The Secret Garden Wedding – Laura & Jacob
Deliberating on a blog post today I decided to feature the wedding of Laura and Jacob that I photographed at The Secret Garden in March a couple of years ago. Looking back at this wedding I remember it had originally been scheduled for the 18th February but nature had other plans!
Like we’ve had recently, high winds were forcast for the day of the wedding and because of the location, the venue had to make the tough decision to cancel. Poor Laura was so stressed as it’s not just her and Jacob having to rearrange plans but also all the suppliers and guests. The Secret Garden could hold their ceremony but not their reception so they had to travel to The Crown Lodge for that, which worked out fine in the end. Incidentally I’ve just seen they have some great deals for early 2024 weddings!
Thankfully I had the 4th March free so could move the date without issue. They had decided on my Essentials Package so I was with them for roughly 4 hours which is perfect for getting the main events of the day.
Laura arrived in a beautiful old classic car with her dad and looked fabulous. Her fur stole was just what was needed on this slightly overcast spring day. Their daughter, who is clearly the apple of both their eyes, looked equally lovely in her pretty little flower girl dress. The wedding ceremony took place in The Glass House, which can be quite tight for me to move at times with trees, tables and registras, but a beautiful little space nonetheless.
The drizzle abated for a while so everyone took the opportunity to move outside. Jacob and Laura had decided they didn’t want any formal group photos so I was able to spend my time on looking for the ‘moments’. Because of the cloud cover the light was soft and flattering, which is evident in the photos. As a photographer you sometimes want high contrast with harsh light and shadows and other times not. Overall I’d argue it’s easier when the light is like this.
After some time to enjoy drinks at the first venue it was time to head off to The Crown Lodge. This is another lovely spot, right on top of the Wye downs where the views are wonderful. The children were happy in the side room that had been converted into a soft play area for the afternoon.
Afternoon tea was the choice of wedding breakfast, as with lots of little ones attending it wasn’t going to be a late night of partying. The food looked delicious and they even presented it as a little teddy bears picnic for the little ones, complete with teddy bear!
With this underway and the first dance already done it was my time to leave. I really hope to photograph here again this year so do get in touch if you’re looking for your wedding photographer!
Click below to view more Crown Lodge & Secret Garden Weddings:-