It is wonderful when couples share common interests. Both Sophie and Martin embraced this theme: a Lord of the Rings-themed wedding. How exciting! I must admit, this is a first for me.
I've had the pleasure of hosting numerous weddings at Hoyle Court in Baildon, a truly exceptional venue for tying the knot. Visit https://hoylecourt.com to explore this elegant Edwardian-style mansion, complete with impeccably maintained, secluded gardens. Essentially, you have exclusive access to the entire estate.
So, onto the wedding. Beautiful sunny day, possibly a bit too bright for my liking at points throughout the day as the light was sometimes harsh. But I'd much rather have that than wind and rain.
Like I said, the theme was Lord of the Rings, and boy, was it obvious! The reception room was practically screaming, "Welcome to Middle-earth!" with all its little hints.
I'm not entirely sure, but could the sword Martin is holding may be called Andúril from Lord of the Rings? I might be mistaken. Regardless, I wasn't about to debate that with Martin while he had the sword in his hands!
The wedding ceremony was overflowing with emotion! I think I might have spotted Martin trying to hold back tears, though I can't be completely sure. The bridesmaids made their entrance first, gracefully spreading petals down the aisle. And then came Sophie, looking absolutely stunning!
What's the one thing the bride and groom are itching to do after tying the knot? It's that age-old tradition of...
...a well earned drink.
After a quick breather, it was time to dive into the serious business of snapping those formal shots. Every wedding photographer has that one picture that’s trickier than finding a needle in a haystack. For me, it’s the full group shot. So, I like to tackle it before everyone scatters like confetti in the wind. Luckily, since everyone was already outside in the gardens, it wasn’t as much of a circus as I feared!
After the big "everyone say cheese" moment, it was time to break it down into smaller squads. This was like military precision. I had Martin's sister, Laura, as my trusty sidekick to wrangle the next group. Trust me, this is crucial, because the bride and groom have better things to do than wait around while the next group is chomping at the bit to strike a pose with Sophie and Martin.
Snapping a few pics while the next group gets their act together!
On a wedding day, I manage to be present everywhere, leaving no place untouched. Here, you can observe two volunteers, unaware of my discreet presence, until they spotted me.
There were so many kids at the wedding at Hoyle Court. Luckily, the place is big enough to squeeze in a bouncy castle. Way to go, Sophie and Martin, you party geniuses!
Why bother with those stiff, "say cheese" photos of Sophie and Martin when the garden had everything we needed? I prefer catching couples in their natural habitat, being their quirky selves. It's the best when they're whispering sweet nothings—or maybe just inside jokes—to crack each other up!
Then came the speeches and the grand entrance of the newlyweds! The entire room erupted in applause and cheers as they made their way to the top table, creating an atmosphere of excitement and joy!
The speeches were exceptional, and I find myself reiterating each week that they were filled with emotion, humour, and, naturally, expressions of gratitude.
After the speeches, I grab the rings from the bride and groom and run as fast as I can. Obviously, I don't. But it's a good time to get the ring and the cake shots done while they're all eating their wedding breakfast.
Look at the rings, on theme with the wedding. Brilliant.
We were also able to get a few shots with the lads in between courses. Of course, the sword made a cameo. lord of the rings wedding at Hoyle Court wedding. Well its been done now.
Well, there you have it! A half-day wedding extravaganza, and I was there for a solid 5 hours of matrimonial excitement. But what a great day it was! There's nothing like being surrounded by people who are celebrating and having a great time. This wedding was definitely no exception to the rule of fun!
Big thanks to Sophie and Martin for letting me snap their one-of-a-kind wedding moments! Wishing you both a future as bright as your smiles. Keep grinning like you just got away with something!
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