Evening sunshine and long shadows at Chilworth Manor
What a day this was at Chilworth Manor Hotel in Hampshire. I met Conny and Bailey at a New Forest wedding fair and I knew we’d get along. They were down-to-earth people who just wanted to have a happy day without too much fuss. I was there to document and add a few special portraits for them.
The bridal preparation was headed up by the fantastic team with Rebecca Grace, it was a very chilled atmosphere when I arrived and it continued to be that all the way through. Conny had a calming influence on everyone, nothing fazed her. The light in her mother in law to be’s home was fantastic, whoever came up with the idea of skylights in single-story extensions I could kiss! Neutral tones and lots of light mean fantastic portraits and everywhere is a photo opportunity. Conny’s dad was a ball of emotion when he arrived later in the morning and when he saw her in her dress the tears could not be held back.
Chilworth Manor Hotel Wedding
Leaving the bridal preparation I headed to the main venue to meet Bailey, an equally calm individual. When I arrived he was out the front of Chilworth Manor enjoying a pre-wedding beer with his friends. This was my first time in a long time at a Chilworth Manor wedding so I had a quick wander around the Georgian manor house to remind myself of the surrounding countryside and it all came flooding back. What a beautiful venue and how I’d missed it!
Chilworth Manor boasts a rich tapestry of history, dating back to its mention in the Domesday Book of 1086. Reimagined in the early 20th century as an Edwardian masterpiece, the manor features gardens designed by the esteemed Gertrude Jekyll, encapsulating the elegance and tranquillity of its era.
After the wedding Ceremony
After watching a couple of emotionally charged exchanges of vows and rings I could tell that Bailey and Conny were ready for the celebration to begin. Confetti in the face is always a good start then their dog joined us for a few photos, he was a puppy boxer so pretty nuts! we had a lot of fun throwing treats over my head to catch a photo of him jumping in front of the couple.
Singing Waiters and Dancing
Watching the slightly sketchy waiter and waitress walking around the room I just knew something fishy was about to happen when over goes the waiter in front of the top table. The singing waiters had arrived, and they never failed to get people on their feet, I saw the longest conga line for a while dancing around the room for a while just before the speeches began, they were short and sweet but said everything necessary.
Evening Portraits & Partytime
Just before the sun sets it is time to get those last gorgeous portraits. Chilworth Manor Hotel has a perfect little woodland to get away for a while and we did just that. The evening portraits are also a chance for the couple to take a break and spend a little time together before the madness of the evening begins.
This evening was everything it promised to be, A seriously busy dance floor and I won some awards for the photos I took there, my kind of wedding!
Are you getting married?
If you are planning your wedding and you would like to have as much fun as this at your wedding get in touch. I love to talk about all things weddings so let’s see what we can do together
