fiona + trystan
From the hotel, to the church, to the reception venue, the bride and groom chose to keep needless decoration to a minimum and utilise the natural charms of each beautifully chosen venue. The result was an elegantly minimal yet stylish affair.
My first stop was De Vere Cotswolds Water Park, where the groom, his groomsmen, father and soon-to-be father-in-law were all getting ready for the big day ahead. It was a wet and grey day outside, but the atmosphere inside was as bright and joyous as any other wedding morning. As the large group got ready, Trystan decided to surprise them with incredibly thoughtful gifts he had prepared beforehand for each and every one of his party, which included handwritten notes, personalised hip flasks and cufflinks. Once they had finished with their preparations, it was time to start making our way over to the next venue.
Our next stop was St Mary’s Church, a short drive away, where the ceremony was to be held. With impossibly high ceilings and spacious interior, the church was beautifully light, perfect for photos. Guests filtered into the church and took their seats as we all waited with bated breath for the Fiona’s arrival (and boy, did she make us wait!). Finally, the church doors opened once more and the service was truly underway! As Trystan and his groomsmen waited patiently at the end of the aisle, the bridesmaids made their way in one by one, followed ultimately by the beautiful bride and her father. The service progressed effortlessly and with their loved ones gathered as witnesses, Fiona and Trystan became husband and wife!
The last, but by no means least, stop for the day was The Pear Tree. With a charming traditional brick exterior and elegantly modern interior, the country house venue was an alluring mix of contemporary and old. I couldn’t help but smile when I realised that the tree that greeted me at the front of the venue was, in fact, a pear tree! Consisting of several stunning rooms, including an Orangery and library room, it was a gorgeous place to host a reception. The outdoor space was just as beautiful, with a lined walkway heading towards a gazebo amidst a manicured lawn.
Drinks and canapés were served in a room upstairs, whilst downstairs, the Orangery was already set up for wedding breakfast and ready to go. I went around the room upstairs to snap a few candids of guests as well as downstairs to capture the wedding breakfast set up. Aside from the bride and groom, I also love taking natural photos of guests having fun as well as the small details of the day to tell the whole story of the wedding day completely.
As the guests mingled, we took the newly wedded couple out for a few moments for some couple portraits around the venue. It was a shame that the rain still hadn’t let up, but Fiona and Trystan decided to brave it outside anyway, so we managed to get some gorgeous images in the garden despite the rain! We made sure to make use of the flower-lined walkway, the gazebo, and the winding outdoor staircase.
After a little while, the guests were called into the Orangery to be seated before Fiona and Trystan were announced and made their entrance as the new, official Mr and Mrs Cullen! Breakfast went underway for the guests and for myself (and I’ll be forever grateful to the lovely couple for the most delicious beef Wellington I’ve eaten!). Before long, it was time for the speeches; Fiona’s father, Trystan and his best man all served up wonderful speeches to their friends and family.
Then, sadly, it was my time to leave. I’d had a wonderful time with everyone but I bid them farewell and wished them well as a long drive back to London awaited me. Fiona and Trystan were such a gorgeous couple, so kind and thoughtful, and I’m so happy that I got to be a part of it all!
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