Young at heart
When Caroline contacted me a few weeks before her wedding [yes, you read that correctly – only a few weeks before the wedding!] she started off by stating that she was an older bride but was very young at heart. I love this attitude and her positive outlook resulted in a fun wedding with lots of smiles.
This marriage had been planned at short notice for pragmatic as well as romantic reasons. Caroline and William were shortly about to relocate to France and wanted to capitalise on William’s Irish passport which meant the couple could both enjoy the benefits that being a EU citizen has to offer in France.
Shotgun wedding or not, their nuptials had not been arranged purely for reasons of convenience and as a bystander you could tell they were very much in love.
She had told me that she wanted to hire someone who is particularly into documentary style wedding photography and reportage. As she is a fellow spaniel owner and my own partner is called Caroline we concluded that we were well matched!
Ceremony
The friendly registrars at Bodicote House (Banbury registry office) clearly got the memo about the relaxed wedding vibe as they struck a very easy-going tone for the ceremony and vows. This mood continued throughout the course of their day.
Bodicote House is a small and colourful registry office which is perfect for small to medium-size wedding parties (there were about 40 guests).
After C & W’s guests had assembled and found their seats in the ceremony hall, the bride and groom were due to be led down the aisle by C’s 4-year old granddaughter.
The young flower girl appeared to have slightly misunderstood her role in the proceedings and instead hovered behind the couple until they eventually re-maneuvered hands and positioned her back in front of them – amidst a lot of smiling and laughing all round!
The smiles continued throughout the exchange of vows and wedding rings.
At the end of the ceremony C’s granddaughter needed another little point to indicate that she was due to lead the way back down the aisle this time!
Fawsley Hall
The reception was held a short drive away in Fawsley Hall, a historic country estate in Northamptonshire. Driving into the grounds of Fawsley you are struck by its grandeur and regal past; it has been a royal manor since the 7th century, with building work on the current house beginning in 1416.
The most impressive room at Fawsley Hall is undoubtedly the Tudor Great Hall. Guests can also choose to stay overnight in the ‘Queen’s Chamber’ which played host to Queen Elizabeth I in 1575.
Reception
C&W held their reception in the Salvin Boardroom which displays a number of Tudor paintings and huge windows overlooking Fawsley’s grounds.
Notwithstanding the grand surroundings this was an informal celebration. During the sit-down meal the guests freely mingled between courses and the atmosphere was laid-back and relaxed.
I always enjoy observing the in-between moments at weddings; the natural interactions between guests when they are simply chatting to each other and enjoying the day. This is where documentary style wedding photography really comes alive.
Their wedding cake had been spiked with a cheeky image of the groom’s face!
I knew the couple were not really into posing (like most of my couples) but I’m glad that I managed to get them to sneak out of their reception for 5 minutes during the middle of their wedding meal. Its usually best to find a quiet time to take these kind of portrait photos – without being intrusive or taking too much of the couple’s precious time. Here they are in the archway of Fawsley gardens shortly before twilight.
Without any prompting William decided he would sweep Caroline up into his arms which made for a dynamic shot.
Speeches
The speeches from the best man and the bride’s son all gave a sense of how close-knit C&W’s respective families were, and of how much they were looking forward to their new life together in France (and of hosting friends and family out there).
After her earlier flower-girl and ring-bearer responsibilities, the bride’s granddaughter decided she wanted to take her turn with the public speaking. Overcoming a few nerves she whispered her own short speech to thank the guests for attending.
This was a fun, informal and impromptu wedding celebration.
Kind words
“Thank you for the photos. They are truly lovely.
I don’t know if you realised some years ago my daughter used to be a wedding photographer. She thinks your photos are very good also which from her is praise indeed!”