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What can we say about February that doesnt include the word Cold? It’s not January? It is the month of Valentines Day? It’s “nearly springtime”?
How about a bunch of people who are so warm and loving you forget about the cold? How about a couple so hot, someone called the fire brigade. How about Matt and his boys scrubbing up most excellently and giving off totally sophisticated, style vibes. How about Liz and her gorgeous bridesmaids. And How about THAT dress!!
I could blah all you like about Hedsor House., one of my absolute favourite venues, and party central for the likes of David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Elton John, Jason Statham, George Clooney, Keira Knightley, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse and Nick Grimshaw. I could waffle on about the 100 acres of private parkland, that is barely skipping distance from London with jaw-dropping wonderful views of the house and the Buckinghamshire countryside, and exquisitely styled interiors, and it being the perfect setting for relaxed and truly cinematic wedding videography. And it would all be true. But the real take out from the day was the people. Liz and Matt are two lovely, lovely young people who joined together two really wonderful families in a simple and tasteful ceremony, some superb speeches and an absolute monster of a party.
And really, watch the films and you feel see the spirit and energy that everyone gave to this most awesome day. Congratulations, guys x
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It’s cold, it’s dark, it’s a fortnight before Christmas and no more shoots until the new year. For a lot of people, that is the perfect scenario. Curl up with a tree trunk full of nuts and start your squirrely hibernation. Or hit the town partying. But not me. I love shooting weddings, whether it’s photography or videography or both. I got two weeks without a shoot and my feet get itchy.
So when the call came in from my wonderful super-talented planner pal Andri at Always Andri saying there was a last minute call for a wedding videographer in London, I was over the moon.
A week later, and with the grey of Central London sparkled up with Christmas Decorations and lights, I hit the amazing Taj 51, a super-cool 5-star apartment block in Buckingham Gate, a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace and Mayfair where both Ezmaii and Jordan, in adjoining suites, were getting ready. Working alongside the super talented wedding photography team of The Harphams we soon got into the creative collaboration groove, getting some neat shots of Ezmaii’s fabulous dress in the ornate Taj doorway. Covid had dealt a harsh blow, taking a beloved relative, on top of which this was the couple’s fourth attempt at getting married. Talk about the power of love.
With groom and bride prep over, with as always, scant minutes for bridal portrait videography we taxied over to the amazing venue; the super regal and historic The Banquetting House on Whitehall.
The grandest and best known survivor of the banquetting house genre of architecture that were constructed purely for elaborate entertaining. It is the only remaining component of the Palace of Whitehall the residence of English monarchs from 1530 until it was burned to the ground in a terrible fire that raged for 17 hours. Completed in the neo-classical style that was to transform English architecture, The Baquetting House was designed by Inigo Jones. Less than thirty years later King Charles I was beheaded just outside. Which is jolly.
To say it is an imposing, historic and magnificent building is a bit of an understatement. The grandeur and opulence and space is almost overwhelming. The highlight for me, and I was so glad to get clear sweeping shots of it as I filmed the build up to the ceremony, is that glorious Rubens ceiling.
The ceremony itself was both grand and touching and surprisingly intimate for such an austere and palatial venue. These were two very real humans very much in love. And love was so clearly evidenced by the wonderful friends and family present, who mingled afterwards in the delightful cellar space while the hall was changed over for the formal, and somewhat regal wedding breakfast.
While that was happening, we zipped out onto Whitehall itself for a brisk wedding couple portrait videography and photography session, managing to taking in Big Ben and Nelson’s column, along with the Queen’s Guards and of course, those cultural stalwarts, Red London Buses and Black Cabs.
Back in the hall, the speeches were touching and funny, while the band that came after put a proper zip into the first dance and a party that would herald Christmas and the first day of the rest of the blessed happy lives of this truly remarkable and lovely couple. Congratulations Ezmaii and Jordan x
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Who doesn’t love the New Forest? Covering nearly 600 square kilometres of Hampshire and Wiltshire, it is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pature, heath and forest in Southern England, Proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, it has remained remarkably unspoiled since it’s appearance in the Doomsday Book. Arriving the night before I had a lovely drive through winding country lanes, keeping a slow pace to avoid sheep, wild ponies and deer. It is bucolic heaven.
Matt and Hannah had chosen Burley Manor for their wedding ceremony and reception, a stunning baronial-style manor house set within an eight-hundred year old estate and surrounded by rolling countryside and Burley Park, a New Forestred deer sanctuary. Don’t believe me? They are in the film. That’s right. Say I Do at Burley and the Deer will come, invited or not.
We had plenty of time on the day in this super-chilled venue - where by the way you can grab yourself a spa weekend if getting married isnt yet on your agenda, or if you’ve already tied the knot - and I was happy to be able to grab not only groom and bride prep, but also some stunning Bridal Portrait Videography with Hannah’s bridesmaids, ahead of the ceremony itself.
The ceremony was one of charming simplicity and rustic vibes, with a really cute accoustic duet playing Here Comes The Sun by The Beatles as Hannah walked down the aisle, beautiful in white.
When it came to changeover, there were candles and flowers and an almost village feel to the relaxed wedding breakfast, in the sunny, light and airy space. We had enough time too for the couples wedding portrait videography and photography not to be rushed, which is always nice, before a lovely first dance to All the Time in the World by Louis Armstrong, followed by a chilled party.
Congratulations Hannah and Matt x
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Oh Hedsor. Hedsor House. How we love you.
It’s not simply that everything is one place, nor that the rooms where bride and groom can get ready are sumptuous and spacious and filled with light and packed with creative opportunities. Nor simply that there are so many little nooks and crannies and lush bordered spaces for wedding portrait photography and videography, or that the views out over the Buckhinghamshire Hills and the prospect of a perfect sunset are all there. Nor the classical lines of the building, the perfect squared-off rectangle with balcony of ceremony room and dance floor. Nor all the hundred and one perfect venue boxes ticked. Quiet simply, it is just a perfect, harmonious, classy, comfy, easily accessible and friendly wedding venue. And it looks like a million dollars.
Speaking of a million dollars, may I introduced Charlotte and Rhys. Several calls were made that day to the fire brigade because, you know, just too much hotness going on here. What a gorgeous-looking couple. And not just gorgeous-looking, but really lovely people too, as were their friends, guests and family.
So. Hedsor. Fabulous, sophisticated Hedsor. What do you want to know? Yes it’s a luxury wedding venue, slap in the heart of leafy Buckhinghamshire. Yes it’s a Georgian mansion eye candy with over 100 acres of private parkland, and barely skipping distance from London. The grounds give wonderful views of the house and the countryside, and the interiors are spacious and exquisitely styled, making the perfect setting for stylish and relaxed and truly cinematic wedding videography. You really do feel like you’re on a movie set. Which, in a manner of speaking you are. Because yes it has been a movie set for Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Dame Maggie Smith, Johnny Depp and Tom Hardy. It could be the movie set for your wedding too, of course.
An italianate mansion overlooking The Thames, Hedsor can trace its roots back to 1066. That’s older than ME! A one-time royal residence for George III’s mother, it can be reached by taking a kilometer-long private drive through the lush Grade II listed parkland that surrounds it.Notable for many celebrity parties , Hedsor can boast a roll call of guest names that reads like who’s who of cool; David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Elton John, Jason Statham, George Clooney, Keira Knightley, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse and Nick Grimshaw.
And speaking of cool, my super hot couple Charlotte and Rhys tied the knot in elegant and relaxed style. The ceremony was modest but stylish, with two very moving speeches by their wonderful friends. And the wedding breakfast speeches later on, in the wood-panelled dining room, were uproarious and engaging. We found plenty of time and space and light for family group photography and videography, and - before cake cut - some super relaxed wedding portrait photography and videography, before it was time for a rocking first dance to Queen’s This Thing Called Love. Not every wedding has a proper kicking party, but this was not every wedding, and with a live band and a crowd of excellent revellers, this was a proper wild shindig to end a gorgeous sunny autumn wedding day.
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Cambridgeshire. Gently undulating hills. Luscious countryside. And nestling down a private road, the nicest, chillest, light-and-airiest barn venue you could hope to find. Welcome to Bassmead Manor Barns.
Boasting a medieval moat this once ancient manor house is now a charming, elegant family-owned barn venue. The 300-year-old traditional, beamed barn evinces history and tradition while the bright and comfortable contemporary dining and party spaces are contemporary and relaxed. The management and staff are super-helpful and efficient. Honestly, there are few spaces so easy to get married in, or to deliver relaxed wedding videography. I had a great day, not least because Claire and Richard were such a lovely, easy-going couple, but also because Bassmead is… well also lovely and easy-going.
Up and coming star, wedding singer Roxy Searle really set the scene with her fantastic, chilled accoustic cover versions of some really moving classic pop songs. The ceremony boasted two really heartfelt family readings, and the bright and comfy bride and groom prep rooms gave a little haven of peace when the excitement threatened to be a little too much.
The speeches were a joy - the wedding breakfast room floods with light in a way that few do. No one was blinded or uncomfortable; the windows face east and west, and staff and wedding coordinators are aware of the issues low sun can cause and are on it. Brilliant. And when it comes to shooting romantic wedding portrait photography and videography, there are so many lovely spaces, flowering borders, the twinkling lights of the little walkway bridge over the moat, the surrounding countryside, orchard and buildings that give it the kind of backdrop reminiscent of a Gainsborough painting. Looking back over these wedding films, was the pace that the day invited, where a chilled vibe and the right people and space could make for perfect cinematic wedding videography. I loved the place and I loved my couple and on such a perfect, sunny Autumn day too. Congratulations Claire and Richard x
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Now I don’t want to say too much more about Kerry and Artem’s completely fabulous, totally London wedding, because you may well have read about it in their photography blog. If you want to know more about the In And Out club or about the beautiful Fitzrovia Chapel where they held their wedding ceremony, or indeed about any of the day’s classy shenaningans and the gorgeous wedding photography they let me inflict on them, then click here
Suffice it to say for this little blog post, these two went for the high class, high value option of the Simple Combined Package and got a whole load of goodies for their wedding photography and videography .
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Curradine Barns! I had wanted to shoot at Curradine Barns for, like, forever. And if you knew how old I am, you’d know just how long forever feels like. Actually I’m not that old. I have the body of a 22-year-old. I keep it in the freezer. Um… where was I? Ah yes, blogging a wedding. And not just any wedding. The wedding of just the sweetest two people.
Curradine is a bit of a special place. Nestled in the picturesque village of Shrawley, amidst acres of rolling countryside, hedgerow and cornfields, it’s the perfect intimate Worcestershire wedding venue. The bridal suite is spacious yet cosy, and I think really that is the feel of the whole place. I isn’t just another wedding barn. There are little nooks and crannies and break out spaces, and plenty of room for cake and sweetcart. As a wedding videographer, I particularly like its rustic style, original features and neutral colour palette, and especially the wedding breakfast space - the Barley Barn - where a bank of fairy lights adorns the beams. And the little gardens and arbors with pretty borders and shrubbery, so perfect for bridal portrait photography and videography. Oh and the team who co ordinate are efficiency personified. And really nice people too.
Working alongside my great pal, the immensely talented and award-winning wedding photographer Paul Willets we had an absolute blast shooting with Natasha and Dean, who were really game to try things and let us do our thing. Despite the almost non-stop rain, we sill managed to get the drone up, as you can see, and everyone still managed to make it feel like the summer that August 2021 so very nearly wasnt.
I could say Natasha looked beautiful, that Dean looked handsome, that the speeches were moving and sweet, that the wedding ceremony in the barn was so moving Tash almost broke down in tears, that the party was fun, that the day was fabulous. I could say it all, but rather than take my word for it, why not check out the films below?
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Sometimes at a wedding, you get a really great crowd, people who instantly feel like friends. Because they’re friendly, right? Because they’re good people. That was the case when I shot the wedding film of Natasha and Josh in 2017. But this is 2021, you say. This is the wedding of Laura and Sam. That’s right. And what happened was, we had such a blast and made such a lovely film at Natasha’s fabulous multicultural wedding that when Josh’s brother Sam came to tie the knot, they called me up. You game? You bet!
Laura’s bridal prep was in the family home, The Old Pool House, and catching up with Natasha and the girls after nearly four years was just lovely. Bacon sarnies all round. I didnt film that bit though.
Then it was on to the absolutely charming St Mary’s Church, perched up on the hill - conveniently named Church Hill, in the quaint village of East Isley in Newbury. The boys had been getting ready and getting beers at the pub at the bottom of the hill, so it was a pinch to grab some cool shots of their groom prep
An absolute babe of a vicar made life very easy and very laid-back as glorious summer sunlight flooded the nave, which, amazingly dates from the 12th century, as does the unusual nine-sided font. This little two-cell structure was given to the Knights Templar by King John in 1199. The warrior monks largely rebuilt the place in about 1240, replacing the chancel and adding the south aisle. The tower was built on the end of the nave in the 14th century, but the north aisle only dates from 1845. So, you know, it is quite old. Older than me.
After a storm of confetti outside, we bundled into our cars for a twenty minute joyous rural drive to The Pot Kiln, an adorable little pub nestling in the Berkshire countryside, with cows and fields and, conveniently, a big marquee set up for partying. Because, along with riotous speeches, these guys definitely knew how to party.
There was time enough to slip in some romantic wedding portrait photography and videography before the sun went down, which was just lovely, but the highlight will still be the party, which featured a fantastic folk-rock fusion band and a DJ set boasting a fabulous playlist of eighties classic hits. Great crowd, great day, and - we think anyway - great films!
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How does a London Wedding Filmmaker end up shooting in Tadcaster? And where is Tadcaster you might well ask? The other side of Leeds, my friend, in the frozen North. Although the warmth of Tom and Bex’s friends and family could thaw the coldest day. And, while it was actually raining the day I shot their wedding films, it was also the summer, and good and warm.
But I still havent answered the question, have I? It’s a bit of a shaggy dog tale, but I’ll try and cut to the chase. One time, I’m driving my daughter back from university in Durham, up the long and winding road of the A1, when we run low on petrol and are miles from a service station. We pull off into a little country lane for the nearest petrol station, just in time for a rainbow to come out behind the John Smith’s brewery, which is what Tadcaster is famous for. Fast forward three months and I get an email from Bex’ twin sister who has googled and googed wedding videographers, and my SEO being so poor, she has had to go through pages of stuff to get to someone she likes. And she likes me! And I’m thinking, ‘shoot a wedding video in Tadcaster and use it as an excuse to visit my daughter’. Boom!
So anyway, shall I get on with telling you about the wedding? Bex and Tom live in a farmhouse. Proper rustic stuff with an arga and rain water dripping into a barrel and everything. Dont get me wrong, it’s not like something out of a novel about eighteenth century rural poverty. The interior is super stylish, with tasteful fittings and furniture, bespoke colonial shutters and designer furniture. Except for the bits they havent got round to that is. But a fabulous space it is, and shooting bridal prep with ace photographer Nicholas Teal up in the converted loft was just an absolute joy.
Then onto the church, St Andrews in Newton Kyme, a beautiful old church which dates from… well no one is really sure. I squeezed several local expert types and they all gave various 1600-type dates. Suffice it to say it is OLD. Older than ME. And you get to it through a rickety venerable wrought iron gate and across two hundred metres of bumpy grassland and an ocean of sheep pool. You gotta love this stuff, or not love the country at all. And I absolutely loved it.
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After a beautiful, classic Church of England wedding service, which was not without some giggling from the front row, we hiked back through the sheep poo, scared a few sheep, and boarded the routemaster bus, in the rain, back to Bex and Tom’s house, where they had set up a Yurt for the revelries.
There followed, fantastic food, fantastic heartfelt speeches and an absolutely riotous party. No one parties quite like the rugby crowd, and these guys and their family gave it their all.
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All in all a fantastic day, and one of my personal favourites. Such a lovely couple, such a lovely crowd, and such a beautiful, rustic setting. Congratulations Rebecca and Tom x
Suppliers:
Photography Nicholas Teal
Yurt: Yorkshire Yurts
Videography by Delirious Weddings
Catering by F4devents
Flowers by Wild Floral Couture
Hair by Lipstick & Curls
Makeup by Elizabeth Amy
Vintage Wedding Bus: York Pullman
and last, but not necessarily least… the speeches:
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