Woburn Sculpture Gallery is English elegance at its most refined, and recently the setting for Kate and Andy’s wedding day celebrations.
A sense of history….
I love working at different venues and this amazing venue is a first for me. Woburn Sculpture Gallery has a history that few other historical homes can rival and it’s also one of the few still owned by the family. I hadn’t worked here before, but Kate and Andy did have their engagement shoot there with me a couple of months before their big day, so whilst it was a first in one sense, it was already quite familiar.
Up with the larks…….
With an early start for bridal preparations this was going to be a long day but nonetheless enjoyable! I always feel honoured to be part of something very special and the preparation time is just one point in the day, when the nerves and anticipation are reaching their peak, that I feel part of something truly wonderful as the story of their day begins.
As I spent time with Kate, my assistant focused on Andy, the groom, including capturing a shot reminiscent of the Beetles Abbey Road cover, only crossing the zebra crossing at Woburn and in this case wearing morning dress! Meanwhile, I was able to capture some beautiful images as Kate and her bridesmaids got ready, keeping their calm and enjoying champagne as ‘the look’ that Kate envisaged came together and was completed as she was helped into her fairy tale dress.
A grand entrance….
Arriving at the church Kate looked stunning in her Sassi Holford dress. I never fail to smile myself when I see a bride who suddenly seems to lose her nerves for a moment as she smiles broadly at the first sight of those who are waiting for her. Kate was no exception as she beamed a perfect smile through the car window. One of my favourite images of the day is when Kate is having a few final adjustments made to her veil prior to entering the church on the arm of her father. The image is timeless, surrounded by bridesmaids she looks strikingly beautiful, poised and elegant, making my job very easy.
The ceremony itself is obviously a key part of the day and it can be quite demanding ensuring that I capture the beauty of it whilst maintaining a sense of respect for place and time; but I do think I captured it well. Kate and Andy adore the images, and I think the happiness of the day really shines through with even the priest being moved to smile by Kate’s obvious joy at being married.
Time to celebrate
The nerves replaced by joy, it was time to celebrate. In such a stunning setting the celebrations were bound to be amazing and included a spot of Sabrage by Andy (the art of by removing the top from champagne with a sabre), closely supervised by the toastmaster – a fantastic piece of ‘theatre’ to capture (which I did!).
The celebrations were rounded off by an evening of dancing for Kate and Andy and their guests. Kate was twirled around the floor gallantly with her dress swishing around her, making for a gorgeous first dance image, and there was also a very energetic throwing of the bouquet which was essential to capture as it isn’t something that is always done, leaving me with a considerable amount of images to view and edit and a great complement from Andy at the end of the night ‘you were ***** awesome!’
And the last word: 3 important things to consider when you hold your day at a historic venue:
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Make sure you know about any working schedules that may disrupt your day:
I always do my research with a new venue and had also planned some more stylised images to complement the more natural style of the day but these were somewhat thwarted by unforeseen building work at Woburn. However, with a keen eye for selective angles to avoid all the scaffolding we were still able to get some amazingly romantic images, especially in amongst the Daffodils that were in full bloom.
Check to see if the venue hire is exclusive:
Some venues may hold celebrations for several parties on one day. If this is the case make sure you know how that may impact upon your day. The last thing you are likely to want is to collide with another bride or feel cramped in your celebrations.
Think about the time of year that you want to hold your celebrations. Some venues may only take bookings from Easter to October whilst others open year round. A winter wedding at a historic venue can be absolutely stunning particularly if it snows but do remember that if you envisage drinks on the terrace, guests may be a bit reluctant to join you in sub zero temperatures…
Want to see more beautiful images from Ady & Kate’s wedding at Woburn Sculpture Gallery? Then take a peak at their lovely Feature Wedding.
Are you planning a Woburn Sculpture Gallery Wedding?
If you’re planning a wedding at The Sculpture Gallery at Woburn and like this style of relaxed wedding photography why not give me a call 0370 626 5200, drop me an email, or use the Contact Form to get in touch, I’d love to hear your wedding day.