Wedding photographer Archives - Event and Wedding Photography

Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Photography

Karl — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 21:28:48 +0000

Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Photography

Shustoke Farm Barns, a popular wedding venue in the North Warwickshire countryside near Coleshill, offers a breathtaking backdrop for wedding photography on your Big Day. Located close to Birmingham, this venue combines rustic charm and modern elegance, making it a dream location for capturing stunning wedding moments.

With its high ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and grand arched windows, Shustoke Farm Barns is ideal for a wedding photography style that highlights both the beauty of the venue and the emotions of the day. Outside, couples and photographers alike appreciate the lush courtyard, adorned with olive trees and ambient fairy lights, which add a magical touch to outdoor shots.

The venue’s attention to detail and commitment to service make it highly popular among couples, their guests and wedding photographers alike. Shustoke Farm Barns wedding photography captures the essence of romance, enhanced by the venue’s fire pits, cozy seating areas, and enchanting surroundings. This unique setting, coupled with exceptional hospitality, makes Shustoke Farm Barns an unforgettable backdrop for wedding photos that will be treasured for a lifetime.

The Bride and Father of the Bride have a picture with the VW Beatle wedding car outside Shustoke Farms Barns

The stunning Shustoke Farm Barn set up ahead of Shan & Dan’s wedding breakfast

A shot in front of the stunning illuminated tree outside Shustoke Farm Barns is an absolute wedding photography must

Festoon lights hanging from the trees outside Shustoke Farm Barns on Shan & Dan’s wedding day

Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Photography: Shan & Dan

My introduction to Shan & Dan came through a recommendation from a mutual friend. Having never photographed a wedding there before, and with us living a little way away from one another, it made sense to meet up at the venue to get to know one another. We hit it off straight away, and the happy couple went ahead and confirmed they would like me to photograph their wedding there and then.

The Wedding Day: Bridal Prep

Bridal preparations were already well underway when I arrived at Shan & Dan’s beautiful, light and airy home.

We had a great giggle and got lots of beautiful pictures, both indoors and out.

I loved this moment where Shan’s gran grabbed the make-up lady and made her sit on her lap for a piccy!

Groomsman and page boy

Flower girl checking out her make-up in the mirror

Shan’s dad and her brothers having a beer during the bridal prep

The gorgeous bridal bouquet

Shan has the finishing touches applied

Bridesmaids

Shan looking stunning on her way to giving her entourage their first look at her wedding dress

A very proud Father of the Bride gets his first look at his daughter ahead of her Shustoke Farm Barns wedding

Don’t cry! Shan’s bridesmaid attempts to fan the tears!

Shustoke Farm Barns: Wedding Ceremony

With the journey to the venue being a reasonably lengthy one – circa 20 minutes, and the potential for a road closure along the way – I decided to head off ahead of the bridal party and catch their arrival instead.

Wide view of Shustoke Farm Barns on Shan & Dan’s wedding day

Shan and her dad arrive at Shustoke Farm Barns in a VW Beetle

Dan and his groomsmen

One of the loveliest things about the whole day was that Dan’s grandad was his Best Man. I’ve never seen that done before, but I really liked it.

Dan and his Best Man, his grandad – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding

The ceremony room is stunning, there is no getting away from that. It’s incredibly spacious and there’s loads of room to move around and get plenty of angles without getting in the way.

It would be fair to say that Dan was a little emotional even before his bride had appeared down the aisle, but that’s what wedding’s are all about; real emotions.

You may kiss the bride – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Ceremony

With this ring, I thee wed

Let’s do this – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Ceremony

Do you have the rings? – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Ceremony

One of Shan’s bridesmaids wipes away a tear

Turn and face one another

Wedding ceremony support

That’s better!

The Father of the Bride gives his daughter’s hand to the Groom

A reassuring kiss from the Bride to Groom

Emotions take over as Shan makes her way down the aisle – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Ceremony

It was a beautiful ceremony, and before we knew it, Shan & Dan had become husband and wife!

Wedding day paperwork at Shustoke Farm Barns

A hug for the newlyweds from the Bride’s gran

One of the younger members of the audience

We headed back inside briefly after the wedding ceremony for a few couple pics – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding Photography

Shustoke Farm Barns: Drinks Reception & Private Vows

Now, Shan was slightly later arriving for her interview with the registrar than planned, so this part of the day was slightly more compressed than it might otherwise have been.

Congratulations!

Group shot of everybody – Shustoke Farm Barns Wedding

Welcome to the family!

Another really nice element to the day was that Shan & Dan had each written personal vows to one another. They were offered a private room upstairs in which to exchange them. I had the honour of sharing the moment with them. Again, things got quite emotional!

Private couple vows – Shustoke Farm Barns wedding

Group Shots

With the clock ticking around to Wedding Breakfast time, we headed out the front for the group shots.

Bride & Groom shot at Shustoke Farm Barns

Come here, you! – Shustoke Farm Barns

Group shots out the front of Shustoke Farms Barn

Shustoke Farm Barns: Wedding Breakfast

The ceremony room had now been turned around ready for the Wedding Breakfast. It looked amazing.

Wedding breakfast place setting

The on-site catering facilities are quite open plan, so it was interesting to see the final touches being put to the food, which was amazing!

Shustoke Farm Barns wedding catering

As always, there were lots of cute guest interactions to capture, plus of course the speeches and reactions.

Wedding breakfast laughs

Baby snuggles

Speech reactions

Groom’s speech reactions

Best man’s speech reactions

Shots!

Cake Cut & Couple Shots

Once food was over, we did the cake cut, and then I grabbed Shan & Dan for some couple shots. We’d deferred them from earlier due to the time pressures. We had our first play with some smoke.

A simple but elegant wedding cake

Cake cutting

Here, Husband, have some cake!

Newlyweds and small people

Wedding day smoke fun at Shustoke Farm Barns

The party had moved outside while the room was turned around once more for the Evening Reception. The fire pits had been lit, and it was a lovely chilled atmosphere.

Evening guests arrive

Toasting marshmallows over the fire pit

First Dance

We went back inside for the First Dance, and the band superbad played live music.

The newlyweds

First dance

Daddy – Daughter dance

Midlands-based band superbad

Wedding reception dancefloor action

Mummy-son dance

Sparklers and After Dark Play

At the end of their first set, we headed back out front to have a play with some sparklers. Shustoke Farm Barns has these amazing flaming lanterns out there in the evening, and they really helped with the lighting of the sparklers! I loved the results!

Shustoke Farm Barns wedding day sparkler fun

We sent everybody else back inside, and we went for another wander. Shustoke Farm Barns has a load of fab festoon lights hanging from the trees, that just worked brilliantly with what we were trying to achieve.

The Shustoke Farm Barns festoon lights even work really well in black and white

Silhouetted couple shot against the wall of Shustoke Farm Barns

We also had a play with the smoke again, my portable studio lights and other lighting we could find in the area around the front of the building.

Wedding day smoke after dark at Shustoke Farm Barns

Shan & Dan’s Shustoke Farm Barns wedding had been amazing and produced heaps of beautiful photographs. What you see here is merely the tip of a huge iceberg of shots from the day.

Shustoke Barns really is a photographer’s dream as a venue.

Wishing the newlyweds every happiness for the future.

More Information

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 get a feel for the primarily documentary wedding photography style 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.

And if you are still on the hunt for your perfect snapper, here’s a list of questions you should ask a wedding photographer before making your mind up.

Try Before You Buy Wedding Photography – For a limited time only

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Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Karl — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 07:22:47 +0000

Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

I’ve photographed more Kettering Park Hotel weddings than any other venue. Mark, the groom, called me with less than three weeks to go ahead of his wedding to Vera.

It was never going to be a long booking. Mark described it as being a very minimalist wedding – they weren’t even going to exchange rings! For most of the lead up, they were going to do it without a photographer at all!

Mark & his now wife Vera are heading off overseas to celebrate their marriage in style with family and friends, and that was what their main focus was on. But, they eventually came to realise that they would like some pictures of the important people in their life on their official wedding day. And that’s where I came in.

Here comes the bride – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Kettering Park Hotel – Wedding Build-Up

A day out from the wedding, the forecast was absolutely horrific. The apps gave a 70%+ chance of precipitation every hour until 7pm. The ceremony was scheduled to take place at 4pm.

Kettering Park Hotel – Wedding Day

As the day itself progressed, though, there was hope. It would be tight, but it looked like it might even be dry enough for the ceremony to take place outside!

By the time I arrived at Kettering Park Hotel, the sun was shining and there were large patches of blue. All the weather apps were saying that once it stopped raining, that would be it for the day.

I met Mark and his family in the bar area. In all my many instances of photographing weddings and events at Kettering Park Hotel, I’d never done one in the Harrowden Room before. Mark showed me the way.

The Groom and his Best Man – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

As we walked back out from the room, he noticed the sky for himself, and we wandered up to the outdoor ceremony area to work out just how much effort it would take to make it outdoor wedding ready – they only had 15 guests after all.

Mark went off to try to find the KPH person responsible for running the day with a view to asking them to switch to outdoors. As it turned out, he hadn’t managed to do so by the time the registrars were ready to see him, so that ensured it was an indoor ceremony.

Kettering Park Hotel – Bride’s Arrival

Vera and her girlies were still to arrive, but they weren’t far behind. We did some arrival shots and they then shared a bottle of bubbles in front of the fire place.

Vera shows off the back of her wedding dress outside Kettering Park Hotel

The Bride and her Maid of Honour – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

Black and white shot of Vera posing on the Kettering Park Hotel stairs

Pre-ceremony bubbles – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Pre-ceremony chill in front of the Kettering Park Hotel fire place

Unannounced, the Father of the Bride appears from nowhere and gets his first look at his daughter on her wedding day

The Father of the Bride grabbing a quick pre-wedding ceremony picture of his daughter – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Then it was Vera’s turn to be interviewed.

I headed back in the direction of Mark and the rest of the party, all of whom were outside and loving the sunshine.

Kettering Park Hotel – Harrowden Room Wedding Ceremony

It wasn’t long before they were all seated in the Harrowden Room ahead of the wedding ceremony. The gorgeous flowers on the registrar’s table had been lovingly put together by the family.

Beautiful flowers curated by the families of the bride and groom

Being German, Vera had asked for both herself and Mark to be seated for the formalities – apparently this is the norm for German weddings!

A cheeky peck on the cheek from the Groom – Kettering Park Wedding Photographer

Reassuring hand holding during the wedding ceremony

Mark had promised that it would be a short and sweet wedding ceremony, and it certainly was, but, before it had concluded, the heavens absolutely opened outside! What a lucky escape we’d had!

We did it! – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

Arms were raised in the air as the newlyweds prepared to head back down the aisle, and out into the under-cover garden area, where more bubbles awaited them.

Yes! Bride and Groom celebrations – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

Kettering Park Hotel – Outdoor Wedding Drinks Reception

The rain continued to fall, but we remained optimistic we’d be able to get outside and get some shots in the garden.

An arm around the shoulder from the Groom to his new Father-in-Law

I’ve got competition! – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Post-ceremony catch-ups – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding

Happy Couple & Group Shots

The optimism waned a little for a time, but eventually it did stop, and we got some very cute couple shots and all the necessary group shots before it started to rain again.

Mark & Vera were great sports and really good fun on their wedding day – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

Mark & Vera were great sports and really good fun on their wedding day – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Relaxed couples pictures – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photographer

The Groom holds his new wife aloft on their wedding day – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

A brief break in the rain for some quick group shots – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Back under cover, where people chatted and caught up, and a few more pics were taken.

As things started to wind down and guests started to head off towards the venue where they’d spend the rest of the day, the sun put in a proper appearance.

Vera holds her stunning artificial bouquet – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

Mark and Vera were keen to take advantage. Vera assured me that the sun being in her eyes (something I would normally try to avoid due to the usual squinting that ensues), she was more than happy to “burn her retinas out”, so that’s what we did!

The bride shows off her beautiful outfit – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding Photography

“You’re next!” – Kettering Park Hotel Wedding

Always Book a Wedding Photographer!

It had only been a booking of a couple of hours, but it delivered a lot, and I’d like to think that Mark & Vera were happy that they’d decided to have a photographer present after all Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

It was lovely to meet Mark & Vera on their wedding day. Here’s wishing them all the very best for the future!

Looking for a Short-Duration Wedding Photographer?

While I’m not able to accept such short bookings a long time in advance, please don’t be afraid to get in touch to enquire about my availability if you’re still searching for a wedding photographer with only a handful of weeks to go before your big day. If I can help, I will!

More Information

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

And if you are still on the hunt for your perfect snapper, here’s a list of questions you should ask a wedding photographer before making your mind up.

Try Before You Buy Wedding Photography – For a limited time only

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Try before You Buy Wedding Photography

Karl — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 09:22:56 +0000

Finding the perfect wedding photographer can feel overwhelming. There’s a sea of talented professionals, each with distinct styles (light and airy, dark and moody, documentary, etc.). Choosing one means sifting through portfolios to find a visual match for your dream day. But it’s not just about style. You need someone you connect with on a personal level, who puts you at ease and understands your vibe.

Budget also plays a role – amazing photographers often come with a premium price tag. Ultimately, it’s about trusting someone to capture the fleeting moments, emotions, and beauty of your once-in-a-lifetime celebration.

A fairytale-themed wedding at Sedgebrook Hall

Wedding Photography by Karl Drage – Try Before You Buy

My wedding photography packages have included a pre-wedding shoot for a while now, but I’ve decided to switch things up a notch.

I am now giving the next 10 couples whose dates I have available the opportunity to have their pre-wedding shoot BEFORE they book! No risk, and absolutely nothing to lose. In fact, worst case scenario, you’ll get a free photoshoot and prints out of it!

A bridesmaid assisted Marilyn moment

My pre-wedding shoots include:

Up to 30 miles of travel from NN14 4HY

10x up to 18”x12” prints of your choice

The high-resolution digital files of the images you select for printing in both colour and black & white

Making use of the long grass and local features at a Chester House wedding near Wellingborough

In return you must:

Still be searching for your perfect wedding photographer

Have a booked wedding venue with confirmed dates

Grant permission for me to use the images from your pre-wedding shoot for promotional purposes regardless of whether you ultimately book me to photograph your wedding or not

The stunning illuminated tree at Shustoke Farm Barns

Wedding Photography By Karl Drage – Wedding Photography Packages

You can find details of the wedding photography packages I offer on the link below:

https://eventandweddingphotography.co.uk/northampton-wedding-photographer-packages/

For the vast majority of a wedding day, I lurk in the background, capturing the action as it naturally unfolds

Register Your Interest

In order to register your interest for Try Before You Buy Wedding Photography, please send me either an email (karladrage@gmail.com) or DM telling me your names, the date of your wedding and the venue where you’re getting married.

If I’m available on your wedding date, we’ll look to get your pre-wedding shoot scheduled ASAP.

Not a typical pose of mine, but this bride & groom decided to take matters into their own hands!

More Information

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

And if you are still on the hunt for your perfect snapper, here’s a list of questions you should ask a wedding photographer before making your mind up.

play video

The post Try before You Buy Wedding Photography appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

The NEXT Evolution of Karl Drage Photography

Karl — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 12:52:12 +0000

My photography seems to be on a constantly-evolving journey, which, in my opinion, is the way it should be. Stand still, and you run the risk of going stale. As such, I’m always on the lookout for new techniques, ideas, and simply different (usually better) ways of doing things. So what does the future look like, and how did we get here?

The Start of the New Journey

After starting to make the switch to mirrorless cameras at the end of March 2022, I photographed a wedding a couple of months later and became quite disillusioned while editing the pictures. The converted RAW files that Lightroom had churned out from the bridal prep part of the day (admittedly in quite a dark room) were as noisy as anything. They were horrible. I did some reading around and discovered that this issue was not unique to me!

To cut a long story short, I ended up incorporating a new piece of software into my workflow. For a while, it was a massive learning curve, and it added days onto the already-lengthy process of editing a full wedding. BUT the main thing was that I was far happier with the output. Not only did the edited images now meet the standards I expected, they actually far and away exceeded them.

You’ll have to wait to see what this one is, if it makes the final cut for 2024

Digital or Print?

Ironically, this left me somewhat disillusioned in another way. We have become a generation who are quite happy to view things at little more than thumbnail size on our phones on social media etc. Pretty much anything looks good at that size (and if it doesn’t, it must be REALLY bad).

Google actually punishes us photographers if the quality of our images impacts the speed at which our websites load – we appear lower in search results as a consequence!

We spend so much time and money trying to produce the highest quality imagery that we can, only for it to then have 90% of that goodness compressed out of it in order for it to be sharable and likely to be seen by potential clients on the internet. It makes no sense.

The Answer is Print

As a direct result, I have found myself printing an awful lot more. Not only that, I have started printing bigger. I have never understood the point of printing photos at 6×4 (you’re wasting so many pixels and therefore details), and with the quality we are able to output today, it makes even less sense. Big prints look incredible!

There will be an acrylic fronted photo album in my 2024 product offerings

New Print Products

I have started to purchase sample products from a number of print houses that I’d never previously used. Over the last few weeks, the products have started to arrive, and some of them have literally blown me away. They convey the image quality I am looking to show perfectly and are presented in truly beautiful ways. These are heirloom products that will stand the test of time.

2024’s Offering

I’m still to finalise precisely what I want my final offering to look like, but it’s fair to say that stunning, high-quality print products are going to feature prominently in my packages in 2024, across all genres I photograph. It’s time to step things up.

This lovely folio box is one of the items that will almost certainly featuring in my 2024 product offering. Check back next year to find out what’s inside!

The images attached to this post are little more than teasers of some of the items I intend to offer. There will be plenty of new wall art products, too. There are still plenty more items on order that might prompt a slight rethink. Check back in early in 2024 to find out what made the final cut!

The post The NEXT Evolution of Karl Drage Photography appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Karl — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:55:55 +0000

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

A recommendation from a guest (always a very satisfying way to land a booking) who had seen me work at another wedding led to me photographing Laura & Robbie’s St Leonard’s Church, Rockingham Wedding.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

St Leonard’s Church, Rockingham – History

St. Leonard’s Church in Rockingham is a historic church that can trace its origins back to the 12th century, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in the area.

The church was originally built as a chapel to Rockingham Castle, a nearby Norman castle. It was dedicated to St. Leonard, the patron saint of prisoners and captives. Over the centuries, the church underwent several renovations and expansions, reflecting the changing architectural styles and needs of the community.

During the medieval period, St. Leonard’s Church served as a place of worship for the residents of Rockingham village and the castle’s inhabitants. The church’s notable features include a Norman doorway and parts of the original 12th-century structure. The interior boasts beautiful stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork, and medieval wall paintings.

In the 16th century, during the English Reformation, St. Leonard’s Church, like many others, underwent significant changes. The church embraced Protestantism, and elements of Catholic worship were removed. However, some medieval features were preserved.

Over the following centuries, the church continued to be an important centre for religious and community life. It witnessed further alterations and additions, including a Victorian restoration in the 19th century, which enhanced the church’s architectural grandeur.

St. Leonard’s Church stands as a testament to the enduring history and religious significance of Rockingham village. It remains an active place of worship, hosting regular services and special events. Its rich architectural heritage and historical significance make it a notable landmark and a cherished part of the local community.

St Leonard’s Church, Rockingham – Wedding Day

As I’m sure you’ve probably noticed, the first four months of 2023 have been largely rubbish, weather wise. May started no differently, with showers and the odd smattering of sun pretty much omnipresent in weather forecasts, and those conditions were prevalent again for Laura & Robbie’s big day.

Laura had decided she didn’t want any of her bridal prep photographing, so I went straight to the church (conditions were amazing), where I was joined soon after by Robbie and his groomsmen.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

As guests began to arrive, I became aware that the bridesmaids (one of whom was responsible for my recommendation) had been dropped off by the castle, so I headed off up there to make sure I was in the right place to capture Laura’s arrival.

Guest arrivals – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

We took some more pictures of all the girls together before I grabbed some shots of them making their way to the church. The sky was seriously dramatic, too, but thankfully dry where we were.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Bridal bouquet by Sanbella Bespoke Floral Design

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

St Leonard’s Church, Rockingham – Wedding Ceremony

With Robbie and the rest of the guests already tucked away in the church, it was time to get married!

Suddenly it gets very real! St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Conducting the beautiful ceremony was Revd Canon Ian Pullinger. Everything went perfectly, and before we knew it, Laura & Robbie had become husband and wife – well, wife and husband, technically, I suppose!

Revd Canon Ian Pullinger – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

One particularly ornate area of the church was the Funerary Chapel, where Laura & Robbie completed their paperwork. The bright, vibrant colours of the stained-glass window were particularly pleasing to the eye.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

St Leonard’s Church, Rockingham – Confetti & Group Shots

We just about (physically!) managed to squeeze in a group shot of all the guests, before we did the confetti walk.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Confetti Time – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

After that, we broke down into smaller groups, releasing those who we were finished with to make their way to the reception venue.

Group photos outside St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

The backdrop was lovely shooting away from the church.

The groom & his groomsmen – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

The bride and her mum – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Laura & her sister – St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Once we were done, we walked back towards the castle and the cars, periodically stopping to grab a few more pictures of the newlyweds. The skies remained dramatic all around, but thankfully dry with us. The scenery around there is so lovely.

St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography

Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Reception

Further down the hill, guests had gathered for Laura & Robbie’s wedding reception in the lovely village hall.

Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

An amazing grazing platter at a Rockingham Village Hall wedding reception

Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

The outdoor space is really pretty, and there are quite a few things for the children to play on. The weather did temporarily take a turn for the worse, but it soon improved again.

Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

The wonder of backlighting – Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

Rockingham Village Hall has a balcony inside, from which you can get some interesting shots of people just relaxing and having a good time. The particularly nice thing about this location is that there are fairy lights strung across the room, and with a bit of playing around, you can create some really cool shots in camera (no need to add things after in Photoshop!) – especially if you’re shooting with a long lens!

Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

Mr & Mrs – Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

Laura & Robbie cut their wedding cake, and I grabbed a few shots of their rings placed carefully on Laura’s beautiful bouquet (the flowers were by Victoria Martin at Sanbella Bespoke Floral Design).

Laura & Robbie’s gorgeous wedding cake – Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

Bridal bouquet + Wedding rings – Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

Cutting the cake – Rockingham Village Hall – Wedding Photography

And that was me done! It had been a gorgeous few hours, and I was really please with what we got out of it.

Wishing Laura & Robbie all the very best for long, healthy and happy lives together.

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

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

The post St Leonard’s Church Rockingham – Wedding Photography appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill Wedding Photography

Karl — Wed, 10 May 2023 17:35:27 +0000

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill Wedding Photography

Helen & Anton were married on a pleasant late-September day at The Barns at Hunsbury Hill long before COVID-19 had been unleashed on the world. I was delighted to be booked to photograph their beautiful The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding day.

Bridal Preparations – Northampton Marriott Hotel

Both husband and wife were getting ready at the Northampton Marriott Hotel. Anton, being a proud South African, was watching his nation’s Rugby World Cup clash with Namibia on his phone in the lobby with his groomsmen when I arrived.

Helen had only wanted the very tail-end of her preparations documenting. She was ably assisted by her daughter, mum and soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Marriott Hotel Northampton wedding prep – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Helen’s wedding car was an immaculate 1928 Citroen Deluxe Saloon going by the name of Harriet.

Harriet, a 1928 Citroen Deluxe Saloon wedding car – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Wedding Ceremony – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill

Located on the south-west outskirts of Northampton, The Barns at Hunsbury Hill is a stunning wedding venue located in a natural amphitheatre on the side of a hill overlooking the town. Dating back to 1776, the site was constructed as one of three farms in the area to provide food to another of the town’s modern-day wedding venues in Delapre Abbey. The Barns has tonnes of rustic charm with oodles of wood, stone, brick and even corrugated iron to be worked with.

Helen & Anton’s wedding ceremony was held in the high-ceilinged High Barn, featuring gorgeous wooden beams above the stone walls. The large windows still made it feel quite light and airy.

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Helen’s son Kieran very proudly gave his mum away in a beautiful civil ceremony, while Anton’s sister gave a reading.

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The High Barn – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

With Helen & Anton now formally married, we went straight into the confetti shot, before the newlyweds headed off for a short drive around. I took the opportunity to grab some candid shots of the guests.

Confetti shot – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The newlyweds in the back of the 1928 Citroen Deluxe Saloon wedding car – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Candid shots of the wedding guests – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Once they’d returned, we spent a short time getting a few formal group shots with the car, and then the remainder without.

Congratulations! The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The bride and groom pose with the 1928 Citroen Deluxe Saloon wedding car – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Group shots – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

I had a few minutes with Helen & Anton to go for a wander ahead of the wedding breakfast, which was held in the now-turned-around ceremony room.

The newlyweds – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Wedding Breakfast – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill

There were lots of laughs and lovely interactions between the two families as they enjoyed a fabulous afternoon tea.

Afternoon tea wedding breakfast – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

“Ladies and gentlemen, your bride and groom!” – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Speeches hit the perfect balance between humour and emotion.

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding breakfast

Interlude – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill

After the wedding breakfast, a few guests asked for some additional pictures, something which I’m always very happy to accommodate.

The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

And then the shots came out!

Bridal party wedding day shots! – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

With the room being turned around once more, guests vacated, with many of them heading for the semi-covered outdoor bar area, which looked great with the lights on!

The outdoor area at The Barns at Hunsbury Hill looking lovely illuminated as the light fades

The weather was starting to take a turn for the worse, sadly, and some of the things we’d hoped to do outside became no-gos.

Evening Reception – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill

As beautiful as the High Barn had looked during the day, it looked even better in the evening for Helen & Anton’s evening reception.

The High Barn, beautifully lit for the evening wedding reception – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

They cut their wedding cake and enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife, before inviting the rest of their guests to join them on the dancefloor.

Cutting the cake – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

The first dance – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

Helen had a boogie with her grandson and her mum, and then it was time for me to call it a day.

Dancefloor fun – The Barns at Hunsbury Hill wedding photography

It had been a fantastic day, at a truly lovely Northampton wedding venue.

Here’s wishing Helen & Anton all the very best for the future.

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

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

The post The Barns at Hunsbury Hill Wedding Photography appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

Ansty Hall Wedding – An After Dark Wedding Ceremony

Karl — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:55:27 +0000

Ansty Hall Wedding – An After Dark Wedding Ceremony

One of the things that inspires me most about photography is when people have different ideas of their own or are open to trying out suggestions of mine. Michele & James certainly fell into the former category when they got in touch to discuss plans for their Ansty Hall wedding photography.

Michele and James were quite cagey when they first emailed to enquire about my availability for Bonfire Night 2022. Having established that my diary was clear, it was only then that the meat started to be added to the bones on precisely what they were planning for their own wedding day!

The Wedding Venue – Ansty Hall, Warwickshire

They were to be married at Ansty Hall, Warwickshire. It wasn’t a venue I’d worked at before, but it was one that I was well aware of.

Beautiful Ansty Hall, Warwickshire, after dark

A Very Different Wedding Ceremony

Not only was it a great venue, what Michele and James had lined up immediately got me excited. They were determined that they would be getting married outside, in the dark, in November. I mean, who does that?!?

Formulating A Plan

We got together at Ansty Hall around sunset a few weeks before the wedding to scout things out and come up with a bit of a plan for how we could make it work. It immediately became clear that James loves his projects, and that was very much how he saw this. I was left with absolutely no doubt that he could turn his vision into a reality, too.

While I was confident that there’d be plenty of light for the situation overall, my main concern was that there might not be enough light falling on to Michele and James’s faces when they were saying their vows and exchanging rings etc.

Modern cameras are amazing, but there is still only so far you can push things, and no registrar was going to be content with me popping a flash off throughout the ceremony. Aside from that, it would have totally changed the aesthetic of the images and defeated the original object entirely.

My solution to the problem was to have a candelabra on standby (bearing in mind that we were all going to be guessing about the actual state of the light until we were actually living the moment).

Bonfire Night 2022

Fast forward to the day of the wedding itself, and the forecast was sketchy but improving as the day went on. The drive to Ansty Hall was a pretty grim one until I got about 5 miles from my exit off the M6, when the rain stopped and the road before me was dry.

The groom shares a joke with guests

Guests get reacquainted with one another

I met up with James as soon as I arrived, and he was really eager to show me what he’d done. It was still about half an hour before sunset at this point, and it already looked amazing.

The scene prior to the ambient light fading – Ansty Hall wedding photography

The ceremony was scheduled to take place at 1700, a full 30 minutes after sunset, so we wouldn’t really know what it was going to look like until pretty much the start time. Once Michele went in for her interview with the registrars, I once again headed back outside to check the light situation.

I made the call that we needed to use the candelabra to throw a little light onto the faces of the bride and groom – Ansty Hall wedding photography

Decision Time

It was apparent to me at that point that we needed to make use of the candelabra, and poignantly, it was one that had belonged to James’s father before he sadly passed away. Without it, Michele and James would have essentially been backlit, and I’d have been struggling for any kind of usable shutter speed at all. The candles added a lovely warm glow and worked perfectly for what we needed.

Michele’s son Daniel proudly delivers his mum to her waiting groom

Michele listens on intently to her husband’s personalised wedding vows – Ansty Hall wedding photography

The view from the back of the aisle was even more special

With this ring I thee wed

Sealed with a kiss

It was also the first time that either of the registrars had done an outdoor ceremony in the dark. Every single person there loved it. We were all stood outside, yet it felt remarkably intimate. It really was lovely.

Play Time!

Once the formalities had concluded it was time for a sparkler shot, which also looked amazing!

Sparkler shots always look amazing but they looked even more so in this setting – Ansty Hall wedding photography

A cheeky sparkler-lit kiss – Ansty Hall wedding photography

After a few group shots in front of the fireplace, I took Michele and James off for a few pictures of just the two of them.

Group shots in front of the Ansty Hall fireplace

We started off in front of the main entrance to Ansty Hall.

Ansty Hall has a multitude of great places for photographs outside on your wedding day – Ansty Hall wedding photography

A silhouetted shot in front of the main entrance to Ansty Hall – Ansty Hall wedding photography

Then it was round the back for a few more shots in front of the big tree.

The bride and groom in front of the beautifully illuminated Ansty Hall tree – Ansty Hall wedding photography

One of Michele’s friends had created an LED umbrella for her, so we made sure we made use of that.

James spotted the full moon poking out and wondered if we could do anything with that. I was a bit sceptical, TBH, but it actually worked OK!

The LED wedding umbrella crafted by one of Michele’s friends, and the full moon!

And finally, we got the smokes out, which worked great in conjunction with the studio lights.

Smoke grenades combined with studio lights and the dark are a winning combination for something a little different on your wedding day!

The Wedding Breakfast

By this point in time, the candles in the wedding breakfast room had all been lit, and it looked beautiful.

Michele and James in front of the table ahead of their wedding breakfast

Michele and James cut their wedding cake

With the guests sat down and ready to eat, my work was done. It had been a brilliant few hours generating some really different imagery and pushing the boundaries a little.

Wishing Michele and James all the happiness in the world!

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

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

The post Ansty Hall Wedding – An After Dark Wedding Ceremony appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

Bredenbury Court Barns – Wedding Photography

Karl — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:34:13 +0000

Bredenbury Court Barns Wedding Photography

Herefordshire was not a county I’d visited before for a wedding photography booking prior to Meredith & Iain’s gorgeous day. Bredenbury Court Barns is located about 35 minutes west of Worcester, in beautiful rolling countryside.

Like so many other stories of 2021 brides and grooms, Meredith & Iain had originally planned to marry the previous year, 12 months earlier to the weekend. Indeed, at the time of committing to the venue, it was still very much a construction site, and Meredith & Iain needed to take on trust that it would be as magical as the Bredenbury Court Barns team assured them it would be.

Bredenbury Court Barns Wedding Venue – First impressions

In October 2021, as I like to do with all venues I’ve not worked at before, I met up with Meredith & her mum, Lorrie, to go for a wander and see exactly what we had to work with.

The gorgeous rolling Herefordshire countryside upon which Bredenbury Court Barns sits

Make no bones about it, Bredenbury Court Barns is stunning. It’s beautifully finished throughout, and the floor-to-ceiling glass panelling on two sides of the wedding breakfast room shows off the venue’s surroundings to its fullest. The big wooden beams are just lovely, too. It really has been done very well indeed.

Bredenbury Court Barn’s magnificent Oak Barn

The Big Day

Preparations

Fast forward a month to the wedding day itself. Having built in some slack to ensure traffic on the longer-than-usual transit to the venue wasn’t a problem, I arrived quite a bit earlier than scheduled. Meredith was very happy for me to start snapping straight away. Her and her girls were in various stages of readiness in the fantastically spacious bridal prep room. As well as quite a bit of natural light entering the space, there was also a wall of mirrors on one side and a few others dotted around elsewhere. It just made it a really nice, easy space for everyone to work in without being in one another’s way.

Meredith’s mother-in-law-to-be, Amanda, had put together a little package of gifts to accompany a modified-version of the Owl & The Pussycat poem, that she’d adapted

No sneak peeks allowed!

Meredith’s absolutely gorgeous flowers were supplied by Floral Roundabout

Meredith has her hair done

As bridal prep continued, the personal touches were being added to the ceremony and wedding breakfast rooms. Lorrie had created (with some electrical assistance from someone else) a number of amazing fake trees, which featured prominently in the day. The wedding breakfast room, in particular, looked incredible, with all of the lights reflecting off the glass walls.

A look of approval from Meredith’s mum

One of the many trees created by Meredith’s talented mum

Anastasia Grikinis applies the finishing touches to Meredith’s make-up

Iain’s grandmother assists him with his button hole

Final, final bridal preparations!

Picture perfect!

The Bredenbury Court Barns Wedding Ceremony

Before we knew it, it was ceremony time. Bredenbury Court Barns also boasts a very light and airy ceremony room, with windows down one side and sky lights in the ceiling. Even on a rather grey autumnal day, as this one sadly was, there was no shortage of light to work with.

Bredenbury Court Barn’s very light and airy ceremony room

The Bride and her step-dad approach the Groom

Iain takes the hand of his beautiful Bride

There was no shortage of laughs during the wedding ceremony

Lovely crowd reactions

With this ring, I thee wed

Someone looks rather pleased with themselves!

Come here, you!

Formalities complete

Your Bride & Groom!

Group Shots

After the beautiful ceremony, and with daylight starting to fade, we headed outside for the group shots. The big tree in the grounds was still full of autumn colour, so it wasn’t hard to decide where to do those.

Meredith’s colour scheme worked beautifully for an autumn wedding

The Bride & Groom

The newlyweds and I then went for a little wander, though I was conscious that the temperature was dropping, and Meredith had only a shawl to offer her protection from the cold. Sadly, there was to be no sunset.

It was a shame the sun didn’t play ball for Meredith & Iain, but at least the rain held off!

The rich oranges and vibrant greens complement the deep reds in Meredith’s outfit

This beautiful brick archway was crying out to be utilised

The Confetti Shot

While we’d been outside, Olivia, the wedding co-ordinator, and her amazing team had pushed the chairs back in the ceremony room so that we could do a confetti shot. This is the first wedding venue I’ve ever worked at where you HAVE to do confetti inside! It actually worked really well. I used a combination of quite a slow shutter speed and a blast of flash to freeze the couple but also get motion in the confetti as it was thrown.

Indoor confetti shots at Bredenbury Court Barns Wedding Venue

The Wedding Breakfast

Speeches

The fully-dressed Oak Barn looked incredible with the lights on

Iain was nervous about doing his speech, so I had encouraged he and Meredith to get them out the way prior to food being served during our initial meeting. It’s an increasingly common thing, and it saves nervous parties from sitting there panicking while they eat (or don’t eat!), rather than enjoying the day, which is what it should be about.

The Bride wanted to say a few words

Despite Iain’s nerves, he gave a great speech

It both amused….

….and brought tears

The effect of the lights reflecting off the glass walls was amazing

The speeches were all incredibly heart-felt and it was clear that the happy couple mean the absolute world to their families and friends.

Bridesmaid speech

Best Man speech

Sparklers!

Once everyone had eaten, we headed back outside, where it was now considerably more windy than it had been just a few hours earlier. Meredith had been very keen to do some sparkler shots, so that’s what we did – it was the day after Bonfire Night, after all! Again, Olivia was incredibly helpful in assisting us in setting it up!

Every Bonfire Night weekend wedding needs sparklers!

Portrait sparkler shot

Cake Cut & First Dance

Meredith & Iain cut their beautiful cake, which had been crafted by the, sadly, retiring Kerry Tucker, and enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife.

The gorgeous cake made by Kerry Tucker was sadly the penultimate one she would be making as a pro

Meredith & Iain reluctantly cut into the masterpiece

The First Dance as Husband & Wife

Iain looks longingly at his new Wife

The Bride & Groom P2

I’d got my portable studio lights with me, but given how windy it was, I didn’t really expect a positive response when I gave Meredith the option to go back out again for another play. I was wrong, though, and they fully embraced it once more. Slightly less wind would have made things easier and probably a bit more rewarding, but I think it was still worth doing.

A passionate embrace in the Bredenbury Court Barns darkness

The Bredenbury Court Barns pagoda

This edge-lit shot would have been infinitely easier – and possibly more effective – with less wind!

Silent Disco

Finally, Iain had organised a silent disco, which was quite good fun to photograph.

The concept of a silent disco is a little alien to some, but the guests at Meredith & Iain’s wedding loved it!

That’s a wrap!

And so my booking ended and with it my 2021 wedding season! It had been another very enjoyable day with genuinely lovely people, and this is just a tiny fraction of the images I could have shared.

Wishing Meredith & Iain all the very best for long, happy, healthy and prosperous lives together.

Further Information

You will find further information about my wedding photography services on the following pages:

My Wedding Photography Packages

How I Work – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

A Typical Wedding Day – Documentary Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Portfolio – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Why Can Wedding Photography seem so Expensive?

Questions you should ask a wedding photographer

Get in Contact

If you’d like to enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch. While I am based in Northamptonshire, I am willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this may bring with it an additional cost.

The post Bredenbury Court Barns – Wedding Photography appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

Boho-Styled Bridal Shoot – The Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants

Karl — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 12:01:03 +0000

Back in May my good friends at KTV Wedding Planners & KTV Venue Stylists asked if I would be up for photographing a boho-styled bridal photo shoot for them at the gorgeous The Hill Farm House, in Brigstock, Northants. It’s one of Northamptonshire’s newest wedding venues and is set in ten acres of stunning countryside.

As with previous photo shoots with KTV, a great host of awesome local wedding suppliers were on hand to do their bit to add to the overall picture.

The Blushing Bride

Danielle from Unorthodox Make-Up Box and Jema from Salonista were responsible for giving our glamourous model, Emma, the perfect “boho” look.

Northants wedding day make-up by Unorthodox Make-Up Box

Bridal make-up by Corby’s Unorthodox Make-Up Box

Wedding day hair by Corby-based Salonista

Northants bridal hair by Salonista

Bridal flower crown by Rockingham Flowers, Northants

Two gorgeous wedding dresses were supplied by Corby-based bridal shop Elegance by Design. The first was an Art Couture modern crepe straight sheer lace bodice and the second an Eternity bridal gown with delicate floral lace and a stretch jersey underneath.

Art Couture crepe straight sheer lace bodice supplied by Elegance by Design

Eternity bridal gown with delicate floral lace and a stretch jersey underneath from Elegance by Design

Corby’s Charlbeck Jewellers supplied a wedding ring, earrings, necklace and bracelet from their family-run shop to complete Emma’s look.

Wedding ring from Corby’s Charlbeck Jewellers

Bridal jewellery by Charlbeck Jewellers

Wedding Flowers

Bridal bouquets and other perfectly-placed wedding flowers were provided by Wendy at Rockingham Flowers. The small hand-tied bouquet was white spray roses and lily of the valley.

White spray roses and lily of the valley – Bridal bouquet by Rockingham Flowers

The large, unstructured bouquet included pink peony roses, skimmia, eucalyptus, viburnum and treefern.

Wedding bouquet of peony roses, skimmia, eucalyptus, viburnum and treefern by Rockingham Flowers

The hand-tied bouquet that was made later in the day contained just the peony roses, the skimmia and the white spray roses.

Hand-tied bridal bouquet of peony roses, skimmia and white spray roses by Rockingham Flowers

All of these flowers were used to fill the vases and help decorate the cake.

Wedding day vases filled with fresh flowers from Northants’ Rockingham Flowers

Wedding Cake

Fiona from Butterwick Bakes produced a stunning (both visually and on the taste-buds) naked cake for the occasion. The vanilla sponge, homemade jam and buttercream combination looked great amongst the natural backdrop.

Naked sponge cake by Northants-based Butterwick Bakes

Naked sponge wedding cake by Butterwick Bakes

Finishing Touches

Thanks to KTV’s own inventory of props, as well as additions from both Cloud 9 Event Hire and Beau Bright Event Design, there was no shortage of extra touches. A swing, white lanterns, a rustic screen, a classic vintage doorway and hay bales were all utilised over the course of the day.

Add a rustic swing to your wedding day theme

This vintage doorway provided a great backdrop for pictures in an otherwise open field

Funky white lanterns hanging from the trees, available from KTV Venue Stylists

A rustic wedding day screen

Hay bales are an essential part of a boho or rustic wedding

The Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants

We had such a good time at The Hill Farm House. It really does have so many beautiful areas for wedding day photographs, some obvious, some not so, and it was a real treasure trove of variety.

A stunning wisteria-covered wall at The Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants

I’m a big believer in making use of what you’re given, so…. wedding day vintage tractor pic!

A narrow pathway between the trees at The Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants

Did I mention the llamas? The Hill Farm House also offers llama experience days!

There’s even a pond at The Hill Farm House

And a shack on stilts….

The Hill Farm House even had some long grass during our shoot

To find out more, check out the website or give owner Nicola Newbery a call on 07962 324551.

With sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this shoot, particularly to the KTV team for putting it all together! Here’s to the next one!

Further Information

Looking for your own wedding photographer? You will find further information about my wedding photography services on the following pages:

My Wedding Photography Packages

How I Work – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

A Typical Wedding Day – Documentary Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Portfolio – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Why Can Wedding Photography seem so Expensive?

Questions you should ask a wedding photographer

Get in Contact

To enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch.

I am based in Northamptonshire, but am willing to travel out of area.

If you’ve not already done so, please take a look at my Wedding Portfolio.

Karl Drage is a professional Northamptonshire-based wedding photographer who also covers surrounding counties such as Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Rutland, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire. If you are looking for a wedding photographer in the towns of Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Oundle, Corby, Peterborough, Leicester, Huntingdon, Towcester, Rugby, Daventry, Oakham or nearby, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch. He will be only too happy to go through your needs with you and will endeavour to put together a competitive solution that meets them.

The post Boho-Styled Bridal Shoot – The Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.

Kettering Wedding Photography: Kettering Registration Office

Karl — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 18:01:13 +0000

Rebecca & Ed were married at Kettering Registration Office, Northamptonshire, on Saturday 26th August 2017. I was privileged to be booked to photograph their wedding day for them.

Bridal Preparations: Family home, Rushden, Northamptonshire

Unusually for a bank holiday weekend in the UK, the forecast was a favourable one! It was still raining on the morning of Rebecca & Ed’s wedding, despite this fact! Thankfully, it would not last.

I first caught up with Rebecca and her entourage at the family home in Rushden, where bridal preparations were well under way. Everyone was remarkably relaxed about the whole thing!

Bridal preparations – by Kettering wedding photographer Karl Drage

Rebecca’s wedding car was a Volkswagen Campervan, owned by her sister and brother-in-law.

Wedding Ceremony: Kettering Registration Office, Northamptonshire

Kettering Registration Office is located within the bigger Kettering Borough Council buildings on Bowling Green Road. I’ve driven past on more occasions than I care to remember! This was my first wedding there.

We headed further down Bowling Green Road after the ceremony, to the gardens on the right-hand side. It was the perfect location for the group shots, especially since the sun was now shining.

The happy couple jumped into a second Volkswagen Campervan, a yellow example known as Primrose. It would transport them to their wedding reception venue just across the county border.

Cheers! The happy couple enjoy a glass of bubbly inside Primrose the VW Campervan – by Kettering wedding photographer Karl Drage

Wedding Breakfast: Stagsden Village Hall, Bedfordshire

The remainder of the day would be spent in the beautiful village of Stagsden, near Bedford. Stagsden Village Hall is a very pretty building and a converted school. It really was the ideal location for fulfilling their wedding day vision.

Rebecca & Ed had arranged for a wonderful (and delicious) afternoon tea to be served to their guests inside.

Ed and his brother made speeches, with the latter doing his level best to embarrass the groom with some childhood photos. It was all taken in good spirits.

Chairs and tables were set out in the garden for everyone to enjoy the very pleasant surroundings and conditions.

The Stagsden Village Hall garden – by Kettering wedding photographer Karl Drage

I took Rebecca and Ed for a wander out to the edge of the village for a few pictures before the evening guests arrived, looking out over the rolling fields and hills. It really was lovely.

Wedding Reception: Stagsden Village Hall, Bedfordshire

A superb hog roast and an ice cream bike were provided for evening guests to enjoy.

Rebecca and Ed cut their cake and (reluctantly!) enjoyed their first dance together as husband and wife.

First dance at Stagsden Village Hall – by Kettering wedding photographer Karl Drage

And that was pretty much where my time ran out. It had been the day the happy couple envisioned and they executed it brilliantly; A great day with lovely people!

Wishing the new Mr & Mrs Key and their young family every happiness.

Further Information

Looking for your own wedding photographer? You will find further information about my wedding photography services on the following pages:

My Wedding Photography Packages

How I Work – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

A Typical Wedding Day – Documentary Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Portfolio – Wedding Photography by Karl Drage

Why Can Wedding Photography seem so Expensive?

Questions you should ask a wedding photographer

Get in Contact

To enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch.

I am based in Northamptonshire, but am willing to travel out of area.

If you’ve not already done so, please take a look at my Wedding Portfolio.

The post Kettering Wedding Photography: Kettering Registration Office appeared first on Event and Wedding Photography.