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Rhinefield House and St Annes Church, Brockenhurst for the wedding of Christie and Martin

Mike French — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 18:24:18 +0000

Yesterday was the amazing wedding of Christie and Martin, two dancers from the Northern Ballet Company who were married at St Annes Church in Brockenhurst and then onto Rhinefield House for their wedding reception. I had met Christie and Martin way back in January 2010 at a wedding fair and immediately hit it off with them, and Christie’s family who had also come along. With significant experience of shooting at Rhinefield I was able to show them lots of relevant weddings, and they booked me the day afterwards.

Just under 18 months later, and having met with them for their pre-wedding shoot, and informally on a number of occasions (Martin is a keen photographer) and it was the turn of their wedding, and once which I had been looking forward to for some time. I arrived at Rhinefield House in the morning to photograph Christie getting ready and immediately bumped into Christine who was arranging the flowers for Exclusively Weddings our favourite and the recommended florist at Rhinefield House.

I could tell the weather was picking up while I was covering the preps, and by the time I was outside looking for the guys to photograph it had improved dramatically. The church close by was welcoming and a beautiful service ensued delivered facing the congregation from behind the altar – a first for me in 9 years of shooting weddings.

We returned to Rhinefield and I selected the front of the building to take the formal and family groups taking advantage of the shade, and protection of the wind it afforded. Running up against the time for the receiving line I moved to the rear of the house for a classic group shot of the entire wedding party followed by an image of Christie and Martin and their Northern Ballet colleagues and got a very cool shot of them all striking a pose !

Dinner and speeches ensued with some touching moments, and then I took advantage of some soft evening light to take Christie and Martin for a walk around the gardens for some relaxed and more intimate portraits of them alone before returning them in time for a cake cutting, bouquet toss, and then straight into their first dance which was beautiful. The evening was topped off with a “Frank Sinatra style” singer which got the dancers, and the other guests up onto the dance floor in the Kings Room.

Here are a selection of images from across the day.

Rhinefield House Wedding Photography: Liz and Carl

Mike French — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 12:00:18 +0000

Direct link to online gallery – HERE

Yesterdays wedding was at my favourite venue in the New Forest, Rhinefield House – wedding photography is a pleasure at this venue and once again it didn’t disappoint with a dry day improving throughout and with wonderful light in the great hall. Our last wedding of the year was at Rhinefield House as well, and I was really looking forward to my first of the year.

We were working with two of our favourite wedding suppliers as well, Lynda Robson from Exclusively Weddings a stunning florist, and Helen Spenser my absolute favourite make-up artist who makes bridal getting ready a pleasure with her relaxed approach and love of natural light.

I met up with Liz in the Walker Suite as she was preparing, and with Helen just beginning her work. It was a busy room, and I worked quickly and discreetly to capture some lovely moments as well of details of the dress, shoes and flowers. I left shortly after Liz had completed her make-up to allow her to relax before getting into her dress and went and found the groom, Carl and his bestman and ushers.

The service was really lovely and Carl was visibly moved when her saw Liz coming down the aisle.

After some time in the Kings Room for drinks and congratulatory hugs we moved outside and quickly covered the family and formals groups before taking a walk with just Liz and Carl around the grounds to capture some relaxed moments of just the two of them before heading in to the Great Hall again to see the cake and the room layout.

I left them during dinner and returned for the speeches which culminated in a fantastic poem from bestman Alan about Carl’s stag night – the first time I have heard a rhyming speech from a bestman !

The first dance followed shortly afterwards, and after capturing that and some of the dancing I bade my farewells and left them to enjoy the evening…

Friends and family with the correct password can view the galleries on Liz and Carl’s page.

Here is some of the Rhinefield House Wedding Photography from the day.

Rhinefield House Pre-wedding shoot: Liz and Carl

Mike French — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 19:03:35 +0000

Direct link to online gallery – HERE

We were at Rhinefield House in the New Forest for a pre-wedding shoot earlier today, meeting up with Liz and Carl for some location photography as part of the run-up to their spring wedding at Rhinefield. As usual the House was stunning in the warm afternoon sunlight, and we quickly moved to the gardens at the rear of Rhinefield House to take advantage of the very many areas perfect for a pre-wedding shoot.

We are fortunate enough to photograph quite a few weddings at Rhinefield House every year and really are spoilt for choice but even so there are always a few favourite areas of the grounds which we use because of the light, backgrounds and indeed because they represent and depict Rhinefield House at it’s best. So every pre-wedding shoot we do I try to find a different angle, or feature. I think this year I’m going to be very lucky because I think I’m going to be able to use some wonderful blossom at Liz and Carl’s wedding and two of the images shown here today are test images for when I think the trees are going to be amazing.

Here are some images from todays pre-wedding shoot.

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Rhinefield House Winter Wedding – Libby & Richard

Mike French — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:49:20 +0000

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Libby & Richard at their Rhinefield House winter wedding. This was an intimate wedding with 40 guests based entirely at probably my favourite wedding venue in Hampshire. The day started with a short walk around the grounds to see how icy/snowy the rear lawns and paths were in preparation for any images taken outside and I was greeted with an icy ornamental lake and fountains. There was still a little snow from the fall a week previous but most of the paths and grass was clear. Fortunately it was a sunny day and warmer than the preceding week. As I walked around I took some establishing and detail images of the house and festive interior.

With that done I met up with Libby, her mum and daughter and make-up artist Helen Spenser and we moved to the bridal suite for Libby’s getting ready shots, after which I met up with Richard and his groomsmen for some portraits outside at the front of the house.

A beautiful ceremony followed and after a short while enjoying drinks in the Kings Room with their guests Libby and Richard came outside with me for some formal family portraits and groups which they had requested and then a short walk around some of the stunning locations in the gardens for some more relaxed and contemporary photographs of just the two of them. Typically at this time of year the light dropped quickly and we returned to the Kings Room for a warm up and some more documentary images of the guests enjoying the mulled wine and each others company and the last of the formal groups which were done inside.

It only remained for me to capture the beautiful Great Hall laid out for dinner, and the details of the cake, and favours and decorations before I left Libby & Richard, their family and guests to the wedding breakfast.

Here are some of the images from the day.

Rhinefield House Wedding Album: New display album

Mike French — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:47:11 +0000

We have just designed a new display album from one of our Rhinefield House weddings. Ready in time for this seasons Autumn wedding shows which commence for us on the 5th September at the Botley Park Hotel this album sees the formal introduction of our contemporary storybook wedding albums and design style. We will of course still be offering our highly desired contemporary matted album’s but for 2011 and onwards our couples now have a broader choice than before.

This display album is in two sizes a 12×8″ (A4) and a 14×10″ both identical in design to enable us to show the difference in image sizes and album covers. We will in 2011 be adding a large 16×12″ (A3) album of a different wedding, and with a different cover, to complete the set of available products.

An interior (bridal preparation details) page spread is shown below and I’ll be updating the site with more product images shortly. There is a slideshow of the entire album on the site linked from Gemma and Kristian’s Rhinefield House wedding page.

Rhinefield House pre-wedding shoot: Christie and Martin

Mike French — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:46:39 +0000

Earlier this evening I photographed Christie and Martin’s pre-wedding shoot at the Rhinefield House Hotel in the New Forest.

Although they are not getting married until 2011 Christie and Martin were keen to do their pre-wedding shoot at this time, and it was good timing as well as the grounds will be in similar condition when they get married. It was also great to see them again having initially met at the wedding fair at Botley Park Hotel earlier in the year.

On an overcast day the entire grounds were available for us to use in open soft light and so we walked around most of the extensive rear gardens and also a couple of my favourite spots at the front of the house as well.

Christie and Martin are both dancers and so the posing and acting came naturally, and they are clearly in love making this pre-wedding shoot an absolute delight to photograph, and I’m really pleased with the results. It is amazing how with different couples you can still create unique images and find new locations even in a venue like Rhinefield House where we frequently photograph both pre-wedding shoots and couples weddings.

Here are some of the images from the session, and the full gallery is online with a password that family can request directly from Christie and Martin themselves.

Rhinefield House Hotel reception followed All Saints Church Botley wedding for Rosie and Scott

Mike French — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:28:06 +0000

Our first ever New Years Eve wedding was yesterday at the All Saints Church in Botley and then the reception at the lovely Rhinefield House Hotel in Brockenhurst, New Forest. On a cold but otherwise dry day I started at the church to capture the guests arriving. I had plenty of time to re-familiarise myself with the church which I hadn’t been to for a couple of years before Scott and his groomsmen arrived and they were ushered into the church before Rosie arrived.

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

Pre-wedding shoot complimentary desk frame

Mike French — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:38:50 +0000

Currently all of our wedding packages include a pre-wedding shoot. This shoot is also available to couples who are getting married abroad, and also those who have selected another photographer (or not chosen yet) and who would like some photographs to celebrate their engagement as a separate portrait session.

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.

Rhinefield House pre-wedding shoot: Rosie and Scott

Mike French — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:29:51 +0000

Rhinefield House was the location for todays pre-wedding shoot with Rosie and Scott who are getting married there later in the year. The trip down to the New Forest in Hampshire was uneventful, and I was pleased to see no ill effects from the previous days winds and rain to one of my favourite wedding locations.

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

Wedding photography at Rhinefield House Hotel in Hampshire – Julie and John’s wedding

Mike French — Sun, 25 May 2008 21:51:50 +0000

Todays wedding was at one of my favourite locations for wedding photography in Hampshire the Rhinefield House Hotel in the New Forest – good weather was the least Julie and John deserved on their wedding day and we got it.

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.