The Groom and the Maid of Honour? Really?

This is Lauren on her wedding day at Bartley Lodge.

She married Joe.

This is Lauren's best friend and Maid of Honour, Jo.

Confusing? Evidently so.

During the speeches, the Father of the Bride stood up and explained how wonderful the happy couple were together and how everybody knew that "Joe and Jo were going to be a big thing."

There were audible gasps from the guests. 

Joe and Jo high-fived and the guests roared with laughter.

The only person in the room who didn't seem to know that he'd got the name of his daughter wrong, was the Father of the Bride.

Lauren and Joe loved the Forest, so we took them for walk into the trees for some photographs.

In the shade of the leafy canopy, light was lacking in contrast so we broke out our back-light to get this photograph for them.

By the time we got back to Bartley Lodge, Lauren was thirsty and her drink of choice? A pint of Coke!

Bartley Lodge is one of our favourite wedding venues. It somehow seems be both grand and impressive but at the same time cosy and intimate. It's always a relaxed vibe at Bartley and the staff are fabulous.

Joe and Lauren's wedding was a scream from start to finish and we wish them all the very best in their married life together.

by Jacqui and Steve

Hampshire Wedding Photography

The Runaway Groom at Bartley Lodge

This is Annette. The gorgeous bride with a runaway groom.

It was quite early on in the day that Steve made his first bid for freedom.

Luckily his big brothers found him and brought him back.

Steve's next bid for freedom was to take his beautiful bride away from their guests for a romantic walk...

...and persuade her that he was disturbingly crazy.

But she saw through his ruse and they had some romantic moments together in the golden warmth... 

...of the setting sun.

Steve and Annette did of course have an amazing wedding at Bartley Lodge and all the above is a total fabrication. 

But it was such a fabulously funny day that we were inspired to be a bit playful with the narrative we could put with some of the amazingly funny moments and expressions from their day.

Steve made another bid for freedom just before their First Dance...but luckily his big brothers saved the day...again...

...and Annette got her First Dance with her wonderful new hubby.

A huge thank you to Steve and Annette for including us in their wonderfully crazy and fun-filled day.

(To our knowledge Steve has not tried to run away since.)

by Jacqui and Steve

Hampshire Wedding Photography

A "New Forest" Themed Wedding - in the New Forest

The New Forest has always been a very special place for both Joe and Lauren so when it came to their wedding day the New Forest had to figure highly in their photographs. Their wedding venue, the  Bartley Lodge Hotel, was right in the heart of the New Forest but it's wonderfully manicured grounds didn't portray the rustic look they wanted...

...so it was off down the country lanes, away from the patios, flower beds and lawns of their venue.

Joe and Lauren were awesome and we got some stunning shots of them...

...in amongst their New Forest...

 ...but it wasn't just about the Forest, there were really touching moments...

...and lots of fun 

...and the occasional much needed glass of coke!

After their meal they were blessed with a stunning New Forest evening sky, so it was back down the country lane for some more photographs of them in their beloved Forest...

 ...before going back inside for an amazing First Dance.

Joe and Lauren are an absolutely fabulous couple and it was so much fun to be with them. Their guests were awesome and the day went without a hitch.

But for us, what made the day extra special was their vision of having their wedding romantic portraits in amongst the Forest. It was a wonderfully creative idea and we loved every minute.

We wish them all our very best wishes for their life together.

by Steve Dunster

Blessed By Heaven

David and Jassy had their wedding at the church they regularly attend and were very serious about the spiritual side of their commitment. So we were delighted when we were presented with this sky, perfect for shooting a "blessed by heaven" classical portrait - so fitting for David and Jassy.

Jassy's bridal prep went without a flaw. Every detail tended to and perfectly executed. Then it was on to their church by New Forest pony and trap. 

David and Jassy had their wedding reception at the fabulous Bartley Lodge Hotel in the New Forest.

The Bartley Lodge Hotel is such a good wedding venue for so many reasons but not least of which is the way it manages to be both a grand country house and at the same time intimate, welcoming and homely.

On arrival at the Bartley Lodge Hotel, their guests were treated to drinks on the patio and thrilled to see David and Jassy arrive in their pony and trap.

It was an absolute delight to see how close David and Jassy were together.

They had guests of all ages and even set up a Skype link during the speeches for Gran, who was sadly too unwell to attend.

The fabulous grounds included a substantial patio for drinks and socialising as well as beautiful tended to lawns for grown ups and youngsters alike to have fun playing garden games...but the grounds were big enough to also be able to sneak away and steal some moments alone.

After the perfect day, the evening was no less perfect...

...and their evening was even blessed with romantic moonlight.

For their evening celebrations, David and Jassy had a live band and very good it was too, energising the party like only live music seems to.

David and Jassy were a gorgeous bride and groom and they had the perfect day at an amazing venue...they were indeed truly blessed.

by Steve Dunster