This was my first civil partnership and I could not have wished for a more stunning location in Rhinefield House, or such as nice couple as Dale and David. Having only met them about 5 weeks previous to the wedding we had little time to get to know each other but I felt instantly at ease and had a very memorable day. The best of everything was present from magnificent flowers from Exclusively Weddings , though an amazing choir and string quartet, and in the evening Dale’s brother and his wife belted the night away in their band The Bluesy Susie Band. Everything was perfect, and to top it all the weather held after a torrid Friday it was blue skies and a light breeze.
As usual I covered my usual routine – having photographed the ceremony room, and exterior of the House and the choir practicing I then got some getting ready shots of the guys. With these complete I went hunting for details, and also some of the bridal party shooting portraits of the ushers and bestmen.
Then it was up to the minstrels gallery where I was positioned for the ceremony. After this moving ceremony was complete I let the guests congratulate Dale and David outside the front of the house, and then captured some more informal moments during a champagne reception in the orangery. Only once everyone had been able to talk to the guys did I take them out for some formal photographs and family and friends groups making the most of the front and rear of the house, and some of the gardens.
I then quickly photographed the room laid out for the wedding breakfast, and the stunning floral arrangement on the table centres before again moving up to the gallery for a shot of the room from above, and the guests seated. At this point I took a break and got some food and much needed refreshment, enabling me to check my images whilst the guests ate – but before long it was time for the speeches. Again very moving, heartfelt and funny and an excellent opportunity to capture some lovely moments one of which is shown below.
Shortly after the conclusion of the wedding breakfast I took the guys outside and got some intimate and relaxed shots using as much of the gardens as we had time for in the rapidly failing light, the rear of Rhinefield House has some lovely ornamental lakes and I used the reflection of the longest to good effect for a shot you can see below. It soon became too dark to continue and I left them to talk to some guests whilst I got some images of the band and awaited the first dance which was photographed and I said my goodbyes and let everyone enjoy a great party.
Here as usual are some of my picks from the day (select more for more images !).
Rhinefield House Hotel looking across a maze, and an ornamental lake
David
One of the buttonholes from Exlcusively Weddings
The Great Hall at Rhinefield House laid out for the wedding breakfast
A view of the guys across one of the ornamental lakes at the rear of Rhinefield House Hotel
Each table in the orangery had a single red rose in the centre
Music during the wedding breakfast was delivered by this ipod, via a serious set of speakers from the band
A touching moment during the speeches
by Mike French
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