked away in two of the estate cottages the Garden House and The Clock Tower (Orchardleigh really have done a good job with these extra accommodations). Then it’s off to the main House and up to the Bonita suite to cover Husna’s getting ready and all the usual pre-wedding preparations.
I catch up with Oliver and the boys downstairs and we have an impromptu photo call, and then it’s off through the Orchardleigh estate to the small village of Lullington to find today’s venue for the ceremony; the lovely All Saints Church.
Soon it is getting busy, guests arriving, the boys now on the scene and Oliver is looking a bit nervous as he patiently waits for his gorgeous Bride. The first car pulls up at the Church gates, and the lovely Bridesmaids embark – all seven of them! Soon its the turn of Husna and she looks simply stunning as she emerges from the car. Down to the church doors, with her entourage and Mum who is giving her away. Husna, a little nervous now, is soon inside and down the aisle to her waiting man. A lovely touching ceremony and it’s back out into the winter air, Mr and Mrs Grimes at last!
Back to the house to catch a warm drink and something to nibble on. We arrive well ahead of the guests who are being bussed back in two or three lots, so Husna, Oliver and I take this opportunity to slip outside into the gardens of Orchardleigh House for a few quiet moments and to capture some romantic images for the album. Back indoors again, and the house is now thronging with the sound of laughter and cheerful banter. I leave Husna and Oliver to mingle with their guests for an hour or so and just quietly get on with capturing the scene unfolding before me.
Time to pop back outside, very quickly too as it’s quite nippy now, a few family formal pictures and its done – we head back inside to the warm. Time for everyone to take their places for the wedding breakfast and for me to have a little break, oh and pop a few more medicinal drugs (I’m holding up!). Back in for the traditional speeches and then everyone moves out into the large hall and various other rooms whilst the main dining room is readied for the evening entertainment. More guests arriving now to share in the festivities, Husna and Oliver return to the dining room and cut their cake, and soon it’s time for them to head to the dance floor. The room fills with excited friends and family, and Husna and Oliver simply trip the light fantastic – a wonderful first dance, full of character and emotion. Now the band kick in and really rocks the house, the floor fills and serious partying begins.
My time to bid farewell, I made it through (with the help of a few pills here and there) and to be honest I am so glad I did as I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this wonderful wedding, with its lovely hosts and guests, for the world. Congratulations Husna and Oliver, I wish you all the best of everything, have a fab honeymoon.

A few of my favourites from the day

Courtenay Photographic – Dorset Wedding Photographer

Filed Under: Church Weddings, Country House Weddings, Orchardleigh House, Somerset Wedding, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leez Priory Essex Wedding of Carissa & Marc

January 8, 2010 By 3 Comments

You can now view Carissa & Marc’s Leez Priory Wedding Album over on the main Wedding Photography site if you click here!

So New Years Eve, bitterly cold but nice and bright. Off and out nice and early to Carissa’s family home for the usual Bridal preparations, handy because the boys were getting ready literally just across the way in the same place. All the usual details covered and it was time to head across the Essex countryside for about half an hour or so to the venue for today’s celebrations, Leez Priory.

The boys had left before me and I caught up with Marc and his merry men again on my arrival. Soon guests began to arrive and it was time for everyone to take their places to await the arrival of Carissa and her Bridesmaids. At last Carissa arrived at Leez Priory and was soon in out of the biting east winter wind, a quick chat with the registrars and it was time to head for the ceremony room and her waiting Groom, Marc. A touching and very funny ceremony followed, Marc and Carissa were very much at ease and their infectious laughter soon had everyone in stitches, it even seemed to affect the registrar who managed to get Carissa’s name wrong twice! But soon Marc and Carissa were man and wife and exited out to their champagne reception. Roaring log fires, champagne, canapes and just good old fashioned good company with friends and family, a truly lovely atmosphere. Now, time to brave the cold for a few moments to get those few family group shots for the album and then Carissa, Marc and I took our leave for some quiet time to capture a few, more intimate moments, that and some quite outrageous ones too, again all down to Marc and Carissa’s fantastic sense of fun.
Back in the warm again, and time for the formal reception meal, followed by the traditional speeches, which also held some different kinds of drama (definitely not a boring wedding here), with the Best Man going awol – still, suitable replacement was found and all’s well that ends well!!
Back downstairs again to the waiting log fires and warm bar, evening guests arriving and now time to cut the cake, Carissa also made sure Marc had a good first taster too! Then downstairs to the old wine cellar to find the dance floor and for Carissa and Marc to have their first official dance as man and wife. First dance over the tempo picked up and the dance floor filled. The rest of the evening glided by, a hog roast, to feed us all, and plenty more good cheer from the bar, a real house party event, even the falling of fresh snow outside couldn’t dampen any spirits. Midnight approached and everyone gathered just outside the huge back doors of Leez Priory, 5,4,3,2,1 BANG! Fireworks exploded into the cold crisp night air, Happy New Year everyone, what a way to celebrate it too!

A few of my favourite images from the day -

Courtenay Photographic Ltd – Wedding Photographer Dorset

Filed Under: Country House Weddings, County Weddings, Essex Wedding, Leez Priory, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Orchardleigh House Somerset Wedding of Emma & Ryan

December 16, 2009 By 1 Comment

So a cold and misty morning, I headed off to Orchardleigh House in Somerset. On arrival I went straight upstairs to the Bonita suite to find Emma and her Bridesmaid for the usual Bridal preparations. Then downstairs again and guests now arriving soon to be bused over to St Mary’s Church on the Orchardleigh estate for the wedding ceremony. Having covered the comings and goings from the main house it was my turn to head to the Church and await Emma’s arrival. The Church itself was beautifully lit by candlelight only which gave it a real Christmassy atmosphere, perfect for a winter wedding. Soon it was Emma’s turn to arrive and the ceremony could begin.
Back out into the cold Mr and Mrs Penter, married at last, quickly into the waiting Rolls and Back to the house for some mulled wine and canapes.
Our toastmaster for the day then ushered the guests back outside for a few formal photographs and then Emma, Ryan and I went for a little quiet wander to capture a few romantic images for their album.
Back in the warm again and soon time for the wedding breakfast followed by the traditional speeches. Coffee time, to be taken back in the spacious hall area whilst the main room was turned around ready for the evening reception.
Time to cut the wedding cake, and then the music began. Emma and Ryan took to the dance floor, first dance as man and wife. Our singer and DJ for the evening then notched up the tempo and the dance floor quickly filled.
A very cold day for a wedding, but the atmosphere and love surrounding it I have to say was exceedingly warm; Perfect!

A few of my favourite images from the day -

Courtenay Photographic – Wedding Photographer Dorset

Filed Under: Church Weddings, Country House Weddings, Orchardleigh House, Somerset Wedding, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Brympton D’Evercy Somerset Wedding of Hayley & Mark

December 11, 2009 By 1 Comment

You can now view Hayley & Mark’s Brympton D’Evercy Wedding Album over on the Main Wedding Photography site if you click here!

A good day for a wedding, a dry day at last! Still I guess it actually won’t make much difference to the proceedings as the ceremony doesn’t take place until dusk so we are not really relying on getting outside much. I arrived at Brympton D’Evercy in Somerset just after lunch and headed straight up to the Bridal suite to find the lovely Hayley and her bridesmaids getting ready.
Back down to the main drive now and guests are starting to arrive, no Groom yet and time is ticking by! Back to Hayley to capture a few images with Mum and dad and then back outside just in time for Mark the Groom to finally arrive – 20 minutes to spare, phew. Guests all now seated in the beautifully candle lit Dower House the time has now come for Hayley to make her grand entrance.
First a civil ceremony followed by a more personal ceremony conducted by Hayley and Marks own Baptist Church minister, very touching and not many dry eyes in the house. A fantastic choir to entertain and a complete surprise to Hayley, which brought on a few more tears of course. Triumphantly exiting as man and wife Hayley Mark and I slip away for a few quiet pictures before heading back into the Elizabethan Great Hall to join the rest of the guests for drinks and canape’s.
Time to head upstairs to the Georgian Ante Room for the wedding breakfast followed by the traditional speeches of course. Then its time to move on again, this time to the Orangery for the evening festivities. Hayley and Mark take to the dance floor for the traditional first dance as man and wife although traditional this is not. We start with a slow tune, but then rapidly kick in to a medley of music styles and the dances to suit each and then back to the slow dance for the finale, fantastic! Then our band for the evening ‘Wild‘ a great rock ‘n’ roll band kick in and the dance floor fills. A great day.


Courtenay Photographic – Wedding Photographer Dorset

Filed Under: Brympton D'Evercy, Somerset Wedding, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Summer Lodge Hotel Dorset Wedding of Anne & Brinsley

December 23, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Anne and Brinsley are a really lovely couple and it was a pleasure to capture their special day for them. Being some of my more mature clients, Anne and Brinsley have found each other a little later in life than most of us, but none the less the love that they share is as strong as anyone I have met. Anne and Brinsley both live in Scotland and indeed Anne is very Scottish indeed, however they both decided to travel South to marry in Brinsleys family Church, which by looking at the plaques inside, has been the family seat for many generations. Their wedding was a very small affair, just a few family and friends attended, but the atmosphere was fun, relaxed, freindly and very full of love.
The day itself was a typical English winter day in December, a little damp, quite grey and overcast but fairly mild. I met Brinsley at the Church followed shortly by his best man, both in excellent spirits and looking forward to the day ahead.
Keeping with tradition Anne and her entourage arrived 10 minutes late! Still, there was no hurry, and soon Anne was parading down the Isle to marry Brinsley. A lovely service followed, both Anne and Brinsley took the readings and after their vows, exited triumphantly into the December weather outside.
Off to Summer Lodge Hotel for the reception, a few family photo’s and then a little wander with Anne and Brinsley in the lovely grounds to catch a few special intimate images.
A lovely intimate wedding, with a very large warm welcome, I was almost sad to leave…but with four small people at home eagerly awaiting their Daddy to start the Christmas holidays with them in the end, well lets just say it was no competition.
Congratulations Anne and Brinsley, it was a pleasure, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.

Wedding Photographer Dorset – Courtenay Photographic

Filed Under: Church Weddings, Dorset Wedding, Hotel Weddings, Summer Lodge, Winter weddings Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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