GRETTON CHURCH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

I first met Sara and Josh when I photographed Sara’s brother’s Kelmarsh Hall wedding. We got on well on the day, and they liked the way I floated around, looking for those interactions between guests that make for great photographs. They thought I’d be a good fit for their Gretton Church wedding.

Sara & Josh at Sara’s brother’s wedding

Just a month later, we were sat together in the Shout Weddings & Events showroom talking about Sara & Josh’s own big day!

COVID Strikes

Like so many weddings, theirs was hit by COVID. I think we had four different wedding dates, but, not only that, Sara & Josh elected to change their wedding venue, too, having been able to save up some extra cash in the meantime.

So, what should have been a summer 2020 wedding eventually ended up being a summer 2022 wedding.

Bride & Groom Prep – Gretton

Sara’s family hail from Gretton, Northamptonshire, and St James the Great church in the village was the location for the legally-binding part of the day. As such, it made complete sense for Sara to get ready at the family home there.

In addition to that, Josh would be getting ready just around the corner at Sara’s other brother’s house. I’d got Klaudia with me (up to the end of the church portion of the day) to second shoot, and she primarily focused on Josh and the boys during the morning.

There were lots of friendly, familiar faces from Lily & Sean’s wedding back in 2019, and bridal prep went incredibly smoothly.

Make-up artist Natalie Wood makes Sara look perfect

Hugs for the bride!

Personalised wedding card

The bouquets and button holes were lovingly created by Eden Flowers from Thrapston.

Cheers!

Bridesmaids ready!

When there aren’t enough holes in the belt!

Josh gets suited and booted into his Vow Bridal supplied outfit for the day.

Sara’s chief bridesmaid secures her into her stunning wedding dress

Mirrors are great for bridal prep pictures.

Sara negotiates the stairs as she get used to dragging her gorgeous wedding dress around

Emotional reactions from Sara’s mum as she gets a first look of her daughter in her wedding dress, Gretton Church wedding ready!

Well, what do you think?

A very proud Father of the Bride gets a first look at his daughter on her wedding day

Sara’s gorgeous wedding dress in all its glory

There was a slight issue with the wedding car, but the provider did a great job of sourcing a replacement as quickly as possible, and Sara’s arrival at the church was only a little later than planned.

Wedding guests start to assemble outside Gretton Church

Quite a crowd had gathered outside St James The Great Church Gretton awaiting Sara’s arrival

One of the floral arrangements for this Gretton Church wedding supplied by Village Green Blossoms.

Beautiful homemade confetti

The delay caused one small guest to get a little restless

Sara’s replacement wedding car arrives at St James The Great Church, Gretton

Sara’s dad helps her out of her Vanden Plas Princess wedding car ahead of her Gretton Church wedding

Sara takes a moment to say hello to well wishers

Sara and her dad make the short walk to her Gretton Church wedding

Gretton Church Wedding – St James The Great Church, Gretton

St James the Great Church is a beautiful building. Conducting the ceremony was vicar Paul Frost, who I’ve worked with many times at other churches in and around Corby. His very relaxed nature really does help beautiful pictures to flow – something that’s not always the case in church wedding settings.

Josh patiently awaits the arrival of his intended

Sara’s bridesmaids walk down the aisle ahead of her Gretton Church wedding

The bride and the father-of-the bride walk down the St James The Great Church, Gretton, aisle

Someone looks quite pleased that his beautiful bride has arrived

Sara places Josh’s ring on the tip of his finger

You may kiss the bride! – Gretton Church Wedding

A moment to sit and relax – Gretton Church Wedding

It was all too much for Sara & Josh’s son

The congregation listen intently to a reading

Gretton Church wedding day prayers

The beautiful organ in St James The Great Church, Gretton

Bride, groom and witnesses after completing the wedding day paperwork. Table decoration by Village Green Blossoms.

The bride and groom after the formal part of their Gretton Church wedding

High 5s from some of the younger guests

Like mother, like daughter

Congratulations

Bridal party and groom outside St James The Great Church Gretton

Sara & Josh wanted to do some of their group shots at the church, but before that, we did the obligatory confetti throw.

When you go in a bit heavy-handed with the confetti and immediately regret it!

The kind of reaction we’re actually looking for from the confetti shot

Sara and Josh’s son finally wakes up from his nap

On my way into the church, I’d noticed that the tree next to the church gates created a perfect frame for the church itself. I thought we should get all of the guests lined up along the fence, Sara & Josh at the front, with the church in the background. It worked perfectly!

Sara & Josh share a kiss on their Gretton Church wedding day as all their guests line up against the railings, with the church providing the perfect backdrop.

The newlyweds in front of St James The Great Church after their Gretton Church wedding

While the ceremony had been taking place, the original wedding car had made it to the church.

Sara & Josh pose for a shot with the VW Campervan

Sara finally gets to experience her VW Campervan wedding day transport

That meant that the newlyweds were able to travel to the venue for the remainder of their Rutland Hall Hotel wedding day in the vehicle they had actually chosen for the occasion.

Sara & Josh share a little kiss in the VW Campervan before heading off to Rutland Hall Hotel

You can read about that in a separate wedding blog next time.

SEARCHING FOR YOUR OWN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

If you’ve not already done so, please take a look at my WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES – Karl Drage, Northampton Wedding Photographer.

For more information on what happens when you decide you want me to photograph your wedding, please see: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY by Karl Drage – How I Work

While every wedding is different, there are certain elements which are usually broadly similar. Take a look at a typical wedding day to see the thought processes I’m likely to employ for your big day.

There’s much more work involved in photographing a wedding than just rocking up and taking the pictures. I’ve put together this guide to explain why wedding photography can seem expensive but it’s really not.

I’ve also put together this wedding photography FAQ list and my responses – Questions you should ask a wedding photographer!