Pennyhill Park in Surrey was the wedding venue on Saturday for Robert and Tatiana’s wedding. Tatiana originally from the Ukraine and Robert, a Scotsman, got married in this very English luxury five star hotel in Bagshot.
As with most single venue weddings I started with the bride, Tatiana, getting details of the shots, wedding dress and on this occasion the salt bread which her mother had baked as part of the Ukranian wedding custom. That done I left to meet up with the guys in another part of the hotel where Robert was handing out presents to the bestman, MC and ushers – a case containing an AK-47 shaped vodka bottle, hand-grenade shaped bottle of chilli-vodka and six shot glasses, quite possibly the most amazing presents I have seen at a wedding !
With the groomsmen suited and button-holes affixed I returned to Tatiana’s room for make-up and then shortly afterwards the finishing touches to her dress before she left her room and went down the staircase to see the registrar. I could now get into position in the ceremony room and prepare for Tatiana’s entry.
After a moving, laughter filled ceremony which included readings from both Scottish and Russian writers – and in both languages I worked the drinks reception getting lots of natural images of guests congratulating the bride and groom and enjoying themselves in the sunshine. With the sun firmly out I selected a good area for high quality couple and group photographs and worked my way through the short list I had been provided with finishing off with a group shot from the roof terrace of one of the best suites in the hotel !
The guests were piped up to the wedding breakfast room, and I took the opportunity to get a few images specifically requested by Tatiana and Robert before delivering them to the team at Pennyhill Park just minutes ahead of schedule.
They were again piped into the room and then conducted the Ukranian salt and bread custom before being seated for their meal, after which I returned for some very moving speeches again in both languages – including some Russian from Robert ! The evening quickly moved on and Tatiana and Robert performed an amazing first dance which took the breath away of the guests and me and then straight onto a Ceilidh which I photographed from both the outside and inside before quietly saying my goodbyes and leaving.
Here are a selection of images from across the day !
by Mike French
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