Sunset & a Buick at Riverside Sopley Mill

Chris and Melanie had an early Spring wedding at Riverside Sopley Mill near Christchurch and the weather had been absolutely perfect all day and then they were treated to this amazing sunset. A perfect end to a perfect day.

Melanie's day started with bridal prep at The Manor Hotel in Burton not far from Sopley Mill...

...and then on to St John's Church, Broadstone...

...where the ceremony was very moving and delightful (and the vicar was a photographer and an absolute pleasure to work with).

Then it was on to Riverside Sopley Mill for their Reception by car.

Their wedding car was a white Buick...

...luxurious and spacious inside...

...with gorgeous stylistic lines...

 ...and white walled tyres.

Sopley Mill looked at its absolute best in the Spring sunshine with blue sky and fluffy white clouds...

 ...whilst their guests were treated to the most mouth-watering canapés.

The weather was perfect, even to the extent that there was just enough wind to have some fun with Melanie's amazing veil.

As the day drew to a close the sky was clear and blue and eventually it gave us the most beautiful sunset in the Western sky (as you can see in the first photograph at the top of this blog).

The inside decoration of the Mill was rustic and wonderful...

Melanie was a gorgeous bride...

...and the two of them so clearly very much in love.

Chris and Melanie planned the day right down to the last detail. Sopley Mill markets itself as a "blank canvas", it's got great views and lots of atmosphere but leaves everything up to the couple who need to provide their own caterers, decorations...everything...not for the feint hearted!

Bravo to Chris and Melanie, they put so much effort into the design of their day and it really paid off, the joy on their guests' faces was testament to their success. 

But extra to all that they had planned was the perfect weather from start to finish. Perfect for outside canapés and enjoying the view but also perfect for outside photographs, including the most beautiful of sunsets on a gorgeous couple.

by Steve Dunster

3 June 2015

Don't Tell The Bride...about the Guns, Vintage & Jazz

Mark and Gina had a wedding day full of fun and surprises. Gina had given Mark the job of organising their wedding...all she knew was her wedding dress, her photographers (that would be us) and her colour scheme.

There was never any doubt as to her colour scheme, red is her favourite colour and would have to play a major part in her wedding.

...and what a part it played, it was vivid and vibrant, stunning and stylish...just like, in fact, the rest of their wedding.

The first surprise for Gina was her venue...Fort Nelson, Museum of the Royal Armouries.

Shoes, it turns out, was a big part of the styling for the day, for both the youngsters...

...and the grownups.

There were so many running jokes throughout the day but one of the most notable was involving a teddy bear so it seemed a given to have a ring shot with said bear.

Their ceremony at Fort Nelson, was just like the rest of the day, full of fun...

...and affection.

After their ceremony, they both took it in turns to fire one of the guns at the museum...

...which went down well with the crowd and Gina alike.

Then there was just time for a few bride and groom portraits around the fort...

...and amongst some of the guns

...and then it was time to move on to their next venue, yet another secret that Gina had no idea about.

Mark had organised their reception to be at the Concorde Club in Eastleigh, home of British jazz.

It was wonderfully stylish. Mark had used Gina's chosen colour of red to stunning effect.

It didn't just look good, with the red and black, it felt good with a fabulously vintage feel.

Mark had got a gramophone...

...complete with a red (of course) vinyl record with a "Gina & Mark" label.

He had an old typewriter and the copy sticking out of it was the Guests' Seating Plan.

Their cake looked wonderfully vintage...

 ...even their photo-booth was vintage...

...and of course their band was vintage.

After the meal they had a children's entertainer who had the youngsters mesmerised. He didn't just do balloon dogs...he did bazookas and jet packs!

Then, after a quick change, he did the most amazing things with fire...

...including fire breathing!!!!

Then inside for the chocolate fountain...

...and then their First Dance as man and wife...and this of course was fun and stylish...and jazz!

...they thrilled their guests to an amazing dance routine...to the all time jazz favourite...

..."I'm the King of the Jungle"

...which was well received by the "judges".

This was an amazing wedding, meticulously planned and full to the brim with style...but more than all of that...this was a wedding overflowing with fun and affection.

Well played Mark...well played. We wish you both a long, fun and affectionate marriage.

by Steve Dunster

14 August 2014