A lovely service took place in a church still festooned with Christmas flowers and decorations and I managed with the video team from Hampshire Wedding Videos to get some good angles of the ceremony and signing.

After a few photographs in-front of the church, and the confetti we all made our way down to Rhinefield House in the New Forest for the reception. The guests were greeted by resident toastmaster Michael Judd up the red carpet and into the drinks reception and once Rosie and Scott had made it up the driveway in their stunning wedding car and with a drink in their hands we quickly made our way to the rear of the house for the last of the winter light and a short formal photographs session before we needed to return inside for the receiving line and the wedding breakfast.

With dinner complete the speeches took place completed by Rosie who also wished Scott a happy birthday and presented him with a cake and his birthday present, and I wrapped up some of the family groups in one of the rooms having lost the light on this winters day some time ago. It was straight into the evening reception with the first dance, and whilst that was taking place casino tables from Viva Las Vegas and a chocolate fountain were setup in the great hall.

Here are some of the images from the day… for the guests at the wedding the full online gallery will be available here from the 16th January.

Rosie looks stunning in her wedding gown

Scott and his groomsmen arrive at All Saints Church in Botley

Rosie and Scott exchange rings during the wedding ceremony

The view the organist had of the wedding in his mirror

The wedding car arrives at Rhinefield House

Rosie and Scott at the rear of Rhinefield House in the winter light

The bride and groom take a walk in the grounds of Rhinefield

Rosie completes her speech and gets a kiss from Scott

Rosie, Scott and one of his sisters in a small family group in one of the Rhinefield House rooms

The session creates a series of traditional and contemporary images with some natural and relaxed images ideally suited to show the couple together. For our wedding couples we like to use the venue that the majority of the photographs are going to be taken, and more specifically the family groups and posed shots – if there are any, as it gives us chance to work out the best areas – and those the couple like most – saving time on the day and freeing up the couple to relax with their guests.

These images are used on our online gallery cards presented to the wedding guests to allow them to view the images from the wedding day, can be used as the centre-piece for a signing board (or signing mat), or in a bespoke guest signing book. However, every couple also receive a framed fine art image of their choice presented in one of our large 14×11″ desk frames. The heavyweight fine art paper and museum quality mount are set off in the high quality frame which for 2010 come in a dark mahogany or black and is valued at £100 if purchased separately.

Today whilst out we delivered the pre-wedding shoot framed print for Rosie and Scott who are getting married on New Years Eve and a photograph of the finished product can be seen below. The print is black and white and shows them seated on the large fountain at Rhinefield House which makes a majestic backdrop. It is finished in the dark mahogany frame with UV conservation glass to protect the print from the damaging rays of the sun.

The framed print below is held as a display sample in the studio and comes from the pre-wedding shoot of Sally and Mark – who also selected this image for their own desk frame. It is presented as a platinum toned print again in a dark mahogany frame and Sally and Mark proudly displayed theirs in the entrance to their marquee on their wedding day for all the guests to see.

As usual we walked around the venue taking care to work on where the light will be for the wedding, where of course I’m hoping for another lovely day and warm later afternoon light to make for some lovely images. I have spent quite a bit of time photographing couples at Rhinefield and I’m always looking to find some new view, or use of one of the features to make for something unique for the couples.

Afterwards we headed inside for a drink and a walk-through of the wedding day plans, and then it was a short drive back to the studio to back down the images.

Here is a small selection from the shoot, some trusted locations, some new !

Rhinefield House still has lots of features outside in the Autumn

This fountain is at the back of Rhinefield House and was a great place to start the pre-wedding shoot

The lovely winter light coming through the avenue of trees makes this a must image in a pre-wedding shoot

Looking back at Rhinefield House across the ornamental lake

And Rosie next to the widely photographed blue gates

Scott with my favourite statue in the Rhinefield House maze

Rosie again in the maze with this lovely country house hotel in the background

Finally to the newer part of the hotel, and a subtle reflection image while Rosie and Scott snuggle up

From a dreary start as I arrived the day just got better and not just the weather – I started in the Oak room to get images of the wedding dress, shoes and accessories and also Julie and her bridesmaids getting hair and makeup expertly provided by Tori Fulwell of Riot Hairdressing and Helen Spenser the make-up artist. Whilst the girls got dressed it was time to check out the lovely flowers from Exclusively Weddings , and also to catch up with toastmaster Michael Judd both of whom I have worked with before at Rhinefield – and then on to find the guys in the bar.

Another beautiful ceremony followed in the amazing great hall – and then drinks and some family and friends group photographs before we managed a short walk around the back lawn and ornamental lake ending up at Rhinefield’s distinctive blue iron gates – and then back to the great hall allowing me to document the room before the wedding breakfast. After dinner I covered the speeches and then managed to steal Julie and John out for another 5 minutes to get some relaxed portraits at the front of the house, and amongst the vibrant rhododendrons.

All in all a lovely day for a lovely couple.

Here are some images from the day.

Helen Spenser applies some mascara to Julie during her preparations

The ring exchange during the lovely ceremony in the Great Hall

Julie and John outside the front of Rhinefield House

John and best-man Pete find something funny !

Rhinefield's avenue of trees in full spring foliage

John and Julie come for a walk whilst their guests enjoy the sunshine on the lawn

The happy couple, and erm one of Rhinefield's many statues - this one on the front lawn

Bridesmaid Eden approaches the top table and an impromptu bouquet of flowers

John in a pensive mood prior to the speeches rests against the great fireplace....

Stunning table decorations and tall-vased flowers by Exclusively Weddings.

Familiar territory for me of course as one of my most loved and frequent wedding venues, and I challenged myself to use some different parts of the hotel as well as some old favourites. I’d like to think I managed that, and have posted a selection of the images on here, although I have held some back ready for Julie and John’s wedding in late May when I’ll be using some of them again, and some with a few tweaks based on the results from this pre-wedding shoot. As a Hampshire wedding photographer I hope to continue shooting at this lovely venue, with great staff, and of course wonderful couples…..

Julie and John were great fun, and soon relaxed into the shoot. Their wedding is going to be great fun, and I’m really looking forward to it. It will also be another opportunity to work with amazing florist Lynda Robson, from Exclusively Weddings who’s work I adore.

As usual here are some of my images from the day. Hope you enjoy them.

Using the reflective glass in the newer part of Rhinefield House for this shot I got John and Julie kissing

John sitting on the stone seat looking back at the House

Jules joins him for another photo at the seat

Sitting on the fountain with Rhinefield House in the background

Onto the avenue of trees also in the gardens of this lovely country house hotel

At the end of the ornamental pond by the blue gates

A quiet kiss observed by one of Rhinefield House's statues

We returned to Rhinefield for our first spring wedding at this lovely and prestigious venue in the New Forest. Having recently shot Katie and Lee’s wedding there in December, and Gemma and Kristian’s pre-wedding shoot earlier in the month the venue is like a home to us, and we know it well – although constantly finding new places to photograph and new looks for the images. With lots of time, and a couple that valued the photography we were able to shoot lots of images both before and after the ceremony before leaving shortly after the speeches. We were well looked after by Lee, the best man, as well as Gemma and Kristian and all of the staff – which of course makes it all the easier to focus on creating great photographs.

Here are some images from the day…..

Gemma puts on some perfume in her room at Rhinefield House before changing into her wedding dress.

The exchange of rings during the service in front of the stone fireplace in the Great Hall at Rhinefield House

Gemma looking simply stunning in her wedding dress

This is one of my favourite areas of the gardens at Rhinefield House, and I know Gemma and Kristian love it as well.

The view across one of the ornamental lakes to the blue iron gates. Looking for the reflection which works better with them in wedding attire than the pre-wedding shoot image

A rare blog post of the cake cutting - but I'm just loving the soft window light, and the beautiful moment.

The guests all wanted a shot as well, so I captured them all. Including Lee, best man, who seemed to think I made a better subject.

Gemma takes a look at the picture board placed at the rear of the great hall during the wedding breakfast. I just love the detail on her wedding dress

Kristian gets a top up having run out of champagne at the end of his speech, and about to make a toast.

After a couple of attempts were called off for rain, and then snow last Sunday we finally managed to make it to Rhinefield this evening in the wonderful golden light and made use of the many great parts of the house, and gardens for some images. As usual the session was there to hep Gemma and Kristian get used to some of the poses, see what locations I had in mind, and also get used to having a camera pointed at them both.

After the shoot we retired to the bar to walk through the details of the day and plan my coverage of their wedding and get to know a little more about the details you can only find out closer to the day.

They are getting married later this month, and I’m really looking forward to their wedding. Here are some of the images….

Gemma and Kristian snuggle up on the fountain at Rhinefield House

Another shot at the fountain with Gemma and Kristian looking back at Rhinefield

A view back to the house across the ornamental lake - the window you can see is at the end of the great hall

The famous blue Rhinefield House gates at the end of the lake

A slightly different portrait of Gemma

Gemma and Kristian grab a kiss near one of Rhinefield House's statues

It was of course a wonderful day but the weather played havoc with guests arriving with gusty winds and driving rain interspersed with sunny calm period to throw a little confusion into the melting pot. We scouted suitable location early morning on arrival and had a couple of spots indoors selected which in consultation with Katie rapidly got prioritised to any formal photographs to be taken in-front of the amazing fireplace in the great hall. As this was the room for both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast it gave a tight but manageable 25 minutes to set up some lighting in this tricky location and to work through the list that the couple had provided. With this all agreed between us, the duty management of the hotel and our Toastmaster for the day Michael Judd we went back on plan and started to cover getting ready and the arrival of the guests.

Some lovely light kept breaking out into the room Katie was having her wedding hair and makeup done in, and we got some lovely relaxed images, as well as venturing outside with the guys to get groom portraits and show off a little of the wonderful location. It was soon time for the ceremony and the room looked amazing – flowers by Lynda Robson at Exclusively Weddings were wonderful as usual and with a Christmas tree and decorations it was festive as well. The registers were flexible and great to work with and this enabled some great moments before a rapid turnaround and controlled speed shooting to get the formal family photographs, allowing the hotel staff to then setup the breakfast.

A break in the weather allowed for some lovely shots in the orangary, before heading out to the back of the Rhinefield House Hotel for some informal portraits of Katie and Lee in the warm sunlight – once we had found some shelter from the wind ! After this everyone relaxed and we dropped into pure documentary wedding photography for the remainder of the day.

Coverage of the speeches and first dance followed but my selection of images today concentrate on the early part of the day. I hope you like them.

Katie gets ready, the light from the window reflecting beautifully back into her face

Lee outside the entrance of the Rhinefield House Hotel

One of Exclusively Weddings stunning floral arrangements in the great hall

Katie's father gives her hand in marriage to Lee during the lovely service in the great hall at Rhinefield House

They did - Katie and Lee are man and wife

Indoor formal photographs in-front of the large stone and wood fireplace in the great hall at Rhinefield House

Katie in a more relaxed pose outside with a typical Rhinefield backdrop

Hampshire Toastmaster Michael Judd with gavel

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