Vicky and James - Piddinghoe Church/Pelham House
What a beautiful spring day we had for this lovely couples wedding. March can have very unpredictable weather, it can be snowy or rainy, but luckily we had glorious sunshine. It was so warm I didn’t need a coat, and that’s a big deal for me.
The wedding ceremony took take place at a 12th century, Grade 1 listed church in Piddinghoe. The reception afterwards was held at Pelham House, a 16th century renovated town house in Lewes. I really had a history lesson that day.
My day started at Pelham House, as the bride and her squad were getting ready there. Pelham House has a separate building where you can do this, away from all the preparations for the celebrations later. Claire from Modern Vintage wedding hair and make up was finishing off the brides make up. The beautiful lace fitted wedding dress from WED2B in Brighton was hanging up, and sparkly shoes were scattered everywhere. The two adorable flower girls were all ready in their powder blue floral dresses. They were angels all day, and were brilliant at having their photographs taken.
When everyone was ready we all made our way to the Church, grabbing the stunning exotic bouquets on our way. They were made by Lily’s Florist in Peacehaven.
Piddinghoe Church is a beautiful church, It has a stunning bell tower, stained glass windows, and a lovely vista of the River Ouse. And on this day the churchyard was full of daffodils.
When we arrived everyone was waiting in the church, except for the couple’s beautiful children, and the bridesmaids. They went in first, with the bride following on the arm of her very proud father.
The sun shone through the stained glass windows and it filled the church with soft dappled light. It wasn’t the best for photographs, but it does make the church look beautiful and serene. It was a traditional church service with hymns and a lovely reading, read by the brides aunt. After the service, it was outside in the Spring sunshine for Confetti throwing, and the group and newlyweds photographs.
I like to start off with the photographs of everybody, and then smaller groups until you get down to it being the happy couple and me. This way not everyone has to hang around, groups can go and make their way to the hotel or get a drink etc.
I think it’s important that the couple have this quiet time. It’s their first moment that it’s only them (and me) since they tied the knot, all the stress, all the planning has built to this moment, and now it’s over. It’s now time to relax, have fun and enjoy being with your loved ones, and celebrating this happy event.
After the photographs at the church were finished, and some Champagne was drunk (not by me), we left to go to the reception at Pelham House in Lewes. We had such warm weather that everyone was able to have drinks outside on the terrace. The bride had a brilliant idea of a picnic hamper that was filled with (non messy) food for all the children. This liminal space after the wedding ceremony and before the wedding breakfast can be a bit of a chore for the young ones, but it wasn’t for these little legends as they spent the time having fun by repeatedly rolling down the slope in the grounds. I’m sure there must have been plenty of grass stains to get out of some very pretty dresses. All the children were so well behaved and they were a pleasure to be around.
I then briefly took the couple away from the drinks and canapés for photographs on the sweeping staircase inside the house. We did what every couple that gets married there did and took photographs on the beautiful picturesque windows at the top of the stairs, above it on the ceiling has a striking hand-painted trompe-l'œil mural.
My couples like me to also take natural and candid photographs of their guests enjoying their day. It is a nice contrast to the more posed group and family shots. I do enjoy taking these photographs as everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves. This enables me to focus on the guests. Everyone always makes such an effort and care with their wedding outfits, so it’s nice to be able to take the time to appreciate them, as sometimes on the day the couple are too busy to notice all of those details. There were some fabulous outfits at this wedding. The grooms mother was a particular favourite of mine. She looked outstanding in a royal blue dress with a red hat and matching red shoes and bag. There were some other fabulous outfits, from a silky emerald green dress to a brightly coloured floral suit. They were a very cool group of guests. Unbeknownst to me the at the time (until I looked through my camera lens) that the guest list was even cooler than I had originally thought as Liam Gallagher from Oasis was one of the guests. He was sporting an aubergine suit with a bouclé brown coat. If only we could all be as cool and iconic!
It was soon time for the wedding breakfast, speeches and cutting the cake. The bride had some how found the time between, three children, two jobs and organising a wedding to make a three tiered, multi flavoured wedding cake. Not only did it look stunning it also tasted delicious.
It was then the disco and the first dance, which the couple were dreading. It’s funny how traditions at weddings can make you do something you feel uncomfortable about. I think nowadays that it is your big day and you should choose what traditions to take forward and do, and what ones you want to leave behind. You need to feel as relaxed and as happy as you can. If you can’t make your wedding day about you, when can you?!
I had a thoroughly wonderful day at this wonderful couples wedding, I had taken lots of beautiful photographs, had some delicious food, I’d been given a big bag of flying saucers and fizzy cola bottle sweets to take home, and I met lots of lovely people including a rock star. If Carlsberg did weddings…
