Bestwood Lodge Micro Wedding | Heather & Ash

Bestwood Lodge Winter Wedding

Micro Wedding

December 2020 saw me photograph my first “covid wedding” and it proved to be quite a different experience. The wedding was at Bestwood Lodge Hotel in Nottingham. Heather and Ash were married in a very intimate ceremony with just Heather’s parents and two friends as witnesses.

Bestwood Lodge

Heather got ready in Bestwood lodge’s bridal suite in the very capable hands of make up artist Hannah Finn and hair stylist Helen Sutcliffe. Although it was s small event, it was definitely a happy one. Ash had a beaming smile all day and his cheery jokey nature kept spirits high. This definitely shines through in the pictures.

After the ceremony it was time for a confetti walk and formal photos, then back inside for the cutting of the cake. This was followed by the playing of video messages for the bride and groom from family and friends who couldn’t be there in person to celebrate.

After the guests went home I was able to capture some more intimate portraits of Heather and Ash around the grounds of Bestwood Lodge Hotel.

Heather & Ash Wedding Photos At Bestwood Lodge Hotel

Swancar Farm Wedding Photographer | Emma & Paul

Swancar Farm Wedding Photography

Emma and Paul's wedding at Swancar Farm was my last wedding of the year and one that I had been looking forward to since they booked me earlier in the year. It isn't my first time as a Swancar Farm wedding photographer and hopefully I will shoot many more at this wonderful wedding venue.

It was a cold, crisp December morning and I started the day with Paul and the boys as they got ready in the bridal suite at Swancar Farm. The entire day was held at the venue. The long drive approaching Country house is a backdrop that everybody loves. Emma and the girls got ready at her home which is a short drive away. Emma looked stunning in her beautiful Jenni Packham dress (which I get asked about quite often)

Wedding Ceremony In the Barn

Emma and Paul had their beautiful intimate wedding ceremony in the Gallery which is situated in the upper part of the Barn. After such a lovely ceremony everybody headed downstairs to the Lower Barn which features beamed ceilings and a beautiful stone floor to enjoy reception drinks and canapes among family and friends.

Swancar Farm Wedding Photography

The wedding breakfast and evening reception was held in the stunning Oak Hall. The wedding speeches were hilarious and Emma's dads speech was very moving. It was a wonderful day and I enjoyed every minute of it. Swancar Farm is a fabulous wedding venue to celebrate a marriage and I hope to return there very soon.

Family and friends travelled from all over the UK and further to celebrate . A big thank you to all the staff for their amazing hospitality and for making the day run smoothly. 

Here are a few of my favourites from the day, enjoy!
 

List of suppliers

Venue : Swancar Fram Country House
Brides Dress :  Jenni Packham
Flowers :  Floraldeco
Grooms Suit :  Paul Smith
 

If you are looking for a Swancar Farm wedding photographer please don't hesitate to get in touch with me and tell me all about your wedding plans.

Tips For Planning A Winter Wedding

Top Tips
 

More and more couples are having winter weddings these days. They are no longer just for the spring/summer season and why not? Winter weddings can be beautiful and very romantic and if you are lucky you may be fortunate enough to get beautiful winter sunlight or even a sprinkling of snow.

Having your wedding in the winter is very different to a wedding in the summer. There are a few small issues that come hand in hand with winter weddings and these can be avoided with some prep work before your special day and good communication with your chosen wedding suppliers.

You will find it beneficial booking an earlier ceremony time in the winter months as it starts to get dark from 3pm onwards and if you want to include the venue and its grounds in your photographs you will need to do this in good natural light. 

Allowing at least 90 minutes from the end of the wedding ceremony to start of your wedding breakfast is a good guideline because you and your guests may have to travel from the church ceremony to your reception venue. That will leave time for you to have those important formal family photographs and your bride and groom portraits.

Remember it is a winter wedding and it will be cold with a possibility of rain or even snow so think about shawls for yourself and your bridesmaids.

Keeping in regular contact with your wedding venue and photographer and work with them to create a timeline to help with the logistics of your wedding day and most of all relax, and try and spend a little time alone as a couple.

 

© Matt Andrew Nottingham Wedding Photographer