On Saturday, I drove down the road to Ston Easton, a little village not far from me and home to a favourite venue of mine, Ston Easton Park.
Emily was having a wander around when I arrived, having just got back from the hairdressers so it was great timing to say hello and then head upstairs to have her make up done and get dressed. I love the lighting at Ston Easton, because the lovely big windows give just gorgeous soft light which is really nice for people pictures. Emily had her make up done in her parents’ room, meanwhile, bridesmaids Hayley and Becky were just along the corridor getting ready as well. Emily’s mum Theresa came very well prepared with a picnic and Becky cracked open the Bucks Fizz – so the celebrations were off to a great start!
Emily and Rob had booked a horse drawn carriage to take her down to the church and them both back up to the house afterwards. I caught a glimpse of it outside waiting as I drove off to the church and thought what huge horses they were! Over at the church, the weather had turned but fortunately the shower turned out to be brief and it cleared soon enough leaving Rob and best man Phil free to chat to guests as they arrived.
I have been blessed all season with fantastic vicars who have been really helpful and have appreciated that it’s my job to get the best set of pictures possible for the couple, without disturbing the ceremony in any way or being obtrusive at all of course. Anyway, on Saturday, this wasn’t the case and I was basically banned from taking anything in the church after the first hymm, which I knew wasn’t what Emily and Rob wanted at all and would leave a huge gap in their coverage. I decided to go with the flow, not say anything and stayed well back in the church – very quietly taking what I could during the service. I don’t think anyone, including the vicar, noticed at all, so I felt I had done the best job possible given the circumstances!
After the ceremony, the heavens opened again so we retreated inside the church for a few minutes until luckily it stopped and Emily and Rob were able to get in the carriage and make their way back down to the house. We then managed to duck the showers to get Emily and Rob’s family pictures done outside and some lovely ones of the two of them before the rain closed in and everyone headed inside. Ston Easton is such a comfortable venue – guests just made themselves at home in the lounges and enjoyed the Champagne and canapes.
The meal was a jolly affair with the children (and some adults!) loving the bubbles on the tables and everyone enjoying the food. Afterwards it was time for the speeches and cake, followed by a very well choreographed first dance!
Here are some favourites from their day:
